IPhone Specific Documentation
by Patrick Swinnea · in iTorque 2D · 09/09/2008 (12:00 pm) · 6 replies
With a little under a month until the official release of iTorque for TGB, I thought I'd start a list of iPhone specific functions we're hoping to see documentation or tutorials on.
I'm sure most of these will be covered, but just in case here's my list.
DOCUMENTATION AND/OR TUTORIAL REQUEST:
1. A step by step walk through from TGB to iTorque to testing on the actual device (with or without going through Apple's SDK).
2. Adjusting the device volume through an Options menu (for iPod touch customers without external volume buttons).
3. Turning on and off music and sound effects separately through the Options menu (so they can listen to their own music while playing the game if they want).
4. Accessing the Options Menu In-Game from the Pause button.
5. Button mapping for creating our own touch screen inputs, mapped to control functions.
6. Accelerometer sensitivity adjustments through the Options Menu.
8. High Score screen - if there is a difference from the way it's already done in the Mac/PC builds.
AND THE BIG ONE!
9. Auto Saving the game state when the game is interrupted by a phone call or when the user presses the device Home key. This is becoming standard practice for most games in the App Store, and the ability to Auto Save and Auto Restore is a must.
Did I miss any? Please feel free to add to this list.
I'm sure most of these will be covered, but just in case here's my list.
DOCUMENTATION AND/OR TUTORIAL REQUEST:
1. A step by step walk through from TGB to iTorque to testing on the actual device (with or without going through Apple's SDK).
2. Adjusting the device volume through an Options menu (for iPod touch customers without external volume buttons).
3. Turning on and off music and sound effects separately through the Options menu (so they can listen to their own music while playing the game if they want).
4. Accessing the Options Menu In-Game from the Pause button.
5. Button mapping for creating our own touch screen inputs, mapped to control functions.
6. Accelerometer sensitivity adjustments through the Options Menu.
8. High Score screen - if there is a difference from the way it's already done in the Mac/PC builds.
AND THE BIG ONE!
9. Auto Saving the game state when the game is interrupted by a phone call or when the user presses the device Home key. This is becoming standard practice for most games in the App Store, and the ability to Auto Save and Auto Restore is a must.
Did I miss any? Please feel free to add to this list.
#2
1. I agree! The process of provisioning your iPhone/iTouch device, getting certificates, etc seems like a jumbled process already, and that's using Apple's own SDK! I'm eager to see how iTorque integrates into this process and what extra steps are required once you're ready to send the app from iTorque to the device for testing.
2-6. When I wrote this originally I was VERY new to TGB (about a week in with the demo before I bought TGB and iTorque). Looking at this list now I realize that several of these things aren't iPhone specific (like 2, 3, 4 and 8).
So I suppose anything that can help with the iPhone specific functions (creating custom on-screen buttons and keybinding to them, and accelerometer stuff). Many current iPhone games that use the accelerometer feature a sensitivity adjustment in their options menu. Any help with implementing something like this would be awesome. Also, I skipped #7. Funny.
9. It seems like most games in the store support this now. Games that don't tend to get negative comments about it, it's a real pain when you're playing a game and a phone call kills your game progress. Something like a "Save State on Quit" and "Restore State on Start" would be perfect, though I realize it's probably more complicated than that.
09/27/2008 (8:15 am)
Hi Michael.1. I agree! The process of provisioning your iPhone/iTouch device, getting certificates, etc seems like a jumbled process already, and that's using Apple's own SDK! I'm eager to see how iTorque integrates into this process and what extra steps are required once you're ready to send the app from iTorque to the device for testing.
2-6. When I wrote this originally I was VERY new to TGB (about a week in with the demo before I bought TGB and iTorque). Looking at this list now I realize that several of these things aren't iPhone specific (like 2, 3, 4 and 8).
So I suppose anything that can help with the iPhone specific functions (creating custom on-screen buttons and keybinding to them, and accelerometer stuff). Many current iPhone games that use the accelerometer feature a sensitivity adjustment in their options menu. Any help with implementing something like this would be awesome. Also, I skipped #7. Funny.
9. It seems like most games in the store support this now. Games that don't tend to get negative comments about it, it's a real pain when you're playing a game and a phone call kills your game progress. Something like a "Save State on Quit" and "Restore State on Start" would be perfect, though I realize it's probably more complicated than that.
#3
If you are an iTGB user and you have requests or suggestions for documentation, please head over to the
Official iTGB Documentation Feedback Thread
I will include all of what you listed as the first requests, Patrick. So, you don't have to repost that stuff yourself. But if you have more requests, head on over.
09/27/2008 (11:08 am)
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
If you are an iTGE user and you have requests or suggestions for documentation, please head over to the Official iTGE Documentation Feedback ThreadIf you are an iTGB user and you have requests or suggestions for documentation, please head over to the
Official iTGB Documentation Feedback Thread
I will include all of what you listed as the first requests, Patrick. So, you don't have to repost that stuff yourself. But if you have more requests, head on over.
#4
09/27/2008 (12:03 pm)
That sounds great! Thanks.
#5
www.garagegames.com/mg/forums/result.thread.php?qt=79504
09/29/2008 (11:29 am)
The iTGB link should be:www.garagegames.com/mg/forums/result.thread.php?qt=79504
#6
09/29/2008 (11:33 am)
Thanks Alex. Fixed. 
Employee Michael Perry
ZombieShortbus
1. This sounds like the most important doc to write.
2 - 6. Are you asking about creating a custom options menu that supports all those features?
9. Eesh, I'm gonna need to actually ask someone else about this. This actually might help me acquisition an iPhone or iPod Touch. If that happens, I will show you all more documentation love than you can handle =)