Reference Application -- iOS
Rilbur
Member Posts: 54
A while back, I noticed that there was a BG 'reference' app for BG, but it's android only.
This made me sad.
Earlier today, I realized... I'm an iOS developer! While I don't have a personal license, it's actually not THAT expensive to get one. (All my work has usually been done through my employer's license, and I don't know if they'd be interested in putting this out there)
The question proceeds, however, whether it's worth paying 99$ for an app I could put on my own device if I really wanted to. And the answer depends... well, it depends on you, dear reader!
It would NOT be filled with fancy graphics.
It would NOT be filled with artwork and screenshots.
What it WOULD have:
"Universal" App -- covering both iPad and iPhone; a Mac OSX port might even be possible if sufficient demand existed. (Sorry, windows ports are NOT on the table. I don't *currently* know enough to build a decent windows App, and we've all seen what happened to Beamdog when they said that they'd TRY to get this game on the iPad 1... and yes, that does imply that if enough people ask for it, I'd try to make it windows compatible!)
Experience / spell progression tables
Class/Kit descriptions
Item descriptions -- and, if requested, I'll include a list of common 'to find' locations
Skill descriptions
Spell listings (by wizard/cleric/druid, by level, and by school) -- I'll even try to make this searchable!
All data stored locally, on the device, so you never need to wait for the server to respond!
If this app interests you, I just need two things. One, I need to hear from people that this is worthwhile. In which case, I'd like their opinions on if this should be a paid app (1$ each is as high as I'd go), an ad-supported app, or a donation supported app. Hell, I could live with donating the source code to Beamdog so long as I get the 'credit' for developing it! (Well, and if they monetize it I'd like to get at least a slice of the revenue in the form of a free copy of BG2EE / BG3
)
The second item is almost as important. I can import data myself, yes, but how thorough can I be? I'm one of those people who WANTS the reference app. I don't know if a third level wizard gets one or two first level spells... or is it three? I don't know where to find a Bastard Sword +1, +3 Vs. Shapeshifters. I don't know where Durlag's tower is at or anything like that! I played infinitely more BG2 than BG3, alas.
I'm also COMPLETELY open to feature suggestions -- area maps that show where things are, but for this I'd need community support to PROVIDE the maps.
I'd make this a poll, but I can't. So, let me hear it from the people -- do you want this app? How are you willing to support it? I'll take help with programming, but what I'll really need is testers, data sources, and a way to get it on the app store that doesn't require me dipping into my own, regretfully limited, pockets.
As a further note, while this app will start out with a strong BG1:EE focus, I have no issue whatsoever with extending it to include BG2 reference information -- either as a seperate app, different modes within the app, or even just a unified app that does both at once. (Something that BGEE makes possible, since as far as I can tell they won't need to make any engine / item changes between the two games)
So... tell me, am I completely off my rocker?
This made me sad.
Earlier today, I realized... I'm an iOS developer! While I don't have a personal license, it's actually not THAT expensive to get one. (All my work has usually been done through my employer's license, and I don't know if they'd be interested in putting this out there)
The question proceeds, however, whether it's worth paying 99$ for an app I could put on my own device if I really wanted to. And the answer depends... well, it depends on you, dear reader!
It would NOT be filled with fancy graphics.
It would NOT be filled with artwork and screenshots.
What it WOULD have:
"Universal" App -- covering both iPad and iPhone; a Mac OSX port might even be possible if sufficient demand existed. (Sorry, windows ports are NOT on the table. I don't *currently* know enough to build a decent windows App, and we've all seen what happened to Beamdog when they said that they'd TRY to get this game on the iPad 1... and yes, that does imply that if enough people ask for it, I'd try to make it windows compatible!)
Experience / spell progression tables
Class/Kit descriptions
Item descriptions -- and, if requested, I'll include a list of common 'to find' locations
Skill descriptions
Spell listings (by wizard/cleric/druid, by level, and by school) -- I'll even try to make this searchable!
All data stored locally, on the device, so you never need to wait for the server to respond!
If this app interests you, I just need two things. One, I need to hear from people that this is worthwhile. In which case, I'd like their opinions on if this should be a paid app (1$ each is as high as I'd go), an ad-supported app, or a donation supported app. Hell, I could live with donating the source code to Beamdog so long as I get the 'credit' for developing it! (Well, and if they monetize it I'd like to get at least a slice of the revenue in the form of a free copy of BG2EE / BG3
)The second item is almost as important. I can import data myself, yes, but how thorough can I be? I'm one of those people who WANTS the reference app. I don't know if a third level wizard gets one or two first level spells... or is it three? I don't know where to find a Bastard Sword +1, +3 Vs. Shapeshifters. I don't know where Durlag's tower is at or anything like that! I played infinitely more BG2 than BG3, alas.
I'm also COMPLETELY open to feature suggestions -- area maps that show where things are, but for this I'd need community support to PROVIDE the maps.
I'd make this a poll, but I can't. So, let me hear it from the people -- do you want this app? How are you willing to support it? I'll take help with programming, but what I'll really need is testers, data sources, and a way to get it on the app store that doesn't require me dipping into my own, regretfully limited, pockets.
As a further note, while this app will start out with a strong BG1:EE focus, I have no issue whatsoever with extending it to include BG2 reference information -- either as a seperate app, different modes within the app, or even just a unified app that does both at once. (Something that BGEE makes possible, since as far as I can tell they won't need to make any engine / item changes between the two games)
So... tell me, am I completely off my rocker?
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