I recently posted a thread on GameDev.net asking this same question, and so far these are the answers I have received:
Free trial
Polished game play, menus, and GUI
Tower variety with little similiarity between towers. (No useless towers)
Unique Pre-generated maps
Synergy between units
Additional game modes other than survival
Consistant art style and theme
Pleasing graphics and sounds
Granted some of these may be required for most games in order for you to want to purchase them. Are there any other specific features that would help sway your opinion towards purchasing a tower defense game? (Standalone, price under 10$)
Honestly, a TD title would need a very, very impressive and original demo for a 9.99 price tag these days to get much attention from me. There are simply too many excellent choices on mobile platforms that are either free, or relatively cheap (.99-$2.99).
As far as features goes, I agree largely with what was suggested. I know I simply would not be interested without a trial, there’s too much competition. There is no killer feature I could list though, because your killer feature should really be something that surprises me. Honestly, I’d go look at what games like “Defender Chronicles” can deliver for $0.99 on iOS and ask myself “How can I make my game better than 10 of these games combined?” One of the big allures of TD games is that you can play a huge variety of them cheaply (or free); you need to offer that amount of play time in a single title to get someone interested in a $10 TD game.
Take a look at Sanctum, it’s a $10 PC tower defense game. Pretty much the only one I can think of in that price range recently that made any kind of splash; look at how different of an approach they had to take to get noticed.
Since you are creating a new product, I would recommend taking a step back and thinking about what you really want to build. Instead of looking for new ‘tweaks’ on an existing genre to make a bland product stand out, try to think instead of something new. Sit down and think long and hard about what you want to accomplish. Maybe a TD game isn’t what you really want to build, maybe it is. But, if you have to ask others what features would sell your product, then you don’t have a vision, you have a copy. Here’s some tips from the book, ‘ReWork’ by Jason Fried and David Hansson.
Don’t Copy - don’t copy other people’s products/ideas. Make your own. Which leads to…
De-commodotize your product - if your product is just like the other 50 versions of an idea, then how can you compete? Commodities are called commodities for a reason - because they are easily available. You’re already starting from a ‘my product sucks, I need every feature they have, plus 50 others’. Instead, put yourself and your soul and your creativity into your own product. Instead of constantly comparing your product to others, focus instead on what it is in your product that is novel and special. What is the soul of your message? What makes you unique?
Build half a product, not a half-assed product - Better to build something simple, but polished. The app store is full of products that suck, but have lots of ideas and features thrown in.
Well i would have to agree with c-Row on the Defense Grid that is one of my favorite tower defense games although i quite like Sanctum but then again that isn’t just a straight tower defense that is an FPS / Tower Defense and i would agree on the idea of stepping back and thinking about how you can make it different and such to interest players but i am here posting to let you know what would make me buy a tower defense so here goes, some may disagree and some may agree:
Gore!! - I love gore in games although it would have to be well done or at least blood spurting out when the towers shoot something…
A decent story wouldn’t hurt - i have played some indie tower defense games before and the story had been VERY bland and not well explained although the gameplay was there and pretty enjoyable for a short time
Try not to make it too linear - Something you could try is planning out how the player will unlock the new towers to use and such and design the waves to co-ordinate that
Well tuned difficulty - Some TD games i have played before have been a little too easy and then all of a sudden it would get really hard… So a reasonable increase in difficulty or an option would be great (but this wouldn’t really make me buy a TD game)
As many others have mentioned if it looks pretty i would look at it and consider the purchase although i do not believe graphics make a game it is definitely easier to get buyers attention with a visually appealing game
Random level creation i think i saw someone mention this in a reply to the thread well that would be cool!!
Now if there is gore which i listed as 1. you would have to include a wave of vicious white fluffy bunny rabbits!! Well i was joking but that would definitely get some attention lol But in all honesty i would probably look at buying a gore riddled tower defense game at the risk of sounding insane that is something that could convince me i think… lol
Do you know how FEW multiplayer Tower Defense games there are?
I have always had to play Starcraft (now Starcraft 2) tower defense maps. This isn’t as good as it could be.
There is a lot you could do, but IMO…
Multiplayer Multiplayer Multiplayer. This is something to pay for.
More than just Tower Defense. I think the entire concept of Tower Defense limits the minds of developers. They think the game HAS to be a tower defense game. I created a tower defense concept, then altered it with heroes instead of towers, and slowly it turned into what I accidentally discovered was an entirely different series (DotA type game).
Multiplayer is key though. I’d pay $10 for a tower defense game like Kingdom Rush (Armor Games) if I could play with 3 other players, and it actually provide challenge and variety.
A Tower Defense game that has sold very well is Toy Soldiers (1 and 2) on XBLA. Trenched on XBLA as well, though it’s only partially a Tower Defense
It’s lofty targets, but it does show that quality games in the genre do sell just like other genres. TD games are just flooded with basic knock offs. Do something different, make it feel like you are doing more than just Tower Defense and it can do well.
There is something i almost forgot about… Ooops lol
Multiplayer would be a great feature, the game Sanctum i mentioned above although is one of those Tower Defense games that took a new approach to the genre also allows you to play co op with friends and i for one fairly enjoyed that!
I also like a few others have probably said i agree to the idea of jumping back and trying to add something unique…
The price isn’t for sure $9.99, that is just the max price we would consider for this game
So it seems that Defense Grid fits the list of what others have said!
I’ve always wanted to make a TD game, and that’s the reason why I chose this as a project. Granted it may not bring in the bucks, and I may not even decide to release it, but a TD game from me is going to happen, one way or another Also, the reason why I’m asking is because if I add in some original feature, I may think it’s the coolest thing ever while everyone else thinks it’s pointless or stupid. If the intent is to sell your game to others, shouldn’t you see what THEY want in the game if they are the one’s purchasing it? A real world example I’d use is that Chevy SUV truck hybrid demon thing. Chevy thought it was a game changing vehicle design, but their sales said otherwise.
I’ve heard this a lot, and it seems like the game could go a ton of different ways. Co-op, ‘deathmatch’, a tetris attack version where the better one player does, the more enemies the other faces, etc.
What would be interesting on some of the maps would be a changing level layout that messes with your setup. Most of the time, TD is about placing the towers at the best position possible, followed by nothing but waiting for the credits to roll in. If you change the layout, you keep the player on his toes because he has to constantly rethink his layout. A modular map that features rotating areas maybe?
You could introduce power-ups, for example shutting down one or some of the opposing player’s turrets for a limited time, or spawning an extremely powerful enemy, or speeding all his enemies up for a limited time… endless possibilities
lol