State of GameSalad on 10-23-2014

ForumNinjaForumNinja Key Master, Head Chef, Member, PRO Posts: 554

Hello again everyone and I know it’s been a while since a State of GameSalad has been posted. This is due to our “state” not really changing much these past weeks. I’d like to say thank you guys for your continued patience as we focused on annihilating bugs and making a stable version 12 releases for our Mac Creator. Without further adieu here’s the crisp new State of GameSalad post you were promised!

  1. Stable Release 0.12.10! Yes you read that right. We’ve just put up a new stable release for our Mac users! (go get it here: http://gamesalad.com/download/releases) Now that this is out, work is being resumed on our other projects listed blow! This features a lot of bug fixes such as “Fixed Mac App rejections from the App Store” and “Fixed screen rotation not working on iOS 8 devices.” For more information check out this post: http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/73545/stable-release-macintosh-gamesalad-creator-0-12-10#latest

  2. Release 12 for Windows users. (This is the Windows version of Mac creators’ release 0.12.10) Now that the stable release for Mac is out we have more work than before focusing on getting our Windows users up to date! I don’t have a time estimate as of yet, but it’s high on the list :)

  3. Resolution independence. If you are confused about how the new resolution independence features work then check out this thread and ask any questions you may have there: http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/73348/notes-on-resolution-independence-on-0-12-x/p1

  4. Release 0.13.0. for Mac users. (The next big release for Macs) Work is still being done on this front, just not as quickly since some manpower is being moved over to get our Windows users up to date. For those who don’t know, a couple of the major additions that will come with release 13 are facebook integration and the new rendering system. It’s my understanding that our first pass at facebook integration will include being able to post to walls (images, text, and even URLs). The new rendering system should bring improved performance and memory usage with it which is great news!

  5. New nightly build for Mac. I’ve been informed that we are working on getting the nightly builds through our new build system, and hope to get one out for you guys in a few weeks! We also currently hope to have a new nightly build for Windows shortly after the release of the new Mac nightly build.

  6. New marketplace! Good progress has been made here as I’ve been informed that the front end of our new marketplace is nearly completed and there’s only 1 major feature left to add!

  7. GameSalad Game Jam 2014! Are you a fan of our previous Amazon promotion which awarded a month of FREE pro in exchange for publishing to Kindle? If so, you're going to want to participate in our GameSalad Game Jam! for more details, see the Game Jam 2014 forum post here: http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/73549/free-months-of-pro-cash-prizes-gamesalad-2014-game-jam

  8. Cross platform creator. Great progress is still being made here and, as I’m sure you know, I can’t say much else :)

That’s all for this week. Thanks again for your patience and your help finding bugs in our Release Candidates! More info coming at you guys next week!

Comments

  • SocksSocks London, UK.Member Posts: 12,822

    Great stuff !!

    :)

    Looking forward to the new rendering system.

  • supafly129supafly129 Member Posts: 454

    Thanks! Really wish 0.13.0 would come sooner though for Mac since FB integration/performance improvements would be killer :\ i feel like the work on the Windows creator will delay major Mac improvements deep into 2015

  • ForumNinjaForumNinja Key Master, Head Chef, Member, PRO Posts: 554

    @colander‌ Yes the weekly updates will be resumed :)

  • robertkdalerobertkdale USAMember Posts: 912

    Yeah! :D

    Big Smile Games Play Happy!
    Check out our other GameSalad exclusives.

  • ArmellineArmelline Member, PRO Posts: 5,332
    edited October 2014

    Responded in the wrong thread :D

  • PhilipCCPhilipCC Encounter Bay, South AustraliaMember Posts: 1,390

    @ForumNinja‌ You are truly the bearer of good news this week. :D

  • NimbleBugNimbleBug Member Posts: 483

    Thanks for updates

  • phamtasticphamtastic Member, PRO Posts: 354

    @supafly129 said:
    Thanks! Really wish 0.13.0 would come sooner though for Mac since FB integration/performance improvements would be killer :\ i feel like the work on the Windows creator will delay major Mac improvements deep into 2015

    I agree 100%. This to me is the BIGGEST UPDATES which most ppl are dying for :)

  • LovejoyLovejoy Member Posts: 2,078

    Fortuna Infortuna Forti Una

  • BelwasBelwas Member Posts: 22

    @supafly129 said:
    Thanks! Really wish 0.13.0 would come sooner though for Mac since FB integration/performance improvements would be killer :\ i feel like the work on the Windows creator will delay major Mac improvements deep into 2015

    It would also be extremely nice for Windows users to catch up with Mac :/

  • WbokoWboko Tennessee, USAMember, PRO Posts: 621

    They should just abandon the windows side and spend their time on MAC till they have a cross platform build and then Windows user would be fine... windows is so far behind now what does it really matter to wait for the cross platform build now anyway?

