#169966 - gauauu - Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:16 pm
Wow...I just realized we haven't seen or heard much of tepples in awhile, so I checked to see when his last post was. Turns out he hasn't posted since December 2008. Did he give up on gbadev?
(He's still posting the same old routine on slashdot about lack of split-screen party game support on PCs, so I know he still exists....)
#169993 - dantheman - Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:43 pm
He's made very occasional posts on PH as well. I've been kinda wondering what happened (if anything), but perhaps it's something personal.
#169999 - Kasumi - Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:29 am
He's rather active in the nesdev community and some others.
#170012 - Optihut - Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:09 pm
It's a shame that he doesn't post anymore; I always admired tepples's level headed posts (and since tone of voice doesn't come across, this is not sarcasm, I actually mean that).
#170442 - ritz - Fri Sep 25, 2009 4:57 pm
| Quote: |
| "That's it" - Posted on September 24, 2009 |
http://www.pineight.com/
#170443 - sonny_jim - Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:06 am
Still finds the time to plug his tetris clone though:
http://games.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1375635&cid=29483867
_________________
| Quote: |
Would that be the internet driver for the program?
|
#170451 - keldon - Sat Sep 26, 2009 7:55 pm
Ah what a loss; let's hope the new blood will inspire him to turn back.
One of my workmates was pretty cheesed off for being rejected by Nintendo aswell, despite reaching all requirements; specially since he's worked on commercial Wii titles. So he too has gone the way of the iPlatform!
I really want to get back to console development though; I made some decent DS code and libs. Right now I'm putting all my efforts into my e2 solver ...
#170477 - chishm - Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:02 am
Lockjaw got a plug on Good Game (an Australian TV show) last night, by the top Tetris player in Australia. You can watch the interview on the Good Game site.
_________________
http://chishm.drunkencoders.com
http://dldi.drunkencoders.com
#170484 - simonjhall - Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:00 pm
Is tepples' action representative of what's happening in the DS scene? I check back from time to time and there seems to be no real action going on. Am I just looking in the wrong place? (eg gbadev is no long the place to hang out?)
PS: hi to all you guys on here I used to talk to all the time :)
_________________
Big thanks to everyone who donated for Quake2
#170486 - gauauu - Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:44 pm
| simonjhall wrote: |
| Is tepples' action representative of what's happening in the DS scene? |
To some extent, I believe so. Things have definitely slowed down a bit.
Although I don't REALLY understand his attitude about it...do people really come to nds homebrew (and other console homebrew) because they think that's the way to break into getting published? I would have thought Tepples would have known better. I thought most of us showed up because it was fun to develop for in spite of (or even somewhat because of) the fact that Nintendo hates (or at least has no respect for) what we're doing.
But it sounds, from his rant on his blog, like he expected Nintendo to finally give in and let him publish Lockjaw or some theoretical 4-player party game or something. And when that didn't happen, he got disgusted and quit homebrew. Doesn't make any sense to me.
#170493 - simonjhall - Tue Sep 29, 2009 5:06 pm
Yeah I can't believe that he thought that it'd be a serious avenue into the gaming world - it's just a hobby right? Ah, he's always been a strongly opinionated fellow anyway so maybe that's what the rant on the blog is about.
I think the DS scene will get a big pick-up again if/when the DSi becomes programmable. Most of the learning will have been done (due to RE-ing the DS) but there will be extra possibilities due to the extra resources on the machine etc.
My housemate has a DSi so I guess I could program that if they hack it, but I doubt my g/f would approve of me spending so much time doing that :)
_________________
Big thanks to everyone who donated for Quake2
#170497 - Miked0801 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 6:25 pm
Homebrew can be a way into the development world folks. Quite a few people have been hired from work and comments posted on these very pages.
#170498 - ritz - Tue Sep 29, 2009 6:40 pm
Maybe something similar happened to Martin Korth.
In some Nintendo meeting:
"Let's squash the R4, no$gba, etc. before we launch our new DSi and help prevent the attraction to piracy these things have. Licensees demand it!"
