Editor for the iPad?

[lordashram]

Hey all!

I am interested in trying my hand at making some scenarios.

Can I ask; is there currently, or is there plans for, releasing an editor for the iPad?

Thanks!
LA

[pipfromslitherine]

We don't have any plans to implement the editor on the iPad. The significant UI issues, combined with the problems of getting user content on and off the iPad, make it a very low priority in terms of how many people would get good use out of it.

Cheers

Pip

[admin]

While we dont have the editor for iPad, the Mac and PC editors can be used to make maps which can be added to the user content system and then played on the iPad.

[lordashram]

Hi guys!

Okay, maybe I am being dense here.

I have the iPad version of the game.

Now, I understand there is no editor for the iPad version.

But is there an independent-from-the-game editor for the game overall? Or do I have to buy another copy of the game for my desktop simply to use the editor?

Thanks!

[pipfromslitherine]

It wouldn't be possible to have a standalone editor really - the editor is integrated into the game. And you wouldn't be able to test out the missions unless it had full game functionality, and you wouldn't be able to get the missions onto your iPad anyway unless you tested them out in the community, then released them to us to add to the download server. Those are the key issues we run into when we think about ways to allow for iPad owners to play with building their own content.

Cheers

Pip

[lordashram]

Ah, okay, that makes me sad! I was starting to think about futzing with making a few modern missions with some place holders while I learned a bit. Oh well, there is still lots of good stuff out there. Thanks anyway!

[bfume]

So unless I'm missing something, the only way to get custom scenarios onto the iPad is to create them on the PC/Mac BA, and ask to have them published in the Slitherine portal.

If I'm not entirely informed on this, can someone please edumicate me?

[pipfromslitherine]

That's currently correct. But going forward there is going to be an informal way to play user scenarios on all platforms through a simple interface in the game. This will allow iPad users to get involved in testing early builds of user content as happens a lot, prior to them becoming 'official' missions on the main list.

The new system is already implemented and I'll give more details when we release the next update.

Cheers

Pip

[SsgtStark]

Hi there!!

Will this new interface mean that we can mod the game models, textures, and settings, and then "upload" or play them on the iPad just like the PC version? that will be great!

You can also maybe allow the game to accept new maps via iTunes file upload method? allot of programs use it... if you haven't looked into it yet I don't know what Apples restrictions is.

[pipfromslitherine]

Yes - provided you set up some online storage (and it works fine with Dropbox for example, so it's very simple) then you can enter the URL on any of the platforms and then download the campaign from the download list in the same way as the 'official' ones.

I looked at using iTunes to allow user content, but the interface is not very friendly and it didn't feel like a good solution for the wider playerbase. There are also issues with filename casing and so on which are easy to miss when doing it that way - downloading from a package file means everything ends up in the right place, with the right names, and it all just works

Cheers

Pip

[SsgtStark]

O wow! That is great news, I guess my next step is to buy the PC version to create some mods and maps!!
You know my next question right? When is the update coming hehehe Thanks!!

[pipfromslitherine]

We don't have a date yet. We are hoping for within the next 3-5 weeks, but it will basically be when it is ready

Cheers

Pip

[SsgtStark]

Cool thanks for the quick replies!! Cant wait, have been waiting for a good strategy game on the iPad, finally found one:)

[GottaLove88s]

Hi Pip, if 2.0.6 is "coming soon" with user generated campaign downloads from Dropbox, please could you add save/load current game to Dropbox too? Those of us who start with iPads are increasingly buying Mac or PC versions to have a go at development... We'd love a feature that lets us continue games on either platform...

[GottaLove88s]

Obviously that's for single-player... MP games will still come from Slith server, once we've downloaded the campaign from Dropbox

[pipfromslitherine]

There are some pretty big issues with cloud storage of save games, and so it's not on our radar at the moment. The new download system doesn't actually directly use dropbox, I was just using it as an example of easy to use online storage. I did look at directly using dropbox, but their lack of a C library makes it much less simple than I wanted to go for.

Cheers

Pip

[Old_Warrior]

Actually the .BAM file can be created using a text editor. It would be bulky process but you could create one using a format-text file and then just figure out how to add it to your game on the iPad. As I am not sure how files work on an iPad I am not sure if that would work. But it is possible. Just not much fun!

.BAM files can be edited in a text editor and that is a faster way of changing values actually than cranking up the game and waiting for the Editor to come up.

Pip could correct me if I am wrong or point out some issues with doing this but I have already changed some values with a text editor, it being the much faster route to making a correction here and there.