Sorry for the lack of updates on this. I've had a few problems with the review process, and will therefore have to re-submit this app. Currently however, I'm waiting for a reply from apple concerning the problem to make sure I get it right the next time, and of course they are being very slow at getting back to me! I'll keep you updated on the progress, but in the mean time, feel free to ask anymore questions you might have, and whether you would like to see anymore of those tutorial videos. My apologies for the delay!
^id like to see more tutorial videos. Is it going to be possible to make say tanks with working tracks or even mechs/robots with walking legs and shooting projectiles. Just thinking of things that would make cool sides rolling games.
In reply to your question, I have made a quick video to demonstrate both the walking robot with legs shooting projectiles and a tank with working tracks. It didn't take too long to make these 'vehicles', but you do have to think about it... what joints you need, where to anchor them, setting up physics collisions properly, but it's certainly possible! Also just a note, the tank works ok, but after using it too much I find that those tracks do eventually break, and I can't think of much I can do about that because its just the physics engine I'm using. It would probably be ok if the tank was moving slowly though, it was only when I moved it back and forth lots that they broke. Also, in case you wonder, It wouldn't be hard to make those legs and weapon die when the body did using triggers, but I kinda liked the effect of just the body dying. Anyway, enjoy! Subscribe to the TouchArcade YouTube channel
Its looking damn cool, like a crazy physics sandbox that you can play in Does look like it will take some getting used to but loos like it will be worth it. Hope it gets sorted out soon.
Thanks, I hope you feel the same way after you've played it! Also if you have trouble getting around some of the features, then let me know and I can make a written tutorial for it on the website to help out, which I can post on here as well. Best thing to do though will just be to play around with the different attributes and values, as well as using the help files, and I'm sure you'll figure it all out! I think once people get used to the main concept of creating an object and adding attributes to it, then from there its just a matter of experimenting. Most attributes are simple to setup, its just the more complex ones that may need more explaining, like the joints and triggers.
Unfortunately, Apple has rejected it again. They seem to have a problem with allowing users to download the level files, specifically "the contents of these files include sufficient scripting of object interaction that these are not appropriate for downloading into the app" as they said. I have no idea why they wouldn't be appropriate, and I've asked for more details, but it seems to take forever to get a reply out of them! If this does turn out to be a problem that I can't resolve, then the only way I can do it is to allow users to share the files with me, and then I can add them to the app for the next update. So if it has to be done like this, then you'd have to wait a couple of weeks for each level pack (depending how many people submit levels of course) instead of being able to get them instantly. If I do it like this, then I'll probably do it in a way that there is still a list of levels, with ratings and high scores, which you can copy to the devices documents folder for playing and editing. So the only difference would be that you'd have to wait for updates to play new levels. So I'd be curious to know what you all think about this? would the game still interest you? I'm guessing to begin with it would interest the creative people who like to create games more than those of you who just like playing other peoples games... but as time goes on and more and more updates come out, more of you would start to like it as well as there would be lots of games available to play. But I'm still hoping maybe I can get to the bottom of what Apple doesn't like about the online service, but it's looking unlikely! I apologise for this delay!
Been following this thread for a week or two and am disappointed to hear about the trouble with sharing files. I'm looking forward to it any which way - would just love to get my hands on it. Good luck.
Hmmm there must be some way around it as games like "sketch nation" and bike baron let users create and share levels, Either way sounds good for me though as I'm more interested in messing around to see what I can make, playing other people's creations will be cool but not my main draw. There would be a upside to you receiving and updating the app with the user levels though. Because that way we might not get a million crap levels of people testing random things out. Well hope it all gets sorted out anyway.
Thank you for the replies, it's good to know you're still interested! As for games like Sketch Nation and Bike Baron, they are much more limited then this one.. they let users create levels, but very specific ones, and I think thats the problem. My game is very customisable, and so many different things can be done with it, which I'm guessing is where "sufficient scripting of object interaction" comes from. But I'm still not sure what isn't appropriate about this, and I'll be sure to update about any replies I get. Also, as far as getting a million random test levels... with the current system, I have to review and accept every game that is shared, which I did to prevent just that, and also any rude or bad content. So either way the user is getting the same games, they will now just have to wait longer, the only difference being that Apple will now also be reviewing all the games I add in updates. Anyway, I'll be working on the altered version over the next few days while I wait to hear back from Apple, because I'm assuming I won't be able to sort out the current system. Either way, I'll keep you updated, and of course answer anymore questions you might have about the game. Thanks again for the support!
Wow that really sucks. I'm sorry to hear it. Maybe you can talk it over with them and come to some understanding that will allow you to ship it with the functionality you need. They're probably concerned that people will start putting up apps that can be modified later without approval by uploading new scripts.
Thanks, and hopefully they will call me again so I can ask them exactly what it is they don't like about it. But the thing is, if someone uploads a game for others to play, I have to accept it, like I said before. But they can't in anyway update that.. they would have to upload the level again, and it would appear as a whole new level which needs to be accepted again. Once someone downloads a game, they can play it as is, or edit it if they want to, but thats their choice. So once I accept a game, it can't be changed to make it bad in anyway. And the level file doesn't contain 'scripts', it just contains a load of variables.. positions, attributes etc to recreate the world. And yet the guideline they say I'm breaking is the one about downloading code into the app. So it still confuses me! But hopefully I'll be able to get to the bottom of it.
I see. It could be that they saw the customizability available through the exposed variables and misinterpreted it. Hopefully they'll change their minds about it. Good luck!
Thanks! I hope they change their minds at some point. But for now I've been working on the 'offline' version, which is pretty much done now. It'll basically look the same as it did before, with a browse screen to view all user created levels, with high scores and ratings, and an icon to show whether its featured or not. The only difference will be that instead of downloading level files from the server, you copy them across from the game bundle. Uploading levels will work the same, as will rating them, and the high score is still automatic after finishing a level if you're connected to the internet. So really the only difference is that you'll only see new levels with updates every couple of weeks instead of every day, and the app size will slowly get larger and larger (still small enough for 3g though). I've also added an offline mode in case you're worried about data charges if you're not connected to wi-fi. This mode will disable any internet connections within the app. So you can still look at user created levels, but you won't see the high scores, ratings or featured icons, and you won't be able to contribute to the high score. I still need to do a bit of testing, but I'm aiming to get it sent off tomorrow, and hopefully this time it will pass review.
It has now been submitted once again for review, so fingers crossed it will pass this time! I'll be sure to keep you updated when I find out anything.
