Comments on: 3D 'Air Hockey Pro' is Realistic and Fun

By: SalsaMD

SalsaMD — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:48:20 +0000

Also noted (n=1) that the game appeared to slow down, rather than pause completely when an SMS text was received.

By: SalsaMD

SalsaMD — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:57:13 +0000

Sean,

Thanks for checking in.

A few other suggestions.

Wrt Carlos's statistics incorporation: perhaps you could incorporate that into a career mode of teams competing in the NHL, where different tables are unlocked as you move towards the finals.

You might also allow some customization of the paddle color (I think red would be better on the classic table, for example). Maybe simple vertical stripe options as well.

Finally, I wonder whether you could do anything with the "room". Rather than a simple grey background, perhaps something unobtrusive with at least a floor and walls…perhaps a hockey stick thrown into the mix in a corner of the room as well.

Great work!

By: Bjorn Keizers

Bjorn Keizers — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:53:54 +0000

Great to hear Sean! Definitely enjoying it so far — but with a few tweaks, it will be perfect.

By: SeanM

SeanM — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:20:53 +0000

All great input everyone. I will incorporate these suggestions into the game. I'm also working on a fix for the occasional puck jumping bug. Will have an update rolled out asap!

By: SalsaMD

SalsaMD — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 08:02:29 +0000

..also game should remember settings when you close out and return to it.

By: SalsaMD

SalsaMD — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:38:39 +0000

@ your personal robot

I agree with the technical points you address.

I also think a few aesthetic/polishing features could be addressed:

1 The menu should have some ambience music, and feedback sounds when selection are made. The silence just seems odd.

2. The pad contrast against the pony table needs to be improved. On the classic table as well, the opponent pad is sometime difficult to discern well when it is fully illuminated by light (usually when it is near its goal).

Nonetheless, I have replaced the other two air hockey games on my iphone with this one. Bring on the WIFI!

By: your personal robot

your personal robot — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:14:25 +0000

Overall feel is fantastic, but I have 2 big complaints:
1: Physics are partly very bad, mostly I just have to
touch the puck to accelerate it to high speed, feels very strange.
2: I hate the type of controls where my pad (or ship or whatever) moves far more than my finger, this ruined Sky Thunder and they fixed it. The pad really has to stay exactly above the finger, then it would feel right.

By: J Clark

J Clark — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 06:27:14 +0000

This is a really great game. Thirty seconds in I was already enjoying it more than the free air hockey game I'd downloaded before. Sure, it could use more stuff, but it's a solid time waster as is.

I especially like how the sight line shifts slightly to follow the puck. It's barely noticeable when you're playing, but it's there, and I think it really adds to the realism of the game.

By: SalsaMD

SalsaMD — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:33:27 +0000

From the Developer's site:

"Thanks to those who have sent in feedback! Work is already underway on an update. The next version will include:

•More realistic puck sounds
•Customizable victory score
•Unlockable content (new table styles!)
•Miscellaneous tweaks + improvements

•I will begin to tackle multi-player gameplay over Wi-Fi after that.
Air Hockey Pro is now available within the iTunes app store!!

What started off as an evening playing around with the iPhone SDK turned into this. Thanks to the entire fam for the testing + feedback."

By: xenol

xenol — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:10:15 +0000

without multiplayer it is still clone like all others. do not dare to buy it before they will release mp, if they won't just take free one it's the same.