  • LovejoyLovejoy Member Posts: 2,078

    @Wboko said:
    They should just abandon the windows side and spend their time on MAC till they have a cross platform build and then Windows user would be fine... windows is so far behind now what does it really matter to wait for the cross platform build now anyway?

    You can't just charge people for pro membership and leave them hanging. I would understand if the PC version was free only, but its not and they have paying customers as well. Its a unfair for them to be behind in updates, specially if their paying for PRO.

    Fortuna Infortuna Forti Una

  • colandercolander Member Posts: 1,610
  • WbokoWboko Tennessee, USAMember, PRO Posts: 621

    @raycur09 said:
    You can't just charge people for pro membership and leave them hanging. I would understand if the PC version was free only, but its not and they have paying customers as well. Its a unfair for them to be behind in updates, specially if their paying for PRO.

    When I paid for "Pro" with GameSalad I read that you are paying for addtional "Pro" features and none of them said anything about Windows or Mac... So, even if they did pull back on an outdated version (windows), GS could apply their very limited resources to the up to date version (Mac) and the cross platform version.

    @colander said:
    Also a lot of schools and students use the windows version

    That maybe true, but the schools are not going to pay for "Pro" and use GS for mostly teaching the basic of logic.

    So why should GS waste more time for that since the current version of windows is able to provide that now?

  • colandercolander Member Posts: 1,610
    edited October 2014
  • WbokoWboko Tennessee, USAMember, PRO Posts: 621

    @colander said:
    They pay a student rate and it also builds the user base.

    I understand that, however to teach game design does GS really need to have the Windows creator that updated or to teach a student basic Game Design, you do not need to have a published app with all the bells and whistles of the Pro features???

    I mean if you take a look at it, the GS team has proven are not that concerned with the Windows version anymore then most GS programmers or it would be updated just like the Mac version.... and if education was a big concern for the GS team they would have completed the GS certification to verify the instructors know what they are teaching their students with the GS creator.

    http://gamesalad.com/education/resources-for-education/certification

  • WbokoWboko Tennessee, USAMember, PRO Posts: 621

    @Tiny_Ideas said:
    You really need to drop this issue :P .It would be understandable that GS would know whats going on. Maybe they need to support windows and release updates to maintain funding by insuring they have enough users.

    Windows are people no different to you who also pay for pro. I am sure they would love Mac support dropped so resources go into windows and cross platform creator.

    Either way, GS has always been committed to creating a better windows version and still work on the cross platform creator. Clearly something going on behind the scenes that warrants these decisions.

    This was from the poll about which version of GS creater we each use, but I think @Tiny_Ideas is onto a brilliant Idea that GS should postpone all version updates for both Mac and Windows and focus on just the cross platform GS creator!!!

    http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/73619/which-version-of-gs-creator-do-you-use-to-build-and-publish-apps#latest

    If you think about that, once they change over to the cross platform GS creator they could spend the time updating just one GS creator and we would all be on the same sheet of music, and what a great note it would be!

    How about it @ForumNinja‌??

  • ChunkypixelsChunkypixels Member Posts: 1,114

    @Wboko‌

    Until we see something solid (maybe around 2016 or so... at this rate) then the cross platform Creator is just pie in the sky... and could well be just another LUA Free type wild goose chase.

    Im really hoping they're going to pull it out of the bag this time, but the lack of visible/public progress, and the fact another year has pretty much gone by doesn't fill me with too much confidence.... we've been here before with GameSalad... on more than one occaision.

    But hey ho... it is what it is.... and we soldier on, and use the software as it is. Its still a great tool as it is, with all its quirks and issues.

  • WbokoWboko Tennessee, USAMember, PRO Posts: 621

    @Chunkypixels said:
    Wboko‌

    Until we see something solid (maybe around 2016 or so... at this rate) then the cross platform Creator is just pie in the sky... and could well be just another LUA Free type wild goose chase.

    Im really hoping they're going to pull it out of the bag this time, but the lack of visible/public progress, and the fact another year has pretty much gone by doesn't fill me with too much confidence.... we've been here before with GameSalad... on more than one occaision.

    But hey ho... it is what it is.... and we soldier on, and use the software as it is. Its still a great tool as it is, with all its quirks and issues.

    @Chunkypixels, I love the quote "LUA Free type wild goose chase"!!!

