Something was done!

Like I mentioned before, I plan on writing a review once I’m further into the book, but I wanted to stop by and discuss with you some of my progress. It’s not going to be in a lot of detail, but enough for you to understand.

So far I’ve learned the basic development process for making an application. You fire up Xcode and start with a simple template. For example, I created an instance of a string and a button variable within the code. Then I create a function that changes the value of the string when the button’s value has changed. I then fire up Interface Builder. (Below is what it looked like for this project. The image has transparency so disregard the way it looks for now.)

Interface Builder is like a carpenters tool belt since it has all the tools you’d possible need to make an application. I start by simply reaching over at the Library to pick a label and a button so I could place them into my view. I then can edit their default values if I wish among a myriad of other properties using the Inspector.

Now, the interesting part happens. In order to connect the code found in Xcode to Interface Builder, I simply make a connection between the code, happens to be an icon provided to me (“Files Owner”), and the respective object, label or button. I then have the ability to associate this object either with an action (function) or a variable. These connections make my code react to the objects placed in the view depending on the actions of the user.

Then, I simply build and compile and test my application from within the iPhone Simulator. Yes, its as easy as it sounds but of course, there are a couple of things I left out that you would take care of if you tried it for yourself.

cocos2d

cocos2d is a framework for building 2D games and graphical/interactive applications. If you are planning on creating a 2D game and are looking for a free engine, feel free to try this one. It’s features include an easy managing of flow control, sprites, actions amongst sprites, integrated physics engine, particle system,sound support, touch/accelerometer support, effects, tiled maps, transitions between scenes with effects, menus, text rendering, lots of documentation, OpenGL based, and best of all, BSD license which allows you to just use it.

The forum contains a strong active community, so if you have any questions about the engine, you’ll be sure to always find an answer. Below is a game that was created using cocos2D that is quite impressive. It demonstrates that your imagination is the only limitation.

Features:About cocos2D
Best Features: Strong community, Free, Touch/Accelerometer support, Integrated Physics Engine
Cost: Free
Website: cocos2d

SIO2 Free Open Source 3D Game Engine for iPad, Iphone and iPod Touch

SIO2 Free Open Source 3D Game Engine for iPad, Iphone and iPod Touch is an engine that looks most promising (and the one I’m currently using) for the average user. With a low-cost entry point of $0 which simply requires a splash screen at the beginning of your game, this is something you should take a look at. This engine contains easy C/C++ syntax, real time physics, multimedia & sound effects, lighting & shadows, tool chain, texturing, scene management, and animation. It also supports Blender which allows you to easily create 3D models and import them into the SIO2 Engine.

I’m currently using this engine and alongside I’m reading 3D for iPhone Apps with Blender and SIO2: Your Guide to Creating 3D Games and More with Open-Source Software. It’s a good read and easy to understand. Within a day I was already programming using the iPhone SDK and deploying simple programs using the iPhone Simulator. Check out my Flickr account for picture of my progress. SIO2 website also contains code from full games at a price if you want to hit the ground running.

Features:SIO2 Technology
Best Features: Free, 3D Game Engine, Blender support, C/C++, Great tutorials
Cost: Free with a splash image, $49 for one-game certificate
Website: SIO2 Free Open Source 3D Game Engine for iPad, Iphone and iPod Touch

Unity3D

Unity3D boasts a powerful game engine but at a high entry point. It mentions that if you can think it, you can build it using their engine. If price isn’t a concern, this is something you should think about. It doesn’t rank #1 for “3D Game Development iPhone” on Google for nothing.

Features:Unity3D iPhone Publishing
Best Features: Integrated Editor, Shaders, Physics, Graphical Power for OpenGL/DirectX, Networking, Documentation
Cost: $300 entry point
Website: Unity3D

ShiVa3D

Seems promising as it allows you to develop on any platform such as WIndow, Mac, Linux and even allows you to port your games to Android phones or iPhones.

Features:ShiVa3D
Best Features: Free, 3D Render Engine, Network Support, Port ShiVa games to Mobile devices
Cost: Free
Website: ShiVa3D

Torque 2D

Torque 2D has one of the better websites which displays the power of its game engine.

Hospital Havoc

Features:Torque 2D
Best Features: WYSIWG 2D Editor at iPhone resolution, Texture Compression, Source included
Cost: $750
Website: Torque 2D

GameSalad

GameSalad mentions is the fastest and easiest way for game creation tool for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Red Block Remover is on their front page and seems to demonstrate the type of games that can be created using their engine. It’s supposed to be for non-programmers so if you want to create a game but don’t know how to program, you should give it a shot.

Features:GameSalad Creator
Best Features: No programming experience needed, Integrated Physics, Drag and Drop modules, Behavior Library
Cost: $99/year entry point, $1999/year for elite users
Website: Torque 2D

Bork3D Game Engine

Bork3D Game Engine is an engine that was built for mobile platforms which boasts performance. The website mentions its not a full-fledged game engine since it doesn’t offer the tools that other kits offer, it’s only meant for people with programming experience.

Features:Bork3D Game Engine
Best Features: OpenGL ES Abstraction, Debug-rendering API, Game-Orientated object system, Edit game state via web, Bullet physics SDK
Cost: $49 for Indy License, $199 for Professional License
Website: Bork3D Game Engine

oolongenine

oolonggenine is an iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch Engine which is written in C++ and some Objective-C.

