Side by Side is a video series on local multiplayer games. This is episode 17 of 17.

In the final episode of the first series, Joel Goodwin of Electron Dance and Gregg Burnell of Tap-Repeatedly twist their fingers around Rusty Moyher’s Bloop. A game so simple it makes you wonder why no one did it before.

Watch the video here or direct on YouTube.

  • “It has a lot more depth and play to it than we thought.”
  • “Now there’s not much to this, but it’s remarkable how enjoyable that was.”
  • Bloop is available on iOS, Android and Kindle.
  • Side by Side hasn’t done stunningly well, but we’re not about to throw in the towel yet. We’re planning on a second series which will start later this year.
  • If you enjoyed the series, please like our videos and subscribe to our channel.

The series theme is the delightful “Adventures in your sleep” by The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra.

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6 thoughts on “Side by Side: Bloop

  1. Oh, that’s what it was called! I’ve been trying to remember the name of this for a while – I seem to recall you mentioned playing it at IGF when you visited New York, or perhaps somewhere else?

    Thanks for the reminder, anyway – I’ve added it to my wishlist for when I get a larger, less cheapo tablet. 🙂

  2. Yes that’s right, Shaun, I played it in New York at IndieCade East. It was a big hit, there was always someone playing it. Playing with strangers was also fun.

    I talked to the developer, Rusty Moyher, for a conference precast. He said it had some pretty poorly and couldn’t get attention.

  3. I guess it’s a game that’s hard to demo in a lot of contexts. Plus, well, I don’t know where things stand today in terms of the value people associate with mobile games. I’m certainly more willing to spill a few bob for something that looks interesting, but if the recent general election has taught me anything, it is that I am not in touch with my fellow human beings.

    Shame, either way.

  4. I felt the game demonstrates itself so easily and the Bloop trailer makes it clear what kind of game it is very fast. But it’s never translated into virality.

  5. Aw, it’s a shame this hasn’t sold well.

    I feel like local multiplayer isn’t that popular, as much as I’d like it to be, and as much fun as everyone has when they’re partaking in it. Getting people together and engaged is one thing, but having the right hardware setup and the right game for said people is really tough. Bloop vaults two of these issues by being available on Android and iOS (so compatible with most tablets out there) and is super simple and easy to understand so most people can just jump right in.

    I think the problem is getting people together and engaging them in a typical environment/situation. Game events are perfect because people are there to play games and experience new stuff and you get a constant churn which really helps with a game like this. Tap Happy Sabotage (http://www.taphappysabotage.com/) was great fun at the EGX last year. At home, or in the office or, I dunno, down the pub, it might be a novelty that quickly wears off to most people and then what? That’s your stock of players exhausted and that’s that, time to put your tablet away. I think Bloop’s great but it’s not something that you’re likely to play for long so perhaps it’s not quite enough to compel people to talk about it and pick it up themselves. Perhaps that’s why word hasn’t got around.

    A similar game is 2-player (free) or 4-player Reactor (£1.99) and that’s got quite a few different game types which I think helps keep players playing and consequently gives it a greater ‘mind share’ I suppose. There’s no combat above the touchscreen like with Bloop (and Tap Happy Sabotage), but some of it is twitchy and reflex based, while other challenges are more visual and cerebral. It’s been rated close to 4000 times on Google Play compared to Bloop’s 49 so… perhaps I’m wrong about local multiplayer not being that popular?

    As Shaun said, it’s a shame either way.

    Also, congrats on putting together the first series Joel. Thanks for all the hard work on this. Here’s to series two!

  6. Bloop user review on Google Play: “Great game but could use a one player version where we can play against a comp player/robot. I dont always have someone to play with but love the game…”

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