Release Android

Implementation

Design Challenge

This devlog contributes to the release of SugarVita on the Google Play Store and is therefore not linked to any specific design challenge. Rather it contributes to this stepping stone.

Context

With the research finished, I now have to actually list the game on the Google Play Store. There is already an older version of the game available on the store but this needs to be updated or there should be an entirely new app because the existing app is still managed by the company that originally created SugarVita.

How to list an existing app on the Google Play Store?

Methods

Library - Expert Interview

The first subject of concern was the fact the old app was still in the app store. This needs to be resolved because Google doesn't allow multiple identical apps being published. I advised the product owner to contact the company that managed the app to discuss possibilities. The product owner got me into contact with a spokesperson from that company. We discussed some options and came to the conclusion the app should be transferred to the product owner so we would have full control. In a few days, the app was successfully transferred.

Library - Literature Study

When I got full control of the old app, I wanted to publish a new update. This didn't fare well because an app signing key is needed to upload any update to the store. This was obviously missing because that company used their own private key and shouldn't be sharing their private passwords with us. Because of this, I contacted Google support to report the key was lost so we could request another one. This however, didn't seem to work as I'd have expected. They told me it was impossible at this time to request a new key so I had to publish a new app and unpublish the existing one. 

Creating this new app on the store was pretty straight forward. Fill in forms, fill in more forms, click "Ok", even more forms. I used the Google support documentation to guide me through the process when it wasn't clear what the next step was. In the research of this topic, I listed two amazing videos which helped me through the process. 

Result & Validation

The result was SugarVita on the app stores and us being able to take a look at the analytics of the game on the app stores.

Next step

Now SugarVita is in the app store, I can test the game with the end users whom can provide feedback. With this I can improve the game, fix bugs and potentially create user suggested features.

Sources

Create and set up your app - Play Console Help. (2021). Google Documentation. Retrieved 12 April 2022, from https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9859152