INFINITE RUNNER MARKET RESEARCH BY FINLEY CHAPMAN • I have been tasked with doing market research on video games that fall under the infinite runner genre and are suitable for people aged 7+ • To do this I have compiled some of the most popular games in this genre that are available on the store. • I’ve also made sure that all the games have been rated as appropriate for those aged seven and over • Game 1: NOTES ABOUT TEMPLE RUN

• It’s one of the most famous games in the genre. • It is an extremely popular game, with over 100 million downloads on the Google play store. • It has generally good reviews (an average of 4.3 stars out of 5) The game takes place in a jungle which further adds to the game’s explorer theme. This makes the game immersive because it is a place where you would expect to find an explorer in real life. This also makes it stereotypical of it’s theme.

The game features tribal drums as part Players play as an Indiana of its soundtrack. This builds up the Jones like explorer tension and gets faster when the apes character who has to out behind you catch up. Because of this run a pack of apes, who the music makes the game feel even are after a statue that the more immersive. player has stolen. This obviously gives the game It has a simple control scheme,this an explorer theme, it also makes the game pretty accessable to adds a sense of urgency inexperienced players. However, the to the game as the game ramps up the difficulty the players will want to keep further you get from the beginning the character alive and not let the apes catch up • Game 2: NOTES ABOUT CROSSY ROAD

• Again, an extremely popular game with over 100 million downloads and 200 million users. • It has been awarded an editor’s choice mark on its page on the Google play store. • It has slightly better reviews than Temple run with an average of 4.5 stars out of 5. • The game is so popular that there’s an arcade version and there was a spin-off game featuring Disney characters. The player’s score (which is the number of steps their character has taken) appears The game is presented in in this corner an 8-bit style 3-D environment and has similar gameplay to the The level design changes each level game . This makes which makes the game similar to some older players feel Temple run in the fact that it have a nostalgic as it might be simple control scheme but makes itself similar to games that they more difficult by changing the level played when they where design each time. younger. Also because of this it makes the game look cool to some of its younger players as retro looking designs and retro games are very popular.

Players play as a variety of animals including a chicken and a cockatoo • Game 3: NOTES ABOUT SUBWAY SURFERS

• One of the most popular games on the Google play store, with over 1 billion downloads. • It’s the seventh best grossing arcade game on the Google play store. • It has been given an editor’s choice mark on its page. • Like Crossy road, it has an average review score of 4.5 out of 5. • It has gameplay that is very similar to Temple run. The game allows players to change their character and ‘boards’, this allows the player to have different advantages when they are playing a game.

The game has a cartoon like aesthetic. This makes it more appealing to younger players as younger people stereotypically watch cartoons. At the start of game, Pop punk style music plays but is later replaced by normal music. This means that the more rock Players are able music is played to jump up on to the closer the the obstacles in Players play aspoliceman a is this game. person who is being chased by a policeman because they The game have have just features power been graffiting ups which give the side of a train. the players This means that temporary the core of the advantanges gameplay is such as the similar to Temple ability to collect run. more money and jump higher • Game 4: NOTES ABOUT SONIC DASH

• Has over 100 million downloads and has been given an editor’s choice mark on its page on the Google play store. • The game features characters from the games which are known for being popular with Children. • Has an average review score of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Google play store. • It is the only game out of the ones I’ve looked at besides Temple run to have a sequel. Like surfers and Crossy road, Sonic dash has Different unlockable characters (including the 90s version of Sonic) however they seemingly have no effect on the game and they can only be unlock be paying either real money or the in game currency. Instead of having someone/something running after the player, they are enemies for the play to attack to gain extra rings. This makes the gameplay a The game features levels lot more varied than the other games as you are not just running, jumping and based off the zones from sliding in the game. There are also Boss In the game, various Sonic the battles in this games against various players plays as hedgehog games villains from the main games. either sonic or including Green hill zone. one of the This adds familiarity to other the games levels because characters in the player might have the game. played in levels with a Unlike some of similar art style in some the other of the other games infinite runners there is no one chasing you, Like in the other infinite this makes the runners, players have to player feel less collect the in game currency. of an urgency Which in this case, are the to their play rings from every other Sonic through of the game. game. • Game 5: Geometry Dash NOTES ABOUT GEOMETRY DASH

• Like a most of the other games it has over 100 million downloads. • It also has positive reviews, with an average review score of 4.5 out of 5 on the google play store. • Similarly to Crossy road, it has a retro art style. The game has simpler Unlike the other games, geometry dash is in controls than the other landscape mode due to the 2D visuals. games but has a big difficulty curve. This due to the fact that players have to time their jumps correctly to avoid hit any of the pointy objects. This does make the game less accessible but it also convinces players to play again to get further in the level • General notes about the design of most infinite Runner games • Most infinite Runner games are presented in portrait mode, this means that the phone is usually held up right During a play through of the game BASED ON MY MARKET RESEARCH THE BEST INFINITE RUNNER GAME FOR PEOPLE AGED SEVEN AND OVER WOULD FEATURE:

• A unique/eye catching art style • A bit of violence but no blood and guts • The ability to customise players’ experience by allowing to choose a character and some power ups • A unique theme or location for the game • Gameplay that provides a challenge but is not too difficult, so that it doesn’t deter/alienate the target audience. • If possible, include recognisable characters if not make sure the character is an original one. In-game UI layout Menu layout Distance Pause button Character Selection traveled UI DESIGN

A shot of the • Based on my research this game’s setting what the User Interface for Level the proposed game should be relatively simple • Hence, the best layout for the game is one like this Character one pictured:

Play button Score: Power ups Options High score: IN CONCLUSION

• The game needs to have an eye-catching design. • It should take place in a unique location. • It can contain a bit of violence and some mild peril. • The UI design should look relatively simple.