"Ok, but let's hire the nocash dude instead. He obviously knows what he's doing."
#170500 - simonjhall - Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:10 pm
Ah that's a good point - did Martin come out of hiding? Last time I heard he wasn't responding to any mails.
And it's not that I don't think homebrew is a good way in, I do think it can help when you're applying for a job. I'm not sure if employment agencies really scour site link this though :(
_________________
Big thanks to everyone who donated for Quake2
#170504 - gauauu - Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:50 pm
| Miked0801 wrote: |
| Homebrew can be a way into the development world folks. Quite a few people have been hired from work and comments posted on these very pages. |
I'm not saying it can't be a way in. But not the way Tepples seemed to want it to be. His common statement (made as much or more on slashdot than here) was that he didn't like that Nintendo only accepted studios with past industry experience, secure facilities, etc. This made it sound like he expected to be able to get published HIMSELF, as opposed to getting a job with an existing company.
#170508 - keldon - Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:47 pm
Well homebrew certainly helped me; not only with university but with my current job.
On another note I'm going to be leaving my job at the end of October, so if I can secure my rent for a few months afterwards then I will have time for a mini project of some sort, which should be fun. I've destroyed my EZ Flash, so I just hope I can get a decent replacement.
If you really want to produce your own Nintendo title, it might be best to secure a deal with a publishing / development firm to "handle" your accounts and let you operate as your own self-managed branch. You pay your own "wages", etc., pay for rental space of a desk in their office and operate from there.
In fact there are probably a number of organisations with a spare [secured] office that could do with the extra income. Now out of those organisations there must be a fair amount that are software / game developers. Ok, it's a long shot, but that might be the trajectory of a loophole!
#170516 - sgeos - Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:08 am
| keldon wrote: |
| Ok, it's a long shot, but that might be the trajectory of a loophole! |
It's a long shot, unless you know the right person. Even if you do, you will still probably need to bring an interesting proposition to the table.
#170517 - tepples - Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:58 am
Boo.
I think December 2008 is when my boss at work started to push me from part time to full time. That leaves less time for hobbies.
One big reason that I ever got into the GBA in the first place was because it was a handheld. If you were around for donate progress, you'll remember how hesitant I was to get into the DS. But a couple years ago, Asus introduced an affordable subnotebook PC. I bought one shortly before December 2008.
I never expected Lockjaw to get published. It is, and always has been, only a training tool for Tetris players.
I've since learned that there is one intended route to getting published:
- Develop a portfolio of titles for Microsoft Windows or for Mac OS X.
- Use this portfolio to land an internship at a licensed video game developer.
My complaint on Slashdot is that I would have to leave the state and move hundreds of miles away from anyone I know to do step 2. I intended the "That's it" post to summarize my whining so that I don't have to repeat it. But over the next few posts, "That's it" will segue into Cable finder. I leave it as an exercise for the reader to figure out how.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.
#170519 - simonjhall - Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:26 am
This is immense, I love the lack of cheer on your face! [Images not permitted - Click here to view it]
Good to hear you're still alive and kicking. I do know what you mean though about the having-to-move thing. I work for a big games company in London - however if I were to move elsewhere in the country I'd have to do a massive commute to get to any half-decent studio since many of them are concentrated in the south-east area. If only I could work from home and make games there like you could twenty years ago :(
Talking of which, have you seen Elite is 25 years old now?!
_________________
Big thanks to everyone who donated for Quake2
#170520 - Optihut - Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:22 am
| simonjhall wrote: |
| Good to hear you're still alive and kicking. I do know what you mean though about the having-to-move thing. I work for a big games company in London - however if I were to move elsewhere in the country I'd have to do a massive commute to get to any half-decent studio since many of them are concentrated in the south-east area. |
Hey, what's wrong with London? I actually like it here (even though I will probably be leaving in April) :)
Then again, if it were possible to live and work somewhere where you don't pay 800 pounds a month for a small room in a flatshare, that'd be preferable - I guess I see your point after all.
