GameSalad Textbook - PDF available for sale later today.

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Comments

  • dmilinovichiiidmilinovichiii Member Posts: 620
    Do you plan on putting this on the iBookstore? I'm only 14 so I have no credit card, but I have an iTunes gift card that I could use.
  • TouchTiltGamesTouchTiltGames Member Posts: 1,162
    Just purchased!, :D
  • iDeveloperiDeveloper Member Posts: 441
    @Photics: Will you please add PayPal? (This can be done via Lulu.)
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    Mr.Rinoy said:
    Do you plan on putting this on the iBookstore? I'm only 14 so I have no credit card, but I have an iTunes gift card that I could use.

    I looked into this, but it was a problem. It's tough converting the document to epub format. The PDF version available through the Photics.com website would be cheaper anyway.
    iDeveloper said:
    @Photics: Will you please add PayPal? (This can be done via Lulu.)

    I'm not sure how Lulu protects the PDF... if at all... so the PDF is only available through Photics.com. The printed version is available through Lulu and there's still free shipping in the United States.

    All orders are up-to-date.
  • iDeveloperiDeveloper Member Posts: 441
    Found that out for you.. Please see screen shot. [Just uploaded a one page doc from my future book to get to the DRM section.

    Screenie: http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/WiiFan2012/Screenshot2010-08-14at112115PM.png?t=1281842708

    Just thought I share this with ya.
  • victorkin11victorkin11 Member Posts: 251
    When the bumps make more people to know gamesalad, I think that is good time to putting it to the ibookstore!
  • dmilinovichiiidmilinovichiii Member Posts: 620
    Photics said:
    I looked into this, but it was a problem. It's tough converting the document to epub format. The PDF version available through the Photics.com website would be cheaper anyway.

    I'm not sure how Lulu protects the PDF... if at all... so the PDF is only available through Photics.com. The printed version is available through Lulu and there's still free shipping in the United States.

    All orders are up-to-date.

    Try this (if you still want to):
    http://www.lexcycle.com/download-macintosh
    1. Download Stanza
    2. Open the pdf file
    3. Go to file, export, ePub
    4. Choose where to export the file to

    THIS IS COMPLETELY FREE
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    A PDF offered through Lulu would cost more. It doesn't make sense to me. Why not just order the PDF through Google Checkout? Is this a dislike of Google?

    US residents, if you don't have a credit card, maybe you can get a Visa Gift Card... http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/prepaid/visa_gift_card.html ...You can get them online or in United States stores. Does nothing like this exist overseas?

    As for putting the book on iTunes, epub is a horrible format. I used InDesign to convert the book to epub. The result was a slow and ugly book. I think that the PDF version works much better in iBooks. You can simply drag the PDF into iTunes. For now, the iBookstore only accepts epub.

    ...and even if I liked the epub format, doesn't Apple take a 30% cut? That would drive up the cost of the book. I though about using GameSalad to make a book, for the Book section of the App store, but I don't think it would handle 199 pages very well. The loading would probably be very slow... and again... Apple takes 30%.

    Also, for those in their early teenage years, this book is educational. I think parents should be proud that you're interested in something so productive. They should want to buy it for you.

    "Hi mom, can you buy me a book?" That alone should be a shock. It's the middle of the summer and you want a book? She might respond, "A comic book?" To which you'd explain that this is a game development book, which covers topics in marketing, mathematics, physics, art and other practical professions. I don't see why Google Checkout is such a stumbling block. The PDF is available for $19.98 and it could keep you busy for the rest of the summer... perhaps change your entire life for the better.
  • JoeMeisterJoeMeister Member Posts: 602
    USA vs. World.
    Who can see/buy my game once it is published to the iTunes Store?
    Will it be only in the US store or can people all over the World see/buy it?
  • iDeveloperiDeveloper Member Posts: 441
    For those who don't have a credit/debit card (like me, hence the PayPal begging), you can always get a vitrual gift card!

    I found one from the famous giftcards.com:

    http://www.giftcards.com/consumer/virtualgift.html
  • RiffelRiffel Member Posts: 1,272
    and the question...How many downloads? :-)
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    JoeMeister said:
    USA vs. World.
    Who can see/buy my game once it is published to the iTunes Store?
    Will it be only in the US store or can people all over the World see/buy it?

