First iPhone Game Release! 3D Hack n Slash
by Dave Young · 03/14/2009 (8:23 pm) · 19 comments
CastleGuard is released on the iTunes app store!
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=307523660&...
Weighing in at 5.9MB, CastleGuard has been approved in the RolePlaying Games section.
It's a very very simple, few minute per session hack n slash game. You can use a flaming bow or a fiery sword and beat down opponents, standing in one place on a castle wall. I'm mainly excited because of the tech I created for this game. Though it's simple gameplay, it sports:
-a* pathfinding
-full avatar customization system (used for bosses and enemies right now)
-dynamic mountable and configurable particle effect systems for the weapons
-weapon trails
-AI state system
-follow camera
-weapon and equipment mounting systems with stat changes
And of course, it's 3D. I'm already working on expanding the tech into a Diablo style game.
Next week we will be submitting my first ever iTGB game, called Ninja Rally, which is huge compared to this little one. I'm really excited about it, and can't wait to show some video!
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=307523660&...
Weighing in at 5.9MB, CastleGuard has been approved in the RolePlaying Games section.
It's a very very simple, few minute per session hack n slash game. You can use a flaming bow or a fiery sword and beat down opponents, standing in one place on a castle wall. I'm mainly excited because of the tech I created for this game. Though it's simple gameplay, it sports:
-a* pathfinding
-full avatar customization system (used for bosses and enemies right now)
-dynamic mountable and configurable particle effect systems for the weapons
-weapon trails
-AI state system
-follow camera
-weapon and equipment mounting systems with stat changes
And of course, it's 3D. I'm already working on expanding the tech into a Diablo style game.
Next week we will be submitting my first ever iTGB game, called Ninja Rally, which is huge compared to this little one. I'm really excited about it, and can't wait to show some video!
About the author
#2
03/14/2009 (10:01 pm)
Dave, congrats man. I just bought this. It looks like fun :) Will definitely check out Ninja Rally too. Let us know when it's available.
#3
03/14/2009 (10:27 pm)
Aiyeee! There's been chatter about this over on Touch Arcade, but I did not know it was made with Torque! Cool! Would like to hear more about Ninja Rally.
#4
Ninja Rally is a team project using iTGB we hope to finish this coming week. It's been a massive effort and I'm really excited about it. I am very privileged to work with some really productive, creative and professional folks. I'm in crunch mode otherwise I'd take some shots, but it's going to need a video more than likely. Nothing like Ninja Rally has been done yet for the iPhone, not by a long shot!!
03/14/2009 (10:36 pm)
This is a solo project I made with ShiVa in a few nights (after some weeks of tech research). I'm into making RPG tech and telling stories, so I need 3D to do what I have planned for the series. This release is more of an Action game (hack! slash!) than RPG.Ninja Rally is a team project using iTGB we hope to finish this coming week. It's been a massive effort and I'm really excited about it. I am very privileged to work with some really productive, creative and professional folks. I'm in crunch mode otherwise I'd take some shots, but it's going to need a video more than likely. Nothing like Ninja Rally has been done yet for the iPhone, not by a long shot!!
#5
I have a quick question about iGames made with iTGB.
With the amount of games people are producing for the iPhone with iTGB...why aren't people selling them for PC as well ? Or are they and I just happen to not realize ?
I am sure the licensing would/could allow this..I quickly looked over the iTGB licensing and there doesn't seem to be a stipulation stopping this but I could have missed that of course. Is it that iPhone games are only allowed to be Apple-sold once released ? Does Apple take rights to your children and your game (hehe)? ..I am clueless with iPhone licensing so forgive me ahead of time.
I ask this because I have seen a few games that I would pay a few bucks to play..on pc.
03/15/2009 (12:47 am)
Congrats on the release Dave.I have a quick question about iGames made with iTGB.
With the amount of games people are producing for the iPhone with iTGB...why aren't people selling them for PC as well ? Or are they and I just happen to not realize ?
I am sure the licensing would/could allow this..I quickly looked over the iTGB licensing and there doesn't seem to be a stipulation stopping this but I could have missed that of course. Is it that iPhone games are only allowed to be Apple-sold once released ? Does Apple take rights to your children and your game (hehe)? ..I am clueless with iPhone licensing so forgive me ahead of time.
I ask this because I have seen a few games that I would pay a few bucks to play..on pc.
