Blindfold Bowling

Category

Description of App

Blindfold Bowling is an fully accessible audio game that's similar to the ten pin bowling.

In Blindfold Bowling, you can play by yourself, against a variety of computer opponents, or side-by-side with another person.

You throw the bowling ball by either flicking with one finger, or aiming with one finger and flicking, or setting the exact angle with your thumb and forefinger, and then flick. The faster you flick, the faster you throw the ball.

You hear the ball rolling down the alley, and hitting pins. Like real bowling, you can get a strike, or a spare, or even miss completely with a gutter ball. And you can post your high scores to Facebook or Twitter.

Blindfold Bowling was suggested by several blind gamers who enjoyed Blindfold Pong and Blindfold Spades.

The game includes several in-app upgrades, including a starter pack for unlimited play, an ability to customize your ball and the pins to make the game harder, to let you pick and customize your competitors, and side-by-side mode.

Version

1.4.3

Free or Paid

Free

Apple Watch Support

No

Device(s) App Was Tested On

iPhone

iOS Version

9.0.2

Accessibility Comments

Fully Voice-Over friendly.

VoiceOver Performance

VoiceOver reads all page elements.

Button Labeling

All buttons are clearly labeled.

Usability

The app is fully accessible with VoiceOver and is easy to navigate and use.

Other Comments

Good sound and challenging, especially with the highest aiming method. A game that has been long awaited by bowlers. While the game operation is easily understood, success is not easily achieved. I love it.

Developer's Twitter Username

@STEMdad

Recommendations

12 people have recommended this app

Most recently recommended by AnonyMouse 4 years 3 months ago

Options

Comments

By Khalfan Bin Dhaher on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

I searched for the game on the AppStore and didn't find it. I think this post should be removed or unpublished until the app is officially in the AppStore.
Thanks.

By Clare Page on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by Khalfan Bin Dhaher

I just searched for Blindfold Bowling myself, and it is in the French App Store: I have now installed it but haven't played it yet. So this game has definitely been released: I look forward to playing it. In the meantime, I regret to say I don't have the App Store link, as I installed the app straight on to my iPhone 6, and I'm not sure of how to get hold of the link to post it here. If anyone else has the App Store link for Blindfold Bowling, please either post it in the comments here, or ask for it to be added to the App Directory entry above.

By Scott Davert on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

The link provided above works fine for me. Could it be that there is a different link for those outside the US?

By Clare Page on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by Scott Davert

You're right, Scott, the App Store Link for Blindfold Bowling now works, as the correct link is now written in the enetry above as I write this. When I wrote my previous post earlier today, there was only an AppleVis link above where the App Store link should be. To get back to the game itself, I have played it a couple of times since I last posted here, once by myself and once against the computer, and I really enjoy it: I've only tried the easiest bowling method so far, but I may try the harder ones at a future date: in the meantime, I can already say that Blindfold Bowling is definitely one of my favourites in the Blindfold Games series.

By charles on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

The only problem I had when writing the review was finding the link to the app in the app store. Hopefully, someone can instruct me on how to get it? I use iTunes to find apps using the search feature. Using Windows XP and JAWS 15, how do I get the link to the app in the app store copied, or even found, so that I can include it in an app review? Thanks.

By sockhopsinger on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

It doesn't involve using the iTunes store, but when I want to put an app link on, I Google the app and get the app store link that way.

By Kelly Sapergia on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

I got this game last night after the entry was posted on AppleVis, and really like it. It certainly reminded me a lot of my local White Cane Club's weekly trips to the bowling alley, though we played five-pin bowling rather than ten. (Wonder if that's a Canadian version of the game?) In any case, I highly recommend it, and plan on recording a podcast about it for the site.

By KidFriendlySoftware on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by Kelly Sapergia

People should let me know if they want more variations of the bowling game; I've played ten pin, and nothing else but now that the game is built, I can add more types of bowling games as in-app upgrades.

By patrick kelly on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Hi,
I was done with a game, and set the game up to post to twitter in setting. However, when I two finger double tap, nothing happens.

I've also noticed when resuming a game that I sometimes get scores of -2 pins knocked down as well as it saying I left 0 pins standing when the game first resumes.

I will say that I'm running a 9.1 public beta, and can downgrade back to 9.02 if that is the cause of this.
Thanks

By Siobhan on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Hi. Played a few times, awesome game as well as three blind folds per one coin. Neat idea. Is there a way to add a candlepin or small pin bowling game? In that one I think you have three balls to throw so you can get the strike the spare and still try to get those last pins down. Also is it possible to challenge a friend via game center? Just suggestions. I've also seen the minus 2 pins using 9.0.2 if it happens again i'll email you.

