Portfolio and Technology Blog: 20 Years of Tinkering

"Buzztouch is hosted (or self hosted) software that helps you create and manage iPhone, iPad, and Android apps."

After spending a few months with buzztouch, I've come to develop a love/hate relationship with it.  On the one hand, the product IS phenominal, and if your goal is to develop for Mobile Platforms – but you don't have a lick of any programming experience – you can do no better than using buzztouch.  Not only is the web interface for the application extremely ease to use, it is fairly extensible via the inclusion of stock and community plugins.  What I also like is the ability to include custom html/css into various "screens" of the app.  So in lieu of learning Objective-C, I can still create unique screens using web languages.  On that note, you also have the option of referencing online resources (like html, files, etc), or local resources.  

One of the most appealing aspects is running your app on both Android and iOS devices, all from one project!  Likewise, if you ARE a familiar with programming, you now have fantastic template tool at your disposal to kick off multi-platform projects.  Very cool.  Then there's all of the supplemental resources via the community forums and Buzztouch University.  Also, did I mention that it's free??

For me the downside really boils down to esoteric objections over the various limitations in the Free Version.  And without learning Obejctive-C, or investing some cash in buzztouch (to unlock more advanced features), I was not able to go past a certain point with the trial.  As of this writing, free accounts allow for only 3 – somewhat limited – apps, so far as my experience goes at least.  On a scale of 1 to 10, I would have to rate the apps I was able to produce as a 7.  I'm going to keep it on my radar, and give it another go in a few months.

"With Andromo, anyone can make a professional Android app. There's no programming required, plus Andromo generates 100% pure native Android apps."

Previous to buzztouch I started with Andromo.  While this generator has a considerably smaller scope than buzztouch, what it does well is in delivering on the promise of being a "Free Online App Generator".  I don't believe they have any restriction on the number of apps you can write, nor in the number of custom resources you can include or reference.  

Projects are limited to Android devices however.  In either case, if you have access to both Android and iOS phones, I would still recommend starting with Android App development using Andromo.  I hashed out countless ideas for Apps I might actually want to pursue, and had a blast all the while.  App compilation and installation procedures are also very quick and easy,  

Unfortunately, limitations in the product and not knowing C++ led me to a deadend, which is when I decided to give buzztouch a go.

Update: July 2012

Andromo is now a paid service, and boasts a number of new features to somewhat justify the end of the free ride.  I have not investigated what free options remain, if any.

Winner?

BuzzTouch!

Yep, ioquake3 is awesome. I was able to load up some old Q3 custom maps and run around. This basically means that down the line I will be able to create a simple ioquake3 based mod that focuses primarily on my mapping.  More on that in a bit however…

Using kwaak3 on my Droid 2 (which is essentially ioquake3 under the hood) I can run the same custom maps and connect to other ioquake3 servers!!!!  Yes, even in servers where other users might be playing from their PCs!

There is no word yet on how reliable kwaak is in running 3rd party ioquake3 mods – such as the one I will eventually be making – but I assume basic ioquake modifications *should* work without issue.

Now, I know that playing FPS games on mobile devices is really not there yet, and frankly kwaak is far from polished… nevertheless, I see some awesome potential here.  Once one realizes that an ioquake3 mod *should* probably be designed in such a way so as to be enjoyable on both mobile and PC platforms – the sky is the limit.

I also noticed that on the homepage of ioquake3 there is mention of ioRTCW and ioET (down the line). If and when that happens – HAPPY DAYS!!! I can picture standing up 2 game servers (running ioQ3 and ioRTCW), and being able to connect to them from pretty much ANY type of computer…

Wait… ANY?  Wouldn't any new machine require Quake3 or RTCW to be installed (i.e. purchased) even before the custom mod could be installed and played?  Technically, no.

The terms of the Q3 source code release basically stipulate that you can use their engine as a base for any new game, and distribute it for FREE online (i.e. no separate q3 purchase required by any end users of your game), so long as all original quake3 media is stripped out of the game.  It must be a total conversion.  If you later wish to sell it, id software will of course then require a licensing fee.

On a final note, a quick Google search indicates that in all likelihood an ioquake3/iortcw port may even be possible to run on an iPhone.  Just, awesome…

To summarize,

• Create two Total Conversion mods based on ioquake3 and iortcw, respectively.
• Mods will feature all original maps, models, weapons, sounds, music and styles of game-play.
• Mods will be Portable/Playable from most any type of computer or mobile/smart phone.
• Mods will be easy to Install and FREE TO PLAY on any supported platform.

Let the brainstorming begin!