Why I Made American Football Runner So Difficult
I kept losing at my own game.
Not once. Not twice. Over and over again.
And the funny thing is... I was the one who made it.
When I started developing American Football Runner, I wanted to create something that looked simple but actually required skill.
It's a 2D pixel art game inspired by American football, but it's not a traditional football simulator. It's about reflexes, timing, and making the right move at the right moment.
You run, dodge defenders, jump, slide, and try to reach the end zone.
Sounds easy, right?
Well, I couldn't even win my own game at first.
I kept making mistakes. Sometimes I'd jump too early. Sometimes I'd react too late. And sometimes I'd get so close to scoring a touchdown, only to lose everything in the final seconds.
It was frustrating.
But something interesting happened when I finally won.
I felt genuinely happy. Not because of a fancy animation or some huge reward, but because I had actually earned that victory.
And that's the feeling I wanted other players to experience.
But I started questioning something...
American Football Runner isn't just about individual matches. There's also a career system where your performance matters.
You can join better teams, earn more money, compete in championships, and build your reputation.
But losing has consequences, too.
Lose too many matches, and your team might fire you. You could end up playing for a weaker club with fewer rewards.
I thought this would make every match meaningful.
Now I'm realizing that there's a fine line between making a game challenging and making it frustrating.
So I've been working on improving the controls, making the tutorial clearer, and helping new players understand the mechanics without removing the challenge itself.
I still believe that the first victory should feel special.
I just don't want players to give up before they experience it.
I'd really like to hear your opinion.
Do you enjoy games that make you lose repeatedly before you finally succeed?
Or do you think a game should let you win a little before things get difficult?
I'm genuinely curious, because I'm still figuring out where that balance should be.
— The developer of American Football Runner
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