Xcode Exporting

Team6Labs

Are we going to see xcode exporting in the future? This is really important for me because if I want to sell my business or apps, .gameproj files aren't valued high. If I have a client I need to develop for, having a way to export to xcode would be amazing. It's hard to find clients that are willing to take a gamesalad project file, mainly because then they have to pay $300 plus what I already charged. This would obviously be pro only, but this feature would make gamesalad the ultimate engine. I don't see how this feature could possibly hurt the GS business, because they would get a lot more pro subscriptions from people that would use gamesalad for prototyping their games. @CodeWizard what are your thoughts?

GraphicWarehouse

agree 100%
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Am I crazy or did @deepblueapps start to make a tool that could do this for you?

Team6Labs

Yeah does anyone else agree?

ericzingeler

Well, aside from app display name, splash screen, some images, and icons... there's not much more an xcode project would offer.

So the fact that you couldn't edit the source code in xcode (as it would require creator and then a re-compile) wouldn't really add more value over what you got now.

I don't know... I wouldn't buy source to a game that I couldn't make edits to.

But, I do like the idea of a local compile to xcode project for efficiency purposes.

Team6Labs

@ericzingeler why couldn't you edit the source code in xcode?

ericzingeler

@Team6Labs

Well, maybe you could if the GameSalad project file within the Xcode project doesn't have dependents at GameSalad server compile time.

tenrdrmer

Of course everyone would love some sort of code exporting. But…

I find it sad though for one you are so young and already looking at selling your business. Where's the commitment? The Determination? Very sad this seem to be a lot of peoples mindset these days. Build it up a little and dump it onto someone else before any real hard work of running a business sets in. Why not see it through and see something you made really succeed?

Second. It is so sad that you have hedged the entire value of your business on GameSalad providing you the service your clients what you to have. Its not GameSalads job to make your clients happy. Its yours. and if they require Xcode projects then you need to learn Xcode and give them what they want.

Team6Labs

Well yes, of course it's the developers job to provide what they want for their clients. But think how much more valuable it would be if we could make a game that has async multiplayer and give it to a client in xcode. We are talking 5 figures or more per project here.

tenrdrmer

Well if you honestly believe you can get that much more from an Xcode project it sounds like a sound investment in your time to move on.

I wish you well though because I know there is not a chance in hell that my clients who have actually paid 5k+ easy for a project to be developed using GameSalad would then in turn drop $500,000,000 for that same project.

You have a very distorted view of what development is worth I'm afraid.

LeonardDeveloper

In my opinion would it not be better for a client, With an easier editable SDK like GameSalad, Its just more adaptable for non devs.

The only reason people would choose Xcode over GS for basic projects that would only require the features that GameSalad has is simply because of the faux sense of impressive aesthetics that is caused by Xcode's less approachability therefore highlights it as seeming more "professional" when this is not the case when you can do a project just as easy in another SDK like GameSalad.

Although Xcode export would be nice. IMHO Objective C & Lua input would be a lot better for GameSalad

RP

Don't agree. Xcode (Objective C) is not impossible to master. For those whom claim other coding experience, then why not code in what you profess to have experience in? I don't get it.

Team6Labs

Say what you want about the feature, it would be really beneficial to have. & yes, it would give devs more options to work with clients, sell their apps etc. Hell, you might be able to work full time for a company if xcode exporting was possible.

jonmulcahy

long long long time ago GS during publishing GS provided you with the xcode project, but they moved away from that due to concerns with people reverse engineering the software (if i remember correctly). I think they also switched to the current method because most people couldn't figure out how to use xcode to publish.

but i wouldn't expect it to come back ever.

Dok

I think its a good idea to be able to export a project to Xcode because theres a few features which Xcode provides which gamesalad has yet to develop. However the whole point of gamesalad is its faster, with no coding so i'd rather only do the bare minimum in Xcode and do most of my project in gamesalad. :-j

Team6Labs

I prefer publishing through GameSalad, simply because it's fast. i would like xcode exporting so we can utilize chillingo, & give xcode projects to clients instead of .gameproj files.

BoomshackBarry

I think xcode export would be a valuable feature. The more different import and export options a tool like Gamesalad can offer, the more flexible it is in various scenarios, and the more professional uses the tool fits. Nobody would be forced to use xcode exporting (if it was offered) but it's another option, along with custom coding and plug-ins, it would bolster Gamesalad's arsenal.

That's why a tool like Photoshop is so professionally useful - it imports and exports in practically any format, so most people will find what they want from it. If you don't want to use a feature you don't have to, but the more options available the more people the tool will ultimately suit. I don't see how it can do any harm to offer more options with features like this and the let the user decide which they want to use.

edit: as long as the reverse engineering issues are sorted, or course

The_Gamesalad_Guru

I doubt you'll see Xcode export in the near future as to concerns over reverse engineering.

Supersonic9120

I think an Export to XCode would be a huge feature. Enough to bump up the Membership cost for Pro Users. Or even have another level of Pro where you can export the XCode. Even with some sort of Confidentiality Agreement.

As to the concerns over Reverse Engineering - There must be some way to do a Code Obfuscation. Obviously not to an extent that the User cannot access or understand the code, but at least to a point where it would not look like Gamesalad developed it.

LittleCube

@jonmulcahy said:
due to concerns with people reverse engineering the software
I think they also switched to the current method because most people couldn't figure out how to use xcode to publish.

So the reasons are:

They thought people were too smart and would reverse engineer it,
but not only that, they also removed it because they thought people were too dumb to export it?

Thunder_Child

If you selling projects to clients I would expect $300 more for a pro account to publish is no biggie. I do see many project sold on third party sites and they range from Xcode, BB, Titanium and even saw TShirt booths GS word game on a third part site so I personally don't see a major value to having a specific Xcode project other than having to pay some extra to publish by buying a pro account or selling templates 3rd party and those buyers not expecting to have to do anything than re skinning the project. I see it as no other than circumventing GS in these cases...as for reverse engineering goes...I would think if you can reverse engineer a project you can make it your self.

I would much rather have osTV we have had so many votes for...this steam thing...the watch...maybe even some features that expand GS to something like "App Salad". Lol