BY ERMINESOFT    UPDATED January 29, 2025
Pocket Game Developer Beta has emerged as a compelling choice for aspiring game developers. It's a game engine that allows users to create their own games without any coding knowledge, focusing on tools for developing pixel art games including tower defense, runner platformers, top-down games, and more. This versatile app has quickly grabbed the attention of many users for its ease of use, quirky features, and the empowerment it provides to gamers transitioning into game developers.
Users have encountered some issues such as delays in button responses, where certain actions take up to two seconds to register. Another notable issue is related to the cloud link button, which doesn't seem to work properly due to persistent login prompts. Additionally, there are reports of the app occasionally crashing when switching tools or levels, especially when the project exceeds memory limits slightly. Nonetheless, the games developed through the app generally run smoothly, without lag.
Enthusiastic feedback from the community has led to a wealth of suggestions for new features. There's a strong demand for more robust customization options, including scripting capabilities, the ability to export games as .APK files, and importing personal sprites. Users also express the desire for a function that would allow downloadable sprites to be saved even after modifications. This would include changing the functional role of a sprite within the game, like transforming a wall block into a spawner, or vice versa.
Other popular requests include the ability to import pixel art from files due to some users finding the in-app pixel art creation tools less suited to their needs, the introduction of animation variations for projectiles and player movement (especially in top-down games), and enhancements in the options for character actions, allowing for punches, kicks, and combo moves. Additionally, incorporating options for voice acting, creating cutscenes, importing music, and scaling enemies in tower defense games has been mentioned as potential improvements that could significantly enrich the user experience.
A unique suggestion has been the addition of a community game showcase within the app, where users could try games developed by others. This feature could serve as a source of inspiration and learning for budding developers.
Despite its few issues, Pocket Game Developer Beta has garnered praise for making game development accessible to a wider audience, particularly those without prior coding knowledge. It brings the thrill of game development to your pocket, turning abstract ideas into interactive, enjoyable games. Its emphasis on pixel art appeals to fans of retro and indie games, and the potential for further development and community-driven enhancements points to a bright future for this innovative app.
Currently, importing custom sprites is a highly requested feature, indicating it may not be fully supported yet. Users are looking for more flexibility in using personal pixel art within their games.
No, Pocket Game Developer Beta is designed to be accessible to users without any coding knowledge, focusing on an intuitive, user-friendly interface.
Exporting games as .APK files is a feature that users have requested, suggesting that it may not be currently available but could be a future addition to the app's capabilities.
While specific sharing or publishing features are not detailed, the suggestion for a community game showcase implies that users are interested in more social and sharing functionalities within the app.
Pocket Game Developer Beta is primarily a mobile app designed for smartphones. However, you can run Pocket Game Developer Beta on your computer using an Android emulator. An Android emulator allows you to run Android apps on your PC. Here's how to install Pocket Game Developer Beta on your PC using Android emuator:
Visit any Android emulator website. Download the latest version of Android emulator compatible with your operating system (Windows or macOS). Install Android emulator by following the on-screen instructions.
Launch Android emulator and complete the initial setup, including signing in with your Google account.
Inside Android emulator, open the Google Play Store (it's like the Android Play Store) and search for "Pocket Game Developer Beta."Click on the Pocket Game Developer Beta app, and then click the "Install" button to download and install Pocket Game Developer Beta.
You can also download the APK from this page and install Pocket Game Developer Beta without Google Play Store.
You can now use Pocket Game Developer Beta on your PC within the Anroid emulator. Keep in mind that it will look and feel like the mobile app, so you'll navigate using a mouse and keyboard.