Additional Guidelines

How do I submit a game to Mochi Media?

New to Mochi Media? Learn more about the benefits and sign up.

May I submit more than one game?

Yes. You may submit as many games as you would like that adhere to the contest rules and guidelines.

How do I use Mochi Live Updates (and why should I)?

Mochi Live Updates allows you to make updates like game improvements and bug fixes from one location, all over the Internet. As an added bonus, using this service has encryption added in as well. Any developer with a Mochi Media account can use the service.

An added benefit of using version control and encryption is that you can leverage the ability to dynamically make updates to your game in order to more easily sell and manage non-exclusive rights to your game.

To add Mochi Live Updates to your game:

• Sign in to Mochi Media
• Click the “Add New Game” tab to setup a new game.
• Select ‘Yes’ to add Version Control.
• Follow the steps on the screen to upload and customize your Flash game.
• For more info, visit MochiLand.

May I modify the game after it has been submitted?

Yes. That is the beauty of Version Control. You may edit and modify your game up until the submission deadline date: 11:59PM September 24, 2010 PST.

Is there a contest theme?

These games must be formatted and performance tested for mobile devices supporting Flash (i.e. Nexus One and the Google Android). This includes but is not limited to formatting for the screen size, making sure buttons are large enough to push, a fast frame rate and accessible controls (i.e. keyboard and mouse combination controls will not work well).

Are there preloaders available?

Yes! you can download Adobe and Mochi Media branded preloaders here! Click here to get them!

What is the optimal resolution for a mobile device?

The optimal resolution is 480x800 (landscape) or 800x480 (portrait).

Are there any guides available?

See below for some guidelines for your game's creation. Adobe has also provided two documents to help your development: Flash Sizing Zen and Flash Multiscreening Gaming Guide! Check them out!

How will I be able to test my games on the device?

Developers entering the contest will be able to access a platform testing software provided by DeviceAnywhere. This software will allow a three hour demo to test your games on emulated Nexus One and Google Droid devices. Find out more information by contacting alexander [at] mochimedia.com.

What are the mobile specific functionality options available?

• Easier Full-Screen Mode Activiation
• Adaptive Frame Rate
• Fast Switch
• Accelerometer Input
• Optimized for Delivery Across Multiple Devices
• Livecycle Collaboration Service

What is the judging criteria?

• Aesthetics and Scalability: Graphics optimized for mobile device making sure all text, instructions and scores are legible on the device. Buttons also must be large enough to touch on screen.
• Usability: Game works regardless of input options (keyboard, touch screen, accelerometer, etc.) and is easy to navigate and play. Pause and save options are a plus, as are intuitive implementations of the game mechanics. It should leverage the power of the mobile device, making seamless play in landscape, portrait and full-screen modes.
• Performance: The game loads quickly, built at a 25-30 FPS framerate.
• Creative and Marketable: Addictive gameplay and can be adopted across multiple audiences.
• Framework: Built with standards in mind, easy to adapt to other displays with minimal encoding.

What are some "Pre-Game" items to consider?

• The content fits on-screen appropriately (content almost fills the entire browser window before going to full-screen without over-filling it. For example, the user shouldn't have to swipe the content in order to hit the PLAY button.)
• If there is a desktop SWF and a mobile SWF, the user should be directed to the appropriate experience.
• If the user doesn’t have FP 10.1 installed, then they are presented with the option to install/update the Flash Player 10.1, and acting on that option takes the user to the appropriate page
• No more than two mouse-taps should be required before game play begins.
• Auxiliary screens, such as instructions, should be legible on a mobile device (18 pt minimum font size).
• Buttons are large enough and have a large enough hit area (66 x 66 pixels for the hit area).
• If the game file size is greater than 400K, utilize pre-loader should be part of the experience.

What are some "Game Assets" items to consider?

• Text should be clearly legible on a mobile device – 18 pt. type.
• Assets designed and/or tweened in Flash CS4 or CS5 should be optimized for mobile.
• Links to external content (e.g. more games) replace existing content (might also consider leaving full-screen mode before referencing URL) – they DON’T launch content in a pop-up (window=”_blank”).

What are some "Game Play" items to consider?

• Go automatically to full-screen mode on selection, pause the game if leaving full-screen mode. Hitting resume re-invokes full-screen mode, and it's okay to leave full-screen if text input is required.
• Game ‘cells’ or anything that is clickable/tappable should be no smaller than 60 pixels on a mobile device.
• If optimizing an existing game, this means that the game might have to see a change in layout or have a simplified gameboard to make sense on mobile.
• If the user must receive UI hints (what objects they can pick up for example, should use finger-down type hinting or (select-object-with-feedback then a secondary interaction specifies the action on that object) as opposed to mouse over hinting).
• Sound/audio — should be a way to mute sounds, but volume control should be un-necessary, sounds should be appropriate for mobile device (for example, one game has an explosion sound that just sounds like static on a phone).
• If the game is designed for landscape or portrait, then the screen orientation should be locked in appropriately (see Flash Sizing Zen document for more information) – but at a minimum the user should receive some type of prompting if they are in the least favorable orientation.

What are some "Extra Credit" items to consider?

• Optimized for Delivery Across Multiple Devices: Flash Player 10.1 will be available for a broad range of mobile devices, including smartphones, netbooks and other Internet-connected devices, allowing your content to reach your customers wherever they are. As with Flash Player 10, this release also supports Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6 (“Snow Leopard”) desktop operating systems.
• Utilize the device’s input options – accelerometer (AS3-only), DPAD, trackball.
• Create with swipe friendly interactions.
• Allow player to resume last game.

When will winners be announced?

Winners of the Made For Mobile Flash Game Contest will be announced in October 2010.