Here is a little scoop .9.0 Features and Release Date

dotsonj23dotsonj23 Member Posts: 316
edited November -1 in Working with GS (Mac)
So I attended the GAME ON AUSTIN event this evening at which GameSalad had a booth. I learned a few new things and confirmed some others. While they could not tell me everything, there were certainly some things I learned. First what we know that I was able to reconfirm. Then some additional information that we did not know. And finally some pretty reasonable speculation based on what I saw and was told.

The following was confirmed: (a) the subscription price for both pro and express will go down; and (b) no per app fee; (c) you publish you own apps under your name. So how are they going to make more money. . . read on for what I think they will do based on a demo I saw.

New info: (a) several more fonts with 0.9.0 (at least double); (b) no GameCenter for 0.9.0 but are shooting for with 1.0; (c) no matter the subscription you have (pro or express), there will be a forced GameSalad splash load screen; (d) express will not have iAd or web link support; (e) destroy actor memory issue improved but not resolved completely (it is an Apple API issue that Apple has not resolved); (f) crashes greatly improved if not eliminated; (g) redesigned web-site and GS interface (the demo was cool); (h) they are looking into providing development resources (i.e., selling graphics, sounds) in the future; (i) no arrays with 0.9.0 but they really want to do them and are working on it; (j) the main delay in the release was to fix a couple of bugs that caused some games created in .8.9 not to work which would have been a huge issue for anyone in the middle of development (apparently this looks to be fixed as of today); (k) they had planned to release today but wanted to do some final testing on the foregoing bug issue; (l) it will most likely be released tomorrow but no later than Friday; (m) new pause features (sounded like global pause); (n) no new attributes (i.e, no play video); (o) much quicker game loading on all platforms and devices; (p) vastly improved memory management; (q) no GS viewer for app store (could not get all the features in the current viewer past Apple); (r) business partnering for snyergy (e.g., famous comic artist-saw the demo) and (s) some other things I can't remember.

Now some reasonable speculation: So they showed me a working demo on an iphone of the gamesalad splash screen that will be required. First of all, it loaded really quick. Second it will say powered by GS rather than created with GS, a subtle but welcome change in my opinion. Now, the speculation: after the GS splash screen and before the game there were a few more brief splash screens that were clearly advertising (albeit quick and classy looking) for other companies/items (e.g., new comic release). Thus, that is how I think they are going to make there money, splash screen advertising when a game is loading that they charge the advertiser for directly. For what its worth, the load time (even with the extra splash screens) was very quick, much better than before and the fade in/out transitions were awesome.

So ther you have it. Cheers.
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Comments

  • ChaserChaser Member Posts: 1,453
    Thanks for the info
  • SethsAppsSethsApps Member, PRO Posts: 328
    Pause!!! I bet QuantumSheep will be happy!
  • JohnPapiomitisJohnPapiomitis Member Posts: 6,256
    Thanks alot for the info!
  • Sunny_1etha1Sunny_1etha1 Member Posts: 41
    Woohoo! Trolling the forums for new info this past month pays off, bigtime! Sha-mon!

    Thanks heaps for the update, dotsonj23.
  • Sunny_1etha1Sunny_1etha1 Member Posts: 41
    Um, tshirtbooth - woohoo! Thanks for sharing. I have my 0.9 champagne standing by in the chiller…
  • expired_012expired_012 Member Posts: 1,802
    No custom splash screens for pro users? That really sucks...very dissapointed to hear that
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    Wowzers, SWEET and speedy!
  • dotsonj23dotsonj23 Member Posts: 316
    artonskyblue said:
    No custom splash screens for pro users? That really sucks...very dissapointed to hear that

    I believe you can still do your own splash screen with pro, it will just follow the brief GS one (see video above). So what is the big deal? Are people that ashamed of the engine they are using to create the game. If so, why use it? You should stand behind the engine if you want to use it.
  • expired_012expired_012 Member Posts: 1,802
    Well im just wondering then, how will pro differ from express without a custom splash? Will Iads be the only pro feature now? With only that feature, pro would definitely not be worth it...
  • TechnoDaveTechnoDave Member Posts: 103
    Wait so let me get this right..... There will be

    1. A gamesalad splash screen
    and
    2. A splash screen advertising some other games?????

    I am sorry to say this because I know GameSalad is trying to make us happy and deal with the backlash regarding the "Direct" announcement. But I would hate the have some other app forced into my game!!