Agreed on the first point - Good to hear Tepples is still around!
#170522 - Lynx - Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:21 pm
It seems to me, the problem is people are realizing that you can get rich from a simple app that costs $1 as long as it is good enough for a million people to want to pay that $1.
The problem is, you only have a single route, and that is the iPhone.
_________________
NDS Homebrew Roms & Reviews
#170523 - gauauu - Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:15 pm
| tepples wrote: |
| But over the next few posts, "That's it" will segue into Cable finder. I leave it as an exercise for the reader to figure out how. |
Excellent. I'm all for independent developers pushing to get multiplayer console-style games back on the radar for PC games (not meaning windows, I mean as opposed to consoles). The way to do it, in my opinion, is to just make excellent games, which is looks like you're gearing up to try to do.
I wish you the best of luck in doing so.
#170569 - ScottLininger - Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:33 pm
Hey kids,
Nice to see a few old names on this thread.
I wish I had time to tackle some more GBA stuff, but I suspect that I'm done with the platform at this point. I've mucked a bit with Android. Maybe that's what I'll do next...
In any case, I still check this board fairly regularly, and I hope people who move on to other things will as well.
-Scott
_________________
Some of my GBA projects
#170573 - sgeos - Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:56 pm
| Lynx wrote: |
| The problem is, you only have a single route, and that is the iPhone. |
The Android is an emerging market. iPhone developers want to see the Android succeed because it will put market pressure on Apple to open up the iPhone. If anyone is up to a project on either platform, it is probably about time I get my hands dirty again. ;)
#170589 - Ant6n - Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:51 am
what about the dsi appstore and the psp appstore (psp mini's anyone?)? Maybe it would be possible to start a small company building for those.
#170591 - Lynx - Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:25 pm
| Quote: |
| The Android is an emerging market. |
I wish I could agree with you. I have a G1. But, I see two different mind sets when it comes to Android Market vs. iPhone App Store.
People with iPhones are used to being screwed. They paid a crap load of money for an Apple product, they are paying the highest price for a data plan to be able to use the iPhone, and they are used to paying for any little app they want to add to the phone.
On the other hand, people with a G1 (or Android phone in general) have a "free"er mindset. (please correct me if I'm wrong) I feel that Android phone users aren't spending near as much as iPhone users on installing additional apps. Aside from touchdown (which is $25 btw) I haven't spent another dime on a game/app.
If you read the reviews, it's clear that a lot more Apps are free for android that you have to pay for on the iPhone. I just recently had this conversation with a software developer, and although I hate Apple, I suggested they spend the $3000 and write an app for the iPhone vs wasting time with the Android market.
Now, in the future, the Android market could become the new place for millionaire developers to release awesome software, but at this point, it seems more of a "free" for all.
edit: Btw, I'd love to be wrong and see Android market become just that!
_________________
NDS Homebrew Roms & Reviews
#170612 - sgeos - Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:36 am
| Lynx wrote: |
| People with iPhones are used to being screwed. They paid a crap load of money for an Apple product, |
For Apple "peace of mind"?
| Lynx wrote: |
| they are paying the highest price for a data plan to be able to use the iPhone, and they are used to paying for any little app they want to add to the phone. |
What general pricepoint is one looking at for a mere "any little app"?
| Lynx wrote: |
| I just recently had this conversation with a software developer, and although I hate Apple, I suggested they spend the $3000 and write an app for the iPhone vs wasting time with the Android market. |
As of now, how feasible do you think it would be to write a generic scripted multimedia engine for both the iPhone and Android OSes and then script your programs in something analogous to Lua to gain cross platform compatibility?
| Lynx wrote: |
| Now, in the future, the Android market could become the new place for millionaire developers to release awesome software, but at this point, it seems more of a "free" for all. |
I'm optimistic about the Android in the long term, but I think iPhone OS is where you want to be now, given the ~45 million unit install base. (So far as I can tell, Android has an install base of a few million.)
| Lynx wrote: |
| edit: Btw, I'd love to be wrong and see Android market become just that! |
Even if the Android is not the place to be, and the market pressure merely forces Apple to be less restrictive and greedy, this will be good, no?
