Announcement: Era iPhone

cbk1994 · #1 12-23-2009, 06:51 AM

Based on the success of the Classic iPhone application, the Era staff team has decided to undertake the project of creating an iPhone version of Era. This iPhone version will be a fork from the current Era Dev project, and will be using the new systems that we have been working with there.

The goals of this project are:

To create an fun, self-supporting arcade-style playerworld based off of Era, where iPhone/iPod Touch users and possibly PC users will be able to enjoy a casual modern-themed Graal server.
To motivate the Era development team and speed the process development, especially with graphics. The application will be using a revised tileset which will eventually be brought to main Era with the conclusion of the dev project.
To put the Era Dev scripting systems to a test, especially the overhauled item system, to be certain that they won't fall apart when they are released on the Era main server.
To bring new players to the main Era server, as well as Graal, by properly advertising and promoting the desktop version of Graal. We expect to be able to get at least 200 players during peak times, based off the recent trends of the Classic iPhone server.

The staff team of the server will be almost all development, with later a competent manager who can oversee the development, and deal with player issues. At this time, the server will be co-managed by Sales (Era manager), Vulcan, and myself (Era development administrator).

The timeframe of this server is between 2 weeks to a month. We wish to develop this very rapidly and release it on the App Store. This means that in the very near future we will be hiring many development staff, especially levelers. We will post more about these positions as they open up.

We are announcing this early because this will place the development project on a temporary hold. We understand that the project has already been delayed many times, and that this is inconvenient for many people, but we believe that the benefits of this project, especially the rapid development of content to be used on both servers, outweigh the delays caused by it.

For those of you who don't want to read:
The Era development team will be working on porting an arcade version of Era to the iPhone platform. We expect this project to take between two weeks to a month of time. We will be hiring many development positions soon, and will post more information about that as the positions open up.

Dragon551 · #2 12-23-2009, 06:54 AM

/clap
I hope this gets released soon... Looking forward to it

LoStSuRfEr1 · #3 12-23-2009, 06:55 AM

gjdm <3

swift · #4 12-23-2009, 06:55 AM

Cool more distractions for you guys to not work on the reset.

/applause

salesman · #5 12-23-2009, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swift

Cool more distractions for you guys to not work on the reset.

/applause

It may delay it a bit, but progress will still be made on the dev server while this is going on. The tileset is being worked on, and it will give us an opportunity to test the new core systems that have been made (as Chris already stated).

In the end, I think this will be a big help for Era and Graal in general.

death_striker · #6 12-23-2009, 07:02 AM

Lol Hireing?

Tim_Rocks · #7 12-23-2009, 07:17 AM

This should be really cool and really fun. The way this is looking is that with the release of Era Iphone everyone will also probably get a small preview of how Era is going to look. I just hope that Era can find a better way to make money other than buying outfits for customization.. I think Era could be a lot more creative on how it brings money to graal. A gun might be a good idea =P (one that's not able to be traded)

Demisis_P2P · #8 12-23-2009, 07:24 AM

I hope by "arcade version" you mean that you don't need to work for money and that every person you kill automatically gives you $5 or so.

cbk1994 · #9 12-23-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demisis_P2P

I hope by "arcade version" you mean that you don't need to work for money and that every person you kill automatically gives you $5 or so.

That's pretty much exactly what we had in mind.

Demisis_P2P · #10 12-23-2009, 07:29 AM

I support this.

Dark_Zeratul101 · #11 12-23-2009, 07:31 AM

I'm indifferent on this, but when I quit I'll still check it out.

fowlplay4 · #12 12-23-2009, 07:44 AM

Making me want to make iPhone Zodiac

Vulcan · #13 12-23-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fowlplay4

Making me want to make iPhone Zodiac

You should do it!

If it's any encouragement, I'm sure we'll be releasing a lot of code for the iPhone interfaces we develop. Chris has already started the groundwork for a virtual joystick movement system and some menus that mimic the iPhone's touch scrolling.

deathbarrier99 · #14 12-23-2009, 08:58 AM

So not only will it take us another 7 years to actually make the Era server, now people are working on an Era iPhone app?

Excuse me while I die of old age.

12171217 · #15 12-23-2009, 02:20 PM

Can I come on board as a scripter?

I can show you a movement system (Uses WASD and mouse to fire), linear collision system (Make collision maps for levels out of showpolys instead of tiles), and a custom projectile handler. That's all I have in GS2 right now, but I can make something else for example :0

I have a near-infinite supply of cool GS1 scripts, and you saw my thread about some of them so yeah.

Then I can show you some of the work I've done in C++ for a game I've been working on for about a month now.

:>

Dnegel · #16 12-23-2009, 03:33 PM

I need an Iphone asap!

This will be awesome!
Like running around and shooting noobs while sitting on the bus, sounds wonderfull!

Soala · #17 12-23-2009, 03:52 PM

Hope you guys will be successful !

Deas_Voice · #18 12-23-2009, 04:05 PM

i wish you good luck with the Development project!

Nataxo · #19 12-23-2009, 06:26 PM

:o! I guess 1 month isn't that much time for you guys to complete this, I support and wish you good luck. But please make sure the controls are 100percent good

IMO it's the most important thing.

Vima · #20 12-23-2009, 06:44 PM

Nice! Hope you'll be successfull. Maybe one day all classic servers on Graal could be on the Iphone :]

MysticX2X · #21 12-23-2009, 07:06 PM

An iphone server for every single server sounds stupid.

CharlieM · #22 12-23-2009, 07:30 PM

Make sure somewhere it makes reference to that its also on your pc or mac

Demisis_P2P · #23 12-23-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticX2X

An iphone server for every single server sounds stupid.

There aren't really that many servers.

UN, Zodiac and Era are basically the only ones that matter.

Rufus · #24 12-23-2009, 09:11 PM

Is it going to be based in another city and brand new setting?

cbk1994 · #25 12-23-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rufus

Is it going to be based in another city and brand new setting?

Well, not sure about another city (not sure what that means), but it'll have a new GMAP with a new/revamped tileset.

Rufus · #26 12-23-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbk1994

Well, not sure about another city (not sure what that means), but it'll have a new GMAP with a new/revamped tileset.

Well Era is based in a city, right? If it's a new "GMAP" then it'll be based in a new city, unless you're using the same GMAP on Era later on.

Kevin641800 · #27 12-24-2009, 03:25 AM

how about instead of releasing it as a whole new app, make it an add-on for the graalonline classic app

have players be able to choose servers like they would be able to on PC graal

plus this would bring the graalonline app right now amongst the top games (and probably up in the top 25 free apps)

CharlieM · #28 12-24-2009, 05:57 AM

The purpose of the app is to give people a taste of what the game is like, two seperate apps would lead people to think there most be more out there and they may google Graal, and BAM graalonline new player

salesman · #29 12-24-2009, 06:18 AM

It might not even be a bad idea to mention that regular players developed the app using GraalOnline's own development tools. Not sure how many potential developers would actually play the application, but maybe on the download page or something.

Although, Graal should probably improve its tools, documentation, and tutorials first.

Demisis_P2P · #30 12-24-2009, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salesman

Although, Graal should probably improve its tools, documentation, and tutorials first.

We can dream.

Kenshin851 · #31 01-08-2010, 06:52 AM

This, but for Android Apps. Android OS > iPhone OS

Tigairius · #32 01-08-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenshin851

Android OS > iPhone OS

As someone who has thoroughly tested both OSes, I'd have to say I deeply disagree.

Either way, to the Era team, good luck with Era iPhone, wherever it goes.