    What if someone makes a cute kids game and the first thing they see after the GameSalad splash screen in some offensive game ad???

    Will there be a pro option to avoid the splash screen for another app???

    The new GameSalad splash screen by the way is very classy, well done! But ads for some other random game, that sucks.

    Can anyone one clear this up?
  • dotsonj23dotsonj23 Member Posts: 316
    artonskyblue said:
    Well im just wondering then, how will pro differ from express without a custom splash? Will Iads be the only pro feature now? With only that feature, pro would definitely not be worth it...

    You forgot web linking with pro. Plus pro price is coming way down. plus maybe they added something new to pro that they could not tell me about.
  • expired_012expired_012 Member Posts: 1,802
    @Techno, I dont think so. Wont there be a GS logo and then your own?
  • expired_012expired_012 Member Posts: 1,802
    dotsonj23 said:
    You forgot web linking with pro. Plus pro price is coming way down. plus maybe they added something new to pro that they could not tell me about.

    True...the only reason i ever wanted pro tho was because of the splash screens. What about already-existing pro accounts? Will they be able to publish without the GS logo at the beginning?
  • ValanValan Member, BASIC Posts: 410
    dotsonj23 said:

    (h) they are looking into providing development resources (i.e., selling graphics, sounds) in the future;

    This is a great idea if the graphics and sound are of a good quality and reasonable priced.

    Thanks for sharing.
  • TechnoDaveTechnoDave Member Posts: 103
    Oh, well thanks for the feedback tshirt and arton!

    I hope they will always leave an option (maybe pro) that lets us avoid someone's random ad as a splash. But again I don't mind the classy GS splash. I am proud to represent for GameSalad! :)
  • dotsonj23dotsonj23 Member Posts: 316
    tshirtbooth said:
    TechnoDave i do not think the ads of other games are in all memberships on the cheapest one. But im not 100% sure.

    Also, remember that part was just my reasonable speculation. That might not be the case at all or it might only apply to certain memberships. But in any event, how do you expect them to make money. They have four options: (1) splash screen ads; (2) higher subscription prices (but they are getting lowered); (3) per app submission pricing; and (4) taking a percentage from developers. I think a brief splash screen add is the best option. Plus, I am guessing that if they do this, it won't be open season but maybe only ads chosen from a limited set of brand name companies. That could actually help to associate a quality company with your game. And anyway, it looked like it would just be a quick splash screen like GS's.
  • expired_012expired_012 Member Posts: 1,802
    Do they even have the right to force ads in there like that?
  • JohnPapiomitisJohnPapiomitis Member Posts: 6,256
    And the servers are gonna be down sometime in the next 36 hours they said. its coming!!
  • TechnoDaveTechnoDave Member Posts: 103
    @dotson, is there is no option (like a pro) that removes a splash screen then it will turn away a lot of pro developers. The company I work for (which I can not name) will not allow me to use GS is there is another companies game in the front. The GS splash screen is ok though.
  • ValanValan Member, BASIC Posts: 410
    Please combine the game and the GS logo on one splash screen.

    GS can reserve an area for their logo and I could design the rest.

