"Angry Birds Star Wars II" has been widely criticized for having a confusing, opaque bonus and extra power system - and the four years younger Rovio game is actually now performing at par with the ancient "Doodle Jump" in the US iPhone chart. Zombies 2" was a major stumble by Electronic Arts, tarnishing the crown jewel of its app range. Many majestic mobile game franchises have recently stumbled with sequels that have introduced unnecessary complications or sprawl. New seasonal or themed variations do affect game play and introduce some variation, but they never disrupt the original flow and feel of the game. Practically all mobile games now receive regular updates and expansion packs, but "Doodle Jump" more or less pioneered the concept.
This was a conscious move designed to prevent dilution and fragmentation of the core brand. Unlike so many later hit franchises, "Doodle Jump" never got a sequel.
Igor Pusenjak, the quirky and intense cocreator of the game, has a very clear and idiosyncratic vision of how to run the one-game empire he built with his brother. It is the only iPhone app with this kind of longevity. Five years later, Lima Sky's platform jumper is still a Top 30 mainstay.
One early app hit held on for half a decade of app industry turmoil. Apple's iPhone app platform was still in its infancy and nobody realized just how huge the content empire would be. In March 2009, an iPhone app called "Doodle Jump" debuted and entered rapidly the Top 20 paid download chart.