Questions on Finalizing a Game - the 'Clean-up Process' and more...

kaanukikaanuki Member Posts: 154
edited March 2013 in Working with GS (Mac)
Hi All!

I am wrapping up production on my first GS game, and I have a few questions...

1) I have TONS of graphics that were not deleted due to the GS 'Delete Bug', where the files remain in the images folder even after deleting from GS. How do I remove these files before compiling/publishing?

*Note - I cant manually remove them from the 'IMAGES' folder, as this will most certainly corrupt the file, and lead to the error where GS completely loses the entire IMAGES folder.

2) Preloading Art - If I am using just one scene, and I have multiple actors that load at different times (based on specific Rules), Are the graphics Loaded for those actors which are NOT yet on the scene? Would you recommend unchecking PRELOAD ART, regardless?

3) Making a Demo: How Do I Record My Screen? I noticed that Apple has pulled the very popular app for doing this ("Display Recorder") Is there another way?

4) Many games show some sort of LOADING indicator at the beginning of the game in addition to a splash screen. How does the loading process work with a GS produced game? Does it only show a Splash screen - or it is possible or even necessary to show a LOADING indicator?

5) Notifications:
a)"RATE MY GAME" - Are there any tutorials for the in-game popups asking users to rate the game?
b) Push Notifications - Are 'Push Notifications' possible in GS?
c) iOS styled popups - Some of the popups I've seen in games are 'iOS system' styled popups. Are these possible in GS, or must we manually create them with our own graphics?



Thanks in advance!

Comments

  • Braydon_SFXBraydon_SFX Member, Sous Chef, Bowlboy Sidekick Posts: 9,273
    edited March 2013
    Alright, you've got a large list and I'll do my best to answer them.

    1. I'm not familier with the 'Delete Bug' - I always just select and delete the images I didn't use in my final project. I notice that the size of my project decreases significantly.

    2. General rule - Any actor that the player does not see at start up can have Preload Art checked OFF - anything that the player will see as soon as you enter a scene will need to have that checked on. For example, a background and title would have Preload Art checked.

    3. I use Reflector App - http://www.reflectorapp.com/ - Cheap and good quality. After recording, I take that video file and edit in iMove.

    4. The loading process within GameSalad is a bit tricky - there is no way to tell how far your game has loaded like most games do. So you cannot create a loading bar. You could fake it and utilize a timer to change the scene to give the impression of loading. But why have your players wait to enter you game - get them in there as quickly as possible!

    5.
    a). I made a simple one for you - it's attached.
    b). Push Notifications are not possible with GameSalad at this time.
    c). That would be up to you to do with the art inside your game. I found this link the other day - hope it helps you - http://www.teehanlax.com/tools/iphone


    Hope this information helps you!

    Cheers

  • SingleSparqSingleSparq Member Posts: 1,339
    The graphics bug you mention, I only know of the one where if you added an image that was the same name but had capitalized on it or something and then tried to delete it it showed up as a ' ghost' image (greyed) when game was opened again. Only way to get rid of it is to open the game package find the reference to it in the assets XML and take it out. (BACK UP FIRST!)
  • kaanukikaanuki Member Posts: 154
    AWESOME - Thanks a bunch, Braydon!

    *The PC version does not remove the file from the image folder - it only deletes the named reference to it within GS. Its a major pain when you want to update files (with the same name), you have to tap/accept the "Overrwrite File" prompt for each and every file.
  • kaanukikaanuki Member Posts: 154
    edited March 2013
    Regarding the new 'Universal Build' feature...

    I am PC user, and was hoping to have all of the promised features, or at least the same features available in the Mac version. Since it is not, I am not sure about how to support the iPhone5.

    Can you tell me how games developed with GS's [480x320] iPhone layout appear on the iPhone5? Are there any settings I should make to optimize the appearance of my game such as resolution independence, or disabling overscan?

    Thanks.
  • Braydon_SFXBraydon_SFX Member, Sous Chef, Bowlboy Sidekick Posts: 9,273
    This might help, @kaanuki -

  • kaanukikaanuki Member Posts: 154
    Thanks again Braydon. I'll review it now.
  • kaanukikaanuki Member Posts: 154
    Ok - I think that should for me.

    Good thing you referred me to that video because it poses another question, that I did not realize I needed to address (whew!). I also have a "Camera shake" function. He did not address it in that video, but I saw a few new conditions/rules adjustments as he was explaining the screen size procedures.

    Are there any additional videos explaining how to adjust for the "Camera shake" function on GShelper.com?

    Thanks.
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