#6
The reasons are fairly similar to whether or not you want your desktop game to be compatible with multiple OS. Ultimately, it's up to the developer.
If you own iTGB, you own a TGB license as well, so you can do whatever you want with the game's distribution.
03/15/2009 (1:43 am)
@eb - The main problem is the same if you are trying to go from an existing desktop game to iPhone. A developer has to redo the assets so that they have a more desktop friendly resolution and appearance. Unless you want to play a game on your PC that is 480x320 resolution.The reasons are fairly similar to whether or not you want your desktop game to be compatible with multiple OS. Ultimately, it's up to the developer.
If you own iTGB, you own a TGB license as well, so you can do whatever you want with the game's distribution.
#7
...I'd hand out dollars all day to play different mini-games.
03/15/2009 (2:22 am)
I would not mind that resolution in a window on my comp. ...I'd hand out dollars all day to play different mini-games.
#8
Here is an early prototype just for fun:
Castleguard Web
03/15/2009 (6:01 am)
I'm thinking about it actually, eb. I can release as web plugin, mac, pc too if I want and it makes sense to. Same thing for iTGB games really. iPhone games do tend to be extremely casual, the dollar or three value is in their portability.Here is an early prototype just for fun:
Castleguard Web
#9
03/15/2009 (1:54 pm)
Pretty cool Dave. Perf on the iPhone feels a bit sluggish, but the concept is great and the quality of the assets is also really impressive. Great to see another technology that allows for web deploy too. Go web games! 
#10
03/15/2009 (9:20 pm)
Is it possible to author the game solely in Windows and then port it to a Mac when it's ready for upload to an iPhone when using Shiva?
#11
03/15/2009 (9:22 pm)
That's what I'm currently doing Andy, though it's just a different export type from the tool. You export to a mobile architecture, then drag and drop the files onto the iPhone publishing tool, and it automagically makes the iPhone app.
#12
03/15/2009 (9:39 pm)
Ahhh the iPhone publishing tool sounds expensive. Is that something else I have to buy?
#13
As an aside, my son Kyle is enamored with all things Google, but the whole mobile game tech thing is something that I haven't been following at all, so excuse my ignorance, but does the G1 have any similar game capabilities/and or market?
Kyle's in bootcamp right now (Navy) but plans to get a G1 and I figured I'd begin to start looking into such things.
Anyway again, congratulations!
Alan
03/16/2009 (12:09 am)
Cool deal, Dave! I absolutely love to hear of one man/small devs getting published! As an aside, my son Kyle is enamored with all things Google, but the whole mobile game tech thing is something that I haven't been following at all, so excuse my ignorance, but does the G1 have any similar game capabilities/and or market?
Kyle's in bootcamp right now (Navy) but plans to get a G1 and I figured I'd begin to start looking into such things.
Anyway again, congratulations!
Alan
#14
03/16/2009 (2:29 am)
Nope, it comes with the program. Feel free to email me with other questions, I don't want to clutter up the GG area with non-GG engine talk!
#15
03/16/2009 (6:40 am)
I also want to share that I still can't find CastleGuard in any category, but it's up to 130 downloads now, thanks probably to the TouchArcade community (where Hospital Havoc also has quite a nice thread going!) 
#16
03/16/2009 (6:38 pm)
Looks pretty nice. I'll tell my peeps about it :)
#18
Unfortunately I need to get an iPhone to test pretty badly, as it runs poorly on the phone.
In the meanwhile I also released Ninja Rally, my first iTGB project, or TGB project in general... App Store Link
04/30/2009 (2:52 am)
I released a new version of this for free, called CastleGuard2. It's currently at #65 in the top 100 free games list, over 30k downloads. Exciting!Unfortunately I need to get an iPhone to test pretty badly, as it runs poorly on the phone.
In the meanwhile I also released Ninja Rally, my first iTGB project, or TGB project in general... App Store Link
#19
04/30/2009 (4:15 am)
30K!!!! Geeze you should sell it. Just a crit though... $5 bucks for Ninja Rally??? It would want to be an awesome game to sell. Maybe review the price down to 99c and then do an update to charge a higher price once you get the user base.
Employee Michael Perry
GarageGames
I think the iPhone is a great place to really put yourself to the test as a solo developer, as it is accessible, requires you to have a limited scope, but still challenges you.
Next allowance I'll get this and Ninja Rally in one swoop. Great work