Hello everyone,
I'm Dani, a 24/7 caregiver, and I'm building a solitaire game with a twist, called Mindfulness Play™ Solitaire. I'm hoping to find testers.
A bit about the app
It's designed to take the pressure off, to bring some ease. While most apps use rewards and other pressures to keep you engaged, this one has no streaks, no scores, and no guilt. Mindfulness often begins in sitting meditation. The hope is to carry that sense of presence into everyday life, but it's easy to forget. Mindfulness Play™ is that bridge from the cushion to everyday life. You play a soft game of solitaire, and playful watercolor cats invite you into mindfulness: A pause… notice your jaw. Soften as you exhale. As you bring mindfulness into your solitaire break, it can become easier to carry that sense of ease into other parts of your day.
A bit about my VoiceOver testing so far
I've designed it to work with VoiceOver from the start. I have tested it myself multiple times and made many improvements, but no blind or low-vision player has tried it yet, so I don't know what I've gotten wrong. I'd be so grateful for honest testers. It runs in Safari on iPhone and iPad. The link is https://daniappmaker.github.io/mindfulness-play. It also works with a keyboard.
A game design question for VoiceOver users
One question I'd especially love your thoughts on: how should the game help you choose a move? Right now, when you land on a card, VoiceOver tells you whether it has a move. If it does, you double-tap and the card goes to its available spot. It's quick and quiet, but you don't scan the board yourself or choose between moves.
The other approach would be to describe the whole board each time, so you can scan it, find moves on your own, and decide which one to make. That puts you more in control but means more speech.
A third option would be to have both: the current quick way by default, and a "describe the board" button you can press whenever you want to look around.
Which of these would feel best to you, and why? Or is there a different way that would work better?
Finally
Please share anything else you think should be improved, big or small! Testers get the game free for life, and I'm glad to credit you if you wish. I'll reply quickly to every message and change what I can. You can answer here.
(Note: I wrote this post with help from an AI assistant and then edited it myself. The game itself was built with AI help for the coding; the idea, the direction, the watercolor cats, the invitations and the words are mine.)
Thank you for your time.
Dani
P.S. The AppleVis editorial team kindly said it was okay to post about this.
Comments
Not my kind of thing but.
You could also try audiogames.net maybe in the off topic room, it'll take you a day or so to get signed up, they need to register you but yeah that's another place you can try.
really cool
first off, this game is very innovative! Congratulations!! now for the feedback. it is very accessible. the nature sounds menu works perfectly with VoiceOver. the sounds are right on point. the game play is easy to follow, and it is relaxing, and anxiety relieving. I would add however, the same sounds for picking of nature sounds and music, to the drawing and placing down cards. this would make a great contender for an Apple design award some day.
Re: Not my kind of thing but.
Thank you so much, Brad! I was so deflighted to see a reply to my post and felt my motivation lift.
And Thank you for the audiogames.net tip, and for jumping in to help! I really really appreciate it.
I'd love to offer you a free copy of the game once it's out, as a thank-you, if you'd like to play it. If you do try it, I'd welcome your thoughts too. Send me a private message here if you're interested.
Re: really cool
Thank you so much, Daniel! This means a great deal. Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I am still smiling!
I want to make sure I understand your suggestion. Do you mean using the same kind of soft sound you hear in Settings for drawing and placing cards, in place of the card sounds? So I would eliminate the drawing and placing card sounds. And instead of those, use the same sounds as for picking nature sounds or music?
I promised testers the game free and a credit if you'd like one. If you're interested, please send me a private message through my AppleVis profile! And please let me know where I can send you the free game once it is in Apple Store. For now, you can still play through the link if you like! Also please let me know how you'd like to be credited, or not. If the private message doesn't seem to work, just really here and I'll find another way to reach you.
Thank you again!
Excited to try this
I am very interested in this. I’ve always wanted to learn how to play solitaire but found all of those other apps too stressful. I tried asking my sided family, but they had a hard time trying to explain it to me so I look forward to this when it comes out for sure. Thank you so much for bringing this game to our attention.
Re: Excited to try this
Hi Lexi,
I was so excited to read your message!
If you would like to try it now, here is the link! https://daniappmaker.github.io/mindfulness-play
And if there is anything you think I could improve, I would love to know. I am especially curious whether you would want voice over to describe all of the board each time, so players can choose a move, or if its ok as is, with less description.
Best,
Dani
Adorible!
I have not had time to thoroughly test this yet but I just wanted to say that the paintings are making me smile so very much. I'm always looking for ways to get more whimsey onto my phone and can't wait until it's in the app store! Thanks so much for your attention to accessibility and detail?
Re: Excited to try this
Hi Lexi,
I forgot to say, I'd love to give you a free copy when the app is out in the App Store (with all future updates), as a thank-you for being one of the first to try it.
If you'd like that, please send me a private message through my AppleVis profile (click my name, then Contact). Tell me where to send it. Also, if you like, how you'd like to be credited. If the private message doesn't work, just reply here and I'll find another way.
Thank you again for your kind words!
Dani
Re: Adorible!
Hi Faerie,
Thank you, this made my day! I’m so glad the paintings are making you smile. Whimsy is exactly what I hoped to bring to a phone.
I’d love to give you a free copy when the app is out in the App Store (with all future updates), as a thank-you. If you’d like that, please send me a private message through my AppleVis profile (click my name, then Contact) with where to send it and, if you like, how you’d like to be credited. If the private message doesn’t work, just reply here.
Dani
Nice game!
EI've tested this and like it. It's a nice solitaire style game and I like the mindfulness aspect.
Re: Nice game!
Hi Leela,
Thank you so much for testing it and for your kind words! I'm so glad you like the mindfulness side of it, because that's what I care about most.
I'd love to give you a free copy when the app is out in the App Store, with all future updates, as a thank-you. If you'd like that, please send me a private message through my AppleVis profile (click my name, then Contact). Tell me where to send it and, if you like, how you'd like to be credited. If the private message doesn't work, just reply here and I'll find another way.
Also, if, while you are playing (through the link or later in the app), you ever find anything that I could improve about the app, I would love for you to write to me and I will do my best to improve it.
Thank you again!
Dani