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Socoder -> Handheld Coding -> Anyone started iphone game development?

Tue, 15 Jun 2010, 01:07
LostUser
For the past 2-3 months I've been trying to get into iphone development, went on a course in Leeds, bought loads of books and even signed up to online video tutorials (ie: xcelme.com); but I still feel very frustrated with my pace as there is so much to learn, and that's before you even get to actual game development.

I've seen a lot of game coders use cocoa2d, I'm not really interested by 3d development (I've never been interested by it and am more of a retro 2d game person) and I'm wondering if anyone here has started with iphone game development.

I'm fining that the language of Objective C can be quite verbose and incredibly frustrating at times. I really don't understand why they didn't use a Python-like high level language.

I'm interested in finding out how difficult it was to do masking, sprite sheets, handling your own custom fonts, things like that. Also, if you went on a specific course, lecture, or bootcamp, etc.

In summary, have you started iphone game development; was it easy, difficult, what was your route to market, etc?
Tue, 15 Jun 2010, 01:36
Stealth
I opened up xcode to take a peek at this... I closed it 5 minutes later, frustrated.

I believe there are one or two iOS coders here.

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Quit posting and try Google.
Tue, 15 Jun 2010, 02:06
Mog
Hopefully with that stuff Sibly was spouting off about Blitzmax, iPhone dev will be easier soon. Here's to hoping!

-=-=-
I am Busy Mongoose - My Website

Dev PC: AMD 8150-FX, 16gb Ram, GeForce GTX 680 2gb

Current Project: Pyroxene
Tue, 15 Jun 2010, 02:11
Jayenkai
I'm slowly (slowly, slowly, slowly, slowly) getting there, bit by bit, by using my good old method.
...
Fling random bits of crap at the editor, until something works, then go "Oooh, that works!!" and feel quite good about it..

Part One
Part Two

By the end of part two, I'd managed to get a working tilemap with a tapable grid. Not a lot, but you can then switch it to work with sprites (move the grid around) and animate them by switching pictures.

I've yet to get back into the swing of things, but will be doing at some point this week.

And yes, it's a fucktard! Come on Mark, Gimme Blitz!!!

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''Load, Next List!''
Tue, 15 Jun 2010, 02:24
Stealth
Hopefully with that stuff Sibly was spouting off about Blitzmax, iPhone dev will be easier soon. Here's to hoping!


Apple pretty much banned third party compilers that convert other code to iPhone code.

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Quit posting and try Google.
Tue, 15 Jun 2010, 02:37
Jayenkai
Actually, I'm not 100% sure, but I think Mark was working on something that would convert it to something that XCode would then compile. Whether that's allowable or not remains to be seen.

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''Load, Next List!''
Tue, 15 Jun 2010, 02:41
JL235
Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript...
That pretty much knocks out BMax.

Tbh Blitz Basic is pretty minor compared to stuff like Unity. If they are not allowed to compile for the iPhone, then Mark doesn't have a chance.
Tue, 15 Jun 2010, 04:14
Jayenkai
Speaking of iPhing dev... Looks like I'm being forced into doing some right now!
I told Ubuntu that it could update itself.. It's now telling me it's got 2 hours to go!! FFS, I couldn't reinstalled the whole thing in that time!!
so, for the next 2 hours, I'm stuck on a Mac..

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''Load, Next List!''
Tue, 15 Jun 2010, 05:09
CodersRule
I prefer to write my iPhone apps in JavaScript...

But PhoneGap applications are against the terms that say you can't compile code into xcode code, so you can't go native with JavaScript anymore, which limits what you can do. You used to be able to use the accelerometer, but you can't without having a native app.
Tue, 27 Jul 2010, 06:26
LostUser
I have some interesting news!

I've done a lot of research with regards to Universities/Colleges that offer iphone/android (and/or other) platform development, unfortuently not many do. Most of which is documented on my blog.

But; I have recently found two 10-week short courses on iphone/ipod development, one covering the basics and the other in iphone games development, including OpenGL ES and what appears to be Cocos2d; and all for less than £500!

Basic Iphone course.
https://www.themanchestercollege.co.uk/courses/adult/iphoneipod-touch-software-development-objective-c

This one covers OpenGL and I think Cocos2d:
https://www.themanchestercollege.co.uk/courses/adult/iphoneipod-touch-games-development-objective-c

A 10 week short course in iphone games development for less than £500! I've been looking for something like this for literally months!

I am heading to Manchester tomorrow to hopefully talk with the course leader about this course, if you are in the area and are aiming to attend, please let me know -- it'd be great to meet with some of the socoder.net community.

Thanks.