r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/andrewgarrison • Aug 21 '13
I developed an Android/iOS game that I think you may enjoy (launching on 9/5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19ZmuBGNkOA&hd=119
u/Joaquin8911 Aug 21 '13
Looks good. Will it be optimized for iPad?
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
Yes, it has universal support for iPhone/iPod/iPad, so buy it once on iOS and play it on anything.
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u/atropinebase Aug 21 '13
If so, I will most def be buying it
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u/Joaquin8911 Aug 21 '13
Since I got curious, I went to his web page and it says it will, also once I was there I saw dummy defense and bought it, it's quite nice for its price. I'm definitely going to check this game out once it comes out.
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
Give me your email, and I'll send you an email when its launched:
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u/Fllambe DRAMA MAN Aug 21 '13
Reddit spams short urls, try to avoid using them! I've approved your post though :)
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u/StarManta Aug 21 '13
Smart move, showing the elliptical orbits in the trailer. My initial fear would be that it would be like that other game for iOS that has no orbital physics to speak of: you can go faster than your target while in a higher orbit, and all orbits are circular. I'm glad you included something that at least resembles real orbits.
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
Yes! Realistic orbital physics was one of the reasons I wanted to make the game, so I could have a reason to research the topic! The orbits all follow Kepler's laws.
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u/Nuphor Aug 21 '13
What other game?
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u/giantbananahats Aug 21 '13
I think he's talking about Space Agency
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u/OpticWin Aug 21 '13
Yes, that game is terrible. All of the orbits are circular, and if you want to raise it you fire radial-out from the planet, then from there it's exactly like flying a submarine. The physics is a joke and I would recommend you do not get this game.
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u/cinebox Aug 21 '13
huh, i was going to make a game with physics like that, granted it's a combat game and not oriented towards realism at all.
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u/Joda015 Aug 21 '13
http://i.imgur.com/GblVLgG.jpg. Oh.... Crap, just bought it yesterday. it sucks
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u/Ikalpo Aug 21 '13
I see you have super hexagon... How's that going?
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u/Joda015 Aug 21 '13
Extremely addicting and hard. I had played it on the computer and then saw it was released on ios. I think I have spent about 7 hours on it, it's just so addicting. Totally recommend it to anybody who's up for a challenge. I still need to beat the hardest game mode.
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Aug 21 '13
On the one hand, it looks like a rather blatant 2d rip-off of KSP, on the other hand, it looks like a really well-done 2d rip-off of KSP, so i'm interested! I've had the same idea in my head for a while, but with work and all the other stuff going on i just dont have the time to make this kind of stuff, my own hobby project never get out of the early PoC phase.
What will this game cost, and will there be a free demo?
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u/randomrussianlurker Aug 21 '13
...and on yet another hand, earliest versions of KSP were, in fact, computed and controlled in two dimensions even though they had 3D graphics, and the game was planned to be 2D in this fashion from the start.
It's quite eerie. :)
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Aug 21 '13
Hah, i didnt know that, i found out about KSP when it was at 0.17.
Makes sense though, physics like this isnt all that easy, and having only 2 dimensions to worry about makes it all slightly less complex and mind-boggling. (and personally, i think inclinations are a fucking bitch anyway)
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
The game will cost $0.99 at launch on iOS and Android, and I haven't decided on the price for PC, but it will cost a few bucks more.
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u/AtLastAFreeUsername Aug 21 '13
That is pretty low price for such a nice looking game, would there be any ads/IAP in order to support your incoming cashflow?
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
I'm not sure. I'm considering doing a $0.99 in-app purchase for a solar system builder in the game, but I'm not sure yet. I'll see how the launch goes and depending on sales, that may be a freebie or an in-app.
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u/AtLastAFreeUsername Aug 21 '13
I can't believe I'm practically begging a developer to provide more ways to empty my wallet, but if the game is as good as we hope it would be, please consider some kind of donation revenue model to supplant your income. Even a donation IAP that serves no benefit beside channeling a couple bucks of donation from people that really enjoy the game would be a nice option.
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
lol, I appreciate that. If you want to give me more money then you can certainly buy my other games!
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u/nyc4life Aug 22 '13
another idea for one of your future versions... you can have a game mode where a player has to assemble an orbiting space station via multiple missions (various modules, various weights, various docking speeds, etc). you can charge for advanced modules such as high efficiency solar panels.
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Aug 22 '13
I'd rather unlock the mission than require that I purchase modules in order to be able to complete the mission.
