Introducing Bus Simulator Racing on Google Play

Do you like driving simulator games? Here's one that has a unique twist by letting you drive a double-decker bus. Bus Simulator Racing is a new game out from Universal Games. It's a free download for Android.

It has fun graphics, starting with the bus itself. You drive a bright red bus designed to look like a classic British bus. There's also cool scenery that reminds me of the countryside.

The object of the game is to drive bus passengers safely to school, which involves navigating a bridge between the mainland bus station and the island where the school is located. The bridge is narrow and difficult to navigate, so the game tests your skills in regard to timing, as well as your skills navigating the bus as you tilt your device or turn the steering wheel to drive.

You can compete against players from around the world as you collect stars while you drive. The game includes bus engine sound effects as well as background music. Many users have described the scenery of the game as relaxing. Plus, the game is optimized for use on tablets as well as phones.

I've posted before about the free games available from Universal Games. They've created a variety of fun, colorful games that are perfect for when you have time to spare and want to do something relaxing but also challenging enough to make you want to keep playing. You can see a list of all of their games on Google Play.

Meet Universal Games Team, Creator of Neon 2 Cars Racing Saga on Google Play

Universal Games Team has created a number of creative mobile apps available in the Google Play store. One such app is called Neon 2 Cars Racing and has received (at the time of this writing in early January of 2016) nearly 500 reviews, with an average of 4.6 stars.

It's a neat, tablet-optimized game that lets you race two neon cars--you control both cars at the same time, which makes it challenging to keep both moving in a straight line. The game has obstacles as well as things to collect as you race. You can challenge and compare scores with players all over the world using a leaderboard function as well as social media sharing.

Reviewers are calling it addictive, fun, and more. Our interview below is with the creator of the game.

1. How did you first get started creating apps?

I'm a self-taught designer. I picked it up from books and researching on the internet. As I learned more about apps, I started experimenting with my first hands-on introduction to building a simple user interface and handling user input. I got started by learning to use Android Studio and SDK manager, Android app design.

2. What do you like best about the process of app design?

I like to keep dreaming for ideas. It's a really creative process, and there is no end to the different apps a person can develop.

3. How do you come up with the ideas for your apps?

As I work, I draw from a lot of different influences. For this particular game, I was inspired by my enjoyment of cartoons, as well as action and adventure racing games. Neon technologies further inspire me. I also wanted to make this game a perfect fit for those that want to test their reflexes.

4. What inspired you to create Neon 2 Cars Racing Saga?

In short, I wanted to combine the beautiful properties of neon, and car racing games. I wanted a design that people would enjoy looking at, with relaxing music to listen to while they played. My goal was to create a perfect game for girls and for boys.

5. In your opinion, what separates a good app from a great one?

A great app design is one that will balance appearance with function. It should be a frustratingly-addictive game and a free game!

Learn more at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neon.cartoon.twocars.

Meet Mike Reid, Creator of STUDTEGERY, an Educational Board Game

When Mike Reid is not working his theatre manager job, or TV/screenwriting (Pastor Greg - sitcom, Super Simple Science - TV science show, His Kids - kids talk show, BB's Bedtimes Stories with Monty - children's TV series), he is selling his educational board game STUDTEGERY. Learn more at http://www.studtegery.com, or check out STUDTEGERY on Teachers Pay Teachers.

1. How did you come up with the idea for STUDTEGERY?

During my time in college in the mid to late 80s, seldom did I go anywhere without a set of index cards with facts on them so I could study for my next test at a moment's notice. Also during that time, Trivial Pursuit became the most popular board game to sweep college campuses. When I started brainstorming the type of game I wanted to create, these two life experiences played a major contribution to the creation of STUDTEGERY.

2. What is the significance of the name of your game?

I wanted a name that represented what this board game does, which is to combine studying with strategy and makes studying fun. I remembered that Saturday Night Live skit where Will Ferrell's George W. Bush character used the made up word STRATEGERY and thought, "What if used the 'TEGERY' suffix in my game's name?" and the name STUDTEGERY was born. Furthermore, while the name still has most of "STUDYING" and a little bit of "STRATEGY" in it, well, most of the letters in "STRATEGY," it is fun to say. Go ahead and say it, STUDTEGERY.

3. Why do students--and teachers and parents!--like the game?

• Students like STUDTEGERY because it makes studying fun.
• Teachers like STUDTEGERY because it helps the struggling students review for tests more effectively than the ask and answer test review which the struggling students avoid partaking in for fear of being embarrassed if they answer incorrectly in front of their peers.
• Parents like STUDTEGERY because it is a fun way for them to be involved with their children's studies.

4. How can individual students adapt the game to suit what they need to study at a particular time?

The great thing about STUDTEGERY is from 3rd grade to graduate school, it works all subjects, classes, and courses as long as the student is studying for a multiple choice type test. While STUDTEGERY has no clue what you need to study, you and/or your teacher do. You and/or your teacher create the multiple choice test preparation questions/answers from your class lectures, notes, handouts, text books, etc, and you use those questions/answers for game play.

5. What was your process like in creating the game--from designing it to having it manufactured, and then marketing it?

The thought process with my design was to replicate a multiple choice test. Just like most multiple choice tests, I went with only black and white colors. The players' pieces and answer sticks were the letters "A," "B," "C," and "D."

