I decided to use the quote from (Chris) Ashton Kutcher at Teen Choice award for this blog as I always believe it’s true, yet I need a good content for its. So here it is:
Flappy Bird probably doesn’t need another blog about its to make it more famous of go viral. Yet, it’s the inspiration for me to write this blog today. I don’t know him, never met or speak with him before. All information I have about this guy is probably just as much as people can find out about “Flappy Bird” on Google. Is that really luck or something else? I don’t know! However, the fact that this game released over 6 months ago, and it did not go viral until last week. For those who think app development is gold rushing/gold mining/whatever, let me give you some harsh truth:
- You can pick up Objective-C within only 1 week (I did pick-up Obj-C only 1 weekend in a Hackathon in USC – and we created iPocketChange). Sound good? What it also means is if you can do it, anyone else can. Knowing how to code doesn’t make you special, ever! (Just in case you ever have that idea in mind)
- Publish a game on iOS AppStore/ Android Google Play is easy – it will cost you $1oo/year. Sound good? Again, if you can do it, anyone else can.
- And the most ugly truth is: you’re not the only person has that idea in mind! (ever)
So, what make Flappy Bird special? He works really hard to create more games – or at least that what it showed on his .GEARS website – if it’s not from passion, I don’t know what else drive him. And I sincerely admire him for his patience!
Everyone probably heard the story of Angry Birds a thousand times. If you haven’t, it’s your fault! (Go read it here NOW!). But let me tell you a true and much closer stories that never been told.
- GreenGar developed over 40 different mobile projects – only 3 of them got over 2 million downloads each
- DivMob developed over 100 different mobile games – 10 of them is currently active on App Store
- Not-a-Basement developed over 20 different projects – only 2 of them go viral.
It’s not about how many times you fail, the one success that counts! More importantly, what have you learned? When you spent days and nights to work on the apps/games and no one wants to download it, who else you should blame? It’s always easy to point your fingers to someone else to blame it, but even if you’re the CEO, it’s always your faults at the first place! But do we really need to have someone take responsibilities or the whole team should gathering, learn together, and grow together to make a better project next time?
A strong entrepreneur isn’t certified by the money he raised, nor the revenue he earned, but by the number of failure he took and still be able to raise back-up again.
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The road will never be the same for the creator of Flappy Bird from now on. Whatever he does afterward will be compared, will be judged, will be criticized – and I hope he is ready for it!
Personally, I saw many failures of people around me, including myself – people simply can’t fail when they did not succeed.
Let me end this blog with a quotes for Rush – my most favorite movie of 2013 “Happiness is your biggest enemy. It weakens you. Puts doubts in your mind. Suddenly you have something to lose”
Saigon, Lunar New Year 2014
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P/S: If you love Flappy Bird, you might love this game, Orb – too! We called them both “Binary Game” – the game that have only two states ON/OFF. These game are perfect for muscle-limited person, fun and challenging, yet they’re super simple and addictive.
