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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
After thought......
After about a year worth of reading and working with objective C, it is very satisfying to finally see my completed app on the app store. Even thou I'm not sure how it's doing in the general public, it feels like I just let go of some heavy luggage on my back. I guess that's just how I am, I take on a task and it bothers me if I don't finish it. Sleep is definitely better now without ideas and problems flying through my head, at least for awhile. I'm already pondering about improvements, but its not the same as before. I've read many blogs from others that has entered the realm of app creation, but somehow, I don't feel they were as bad as what I went through. Most likely because they are programmers to begin with, while its only a hobby for me.
So for those that like to tinker with computer or geeky stuff like me, I would highly recommend creating your own app. Just don't get the following books if you want to learn: iPhone and iPads Apps for Absolute Beginners by Rory Lewis or iPhone Programming for Dummies. Yes, i did go there, but its not without reason.
The first book I mention has a strange approach. They basically throw you into making many different simple apps and keep on deferring the reason behind processes until further into the book. While it's nice to be able to get something up and running quick, I don't learn anything and I can't repeat them because I have no idea what I was doing! Furthermore, when the reasoning is explained later, I had no idea what he was referring to from a couple of chapters back. However, I do give Dr. Lewis credit for trying a different approach but it was very difficult to focus on, for me at least. The second book I mentioned was from the Dummies series and the entire book was written to create only one game. A very complicated game and full of errors. I think I spend the most time with this book because almost none of the code complies! There was one chapter (chapter 9) where I spend a whole month trying to understand because the code wouldn't compile and the entire month was spend trying to fix the errors. Did I learn from this book, yes, but not straight forward as it was mostly googling the fixes for the errors. And since I'm already half way into the book, I didn't give up and held up to the end. I'm sorry if the point of the book was reverse psychology , but it was not a satisfying experience. Btw, both books were for the iOS 3.2 versions.
What I do recommend for great objective C and iphone programming books are the Big Nerd Ranch series and the "Sams Teach Yourself blah, blah, blah in 24 hours" books. They have great examples, pictures and clear description on what to do, what your doing and where to look for further help. I especially liked the "further challenge" from both series that push you to use what you learned from each chapter and create something yourself. I usually find it very satisfying after each chapter of these books.
So for those that like to tinker with computer or geeky stuff like me, I would highly recommend creating your own app. Just don't get the following books if you want to learn: iPhone and iPads Apps for Absolute Beginners by Rory Lewis or iPhone Programming for Dummies. Yes, i did go there, but its not without reason.
The first book I mention has a strange approach. They basically throw you into making many different simple apps and keep on deferring the reason behind processes until further into the book. While it's nice to be able to get something up and running quick, I don't learn anything and I can't repeat them because I have no idea what I was doing! Furthermore, when the reasoning is explained later, I had no idea what he was referring to from a couple of chapters back. However, I do give Dr. Lewis credit for trying a different approach but it was very difficult to focus on, for me at least. The second book I mentioned was from the Dummies series and the entire book was written to create only one game. A very complicated game and full of errors. I think I spend the most time with this book because almost none of the code complies! There was one chapter (chapter 9) where I spend a whole month trying to understand because the code wouldn't compile and the entire month was spend trying to fix the errors. Did I learn from this book, yes, but not straight forward as it was mostly googling the fixes for the errors. And since I'm already half way into the book, I didn't give up and held up to the end. I'm sorry if the point of the book was reverse psychology , but it was not a satisfying experience. Btw, both books were for the iOS 3.2 versions.
What I do recommend for great objective C and iphone programming books are the Big Nerd Ranch series and the "Sams Teach Yourself blah, blah, blah in 24 hours" books. They have great examples, pictures and clear description on what to do, what your doing and where to look for further help. I especially liked the "further challenge" from both series that push you to use what you learned from each chapter and create something yourself. I usually find it very satisfying after each chapter of these books.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Accepted, Yeah!
Finally, Apple has accepted my app and should be available to everyone to enjoy on Feb 10. The process of creating and submitting this game was grueling, however it was a learning experience. I hope everybody that gets my game has fun and feel free to post and comments and/or suggestions.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
My very first app!
There, I've done it. I've stepped into the crazy world of creating a game for Apple's app store. As a matter of fact, I have always wanted to created video games after playing them at a local arcade when I was younger. I remember trying hard to finally strike with my parents into getting me a video gaming system back in 1991. The deal was to get straight A's in one semester from school. Two years later, I did it and they bought me the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). I stayed up for a couple of nights playing Super Mario World. I remember those days like if it was yesterday. In retrospect, I believe that was the only time in all of my educational years that I've ever gotten straight A's. I would say video games were the cause for rise and fall of my grades. I was promised the SNES if I got straight A's and afterwards, I was never able to focus enough to get straight A's anymore.
