Dead Panic Developer Blog
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Q: Why should I use the Model-View-Controller pattern when writing games?
A: I'm glad you asked. I'll leave a general explanation of Model-View-Controller to Wikipedia, and just concentrate on how it benefits your game project. MVC makes your game easier to write, easier to understand, and easier to update in the future.
Q: Design patterns are just a bunch of fanboy...
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I'd like to outline a simple (superior?) method for implementing the observer pattern in Cocoa, and give an example for Cocoa / iPhone games. The observer pattern is a necessity for implementing the Model-View-Controller pattern.
Before we see the observer let's look at some code without the observer pattern. Here's a typical method from my game state that adds a new enemy to the...
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"Dead Panic" is getting a postive reception on many gaming sites. The most common feedback is "more weapons, more game modes, more more more!" Which is a great position to be in, and I'm addressing it in the next update.
I'm also available for interviews - I'm a full-time independent developer who quit his well-paid job at the age of 35, long before the game was finished or my future was certain. I have lots to say about the state of the app store, the future of the iPhone platform,...
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Warning to some, bonus to others: this post is less markety and more code-heavy. It also reveals some info about the architecture of "Dead Panic."
Newcomers to iPhoneDevSDK often ask how to convert a string to bytes for writing to a file and other questions about data persistence that belie their real question: how do I save an object and restore it at a later time? NSUserDefaults is fine for storing some strings or bools, but what about an...
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The next version of "Dead Panic" is now available in the iTunes app store!
"Dead Panic: Survival" adds:
* An infinite "survival" mode
* Four new maps
* Two new weapon types
* A money/upgrade system
* Multi-touch controls
* OpenFeint challenges and achievements
* High scores
* Upgraded sound and graphicsIf you liked the original game, there...
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The first update for "Dead Panic" has been submitted to the app store and is awaiting approval.
New Features:
- Infinite "survival" mode
- Four new maps
- Combat actions
- Multi-touch-controls
- OpenFeint challenges and achievements
- High scores
- Upgraded sound and graphics.
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Tales of App Store failure
I'd like to highlight the realities of the income you get on the app store without major press coverage or promotion on Apple's front page. "Dead Panic" is still on the launch pad sales-wise, but this post will serve as a nice counterpoint to future rich-and-famous stories, and show what can happen if the party never starts.
My Sales Figures
Stories about how "the app store gold rush is over" are very popular right now. In that spirit, I...
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There's an ongoing debate on the iPhone Dev SDK Forum about what is more important - the idea, or the execution? And I'd like to weigh in on the matter.
When Conan of Cimmeria was asked "What is best in life?" he replied thusly: "To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of deyah women."
Much has changed since the Hyborian age, but success is still a three-legged stool, and the three modern legs...
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Making a triple-A console game costs millions of dollars, but independent developers have to think on a much smaller scale. If you're willing to do things the indie way you can create your own game for under ten thousand dollars. These are the resources I used to do exactly that.
Graphics: $60 - $500
I cheated on this one by creating my own graphics. This is not for everyone, but if you've done some 3D modeling before and know your way around Photoshop then it may be an...
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After extensive testing Dead Panic was submitted to Apple for review on August 1, 2009. It usually takes about 14 days for approval, so watch this space for more news!
Thanks for all my testers for taking the time to play the game and report bugs to me.
Stay tuned to this blog for more iPhone programming tips, game programming tips, and tutorials, and information about Dead Panic, or follow me on twitter.
I'll continue to update...
