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I am working diligently on an update for the iPhone game “Falling Space Rocks”.

Version 2.0 will include better graphics, sounds, and some improvements to the weapon enhancements section (including a new auto-firing weapon). This is a free update for those who have already purchased the game.

I will also be releasing a ‘lite’ version of the game for those who like to try before they buy.

Falling Space Rocks has been approved and is on the App Store.

Check out the games section to view more information about the game and view the game play footage.

It was quite the process… but I have finally submitted my first iPhone game to the App Store.

The process required the creation of many certificates, device provisioning, application signing, and a slew of other technical nitty-gritty details!

Now we play the waiting game…

Reflecting on the process:
It was a lot of fun creating my first iPhone game and I learned a lot about how to program for Apple devices. I was also able to learn about the Cocos2D framework which really helped me get straight to programming the content of the game and not having to fuss about the framework.

I did a lot of things wrong throughout the process, causing me to start over a few times.  It took 5 months in total (in my spare time) to get the game up and running from not knowing Objective – C,  to having an application submitted for review.

I am already looking forward to the next project, and I don’t think it will take me as long to get it up and running.   I am hoping to use the BOX2D or Chipmunk physics system which should add an interesting element to the game, I just don’t have any good and original ideas yet…  must do some serious thinking on this one before I start to develop anything…

Once the game is accepted and on the Store, I’ll release the game play footage and provide a link to where you can download it and play it yourselves!

Over the last 4 months (and in my spare time…) I have been learning how to write Objective-C code in the hopes of one day releasing an iPhone application on the App Store.  The main objective is to make enough money to pay off my entire student debt using the software development “talents” that I have…. but I’ll be just as happy (albeit… not as financially happy..) if one person tells me that they like my app… basically validating me.

Learning Objective-C

Learning Objective-C was not that difficult once I got the hang of it.  After the first few barriers of not understanding what the heck ” @property (nonatomic, retain)… ” meant and finally getting the handle of the crazy nonsensical syntax, it was actually pretty easy to learn and fun to see your code come to life on the small screen.

What really helped me get a handle of it quickly was my familiarity with C++, DirectX and OpenGL frameworks. (I’m mostly making games…)

What this process has shown me is that the best thing I ever did, was go to College!  College is where I actually learned how to develop software, not just how to think about system design (which I learned at University [.. and is just as important]).

About the Game

Atari's Missile Command (1980)

The game is similar to the Atari’s Missile Command (1980) (shown in the figure above) with some major variations.

My game has Meteors fall from the sky, and you launch rockets by touching the screen in order to intercept and save the city.

Early build of my iPhone game

I am hoping to be finished the game by the end of April, depending how much time I have to work on it.

That is all I have for today.  (I’m also trying to update this blog more often with things I’m working on, tutorials, and other ideas that I come up with).