    Combining the logo and the game splash screen would be better for them since the game is intrinsically linked to GS and it allows me to design the first screen the player sees.
  • dotsonj23dotsonj23 Member Posts: 316
    TechnoDave said:
    @dotson, is there is no option (like a pro) that removes a splash screen then it will turn away a lot of pro developers. The company I work for (which I can not name) will not allow me to use GS is there is another companies game in the front. The GS splash screen is ok though.
    </blockquote

    Agreed. I kinda like the GS splash screen. But it helps that I know what it looks like. As to other splash screens (if this is what is planned-again just my speculation) I am hoping there is a subscription plan to avoid that (i.e., pro). But I have no idea since again I was just speculating based on what I saw in a demo. If they do do it though, maybe they won't allow ads for games, just companies outside the industry (comic books, Coke, Apple (snicker)).
  • expired_012expired_012 Member Posts: 1,802
    dotsonj23 said:
    Agreed. I kinda like the GS splash screen. But it helps that I know what it looks like. As to other splash screens (if this is what is planned-again just my speculation) I am hoping there is a subscription plan to avoid that (i.e., pro). But I have no idea since again I was just speculating based on what I saw in a demo. If they do do it though, maybe they won't allow ads for games, just companies outside the industry (comic books, Coke, Apple (snicker)).

    You can't just want to have the GS splash screen because you like it. If you want to be successful, don't take your opinion in. Your top priority is to get the interest of others to buy your game.. Personally, I like it too and I think the new one is awesome, but im just thinking from the users' perspective here. If you don't already know, GS doesn't have the best reputation....theres a ton of youtube videos and online blogs making fun of Gamesalad and how "bad" it is. Sometimes people just write bad reviews even if it were a good game, simply because it was "made with gamesalad"
  • rdcuberdcube Member Posts: 361
    @dotsonj23
    I'm not sure we were really allowed to share this out...LOL
    However, we didn't sign NDA either to share ;P

    I don't think the advertisement durning splash screens were forced, that's just for the new game coming out.
    They didn't promise to release by Friday either, but they'll try their best to have it by then or sooner (in regards to 36hr downtime message).

    All the other stuff (buy graphics, etc) is something they're looking into but it's a nice to have.

    IMHO, don't get hopes way too up on .90, it's greatly enhance on crashes and device memory management, but that's about it (I know, this is huge deal).

    The thing to look after, is the new pricing model and the confirmation of what John mentioned.

    Cheers!
  • dotsonj23dotsonj23 Member Posts: 316
    rdcube said:
    @dotsonj23
    I'm not sure we were really allowed to share this out...LOL
    However, we didn't sign NDA either to share ;P

    Yeah, Public forum, they never said not to repeat, plus I even said don't tell me anything you don't want posted on the forum. LOL. And yes I agree that the add thing could have been just for that demo/game coming out but it had like 4 splash screens that looked a whole lot like adds. But that is why I have said numerous times that I was just speculating about that issue. Correct, they did not say absolutely by Friday (there could always be issues of course, which they made clear) but I did hear them say planned for tomorrow and they certainly implied by no later than Friday barring unforseen circumstances.

    FYI.. It was nice to meet you, another GS user, in person. Good luck with your graphics. Cheers!
  • SnowSnow Member Posts: 124
    What about the viewer and testing though? I haven't yet ported anything to a device yet so at this point my knowledge about that is limited. How difficult is it? Wasn't the viewer supposed to make it faster to test?
  • Sunny_1etha1Sunny_1etha1 Member Posts: 41
    I note tshirtbooth's little teaser vid's been lifted - hope you didn't get in trouble, tee! I guess NDA means NDA…
  • JohnPapiomitisJohnPapiomitis Member Posts: 6,256
    Sunny_1etha1 said:
    I note tshirtbooth's little teaser vid's been lifted - hope you didn't get in trouble, tee! I guess NDA means NDA…

    damm it is gone! at least we were lucky enough to be here the 2 min it was up :p and thanks tshirt!
  • RacetotheMoonRacetotheMoon Member Posts: 323
    The memory management stuff is nice to hear, but the rest sounds so-so at best. A new coat of paint on the UI doesn't help sell my games better. Game Center sure would have tho..

    Oh well.. just keep the updates coming guys. I know you're working hard to make this engine as good as it can be.

    Edit:
    I hope some of those fonts look good on a Retina display.
  • chicopchicop Member Posts: 263
    i can dig it.. especially loading times and memory management.
  • UtopianGamesUtopianGames Member Posts: 5,692
    I'm ready to roll with whatever they decide to do..the enhancements are welcome here.

    Darren.
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