As for getting STUDTEGERY manufactured, I went with a company called 521 Promo. I found their manufacturing prices to be very fair. I sent them the prototype I made from an old Trivial Pursuit game, and from there, we worked together on getting the graphics just right, then got the games manufactured and safety tested.

As for marketing STUDTEGERY, I am still riding the learning curve as I just launched the game. I first set up a website (www.studetegery.com) from which to sell STUDTEGERY. I have also made STUDTEGERY available for sale on Amazon.com and TeachersPayTeachers.com. Since my budget is extremely limited and school just started back, I am focusing on teachers, schools, PTA/PTOs, and homeschools in September and October, then onto parents and students for the Christmas season. Of course, I am working hard on getting distribution into brick and mortar retail stores.

Thanks, Mike!

Meet Jason Mainella of Teeny Drones

Jason Mainella is the co-founder of Teeny Drones, a company based in Montreal, Canada which builds nano drones that are so small that you can hold them in the palm of your hand. Learn more at www.teenydrones.com.

1. Why do you think that more and more people are interested in drones?

I think it's the combination of people's desire to fly, and advances in technology that have made remote-control aircraft more affordable and stable.

2. What inspired you to start your company?

We noticed that people are buying remote-control helicopters that were falling apart too quickly on consumers. You crash them once, they blow up, they fall to pieces, and people are disappointed. We wanted to sell something that is a bit higher in quality along with being fast and affordable--something that wouldn't break easily.

3. How would you describe your goal with Teeny Drones?

We would love to see mini drones in the hands of one million people. I enjoy introducing people to the fun and art of droning. Drones are a great nexus for combining the power of games and technology, and the power of having fun. We hope to bring as much fun to as many people as possible with our Teeny Drones.

4. Why did you choose the quadcopter as the drone to launch your company?

I love gadgets and the fun of taking things apart and putting them back together. Drones are so interesting to me for their technology, and especially the quadcopter. With the quadcopter, there are four motors going on, plus the gyro system to calibrate. I think everyone will enjoy giving it a try.

5. How do you see Teeny Drones expanding over the next couple years?

We plan to sell accessories for the quadcopter as well as other drones. Our idea is to expand from the starter drone to a medium drone and then to a larger drone. I also would love to create and sell a small drone integrated with a virtual reality headset.

Thanks, Jason!

Introducing Yamie Chess, a Fun Learning Tool

If there is a way to learn that's more fun than playing games, I haven't heard of it! The designers of Yamie Chess have created an exciting world of chess where the pieces are depicted as characters in a vivid cartoon universe populated by King Tigermore and many other animals. The drawings are colorful and detailed, and kids will be drawn into the world of the characters not only to learn to play chess but also to learn several different areas of mathematics, science, and cognitive thinking.

This math and STEM learning aid is a unique educational tool which has been endorsed by PhDs from both Harvard and MIT. The product is debuting at the 2014 New York Toy Fair, and it is made in the USA by a Michigan-based printer. The learning tool is the result of a collaboration involving educators, engineers, and chess champions.

Yamie Chess invites children to explore the classic problem solving experience of playing chess--while also learning about a wide scope of math and science ideas. It's an engaging and interactive concept. I remember enjoying chess as a grade school student, and I can only imagine how much more fun it would have been in an even more lively format like this.

Meet Clayton Crooks, Author

Clayton Crooks is an American author, computer consultant, and software developer. He is best known for his books on topics including game development and mobile devices. Clayton began his writing career working for various magazines such as Dr. Dobbs Journal, Code Magazine, and Web Techniques. He authored his first book on Visual Basic in 2001 and began writing about various tools and languages afterward. Along with his writing career, Clayton has had games published on various platforms including "3D Air Hockey" and "3D Duck Hunting" for PC's, and a number of mobile games and apps.

His book, iPhone Game Development for Teens, is a step-by-step guide for beginners who want to create games made specifically for the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

1. When and why did you begin writing?

I'm a computer consultant by trade. The writing actually came somewhat by accident. I was helping some people in an online forum many years ago. Someone noticed a post that I had written about how to fix an issue with a server or something. They asked if I might be interested in writing about technology related topics for their newsletter, and everything just took off from there. Before I knew what was happening, I was writing for five or ten magazines, and had an offer to do my first book.

2. How long does it take you to write a book?

It really depends greatly on the subject at hand. For most of the books that I've done, it takes an average of about three to six months. I've had a few take much longer, and some that were a little less. Much of the time, it depends on how much time I can devote to writing, as my consulting business keeps me quite busy.

3. Where do you get ideas for your books?

When I was first starting out, I had to think a little more about what to write about, but as time has gone on, I have publishers reach out to me about topics they have interest in. They'll usually contact me and ask if I'd be interested in doing something on a particular topic. With the basic idea in hand, we work out the details on content, audience, and direction.

4. How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

I’m not sure of the exact number, but probably somewhere around 20. I guess it depends on if you include 2nd and 3rd editions of books as well. My favorite book was a programming book called Learning Visual Basic.net Through Applications. There are a number of reasons why, but well before tablets had become mainstream, I wrote a couple of example applications related to development for the Tablet PC. I had such great feedback from other developers. There are even a few examples on Microsoft's Developer Network that utilize things from the book.

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love being outdoors and any type of sports related activities. My wife and son are huge sports fans as well, so it's something we do as a family. I'm sure it's not surprising, but I also love all types of gadgets: mobile devices, game consoles, tablets, phones, and computers.

Thanks, Clayton!