    You can set the countries where you want your App to be sold.
    iDeveloper said:
    For those who don't have a credit/debit card (like me, hence the PayPal begging), you can always get a vitrual gift card!

    Cool, does that mean you're getting the book?
    Riffel said:
    and the question...How many downloads? :-)

    That information is classified... just like secret to unlocking Game #5 in Arcade Action... I'm not planning to release that information public.
  • iDeveloperiDeveloper Member Posts: 441
    Yep.. All I need to do is wait for their maintenance to finish up.

    So you will see a purchase from me today, Monday, Tuesday, or at the latest, Wednesday.

    Thanks for understanding!
  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    JoeMeister said:
    USA vs. World.

    Pretty much, after George Bush's shenanigans. LOL.
  • vegasmike1vegasmike1 Member Posts: 192
    I bought the book, THE BOOK. its a close as we have, read it twice now, I had figured out many of the things but it is good to see I was not a total dumb arse in what I had done. Had I had this book when I started I would have way more games on the store. I could babble on for a while and make some critical comments, and more good ones, even a bad one or two, but this quick note is to say, GREAT JOB, and if you dont have this book buy it. It took some time to write and its obvious Photics knows the code well, and did a good job. Its worth the price. The only real issue I had is this, while Photics tries to uncomplicate math, the fact is, its still complicated. I am not a math guy for sure, or girl for that matter. I would like more remedial examples where the idea is laid out and then a TRY IT YOURSELF thing is done, sometimes I dont care why it does what it does, I just want it to do what I want. Blah Blah, I have my old slate tablet books out from the early days, when math was magic, and I ruminate over them all the time, cursing the math gods for making my brain so worthless with numbers.

    Enuff, go buy the book.

    Mike
  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    Hey Photics,

    MAKE IT PRINTABLE AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER CUSTOMER RIGHT HERE! Seriously, I can't read PDFs on my crappy 17" 4:3 monitor at the best of times, let alone while trying to run GS simultaneously.

    I'm just saying ;-)
  • iDeveloperiDeveloper Member Posts: 441
    POLYGAMe said:
    Hey Photics,

    MAKE IT PRINTABLE AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER CUSTOMER RIGHT HERE! Seriously, I can't read PDFs on my crappy 17" 4:3 monitor at the best of times, let alone while trying to run GS simultaneously.

    I'm just saying ;-)

    You can buy it printable (book) from Lulu..

    http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-unofficial-gamesalad-textbook/12183604?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    iDeveloper said:
    You can buy it printable (book) from Lulu..

    I should be getting my printed copy this week... exciting! I saved $6.49 with free shipping too!
  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    iDeveloper said:
    You can buy it printable (book) from Lulu..

    http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-unofficial-gamesalad-textbook/12183604?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

    That's not what printable means. I'm not spending $30 plus another $15 shipping when I should be able to buy the PDF and print it out to read it.
  • Rob2Rob2 Member Posts: 2,402
    yep....+1 to that
  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    Being in Aussie, it would literally cost me MORE THAN TWICE the price of the PDF version to buy the book... being forced to pay an extra $10 plus $15 shipping just so I can have it on paper seems a little unethical... oh wait... I'm not being forced. I just won't buy it... UNLESS IT BECOMES PRINTABLE AGAIN ;-)

    I'm guessing Photics has cut out a whole bunch of potential customers with that move. Not quite sure why he did it anyway, he mentioned people stealing it but that won't stop people copying it as no one prints files for their friends, THEY EMAIL THEM. If anything, this will cause more people to "share" it.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    POLYGAMe said:
    That's not what printable means. I'm not spending $30 plus another $15 shipping when I should be able to buy the PDF and print it out to read it.

    Well, perhaps this is a sign of things to come...
    http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/06/physical-book-dead/

    The PDF version is better in my opinion.

