Gamesalad Vs standard Programming

Technik

I'm trying to get into making iPhone games and I wanted to make a platformer. I want an honest opinion about whether or not to use Objc-C or Gamesalad. I don't want to get too heavily involved into something that will prove down the road not good for the game and if Gamesalad gives me problems with my game then I don't want to have to rebuild in Xcode and learn a new a language. I don't see too many fun games built in Gamesalad much less many successful platformer but please prove me wrong. I'm just asking if I can make a fun flexible platformer in Gamesalad.

rlehm

List what your future game must have, must do, goals etc. Then members here can give you an idea if GS can create the game you want to make.

Technik

I want it to have an inventory for the character to have so it can collect apples in the game to heal them selves, and have the player collect coins that they throw as offense, and....that's about all I have.

QuinnZoneStudios

I'm no expert by any stretch, unlike some here but it seems as though that's not too much of a tall order.
If you take the approach of using Gamesalad just initially to rapid prototype your idea, just using blank actors, you'll soon figure out what works logic wise, without even having to create one single piece of art.
Within a very short time you'll have your gameplay figured out and all for free too! You won't be able to get even close to that time scale learning Objective C or any other programming.
Seems to me it's worth a few weeks because if it works, you win big time! If not, it was worth a try for the sake of just a little time.
Anyone else agree?

Technik

But I don't see many fun games? What have you all made?

gyroscope

Technik said:
But I don't see many fun games?

?

Mammoth

I created an XNA game with the torque engine as well as prototyped several games in unity and unreal. Personally GS is a life saver for me. There is SO MUCH behind the scenes that will make your games crash hard. When I made the XNA game my game would crash because of stuff outside of my control such as memory leaks etc. I have only released 1 XNA game and I worked on 2 canned ones. Why were they canned? Technical difficulties :P

Personally making games with GS is the easiest way to get your games released. Having canned projects doesn't really look good on your resume and it feels horrible! Suffice to say, I still have all of the art assets and I will be releasing these on ipad when I have time

I would do another game with code if I had a team of people and one of those people being an absolute guru in the engine that I am using.

www.mammothinteractive.net

DrGlickert

Technik -

Because GameSalad is free, it can be ... shall we say, "abused." Many newbie game developers come through here and think that game creation is a get rich quick scheme and throw some artwork down and try to sell it quickly and make lots of money. Because they are in it for a quick buck, they don't spend the $500 for the professional version and they get the GameSalad splash when they publish games, which ultimately gives a bad impression to viewers of these games.

Professional version of GameSalad comes with the ability to remove the GameSalad splash, so most "fun games" (which are most often made by serious developers/users) don't have the splash, thus, you won't ever know if it was made with Obj-C or GameSalad.

I don't know what your skills are in Obj-C (learning it or veteran in it or something in between), but I chose GameSalad because I don't have the ability to code. Didn't take time to learn it.

GameSalad software is incredibly powerful and has the capability to do some incredible things and make incredible games. Platformers are not easy to create in any language (as my friends in the coding business tell me). However, in GameSalad you can have an incredible simple platformer in just a few days (walk, run, jump, attack, collect items, etc).

Inventory will create some more advanced work but is definitely achievable. I suggest you take a look at some of the templates that TShirtBooth has created over at GSHelper.com, as well as some of them over at DeepBlueApps http://www.deepblueapps.com/Deep_Blue_Ideas_Ltd./GS_Templates.html
to see the power that is GameSalad. I'm sure that you'll be thoroughly impressed with the capabilities.

Plus, in all of my experience in game development, this is by far the greatest and most helpful forum I've ever encountered. Hands down some of the greatest people in the industry use this software and spend hours on this forum.

And, did I mention that you don't have to learn how to code???

Good luck to you.

SlickZero

E-PigDash, E-PigDive, Grisly Manor, Tiny Balls, Zombie Drop, Spazcon, Air Supply, The Train ep.1, Hobo with a shotgun, Mini Cannon, Bumps, Stunt Squirrels, Gravonaut, Rodent Rage, the list goes on and on for very good and successful games made with GameSalad. Your platformer can be done with GameSalad, absolutely.

If you're a good developer, you game will reflect that. It's not GameSalad that makes those bad games, it's bad developers. As was already mentioned, lots of fly by nighters come in and think they are going to make a million dollars by slapping together some piece of junk game, and then wonder why it doesn't sell. Unfortunately, that's what gets the spotlight by critics.

osucowboy18

Hey Technik,

As SlickZero posted above, there have been MANY very successful games roll out of GameSalad, it just takes some time, effort, and a little luck to make it happen. As far as weather or not you should choose Xcode or GameSalad, let me just give you my two cents. I have been a Windows programmer since 2008, and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable in that area. When I looked into writing iPhone games, I looked at Xcode first. The first thing I learned was that it was very involved and complex. I'm sure if I sat down and really attempted to learn it, I would be able to in time, but then I came across GameSalad. When I figured out I could do something in GameSalad in a day that would have taken 2 weeks to do in Xcode, the choice was clear. Not only did GameSalad make writing an iPhone game faster, it made it fun because I wasn't writing line after line of code. I don't know what your coding experience is, but I would choose GameSalad over Xcode any day.

- Alex
_________________________________________________________________________________

Target Practice Template
Custom Soundtracks and Sound Effects For Sale
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Mac Mini For SALE!!!

Technik

Okay, thank you all for the suggestions and I think I will stick with Gamesalad.

Technik

And what is the difference between An integer and a boolean integer?

quantumsheep

Integer is a whole number i.e. one without decimals - it can be anything - e.g. 40 or 5 or 100 - but it can't be stuff like 11.44 or 222.33

Boolean is a value that's either 'true' or false'. This can also be represented by the numbers 1 (true) or 0 (false).

Hope that helps,

QS

gyroscope

Hi, an integer is a whole number, i.e 56, 287, -34, etc.

As for your question concerning boolean integer, there are in fact 2 integers associated with a boolean attribute, zero and one. But in practice, I'd forget the term "boolean integer" as it is confusing.

Best to think of different types of attributes (perhaps that's what you meant: "what is the difference between an integer attribute and a boolean attribute?")

So an integer attribute uses whole numbers; and a boolean attribute, by using 0 and 1, is also true or false, depending in which state it is in. Hope I've helped there.

Edit: QS beat me to it. :-)

gariantroll

I have had my issues with GameSalad, but it is the best and only getting better.

Technik

Thanks for all your great help!

SAZ_1

Yea im not sure what you mean by fun games because its only a matter of opinions, i personally am not a huge fan of angry birds but love cut the rope!...others will differ..regardless though some of the stuff being produced on GS is excellent to say the least.

Loads of games are doing well, my own (self advertising here! ) Fowl Ops. has been in the 'New & Noteworthy' section in UK & UAE.. is currently now in the 'Whats Hot' section in the UK & UAE...and went up to rank 29 under free adventure games in the chinese app store. Although i've not made a huge deal of money from it.

You really have to try the software out..where there seem to be limitations you can generally get work arounds.
I recommend it!

rlehm

Once you start making games you will have new appreciation for people's work. You will like games that you once dismissed.

Mammoth

One thing I suggest doing is prototyping as many games as possible in GS to test its limits. Make a list of all the things you can and can't do. You will be surprised on how short the list of what you can't do is. There are a few games that I cannot do in GS. But in 2 years I bet you I will be able to do it.

Technik

Such as load both the pause scene and level scene at once so there is no loading inbetween?