GameSalad, Xcode, Lua, and other languages?
I was curious I've been using GameSalad and I want to know from actual people that use other languages like Xcode and Lua is it really hard to learn? I have bought books on Objective-C and Object Oriented languages and I find it extremely hard but in GameSalad I find it easier like when it says Rule: When touch is pressed I think this is more explained to me that is. Are there any languages out there this simple? Objective-C does not explain it like that to me and I really want to try and right an app using Xcode or any other language that is as simple as GameSalad.
Comments
any language...is confusing at first...it is a foreign language!
if you concentrate on only the areas that concern what you want to do...it is easier to learn.
lua encases xml very nicely...in GS what we do in the editor is translated to xml.
GS puts that xml into lua and packages it.
you can put the whole lua library(program) into Xcode...
that is one of the problems with Xcode...it is too robust and therefore most confusing.
Stanford University (iTunes U) has their whole iOS programming course available in podcasts...including what you need in objective-C....it is free! ...listen via iTunes or download...for your device(s.)
me, I will stick with GameSalad...it does what I want to do very well...(and I say that after having tried just about all of them!)
MH
PS if you master one language, you will have a better understanding of what the computer does with your code...keep exploring...not just the user interface...but what the engine does with your input...(EX: R-click the GS icon in Finder...Show Package Content...explore...also when you download your published game...check it out the same way.)
If you understand smalltalk you will have a better understanding of Obj-C.
For beginning programming though, wanting to see results immediatly, I would say if you want to learn to code, but don't want to be discouraged. Lua is the way to go.
However, learning strait C (and then Obj-C) is a HUGE bonus. Because almost every language in use today owes it's syntax to C. Obj-C is a layer on top of C so all C code will run in Obj-C.
But, again, that's academic, like if you are into programming languages and stuff. For immediate returns on learning a language and having something on the screen: Lua.
GameSalad takes it a step further and abstracts away the main game loop and most of the dirty work. Instead GS lets you work at a higher level of abstraction. This has good and bad points. Ideally GS should have a "Create Behavior" editor where coders like myself can write our own Lua and create our own behaviors to share with the community. Like: Behavior Drag Actor With Finger, or Jump Actor, or Teleport X/Y, or Slingshot, etc...
I hope you are reading this Gendai!
But I would say learn C, then C++, because C++ it is both relatively easy to learn and it is very powerful. However, if you want to work with OSX, i would suggest Obj - C.
But in any way, I would recommend any C language, because they are a stepping stone for pretty much everything else.
Unityy supports iPhone, iPad, Android, xbox, ps3, PC, Mac and web!
some of the biggest games out there are made with Unity! for example, GameLoft uses unity for there games.
And also a lot of BIG PS3 and xBox games are made with unity.
But unity is still very powerful!
I have dabbled a bit in Unity and while you can do a lot without scripting, you'll never escape it...