reconnecting with childhood inspiration
Zen Garden is a digital reinterpretation of a cherished game from my childhood. The original was a physical patience game – a small cylindrical box with a thick paper bottom, tiny silver balls, and circular holes. The challenge? To carefully tilt and steer the balls into their resting places. This simple yet engrossing task was both calming and rewarding, sparking focus and patience.
When I started my coding journey and discovered the iPhone’s gyroscope capabilities, memories of this game came back. It felt like the perfect inspiration for my very first app. And so, Zen Garden was born – a tribute to the original game, reimagined for the digital age.
gameplay: calm in every motion
The concept of Zen Garden is straightforward yet deeply soothing. Using subtle movements of your iPhone, you guide digital silver balls across the screen to their resting places: delicate flower blossoms. The experience requires careful, precise movements, inviting a sense of mindfulness and focus. To deepen the calming effect, I incorporated guided breathing breaks into the app, offering moments of tranquility amid the gameplay.
a learning journey
Building Zen Garden wasn’t just about creating an app; it was a personal milestone in my journey as a self-taught developer. The process taught me:
- Framework Familiarity: I learned to navigate Apple’s UIKit and SpriteKit frameworks.
- Localization: Implementing multiple languages to make the app accessible to more users.
- Design: Creating the visual elements of the app, from the blossoms to the background image.
- Publishing: Understanding the end-to-end process of submitting an app to Apple’s App Store, including compliance with the Human Interface Guidelines, privacy requirements and others.
It was a transformative experience that showed me the joy and complexity of bringing an idea to life from scratch. Every challenge and every breakthrough reinforced my love for coding and the satisfaction of crafting something entirely my own.
try zen garden
Zen Garden isn’t just a game – it’s an invitation to slow down, focus, and rediscover the joy of small, meaningful actions. Whether you’re seeking a mindful break or curious about the creative journey behind it, Zen Garden offers a unique blend of relaxation and nostalgia.
Let’s tilt, breathe, and find our calm – one silver ball at a time. 🌸