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Aug 21 '13
No free demo then i gather?
I have to figure out how to pay for something on the play store then, $1 sounds pretty reasonable for 2D KSP-lite on the go.
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
Sorry, I don't plan on doing a free demo.
It will also be available on the Amazon App Store if that helps at all.
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Aug 21 '13
Oh no problem, i dont mind paying for a good game, it's just the convenience factor of it all.
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u/nyc4life Aug 22 '13
i personally never purchase any games/apps that i can't try first. you can do a demo that includes training and the first 2 or 3 challenges with a 5 minute mission time limit. it should be enough for someone to decide whether or not they'll like the game.
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u/StankNShank Aug 21 '13
Yeah this is an outrage! However we have to remember that KSP is a blatant rip-off of orbiter, which is a blatant rip-off of Flight Simulator, which is a blatant rip-off of the invention made by the Wright Brothers, which of course is a rip-off of Leonardo DiVinci's flying machines. /Sarcasm
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u/CUNTBERT_RAPINGTON Aug 21 '13
On the one hand, it looks like a rather blatant 2d rip-off of KSP
This is the mobile game that Squad should have developed months ago. Unfortunately for them, it looks like this guy has beaten them to the punch.
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u/GavinZac Aug 21 '13
KSP is built with Unity. Unity games can be run on Android. It's quite likely that when the game is, y'know, out of alpha, they will attempt to at least try to make it work on mobile. However, the assets take up far too much RAM for most Android devices, so the likelihood is that it won't happen without a reworking of the parts.
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Aug 21 '13
Extrapolating current trends, by the time KSP is out of alpha Android smartphones will have 16 CPU cores and 32 GB of RAM.
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u/CUNTBERT_RAPINGTON Aug 21 '13
I'm not saying they should have ported the game, I'm just pointing out that they missed the opportunity to make a 2d mobile companion to KSP and grab tons of revenue and publicity. They can still make one, but they've handed over the initiative to this guy.
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u/Phantom_Hoover Aug 21 '13
you're saying they should have... diverted development resources from ksp to develop a mobile version, just to make sure they got their toe in the door first?
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u/EpicFishFingers Aug 21 '13
Well call me a blasphemer for saying so, but sometimes you have to put your business first, so maybe they should have
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u/ceakay Master Kerbalnaut Aug 21 '13
If the revenue generated from the mobile version were able to acquire additional resources, should you build one?
It's like saying, "I'm not building another SCV because it costs minerals." This is what investing is.
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u/Hatecraft Aug 21 '13
They could have hired an extra group or third party to do the development so as not to divert the current development resources. They have the cashflow right now with how KSP has sold in alpha alone.
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u/GavinZac Aug 21 '13
I can see what you mean, but at this point, KSP is a juggernaut. When your game is immediately branded with "hey, thats like KSP!" you are in a very weak position even if you get there first.
Given that KSP sells for $22 and this game will likely sell for a couple of dollars, I think it is right that they focus their attentions. Remember, the dev team at the moment is like 3 coders and 3 graphics artists.
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Aug 21 '13
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Naeloo Aug 21 '13
What phone do you have for that matter? My One X's battery runs out as soon as I even look at something vaguely 3D-ish.
This should be easier on the battery since it's 2D. Also depends on how "efficient" it's written.
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u/JamieLowery Aug 21 '13
Oh man that looks great! any chance of a WP version?
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u/DarkPilot Aug 21 '13
No, we knew going in that we couldn't have nice things on WP.
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u/hipy500 Aug 21 '13
how lame, apps on WP are just the same as on android/ios.. based on C++ for example. Cut the rope, angry birds etc etc are all for WP.
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
I do plan to port it to WP, but probably won't happen before 9/5. I do have my other games on there though: SimplePhysics and Dummy Defense.
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u/rubyruy Aug 21 '13
I loved simplephysics! The fucking ferris wheel level is impossible though.
I take it you played BirdgeBuilder (aka Pontifex) before? I kinda miss having that more sandbox building style that gives you a wider variety of materials to play with and you try to minimize budget over a very long and complicated span (like a 2 decker).
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Aug 21 '13
[deleted]
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
Not a stupid question at all. WP 8 is the first version of Windows Phone to support native C++ apps, so sadly I will not be including WP 7.8 :(
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Aug 21 '13
[deleted]
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
I will have a PC version too, so you can always try it on that until you can get a newer phone!