By KidFriendlySoftware on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

If you play the one finger simple throw, it doesn't post to twitter or facebook; I will change that in the next version.

By Saqib on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

When I'm playing against the computer! I can't see the computers throw Is a reason for this? I got 174 points against the computer. I'm pleased that games like this are catering for low vision users as I can enjoy these sort of games.

By KidFriendlySoftware on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by Saqib

I created the game as an audio game; while the screen shows what's going on for your throw, I did that more to validate that things were working than to provide a visual display. You will also find that the screen sometimes gets ahead of the voice in all of my games. Even though you are low vision, you are probably better off not looking at the screen. Would you like me to add a setting where the screen is made dark, so its less frustrating. To go back to the games, and make the screen completely in sync with the voice is non-trivial; I would prefer to spend that time building more games. What are your thoughts?

By patrick kelly on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

It seems to happen if you fowl on a throw from what I see.

By Ken Downey on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

The negative pins are indeed from fouling. I had meant to report that bug during testing and forgot to. Sorry about that. Marty, I did not know the games had any visuals to them at all. To me, this doubles their value because I can play them with my kids, who are sighted and can't stand audio games. One game I would like to see is a hundred pinbowling game, like on the Wii. Of course, in that case I wouldn't report pin numbers unless there were ten pins standing or fewer.

As it is to be a blindfold game, can you now eliminate all visuals? Now that you know that the game is working, visual cues of any kind are no longer necessary, and people with any amount of eyesight would not be confused by visual stuff on the screen. For now, if people set their iDevice's screen curtain to "on" that should delete what confuses or distracts.

From what I remember about candle pin bowling, the pins are very skinny, b ut set on the same spots, so are spaced farther apart. The ball has no holes, and is about the size of a beep ball, or large softball, weighing 4 to 5 pounds instead of 8 to 16. You are given 3 shots at the rack. Strikes and spares are scores the same as in tenpin bowling, and the total pinfall is counted after the third throw. If all pins are knocked down on that third throw, no bonus is given. The big problem with this game, though, is that the pins that have been knocked down are not removed from the pin deck, and you have to overcome this wooden garbage. It would be difficult to describe where they lie to a blind bowler after the first or second shot. The approack and lane are the same length and width as in tenpin bowling.

By Siobhan on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Hi Charles, you're right about the description, though I never played beep ball, not my interest. Anyway could the description be something like "Standing pins seven ten. Wood at pin six and five. So we still throw where we think the seven ten pins are but the wood helps us get the ten shot? If nothing else, I'd love to test even a beta in whatever form is come up with, and if it's not working I can say I thought of a game, it sucked, at least I tried. Right? :) Thanks for the good description.

By Saqib on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Hi. I actually prefer the display as I seem to score more. Perhaps it might be better to have an option wihtin settings to turn the display off. Please don't remove graphics from any of your games as I do play Blackjack as well! What your doing is different to what other devs do as they don't include a display. I really think you are doing great work and the community is enjoying your products.

By KidFriendlySoftware on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by Saqib

No problem - we'll keep the display. No one else has brought this issue up before, I assume, since most people who enjoy my games are completely blind. I am starting to work with some blind/deaf people, by adding voice-over support for braille devices.

By a12608 (not verified) on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Where can I watch videos to get the coins?

By Siobhan on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Hi. Just another question suggestion. btw, it's awesome you're starting to have voice over support on Braille devices, that will go great with things like blackjack. anyway right ow it's three blindfolds a coin, can you make it maybe two or even one to one ratio? Just wondering if that might build up the coins faster as it takes one cointo play but earn three for one small video. Just offering help. :)

By Toonhead on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Hi. The subject line pretty much says it all. It would be very cool to get 20 coins instead of 10, and if we could get 1 coin per blindfold, it'd take a bit of the repetitive factor away. It is a supurb game, I'm loving it, and already purchased more coins so I make sure I don't run out. I couldn't quite afford the unlimited coins, as $14.99 is a bit steap. I'm on a budget, lol! Thanks for such awesome games!

Go to GET UPGRADES and its the last or second to last menu item.

By charles on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by Saqib

In a blindfold game, you are not supposed to see anything that might assist you. That's the whole purpose of it. Give neither a blind or sighted person an advantage. All players, whether blind or sighted, or somewhere in between, must listen instead of look.

By charles on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by KidFriendlySoftware

Due to the fact that coins can be gotten by watching very short videos, and based on how much you get paid per video watched, I think the current amount given at the start and the number of videos required to have been watched are both fair. Game creation costs money, and you've got togt it from somewhere, right? I, too, am on a very tight budget and am trying to save up to get a computer that has Windows 7 at the least, so game support isn't much at the moment. But I do occasionally support developers, and you should easily guess who one of them will be. You will be getting moneyfrom me in November!