Features:oolongengine
Best Features: Free, Blender support, Bullet SDK, OpenAL Sound Engine, Memory Manager, Networking
Cost: Free
Website: oolongenine

Ogre3D

Okay, so you got me here. This isn’t really a game engine but more of a graphics engine. If you are familiar with Ogre then why don’t you try it out? I’ve used it before but decided a game engine would better suit my needs.

Best Features: Graphics Engine
Cost: Free
Website: Ogre3D

Overview

Before you settle on a game engine, make sure you weigh all your options! That is why I decided to compile this list. I’ll be constantly updating it so feel free to give me feedback. Also, let us know your experience with a game engine if you have any.

I added an iPhone Development set to our Talk Binary Flickr account. This set will frequently be updated with my progress on programming for the iPhone. Our plans consist of making a 3D game for the iPhone but since we’ve never programmed for the iPhone before, we are currently in the learning stage!

So drop by and take a look so you can always be updated on our progress. Feel free to Contact us if you have any questions about a particular project you see in our stream feel free to ask away. We are also welcoming suggestions if you feel there is a better approach we should take. Nonetheless, I’ll still be updating Talk Binary with more posts on iPhone Development on particular milestones.

I followed a tutorial found in the iPhone 3D Programming: Developing Graphical Applications with OpenGL ES book. It’s fairly easy to follow since it tells you exactly what to do every step of the way. So far I’ve gone through the first chapter and I’ve had no complaints. I’ve only had a few minor bugs that I encountered but that was on my behalf for not following exactly what the book mentioned. So yes, every line is important and yes, the debugger is amazing too!

If you have been looking for a book, then iPhone 3D Programming: Developing Graphical Applications with OpenGL ES is something I’ll highly recommend. I’ll be going through and once I get far into it, I’ll come back and write a review for it. So, so far what has this book taught me in the first chapter?

• Basic introduction to the iPhone SDK
• Learn how to create and run the default OpenGL ES project
• Start an OpenGL ES program from scratch
• Create an Icon and Splash Screen for my application
• Create a Rendering Engine for both Open GL ES 1.1 and 2.0 versions for backwards compatibility
• Learned to draw, rotate, and animate a simple polygon

Keep following to learn my progress

Keep updated on Talk Binary, as I’ll continue to share my latest discoveries with the iPhone SDK. It’s not as bad as you think. Once you know where to start, and what resources to use, it just takes some patience. If you have any questions, feel free to ask below. I’m here to help.

Essential videos on iPhone Development

Anyways, I wanted to mention I’m currently looking around in the iPhone Dev Center and to begin, I’m particularly interested in the Getting Started Videos (requires iTunes). These videos discuss a wide variety of concepts from Apple experts on iPhone Development. I’m particularly interested in the videos discussing the iPhone SDK, Key Practices for Development, and the iPhone Game Development Technologies. Most of them do an excellent job at discussing the topic so expect to learn a couple of new things while watching, thus making them “essential videos” for the incoming developers.

Example image of video demonstrating the type of visuals experts use

Talk Binary Mobile Application Is Live

Like I promised in the previous Beginning iPhone Development post, I’ve been diligently working on a Talk Binary mobile app. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself at Talk Binary Mobile (http://talkbinary.com/mobile). Add to your homepage within your iPhone or iPod Touch browser or view it on your desktop using Safari.

It’s not a final build, but so far you could browse through a couple of categories and read the posts. I’ll actually make the Home, Blog, and About buttons to work a little later.

So you want to learn how to make your own web app?

If you do, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed via reader or email. I’ll be keeping you updated on how to create your own with a neat little resource I found online. Also, I’m working on a little project I might launch soon which you might be interested in seeing. So make sure you keep coming back!

So if you are interested in learning how it goes with Talk Binary, make sure you are subscribed. You have several options and they are at the top of our page, you can subscribe to our RSS feed or via e-mail. I even created a new category just for iPhone Development. So you’ll know where to look for all iPhone Development related material will be at.

Beginning iPhone 3 Development

UCR recently held a seminar from an iPhone developer from Apple and the presenter recommended Beginning iPhone 3 Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK. I remembered the exact book since I searched it on Amazon and it was the first entry under iPhone Programming. I was convinced on purchasing it primarily because the presenter did a good job on the presentation he gave. He talked about the iPhone platform, the market, some neat applications, and different ways you could make an application.

The interesting part of his presentation came when he actually showed us how to create a very simple application. The first one was a flashlight which required no coding since the blank screen is actually…well a blank application. That was nice to know. Then he showed us how to create a simple application with UCR’s alma mater and surprisingly enough, not many people in the crowd knew it. Way to go school spirit or was it because we were Computer Science students? Either way, this motivated me to go ahead and try development on my own since if he could make a simple application in half an hour, I could make a more sophisticated time with more time, right?.

School pride!

So what’s next for Talk Binary in iPhone Development?

Below is a rough sketch of my planning for my iPhone development so you kind of have an idea where I’m going.

• Learn the sdk
• Make a simple web application: mobile version of Talk Binary
• Come up with a simple game just to test the waters
• Create something more serious like a general utility app or a simple puzzle game

Also, if you want make sure to check out the book below at Amazon. I’ll be reviewing it once I take a good look at it. So make sure you keep updating on my progress since I’ll be sharing my experiences here! Until then.