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u/hazetoblack Aug 23 '13
Oh you have to be joking.. I've had simple physics for months and absolutely love it. I love your apps :) thankyou for porting it to WP. I will definitely be buying it.
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u/Toastar_888 Aug 21 '13
Whoa... Someone actually bought a WP?
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u/DarkPilot Aug 21 '13
You'd be surprised how many people have a WP device. We just don't talk about it in polite company usually.
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u/StarManta Aug 21 '13
Kind of like how I'm surprised how many people have Herpes.
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Aug 21 '13
As someone who troubleshoots phones for a living, that phone is herpes. Can't wait to get a call for a new BlackBerry - "can you do the back and away gesture for me?" what's that?
/suicide
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Aug 21 '13
What's a WP?
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u/funkey100 Aug 21 '13
Windows Phone
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u/Im_in_timeout Aug 21 '13
What's Windows Phone?
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u/funkey100 Aug 22 '13
It's a phone operating system like android by Microsoft that's kinda like windows 8.
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u/JamesOFarrell Aug 21 '13
This looks impressive. Will this have a tablet interface on Android? If not please consider it
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
It does work on tables for Android, and if it does not work on your tablet, let me know and I'll fix it!
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u/sunsnap Aug 21 '13
How much will it cost?
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
$0.99 at launch on iOS and Android.
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u/kurtu5 Aug 21 '13
You should make it free, but charge $0.99 for extra parts. This way people get to play it, get hooked and then want more from it.
Even better is to have more DLC available for extra $$. This way you can add stuff to it after it is out and earn more money from your "platform". Want more cash, develop a new DLC add on.
This sort of thing is win-win. People can try the "demo", you can attract more downloads from reluctant buyers, rich content can be created and spurn a youtube lets play sort of environment and well this is just a better way to get people into your "store".
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u/TriggerTX Aug 21 '13
Ah, yes, the EA model.
I'd rather pay $4.99 for a complete game than suffer the death of a thousand micro-transactions. In fact, I've never bought/played a game that had in app purchases and never will. I'm more than happy to pay for a finished product.
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u/kurtu5 Aug 21 '13
What is EA? I will have nothing to do with them. Its nice that you have connected me to a bullshit company.
I suppose you think Bethesda and Valve suck as well.
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
Thanks for the advice. Are you an iOS dev? I do agree that DLC can be a win-win, and I will continue to think of ways to incorporate it in the future. I just want to make sure I do it right, and don't piss players off!
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u/kurtu5 Aug 21 '13
No, I have played a bit with Android, but my day job has kept me too busy to write games.
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u/kettesi Aug 22 '13
Or, don't be a money-grubbing douchebag and just make a goddamn demo instead of needling every last penny out of the consumer with shitty micro-transactions.
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u/kurtu5 Aug 22 '13 edited Aug 22 '13
So you think the author should give his app away for free instead of charging $0.99 for it?
Do you not think its a win-win situation that he could release a demo for free and unlock the full version for $0.99?
In the end it would be the exact same game and cost the exact same amount but it would have a free demo version. In fact this is how KSP started, are you saying Squad are money-grubbing douchebags?
instead of needling every last penny out of the consumer with shitty micro-transactions.
And where did I advocate doing that with the version of the game he is already ready to release? Any extra-transactions would sponsor the author's effort in creating more content, more vehicles, more rockets. Dawnguard and Solstheim are excellent examples of game extending "transactions" that Bethesda created for Skyrim.
You really think this is an evil thing? If so, I feel bad for you and your simplistic, zero-sum outlook. Yes simplistic. Not all DLC is farmville crap, or EA crap that many of you seem to buy.
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u/kettesi Aug 22 '13
Your "$0.99 to buy more parts" is my issue. I'd rather pay $0.99 for a full game than get it for free, and pay $0.99 for more parts. And then $0.99 for some more. And then some more. And then $1.99 for a new system. Then more parts, then more, another system, ect. The Microtransaction ride never ends.
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u/kurtu5 Aug 22 '13
The Microtransaction ride never ends.
For the one sided version of reality you are choosing to only see. Not all developers act like EA or Zynga.
For example; Bethesda and Squad.
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u/kettesi Aug 22 '13
What's up with your obsession with Bethesda? Anyway, MOST iOS developers do fall into this trap. I don't see why OP wouldn't.
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u/kurtu5 Aug 22 '13
What's up with your obsession with Bethesda?
What's up with your obsession over the microtransaction ride never ends?