By Brian Giles on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

I'm really enjoying this game. It's a good pick up and play game when you have a few minutes to kill.

A couple things that would make the game better though. Playing against other people through Game Center would be awesome, along with leaderboards and achievements. It'd also be really cool to have the option to play by swinging your phone like the bowling game on the Wii. I know there's another bowloign game on the app store that does this. It'd make the game more realistic.

By Siobhan on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Hi Kid Friendly software: lol. Anyway I now understand why you need three blindfolds for one coin. Perfectly acceptable you'l hear no more discussion of why it can't be one per one. :) Still think the candlepin even if it were a beta tested onet hat got scrapped might be fun even if it's only like in the simple throw mode. Thanks for a great game I need to get more coins already lol. don't forget those who play two players aim and throw, you use two coins makes sense and I forgot that as I was curious why I was nearly down tonothing in my coin purse. Lol.

I agree that it would be nice to play Blindfold Bowling against Game Center friends and have achievements. As for swinging our i-devices around to play, that would certainly be more realistic, but, given that we may not always have the space to swing our iPhones around, and some people might be playing Blindfold Bowling on iPads anyway, the swinging method should be optional, with the original finger-moving method still there for those who don't want to swing their devices around for whatever reason.

By Brian Giles on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Yeah. Using the sensors in your phone to play by swinging it would be cool as an option but by all means keep what's already there.

It'd also be cool if coins worked like lives in games like Candy Crush and Jelly Splash, where they refill after a certain amount or time. Maybe not every hour like games like that, but maybe they could give you 2 or 3 coins a day and you could watch videos if you want more.

Or, maybe take another page out of Dice World's book and tournaments you could play to win more coins.

Just some other thoughts...

By Cam on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

I watched a sponsored video to earn 1 blindfold, in order to get 3 blindfolds for 1 coin. However, at the end of the video, it says "thanks for watching the sponsored video. you have earned 1 blindfold." But it doesn't look like there's a way to exit back to the game. Flick and swiping around the screen doesn't seem to help either. Am I doing something wrong here?

By Vsevolod Popov on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

Hi all. I have something with koins. Today i earned 2 or 3 koins, but after that when i press on the button there isn't suggestion for watching videos. Why does it hepand? Maybe i'm missing something?

By Ken Downey on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

The visual displaer isà good thing, and it doesn't give agyhere an advantage because the bb "but exactly where the pins are through hearingdd,if this were a speed-based gafe theg the display would%give an advagtagewh Fer sighted kids might actually play this one with me because ed has graphics.

By charles on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by Vsevolod Popov

You can only get a certain number of coins per day. You have to wait until tomorrow to get more.

By Steve on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

I've discovered a couple of bugs:

1. In iOS 7, go to the get upgrades screen, and buy something. The game crashes after the transaction is completed. Thus, while you are billed, you can't ever use what was purchased, even when attempting to restore purchases. I have an older iPod Touch which I have no interest in upgrading to iOS 9. Purchasing on my 5S running 9.1 worked fine.

2. Create a two-player game. Allow both players to bowl through the first frame. At the end of player two's turn, but before the "player 1, it's your turn" announcement sounds, put your finger on the upper-half of the screen. The announcement of player 1 forfeiting a turn is announced. Now make a throw. Every time I'm told that I knocked over -1 pins.

I hope this is helpful. Over all it's a great game. Highly recommended.

By KidFriendlySoftware on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

When your coin limit for the day is exceeded, adcolony doesn't do anything. I reported the bug to them, but haven't heard back. For the next version that I just submitted to apple, when we detect that situation, a pop-up message is shown.

By Wayne Scott Jr on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by KidFriendlySoftware

When I tapped on listen to videos, nothing happens. It goes to it, but all I get is a blank screen. VoiceOcver doesn't work there. I need to get more coins.

By Joe on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

I really love this game thank you so much for making it. Game suggestion could you do a golf game like Kitchens golf game or maybe a football game? I'd love more audio type of games and this was so well done.

By sockhopsinger on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

If you don't want the display to be enabled, there is always the three-finger triple tap to turn on the screen curtain so nobody can see the screen. Just a thought.

By Wayne Scott Jr on Friday, October 23, 2015 - 19:19

In reply to by Joe

I am looking for an accessible baseball game and a golfing game ; also a trucker game and a Monopoly game like the ones on Jim Kitchens site. I had a couple of blindfold games tht I had to delete because I couldn't get coins to play them. Specifically, Dominoes and earts. I'd love to play those, but it didn't giveme a coin to play.