iPhone Game Development - Chris Craft [122]
UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@”Error”
message:message delegate:nil cancelButtonTitle:@”OK”
otherButtonTitles:nil];
[alert show];
[alert release];
}
In this case, you can simply poll your server for messages when your application fires up. Once the app is registered for push notification, your app could be loaded as a result of a user simply clicking Accept on a push notification alert. If your app is loaded in this manner, the method application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions will be called. You can use this event to trigger your app to load with a game already in progress if the situation warrants it.
Analyzing Business Aspects
The major business aspect of turn-based games connected over the Internet is the opportunity for viral sales. This is key—if your game is fun and engaging, then friends will want to play other friends, which will lead to more sales. Play up this feature by allowing players to invite friends through means other than e-mail. Use Facebook, Twitter, and other social media avenues. Post game results to social news stories and leader boards. Create an environment that fosters competition. The more competition and rivalry, the more friends will want to connect and interact, which leads to better sales.
Turn-based games allow for a game to be played over the course of days instead of at a single sit-down. This can attract a different audience to your game. Some people have families and small kids, which may make it difficult to find time to sit down and play a long, drawn-out game. However, if you can start a game and continue to take turns when you can steal five minutes to make a move here and there, it becomes possible to cobble time together over the course of a day or week to complete a full game. This is an attractive feature to potential buyers. In your application description, tell the story of busy family guys and gals and how this game is designed with them in mind.
Summary
Turn-based games are well suited for the iPhone. Since the iPhone is an on-the-go device, it is especially well suited for games that you can play during the day. You can start a turn-based game, make a few moves, head to work, make a few more moves at lunch, and finally finish up when you get home. Turn-based games complement the on-the-go lifestyle, which embodies the culture of iPhone owners.
In this chapter you learned technologies useful for implementing turn-based games. You learned that the best and most entertaining games require more strategy than luck to master. You reviewed tic-tac-toe and saw how it lacks strategy, and from there you saw some changes we made in an effort to introduce more strategy to this classic game. You reviewed new ways to connect players that work well for turn-based games. Locating friends to play against is an integral part of a successful multiplayer game. For this reason, you need to allow sufficient time in your development cycle to design and develop a system for connecting friends. Finally, you reviewed the technical details of the turn-based game, Amuck-Tac-Toe.
Games connected over the Internet are positioned to be king in viral sales, especially small games with a small price. It is worth a dollar or two to play even a single round of a game with an old college buddy. Also, remember when you get two or more people to play, your profit is multiplied. As always, make your game fun and engaging, but invest the time into making it simple and straightforward. The social interaction with friends should be effortless, fun, and competitive. Your game can build and strengthen relationships between players. This will keep them coming back.
Part IV: Advanced Technical and Business Programming Concepts
Chapter 9
Grasping Advanced Programming Topics
Chapter 10
Understanding the Business of Software
Chapter 9: Grasping Advanced Programming Topics
In This Chapter
Exploring the camera
Getting oriented with the compass
Turning up the audio
Looking into video
Discovering geolocation
Stepping into the third