#170615 - kusma - Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:02 am
| sgeos wrote: |
| Lynx wrote: | | I just recently had this conversation with a software developer, and although I hate Apple, I suggested they spend the $3000 and write an app for the iPhone vs wasting time with the Android market. |
As of now, how feasible do you think it would be to write a generic scripted multimedia engine for both the iPhone and Android OSes and then script your programs in something analogous to Lua to gain cross platform compatibility?
|
Not at all, considering Apple doesn't allow applications containing VMs.
#170616 - kusma - Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:09 am
| sgeos wrote: |
I'm optimistic about the Android in the long term, but I think iPhone OS is where you want to be now, given the ~45 million unit install base. (So far as I can tell, Android has an install base of a few million.)
|
According to Wikipedia, the figure is closer to 20M units shipped (not install-base).
#170617 - Ant6n - Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:49 pm
+20M ipod touch'
#170621 - sgeos - Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:08 pm
| kusma wrote: |
| Not at all, considering Apple doesn't allow applications containing VMs. |
I have read that you can run a VM so long as it does not expose iPhone specific API functionality.
On the install base...
iPhone and iPod touch: Now with 45 Million Unit Install Base (Both run iPhone OS.)
Google Android vs. Apple iPhone: Installed Base
#170645 - Lynx - Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:56 pm
| Quote: |
| As of now, how feasible do you think it would be to write a generic scripted multimedia engine for both the iPhone and Android OSes and then script your programs in something analogous to Lua to gain cross platform compatibility? |
I was looking at it more from a cost for the developer. Or, how much one would have to risk out of pocket to even become an iPhone developer vs Android developer. The fact that apple requires their hardware to develop, you have to invest a small fortune on a computer (by todays standards) just to consider developing for the iPhone.
_________________
NDS Homebrew Roms & Reviews
#170660 - Miked0801 - Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:45 pm
Barriers of entry are a good thing for those who can get around them. Smaller pool means more money to go around.
#170661 - sgeos - Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:13 pm
Re: Lynx
I think you hit the nail on the head when you identified the Apple user demographic VS the Android user demographic. It is generally easier to sell to the more money than brains crowd than the more brains than money crowd. But, this requires dealing with... Apple...
| Miked0801 wrote: |
| Barriers of entry are a good thing for those who can get around them. Smaller pool means more money to go around. |
Wonderful observation. Barriers of entry also weed out most of the unqualified riffraff. The really qualified people can always get around them somehow.
#170667 - keldon - Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:30 am
| Miked0801 wrote: |
| Barriers of entry are a good thing for those who can get around them. Smaller pool means more money to go around. |
Plus Apple have a trusted payment service and have created a culture in which the act of purchasing is an expected behaviour. People can already pay for and play games on their phones through Java and on their PC - amongst other platforms - but the "apple store" creates a great environment for developers to make money for their games.
Consider the Mac an investment / development kit.
Totally random link, but wow!!! http://sodaplay.com/creators/kevino/items/inspyre
#170730 - ScottLininger - Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:17 pm
I think it's possible that the install base for android will be bigger than the iPhone in the coming years. What I'm more interested to see is whether serious developers will choose Android in large numbers. From talking to some guys who build iPhone apps professionally, they all say that the big draw of the iPhone is that the hardware is so consistent. There's a fear that there will be so many different types of Android handsets that it will be expensive to develop for.
So in that way the iPhone is like the GBA... if it works on your hardware you can be assured that it will work on everyone's.
That being said, the number of potential customers in the iPhone store is huge, but so is the competition. The Android marketplace could be an interesting opportunity for a new development team. (Make a game about zombies on the Android and there are a handful of titles to compete with. On the iPhone there are hundreds.)
-Scott
_________________
Some of my GBA projects
![[Images not permitted - Click here to view it]](http://pineight.com/donate/progress/d_020121.jpg){kind=link}