For some weird reason, I majored in finance and ended up walking down the usual path of working for "Corporate America". However, the passion of video gaming still resides in me and I currently own about 5 video games systems including my original SNES. A career change now is totally not feasible; with a baby and a house on the way, but thank God for the App Store! Along with it....the iOS SDK! All the tools you would ever need to build your very own video game (almost)! And no career change needed.
This system that Apple created is wonderful, it has tools easy enough for beginners to take a shot at or powerful enough for high end developers to create some awesome games. For me, I wanted to start off with an easy and simple game. So now, without further interruptions, I present to you.....Fat Piggy!! Yeah!!
The game is very simple, there are donuts falling from the sky (I know, WTF!?!) and there are piggies that "eat" these donuts. There are four different colored donuts and similarly different colored pigs. The donut colors are random when they appear and the trick here is to match the color of the donut to the color of the pig. The pigs are static while the donuts keep falling on top of them. You change the donut color by touching them on the iphone/ipod touch screen. The piggies get grayed and spin out if the colors mismatch; but after awhile, they come back from grayed status in a different color to make it more fun. Also, the donuts fall faster and faster as time passes. When a bonus star appears, you can shake the iphone/ipod touch to magically change all the donut colors on the screen to match the pig colors they correspond to. There is also the option in the setting screen to listen to your own music while playing the game.
The origin for this is actually kinda weird. I have a colleague at work that is a health freak. Me on the other hand, eat all kinds of fatty, but delicious crap. When we have potluck breakfast sometimes, donuts are the usual favorite to bring in. My colleague never fails to give me crap about eating donuts and calls me donut boy all the time. Meanwhile, at home my wife notices that I've been gaining a few extra pounds after our wedding. Therefore, she gives me the nickname, "Fat Pig." We're Chinese, so the nickname is not as bad as how it sounds in English. Anyway, to make a long story short, I combined my breakfast of choice eating habit with my Americanized Chinese nickname to create, "Fat Piggy." The reason for "Piggy" instead of "Pig" is because "Fat Pig" is already taken according to Apple, but I can't for the life of me find anything even remotely similar in the app store.
Ok, ok, this might not be the best thing since slice bread but it is something I've spent many months and sleepless nights on and I'm happy I pulled through. Hopefully, you will have as much fun with it as I did making it.
While I am still in the works to get this game published by Apple and is in the submission process, I will keep everyone posted when I get the "OK" (fingers crossed).
Also, I will use this blog as a area to get any feedback, advice and/or question you may have in regards to my game when it finally gets released.
For some weird reason, I majored in finance and ended up walking down the usual path of working for "Corporate America". However, the passion of video gaming still resides in me and I currently own about 5 video games systems including my original SNES. A career change now is totally not feasible; with a baby and a house on the way, but thank God for the App Store! Along with it....the iOS SDK! All the tools you would ever need to build your very own video game (almost)! And no career change needed.
This system that Apple created is wonderful, it has tools easy enough for beginners to take a shot at or powerful enough for high end developers to create some awesome games. For me, I wanted to start off with an easy and simple game. So now, without further interruptions, I present to you.....Fat Piggy!! Yeah!!
The game is very simple, there are donuts falling from the sky (I know, WTF!?!) and there are piggies that "eat" these donuts. There are four different colored donuts and similarly different colored pigs. The donut colors are random when they appear and the trick here is to match the color of the donut to the color of the pig. The pigs are static while the donuts keep falling on top of them. You change the donut color by touching them on the iphone/ipod touch screen. The piggies get grayed and spin out if the colors mismatch; but after awhile, they come back from grayed status in a different color to make it more fun. Also, the donuts fall faster and faster as time passes. When a bonus star appears, you can shake the iphone/ipod touch to magically change all the donut colors on the screen to match the pig colors they correspond to. There is also the option in the setting screen to listen to your own music while playing the game.The origin for this is actually kinda weird. I have a colleague at work that is a health freak. Me on the other hand, eat all kinds of fatty, but delicious crap. When we have potluck breakfast sometimes, donuts are the usual favorite to bring in. My colleague never fails to give me crap about eating donuts and calls me donut boy all the time. Meanwhile, at home my wife notices that I've been gaining a few extra pounds after our wedding. Therefore, she gives me the nickname, "Fat Pig." We're Chinese, so the nickname is not as bad as how it sounds in English. Anyway, to make a long story short, I combined my breakfast of choice eating habit with my Americanized Chinese nickname to create, "Fat Piggy." The reason for "Piggy" instead of "Pig" is because "Fat Pig" is already taken according to Apple, but I can't for the life of me find anything even remotely similar in the app store.
Ok, ok, this might not be the best thing since slice bread but it is something I've spent many months and sleepless nights on and I'm happy I pulled through. Hopefully, you will have as much fun with it as I did making it.
While I am still in the works to get this game published by Apple and is in the submission process, I will keep everyone posted when I get the "OK" (fingers crossed).
Also, I will use this blog as a area to get any feedback, advice and/or question you may have in regards to my game when it finally gets released.
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