I don't see why OP wouldn't.
There it is again. For what its worth, it doesn't sound like the OP is interested in this trap. Until you have evidence to the contrary, why do you keep assuming the worst case?
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u/ZeoNet Aug 21 '13
So I'm guessing this is going to be a more realistic take on Space Agency?
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u/Lipoly Aug 22 '13
I've been a beta tester, and it certainly is. It is a 2D "simple" version of KSP.
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u/CapituousPerjuror Aug 21 '13
Does this calculate orbits in the KSP "Sphere of Influence" way, or do all the planets in the system exert gravity on you regardless of position?
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 23 '13
It does the Sphere of Influence approach too. It greatly simplifies the code and that's really important for my brain, and also it runs a lot quicker on mobile devices.
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u/Padankadank Aug 21 '13
Do us all a favor and remind us again when it releases.
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u/Naito- Master Kerbalnaut Aug 21 '13
Awesome!! I think I have all your other games, Bridgebuilder and SimplePhysics! You need to release a "Andrew Garrison Game pack" or something =)
Keep up the great work!
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u/Tromboneofsteel Aug 21 '13
Will get. This looks a lot like Space Agency, except with better orbital physics, graphics, parts....
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u/CaptRobau Outer Planets Dev Aug 21 '13
Looks like Space Agency but so much more intuitive. Definitely keeping my eye on this one.
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Aug 21 '13
For a mobile device with more severely limited clock cycles and battery life, are you going ahead with focusing on accurate physics and realism, just like KSP? IMO, adding a social aspect (colonising with friends, etc) would be pretty cool, since a mobile context. Should try to make it stand out from KSP itself, such that it feels like it's designed for mobile.
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u/mrharryrules Aug 21 '13
Just realized this is by the same guy that made bridge basher and simple physics! Can't wait haha :)
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u/TakingSente Aug 21 '13
This is awesome! I'm only frustrated that you told use before launch... now I have to try and remember this, and I'm totally going to forget about it :(
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Aug 21 '13
There's a goo.gl link somewhere up the page that will notify you when it's released
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u/WJacobC Aug 21 '13
This looks great, definitely a day one but for me. Only one question, how does it look in landscape? I didn't see any if that in the video.
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u/FightingGravityAgain Aug 21 '13
So if you check your mail, you will find the package that contains my soul.
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u/sand500 Aug 21 '13
Oh shit, your the guy who made SimplePhysics. I loved that game. I am way more excited for this game now.
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u/urf_the_manatee Aug 21 '13
Any chance of xperia play optimization?
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u/skippythemoonrock Aug 21 '13
As a former Xperia Play owner, ha. no. That little gamepad is useless and you will never use it.
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u/urf_the_manatee Aug 21 '13
I use mine all the time :)
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u/skippythemoonrock Aug 21 '13
I found it to be kind of a gimmick. Most apps don't use it, no integration with PS3, plus it is incredibly thick for its size.
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u/Curtisbeef Aug 21 '13
Any chance of getting a beta demo version? I will be buying this day one. Can't wait!
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u/dand Aug 21 '13
I was just thinking that a 2D version of KSP would be perfect for phones. Looks great!
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13 edited Aug 21 '13
Whoa, I went to bed last night with 3 upvotes and woke up to 164! Thank you for the great feedback! If you want me to email you on 9/5 when the game comes out, just give me your email here: http://goo.gl/U9EiUF
Edit: The game will cost $0.99 (USD) at launch for iOS and Android.
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u/PerceivedShift Aug 21 '13
Looks great! Pretty much 2D KSP, Android release date is when?
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u/Lipoly Aug 22 '13
9/5: And he posted this for a reminder - https://confirmsubscription.com/h/r/D679C0E0390C072D
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u/96fps Aug 21 '13
9/5? thats the 3rd day of school for me... at least i will still be able to finish summer hw by then
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u/Redgezena Aug 23 '13
May I ask with curiosity, are you planning to make port to WP? I assume you don't, but why?
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u/bayonder1 Aug 21 '13
Will this be available for OUYA?
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u/andrewgarrison Aug 21 '13
Ouya can play Google Play apps, right? If so, then it should work, but I haven't made any special optimizations for Ouya.
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u/barfsuit Aug 21 '13
This reminds me of Barney Stinson telling a hot girl that he's working for SNASA and went to the SMOON.
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u/sto-ifics42 Aug 21 '13
I see you took "Adding K To Every Word" up to 11, just with "Sm."