  • Braydon_SFXBraydon_SFX Member, Sous Chef, PRO, Bowlboy Sidekick Posts: 9,271

    @Chunkypixels said:
    Wboko‌

    Until we see something solid (maybe around 2016 or so... at this rate) then the cross platform Creator is just pie in the sky... and could well be just another LUA Free type wild goose chase.

    Im really hoping they're going to pull it out of the bag this time, but the lack of visible/public progress, and the fact another year has pretty much gone by doesn't fill me with too much confidence.... we've been here before with GameSalad... on more than one occaision.

    True, except they've said we'll see a preview of the Cross-Platform Creator before the year is out. We didn't even get that kind of information with the LUA-Free engine, so I'm just happy with what we've got so far.

  • ookami007ookami007 Member Posts: 581

    So are we thinking Winter for the Windows version or more like Spring. Mac users get all the love... Windows users... all the pain. The disparity between the two versions is GLARING now.

  • PhilipCCPhilipCC Encounter Bay, South AustraliaMember Posts: 1,390

    @ookami007 said:
    Mac users get all the love... Windows users... all the pain. The disparity between the two versions is GLARING now.

    Yeah, well I guess you don't know that it was more glaring when all users were Mac because there was no Windows version? :p

  • The_Gamesalad_GuruThe_Gamesalad_Guru Member Posts: 9,922

    As we all have witnessed @codewizard has turned gamesalad around. He has definitely done more than any past leaders. We see much faster turn around on things than in the past. His track record on delivering on promises is right up there. I firmly believe he will deliver a cross platform creator as he demonstrated he is not a cut and run kind of person. He is although dealing with limited staff and that slows things down. As I've said a ton of times, I have complete and unwavering confidence in codewizard's leadership and his staff's dedication to this software. I think their doing a good job with their limited resources. I know I wouldn't want to be in that position of being understaffed. I want to say to @BlackCloakGS‌ thank you for your hard work as much of the burden seems to fall on you.

  • CaptFinnCaptFinn Member Posts: 1,828

    Not only do we not have a solid foundation to build this house on. We now have 2 houses being built............wait.... no....... a 3rd house to rule them all. So once the Cross Platform Creator is built. We will no longer have a mac and windows version? Because the CrossPlatform will stand for both? Thats cool. Oh but wait.................... Does that mean we will be starting all over again, with a new version system? CP version 0.0.0.0.0.1. And if so ? Does that mean Ill never see the day when GS climbs out of the Beta Pit? Oh and has HTML5 independent abilities, seeing any love?

  • PhilipCCPhilipCC Encounter Bay, South AustraliaMember Posts: 1,390

    @The_Gamesalad_Guru said:
    As we all have witnessed codewizard has turned gamesalad around. He has definitely done more than any past leaders. We see much faster turn around on things than in the past. His track record on delivering on promises is right up there. I firmly believe he will deliver a cross platform creator as he demonstrated he is not a cut and run kind of person. He is although dealing with limited staff and that slows things down. As I've said a ton of times, I have complete and unwavering confidence in codewizard's leadership and his staff's dedication to this software. I think their doing a good job with their limited resources. I know I wouldn't want to be in that position of being understaffed. I want to say to BlackCloakGS‌ thank you for your hard work as much of the burden seems to fall on you.

    Hear, here! Three cheers for @BlackCloakGS‌ !

  • HoneyTribeStudiosHoneyTribeStudios Member Posts: 1,792

    @ForumNinja‌

    Hey, do you know if image compression is something that will come back?

    i.e previously we could use compression tools like Image Alpha to make 8 bit pngs that retained the alpha channel. This was very useful for having small app sizes that kept to the over-the-air limit of the time.

    As we no longer can, the overall file size for apps has more than doubled. I'm updating a bunch of stuff and one game that was approx 40mb is now over 100mb. Seems this should be addressed as GS is primarily a tool for making mobile apps.

    The current over-the-air limit is 100mb but that's not exactly huge for universal apps that have iPad retina sized images and duplicate images for smaller devices. Being able to use images with a smaller file size would be useful.

  • RPRP Member Posts: 1,990

    I just saw the update email this morning. Awesomeness. Progress is kewl!

  • ForumNinjaForumNinja Key Master, Head Chef, Member, PRO Posts: 554

    @HoneyTribeStudios‌ I've been informed that, due to us having a much improved way of loading images coming up that can't support png compression algorithms, we won't be supporting image compression. We will however, be working on getting the published app's file size down, but I don't have an ETA on which release that will go in yet.

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