    1) It's easier for me to sell. I can make it cheaper and the distribution is near instant.
    2) It's searchable. The Index and the table of contents have clickable links.
    3) It has an indefinite lifespan. If you spill coffee on your printed book, game over!
    4) It can be updated. You can't do that with the book, unless you want to use whiteout and a pen.

    So, why not take your Max Vector winnings, buy an iPad, buy the PDF and make some iPad games?

    I like the feel and the smell of printed book. Yet, it seems like the days are numbered for printed books. Owning one will be a luxury. The printed version through Lulu is only available for those who absolutely want a printed copy. I wanted a printed copy, so I ordered one. I actually ordered three.
  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    Photics said:
    Well, perhaps this is a sign of things to come...
    http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/06/physical-book-dead/

    The PDF version is better in my opinion.

    1) It's easier for me to sell. I can make it cheaper and the distribution is near instant.
    2) It's searchable. The Index and the table of contents have clickable links.
    3) It has an indefinite lifespan. If you spill coffee on your printed book, game over!
    4) It can be updated. You can't do that with the book, unless you want to use whiteout and a pen.

    So, why not take your Max Vector winnings, buy an iPad, buy the PDF and make some iPad games?

    I like the feel and the smell of printed book. Yet, it seems like the days are numbered for printed books. Owning one will be a luxury. The printed version through Lulu is only available for those who absolutely want a printed copy. I wanted a printed copy, so I ordered one. I actually ordered three.

    The last thing I'd use an iPad for is reading books. I HATE reading on an LCD screen... unless it's a Kindle or a Kobo... those things are great, much more "paper-like". Seriously though, what is the logic behind making it not printable? Obviously there are ways around it, I could mess around until I got it on paper but I really can't be bothered and shouldn't have to.

    I also just bought an Objective C book (PDF and print) by Tim Isted, it's over 400 pages and extremely well written (not to mention rated on Amazon). Guess what? The PDF is printable! Keep in mind this is a top title from a well established author... and both PDF and paper versions only cost a smidge over what your paperback alone would set me back (which is also 200 pages shorter and, quite frankly, buying it is a bit of a gamble as I have nothing to go by in regards to your previous work).
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    POLYGAMe said:
    I just won't buy it... UNLESS IT BECOMES PRINTABLE AGAIN ;-)

    Then don't buy it. I like the idea of you not knowing the secrets in the book.
    I'm guessing Photics has cut out a whole bunch of potential customers with that move. Not quite sure why he did it anyway, he mentioned people stealing it but that won't stop people copying it as no one prints files for their friends, THEY EMAIL THEM. If anything, this will cause more people to "share" it.

    A printed copy can be shared with friends, or scanned, or copied too. It's currently impossible to stop people who are going to steal a digital file. I could use DRM to curtail theft, but a PDF can be cracked and all I've done is upset the paying customers. This book is for a small community of honorable game developers.

    I've seen at least one instance of copyright infringement. It was right next to the warning, "this site may harm your computer". With the recent exploit showing how a PDF file could take over your iOS device, do you really want to be "sharing" the PDF? If a person is dishonorable enough to illegally copy a book, do you really want their files on your computer?

    I should call Apple though. If the printed book is available in the Apple stores, that should solve your problem. The printed copy through Lulu is expensive for overseas customers.
  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    Photics said:
    Then don't buy it. I like the idea of you not knowing the secrets in the book.

    I really don't need to say anything at all after that comment.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    POLYGAMe said:
    I really don't need to say anything at all after that comment.

    ...and yet, you just did.
  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    I said I didn't NEED to. I was implying that you'd said it all... which you pretty much did. You summed up the kind of person you are in that one sentence.

    Now, how am I going to sleep at night? How am I going to be able to make games as impressive as Commove and Arcade Action, without the wealth of knowledge that lies within the pages of your book? It is a sad, sad day...
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    POLYGAMe said:
    You summed up the kind of person you are in that one sentence.

    No, my personality is like a mirror. I'm responding to you. I don't care for your attitude.
  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    You cut me, man... you cut me deep...
  • BarkBarkCoBarkBarkCo Member Posts: 1,400
    BA HA HA HA HA!

    I ate a clown for breakfast...I had to get that out! ;-)
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