What do I need ?

Hi People...

These are my very basic questions.

What do I need to start using SIO2 ?

Can I use the SDK on a PC running Windows ?

How do I compile the game and transfer it to IPhone ?

Can I use C++ ?

Haw about the programming IDE ?

Can I test the game on PC or MAC before running it on Iphone ?

Hiya,

To use SIO2, you need a working version of the apple development kit, called Xcode, which only runs on mac os. Some people have got this going on hackintosh's, but I don't know anything about that as I use a mac mini.

You compile the games within Xcode, and can either run them on the iphone simulator in Xcode, or install directly onto your device if you have a valid developer certificate and provisioning profile setup for that device.

You can use C++ in Xcode, Sio2 uses C++.

The IDE is Xcode, I don't think there are any other options for iphone dev.

You can test it in the simulator included with Xcode prior to installing on a device, although can be a bit misleading as the simulator runs with the graphics and cpu of the machine its running on, rather than the stats of an iphone... so iphone is really required to see what it will actually look like on the device.

sio2 is written in c not c++, but you can still use c++ in your projects and also lua for scripting

to test your game on your device you have to pay 99$ a year, you need this to release your app on appstore

I have a friend who basically installed OSX on his PC on a seperate HD, and he can choose which OS to load when he boots the PC.

Then you download the free apple SDK and you can start programming right away on the simulator. Once you're comfortable, you can purchase the 100$ apple developer fee to see your app on the iphone. You'll also need the license to publish to the app store. Other expenses might include the SIO2 indie license, and the Meditation Garden source code.

Overall the expenses are peanuts compared to other platforms. Go check out the developer fees for the PS3 or Wii =D

Totally agree... if you are serious about game dev. there will be some cost involved... and SIO2 have a solution for all budget

free = SIO2 SDK (basic)
49$ = Certificate (with tech support)
99$ = MeditationGarden (medium)
249$ = BackyardWar (advanced)

Its up to you to decide which combination suits you the best

Thanks people,

What about the Osx (hackintosh's) I run on PC? Is it reliable ? Is it legal ?

You can get it to a state where it is reliable depending on your hardware. For example, it is easier to get it running properly on hardware that Apple actually uses it for their Macs. You can look further on the InsanelyMAC Forums (google it).

As for the legal part - No, it isn't. The license that you agree to when you install OSX states that you may only install it on an Apple bought PC, however Apple isn't suing anybody over it. Furthermore, the Apple defense mechanisms against Hackintosh aren't very sophisticated at this time. For example, some users have actually managed to patch their hackintosh installation via the normal Software Update service, directly from Apple. That's like patching your cracked Windows directly from Microsoft...

Muller wrote:You can get it to a state where it is reliable depending on your hardware. For example, it is easier to get it running properly on hardware that Apple actually uses it for their Macs. You can look further on the InsanelyMAC Forums (google it).

As for the legal part - No, it isn't. The license that you agree to when you install OSX states that you may only install it on an Apple bought PC, however Apple isn't suing anybody over it. Furthermore, the Apple defense mechanisms against Hackintosh aren't very sophisticated at this time. For example, some users have actually managed to patch their hackintosh installation via the normal Software Update service, directly from Apple. That's like patching your cracked Windows directly from Microsoft...

You don't need a powerful machine to build code. Buy an old Intel Core 2 Duo Mac Mini or iMac on ebay and be legit. Getting a slower machine will make your simulator more accurate anyway ( well, not really )

I develop on a dual G5 1.8GHZ, but I have had to apply a lot of hacks to get the SDK to install and compile properly and I don't think I'm going to bother trying that with sio2... I'll just break down and buy a mac with an intel processor.

I agree with the above post - get a legitimate (Intel) Mac and you'll be problem free. Heck even an old white MacBook will do just fine, even if it has a core duo. They should be cheap on eBay since you can get a brand new one for $1000.00 and the 13.3" screen is just enough for the simulator. However if you only need a desktop and have a nice 17" or larger LCD then an Intel Mac Mini is a great option.

Good luck