Minimizing memory used during game play any tips?

Player_E

After some feedback I have found out that Mother Earth does not run to well on any model other than a 3gs.

I just did a test and found that during game play my memory usage spikes to around 35mb at its highest point. I want to try and get that to 28mb max so hopefully it will run much smoother on other devices.

Any tips on how to lower memory usage?
I know i should lower the amount of actors, but my game is based around the idea of quite a bit of actors on the screen at once.

Player_E

What is better for memory usage; setting an actors alpha to 0 or just unchecking the visible under actors graphics options.

JGary321

Unchecking visible. Disabling Movement if the actor doesn't move (under physics)

Don't spawn, recycle.

It's not so much the memory usage as it is the FPS. My memory usage is ALWAYS over 30mb & usually over 40MB. But my game runs steady over 30FPS in battle on a 3G.

But I have literally been working 2 weeks to get EVERY frame I can. I didn't have movement unchecked for all my actors, by doing that I actually increased my FPS by a few. Every couple helps, it will all add up.

Player_E

I unchecked visible and put alpha at 0 do you think that will actually help or is it just shooting a dead horse?

I will go through now and disable all movement for actors that dont move

and what do you mean by dont spawn recycle? please go into more depth if you can. because my game is pretty much built around actors repeatedly spawning so this may help me out a lot.

and Tshirt do you want me to send you to your email so you can look it over and see what is possible?

I appreciate the help guys!

Player_E

Okay give me a while because I want to go through it and do what i can first then I will let you take a look at it if I cannot get it down.
So I guess im shooting for around 30FPS not really lower memory usage

Player_E

so 40 runs fine on 3g? any thoughts on how it would run on First gen iPod touch?

When I uploaded my game I think I was pushing 60 FPS, so Im gonna have to work some magic to get it down it looks like haha

Player_E

okay so check this out.

I just went through a tweaked everything really fast to try and get my FPS to around the 40 goal.

During my load screens and menus Im sitting at about 57-60 FPS
During my game play which is pretty hectic and has a lot of activity the FPS ranges anywhere from 27-37 FPS, but the constant it seemed to stay at was 32-35. I was expecting this to be the higher FPS

now I have a pause feature in my game, so I paused it which brings up some more menus it kick backed up to 57-60 FPS, but when I resume it drops back down to the range of 32-35.

to me this sounds kinda strange it seems logical to me that the FPS should be reversed in the examples I gave above, but some insight would be nice.

and to Tshirt so I just need to package the game like im going to submit it and zip the file and send it over to you correct?
or if my game is sitting in a normal are just let me know and I wont bother to use your time

Player_E

Lol I was thinking that lower number meant better results lol. Oh well looks like im going to need some help getting the FPS up then haha. i'll get it over to you asap so you can take a look at it for me.

thanks man appreciate it

Player_E

Sending it over right now Tshirt

thanks for the help man

Player_E

hey Tshirt you use a 3g to test your games correct? let me know how it runs on a 3g if so. you should have the right file now.

Player_E

Awesome, i'll be up for quite some time tonight so feel free to send me a message any time