Customer Reviews (500)

ligetness3245213 • 2025-03-24T08:04:31-07:00

ALL MY CHARACTERS DELETED

ananhshshshshshhs • 2025-03-24T07:36:30-07:00

I love the game and I would say I’m pretty good. The one thing i would change is the sensitivity of the swipe to do a handoff in relays. I’ll be running and i accidentally swipe just a little bit and boom, my guy got slower and lost his tempo.

Mvpbray • 2025-03-24T05:47:39-07:00

Just plain awesome

Summary of Key Insights

Speed Stars is a generally well-received game with a simple yet engaging core mechanic. The primary strengths lie in its competitive nature, the challenge of mastering the rhythm-based gameplay, and the relatively low cost for the full version. However, several pain points detract from the user experience, including recurring bugs that cause data loss (builds and progress), leaderboard issues (hackers and inaccurate records), and a desire for more content (events, customization options). The overall sentiment is positive, indicated by the high percentage of 5-star reviews, but the negative reviews highlight critical areas needing attention. The score distribution reveals a polarized user base, with a significant number of users experiencing issues severe enough to warrant a 1-star rating.

Quantitatively, the app has an average rating that trends positively due to the strong number of 5-star ratings. However, the presence of a large number of 1-star reviews indicates significant issues that are impacting a subset of users.

Score Distribution:

  • 5 Stars: 57.4% (287/500)
  • 4 Stars: 13% (65/500)
  • 3 Stars: 7.6% (38/500)
  • 2 Stars: 5.4% (27/500)
  • 1 Stars: 16.6% (83/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews from the Apple App Store.
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be a recent snapshot of reviews.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Implicitly performed based on star ratings and review content.
    • Keyword Extraction: Manually identified frequently mentioned keywords and themes related to bugs, feature requests, and user experience.
    • Frequency Analysis: Counted occurrences of specific issues and feature requests to determine prioritization.

Key User Pain Points

  • Data Loss (Builds and Progress): A recurring and severe issue where users lose their custom characters, builds, and personal records, often after updates. This is a major source of frustration and leads to very negative reviews.
  • Leaderboard Issues (Hackers and Inaccurate Records): Many users report that leaderboards are plagued by hackers with unrealistic times, diminishing the competitive aspect of the game. Additionally, some users claim their legitimate world record times are not being recorded or are being reset.
  • Bugs and Crashes: Several users report game crashes, especially when creating or selecting custom builds, or when attempting to participate in relay events.
  • Inconsistent Performance/Lag: Some users experience lag during races, which negatively impacts their performance and enjoyment.
  • Payment Issues: Several users report problems purchasing the full version or add-ons, with some being charged multiple times without receiving the content.
  • Annoying Ads: Frequent ads, especially in the free version, disrupt gameplay and are a source of annoyance. Some ads even obstruct the screen during gameplay.
  • Difficulty with Controls/Tutorial: Some new users find the tapping-based control scheme difficult to master, and the lack of a comprehensive tutorial exacerbates this issue.
  • Loss of Speed/Change in Mechanics After Update: Some users report that recent updates have altered the game mechanics, making it harder to achieve high speeds and negatively impacting their performance.
  • "No Connection" Error: Some players consistently encounter a "no connection" error, even with a stable internet connection, forcing them to race against bots.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Relays (4x200m, 4x400m): By far the most requested feature. Users are eager for more relay options to add variety and excitement to the game.
  • Field Events (Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Shot Put): Many users want field events added to expand the game beyond running.
  • Indoor Track: A significant number of users request an indoor track environment.
  • More Customization Options: Users want more control over character appearance (hair, faces, clothing) and stats (height, power, stamina). Many want to be able to fully customize their character instead of relying on random builds.
  • Tournament/Career Mode: Users suggest a tournament or career mode with prelims, semi-finals, and finals to add a sense of progression and accomplishment.
  • Controller Support: Some users are interested in playing the game with a controller.
  • Ability to Connect/Race Friends Easily: Some players are looking for a more user-friendly way to connect and compete with their friends in the game.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Engaging Core Gameplay: The rhythm-based tapping mechanic is considered fun and challenging when it works correctly.
  • Competitive Nature: Users enjoy competing against ghosts and on the global leaderboard.
  • Low Cost of Full Version: The $0.99 price for the full version is seen as reasonable and worthwhile by many.
  • Realistic Elements: Users appreciate that the game attempts to simulate real-world track and field events.
  • Customization (When Working): Users enjoy creating and customizing their runners, although this is often hampered by bugs.
  • Responsiveness of Developers: Some users commend the developers for listening to feedback and fixing issues in updates (though this is inconsistent).

