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Post by Cilionelle on May 18, 2010 20:56:22 GMT -5
Is anyone out there smart enough to do an iBodger equivalent for AE:WWII and Bounty (when it comes out)? I've been playing around with my wife's iPod Touch and have been getting back into Warmachine as a result of using iBodger. It seems like the way AE is set up would lend itself to a programme of this nature, utilising the options and giving hero types and stuff, even without the stats for the individual units (which I know is IP/copyright protected, at least in the GW dominated/oriented world).
Is there anyone out there who will answer the call to arm(y building software)s?
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Post by abbysdad on May 19, 2010 9:51:42 GMT -5
Yes, this is already in the works. We will probably have something for Bounty first because there are less units and options involved. A couple of approaches have been tried, but we ultimately decided to give a true cross platform approach a go with a java based database structure. This should work well for the iPod too. Early versions using VBA in an Excel framwork didn't look as good as we wanted and were obviously tied to MS Excel. Other options that may resurface include the open source ACE software using Lua, but there's some significant rejiggering that needs to be done because like most other army creation software they rely on points based options. Feel free to ping me if you're curious about progress. This is a side project I'm working with some people on when I'm not writing stuff for the next few books, working the day job or being a Dad. So I need a kick in the butt to focus on it occasionally  Also, if anyone else is interested in doing something similar, feel free to send me a PM. Cheers, Chris |
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Post by Darkson on May 19, 2010 16:18:58 GMT -5
I am also pushing to have this done as I have an iPhone.  |
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Post by evernevermore(john) on May 19, 2010 17:49:27 GMT -5
Couple questions (and I apologize if they come across condescending or curt)
1) Is this really this a worth while expenditure of time and resources at this time? Are there that many options and combinations?
2) Is this really needed? I know its a convenience thing but Im also comparing this mentally to things like Battletechs construction rules or GW army list creation. AE-WW2 is much much less math intensive, but is the goal of the program something else?
3) Why does it have to be for the Apple line? or Will it be cross platform?
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Post by abbysdad on May 19, 2010 19:19:39 GMT -5
Couple questions (and I apologize if they come across condescending or curt) No worries. I can always smack you next time I see you at Legions. And vice versa IMO, yes and yes. The big issue is how to work all the unlocking options and "if this," "then that's" with the detachment/crew template substitutions. And then make it look good. That being said, the reason it hasn't been finished up is that it is not the biggest item on my to-do list. And my daughter's birth complicated things. And the Fed's have been a royal pain in the keister, and I'm still teaching martial arts one to two times a week...so yeah, life happened. We soldier on. But since I've got help now, I expect it will go along much more smoothly. I think the to-do over the detachment building rules a few months ago suggests it is. We have players that don't speak English as a native language. Something like this really helps. The logic options can also be really confusing and lead to some interesting combinations that native English speakers can get confused about. Again, something like this would help. So, it's not a math thing, but a fact check thing. [sarcasm] As a proud member of HOMO (the Honorable Order of Mac Owners) I must do everything in a way that is approved by the Prophet Jobs, long may he reside in Cupertino. Omm.....[/sarcasm] Sorry. Your question needed some sarcasm in the response to that one ;D Yes, the initial application will be a cross platform internet app. There will be a link from the site. You'll click on it and go to the app. Once that works how we like, it can be turned into an iPod app. Assuming that the censors are Apple would allow the app into the App Store. I love my iPod. My wife loves her iTouch. Lots of gamers have iPhones. That kind of smart phone is the future and it is something more and more people are going to have. But I'm betting on Google and the Android platform. I'm an engineer so the whole "screws not glue" argument really sinks Apple for me in the end. But for now, they're king of the hill, so we need to recognize that. In closing, I think Darkson Designs kicks a$$. I'm doing my best to help the crew turn out products that bring other people around to my way of thinking. If that adds a little more to the work load, so be it. I work hard, but I play hard too. Feel free to comment on anything here. I really appreciate the feedback. Cheers, Chris |
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Post by Cilionelle on May 19, 2010 21:41:05 GMT -5
1) Is this really this a worth while expenditure of time and resources at this time? Are there that many options and combinations? I think it's worth it. One of the motivations for my asking is that in order to do planned missions, one has to make a list on the spot. Granted, it could be done before the playdate, but there's merit in having something quick(er) and easy(er) to hand almost immediately. Flipping pages is gone! And it also means that army lists can be made whilst on the loo, which is a bonus for those of us with limited time (a.k.a. kids). And in looking through the main rule book, the Occult book, the OTW expansions, and whatever goodness comes out of the next books, I think having a consolidated list of all the options is an invaluable advantage. 2) Is this really needed? I know its a convenience thing but Im also comparing this mentally to things like Battletechs construction rules or GW army list creation. AE-WW2 is much much less math intensive, but is the goal of the program something else? Easy of construction. Convenience. Not having to remember that to take a druid, you need an MoAA agent (sorry, Steve, Carson!). Et al.3) Why does it have to be for the Apple line? or Will it be cross platform? It doesn't, like abbysdad said. But that's where I'm coming from at the moment, and so I thought I'd phrase it that way. PS: I'd be willing to help test the thing when it's closer to beta. Or input data if that's needed. I have access to a wide range of browsers (IE, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera), OSes (iPhone OS 3, Windows, Ubuntu) and devices, mobile and otherwise. |
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Post by Darkson on May 20, 2010 0:37:06 GMT -5
One of the nice things about a project like this is we are getting help from someone outside the normal team. So it dose not put a strain on the efforts of other projects. Although Chris is master minding the over all project he is a mad man and I don't think he sleeps at all. |
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Post by abbysdad on May 20, 2010 10:59:41 GMT -5
One of the nice things about a project like this is we are getting help from someone outside the normal team. So it dose not put a strain on the efforts of other projects. Although Chris is master minding the over all project he is a mad man and I don't think he sleeps at all. I sleep a lot. Just not when there's work that's needs doing  |
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Post by xGIxJOKERx on May 21, 2010 14:56:04 GMT -5
I think it sounds like a great idea. I bounced this idea off a programmer friend of mine a while back. It didn't go anywhere but I still think it would be awesome.
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