A screenshot of the game Flappy Bird.
Flappy Bird, developed and published .Gears, in many ways has great design to help the player understand the concept of the game and controls, but has flaws when it comes to the physics of the game.
As Flappy Bird is not able to be downloaded to it's original platform, the following gameplay will be obtained from http://flappybird.io/.
Game Feel
Flappy Bird's controls may seem easy to understand as it is only tapping the screen to make the avatar go higher. However, getting to know the physics of the game is another challenge the player must face as they try to avoid the obstacles.
When the player presses the screen, the avatar "flies" upward a certain height, but this is the only set height the avatar can reach. There is no long press to make the avatar go higher as well as lightly tapping the screen does not make the avatar make a smaller jump.
The game is surprisingly responsive and precise with this type of controls. The player can see the avatar move right away once the screen is pressed which makes it easier to move around in the game's world.
(TESTER)
But when it comes to hitboxes and physics, the game starts to become a struggle to players.
The physics of the game are not complicated. If the player does not press the screen, then the avatar starts to fall, the same way gravity works. However, Gravity in this game starts right away from the moment the avatar stops "flying" and/or the player does not tap the screen as the game is going.