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Data Loss Bugs: This is the most critical issue. Implement robust data saving and backup mechanisms to prevent users from losing their progress. Thoroughly test updates before release to ensure they do not introduce data loss issues.
  • Address Leaderboard Hacking: Implement anti-cheat measures to identify and remove hackers from the leaderboards. Regularly monitor leaderboards for suspicious activity.
  • Resolve Crashing Bugs: Investigate and fix the bugs that cause the game to crash, especially when creating/selecting builds or during relay events.
  • Improve Payment Processing: Fix the issues that prevent users from purchasing the full version or add-ons. Ensure that purchases are properly processed and that users receive the content they paid for.

Medium Priority:

  • Add More Relays (4x200m, 4x400m): Implement these highly requested relay events to add variety and increase player engagement.
  • Address Lag Issues: Optimize the game's performance to reduce lag, especially on lower-end devices.
  • Improve Tutorial: Create a more comprehensive tutorial that explains the control scheme and gameplay mechanics more clearly.
  • Reduce Ad Frequency: Decrease the frequency of ads in the free version to improve the user experience. Consider offering a less intrusive ad format.
  • Implement Reporting System: Allow users to report suspected hackers or cheaters.

Low Priority:

  • Add Field Events: While frequently requested, field events would require significant development effort. Consider implementing them in a future major update.
  • Add Indoor Track: Implement an indoor track environment to add visual variety.
  • Improve Customization Options: Add more options for customizing character appearance and stats.
  • Implement Tournament/Career Mode: Explore the possibility of adding a tournament or career mode in a future update.
  • Add Controller Support: Assess the demand for controller support and implement it if feasible.
  • Improve Friend Connection: Make it easier for players to connect and compete with their friends.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Anti-Cheat System for Mobile Games: A startup could develop an AI-powered system that automatically detects and removes hackers from mobile game leaderboards, addressing a common pain point in many mobile games.
  • Mobile Game Data Backup and Recovery Service: A service that automatically backs up and restores mobile game data, preventing users from losing their progress due to bugs or other issues.
  • Mobile Esports Platform Focused on Skill-Based Games: A platform that hosts tournaments and competitions for skill-based mobile games, with robust anti-cheat measures and a focus on fair play.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Desire for More Content: Users consistently express a desire for more events, customization options, and game modes, indicating a need for regular content updates to keep the game fresh.
  • Impact of Updates: Updates can have a significant impact on user sentiment, both positive (when bugs are fixed or new features are added) and negative (when updates introduce new bugs or alter gameplay mechanics in a way that users dislike).
  • Monetization Concerns: Some users are concerned about the game's monetization model, feeling that too much content is locked behind a paywall.
  • Language Preferences: While the majority of reviews are in English, there are also reviews in Chinese and other languages, indicating a global player base.

Conclusion

Speed Stars is a popular game with a solid foundation, but it is plagued by several persistent issues that detract from the user experience. Addressing the high-priority issues (data loss, leaderboard hacking, crashing bugs, and payment problems) is crucial for retaining existing players and attracting new ones. Implementing the frequently requested features (more relays, field events, and customization options) would further enhance the game and increase player engagement. A more balanced monetization model and a focus on consistent quality control are also essential for long-term success.

Overall Recommendation: Prioritize bug fixes and anti-cheat measures, followed by the addition of new content and features based on user feedback.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/speed-stars/id1573039936?uo=2