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Something I want to point out in the unit builder (which is nice thus far) is the necrons dont have all available units(missing C'tan) and I cant find where to get the fancy stuff like Destroyer body on the lord, aside from that its user friendly thus far

Daemons are missing some characters

Right now there are no special characters in there for any of the armies. That is just a data file not having them.

As for the options for the Necron Lord, in the menu go to "Unit Options", select the Necron Lord and then "Other Options". This will have all of his wargear that you can select.

Testers - I would prefer that you send your bugs/comments to my gmail account that I sent you the app from. I don't think that Dakka would like this to turn into a forum for technical support for my app. If you want to post saying how you like/hate certain things about the app for others to see, then by all means do so. I can also give updates on progress here for improvements and bug fixes as I do them.

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yakface wrote:

agnosto wrote:

yakface wrote:
Curses! You're so responsive.

If only I could find someone to develop a similar app on the apple devices...everyone so far has just made really barren programs and (worst of all) has been terrible about doing any updates on them.

So godspeed with this, and I hope you finally get the inspiration to do an ipad/ipod/iphone version!

There are 2 or 3 in the app store; I can't recall the names or prices but I did a search for warhammer and they came up.

Yeah, I've got two of 'em already and they're all substandard.

'iroster' is the best, but the guy never updates it and it has some serious flaws. All the other ones are utterly garbage. One guy even posted here on Dakka and promised it would be getting better soon. I bought his app for like $5 under the promise that it was a WIP and they've NEVER done even a SINGLE update.

This is the reputation that I hope to debunk from all the other apps on the mobile market. I'm at the point where I'm going to see this through to putting it on the Android market. Although, I do have a full-time job, am finishing my MBA in May and am trying to get my SW army ready for tourney's in the summer. So time will be shorter for me this spring, but I do vow to support this (especially if I charge for the app). Knowing the legal issues though, I will have to rely on others to maintain the data files. So that may be out of my control.

I tried to download it from the email, why didin't it work?

I'll email you separately to discuss this. I need more information from you about your phone and as I mentioned in the last post, I don't think it's a good idea to have this discussion turn into a technical support forum. If there is something that needs to be announced to the testers, I'll email all of you.

Been availible on iPad/ ipod for a while. Its called iroster fantasy or 40k

Captain Solon wrote:Been availible on iPad/ ipod for a while. Its called iroster fantasy or 40k

Yeah, but like its been said before, iRoster apps are barely useable. I don't know how many times I've tried to enter army information only to have it save information I put in 10 minutes ago, and not my most recent stuff.

I was thinking about the issue regarding the clutter on the screen (I don't have an android device, just going off screen shots), but would there be a way make the unit clickable, and have it take you to a separate screen where their stat line is, and all of their wargear is contained?

/Facepalm

If only I had an Android.

Beautiful job.

Hope you can work around the legal issues because that's a gorgeous enough app that I may have to break out my old G1 to download and play with.

Porting this over to Objective C shouldn't be too much a nightmare for Apple products. The directory structure of the I-devices might make it a bit more difficult to load the values from files but nothing too monstrous.

Alfndrate wrote:

Captain Solon wrote:Been availible on iPad/ ipod for a while. Its called iroster fantasy or 40k

Yeah, but like its been said before, iRoster apps are barely useable. I don't know how many times I've tried to enter army information only to have it save information I put in 10 minutes ago, and not my most recent stuff.

I was thinking about the issue regarding the clutter on the screen (I don't have an android device, just going off screen shots), but would there be a way make the unit clickable, and have it take you to a separate screen where their stat line is, and all of their wargear is contained?

Some of my initial feedback from testers has been regarding the presentation and I've always thought it could be better. I've been working the past couple of days on Android ListViews, which are what you are suggesting here. This would allow the user to click a unit and bring up a menu for it (change unit size, add/remove options, etc). The user could also resort the list by clicking and dragging. I'll post an updated screenshot once I get this up and running.

Captain Solon wrote:Been availible on iPad/ ipod for a while. Its called iroster fantasy or 40k

iRoster is so close to being great, but fails because:

1) You cannot physically print your lists out, or send someone a version of the list (unless they also have iRoster).

2) I don't mind entering all my units in myself (personally), but there needs to be some place where you can 'bank' units to use when building a new list. Having to always go back into specific army lists to copy-and-paste units over is not convenient.

3) Finally, while entering all the info myself is acceptable, obviously a much better solution is for the app to utilize a datafile that can be maintained outside of the app (which this app is talking about doing).


So until point #1 (especially) is resolved, iRoster is unusable except as a back-up way to create your list. Because if you have to submit it for a tournament, for example, you're out of luck.

But the worst thing of all about iRoster, is the author has chosen to make himself almost impossible to contact, so there's no way to make suggestions to him or know when or if any further updates are coming.

I want to give everyone an update. I've been working the last week or so on a major improvement to the list screen. So instead of being completely menu based navigation, this new screen will have the units become clickable and will bring up an options menu for that unit (changing size, weapons and options, adding transports, etc.). The user will also be able to sort the list manually by clicking and dragging it. The layout is also changing where it will only show the unit, size and what weapons and options it has. There will be a menu option to show the view that is currently in the app.

The main functionality is working and I'm ironing out some new bugs that popped up from the change. Once that is finished (hopefully this weekend), I will post again with the updated screenshots (and resend to the current testing group). I could use more testers so please reach out to me if you are interested.

One future change that will be next on my list to do is separating the data files from the app. The data files will include a game system option that would include items for troop types and attribute headers, so ideally anyone could add any game system to this program.

I have to say after toying with the list I deffinately like it

I have completed the update that I mentioned earlier this week. Please look to the first post for the updated screenshots and what changes were done. The next step is separating the data files from the program, which I'm planning to complete before the end of the month.

Please contact me if you have an Android device and would like to test. I'll be sending out an update to the other testers later this week after I complete some more in-house testing.

I am willing to test the app. My email is ausrotten94@gmail.com

Providing an update on the development. Enhances and fixes since the last post:

-I have completed separting the data file from the app so that it will read in from a file on your sdcard now.
-Added functionality for more games to be added (notably Fantasy, but others like Warmachine could work if data files are generated). Some tweaks are still needed here.
-Added Special Characters to the current lists
-Fixed crash on Android 2.1 (Thanks Testers!)

Next Steps:
-Add point total for each entire unit (not just totals per selection within the unit)
-Add more armies to data file (BA next)
-Add functionality to download latest data files from the web to device.

I could also use some help from the community here. The consensus on this forum has been clear. This app can only succeed in the long term by having the data files managed by the community and not by the developer. I'm putting together the initial set of lists to get started, but I will need people to assist with this (and potentially post files on their website).

Thanks again to all that have helped so far.

Send me an email on how i can help with expanding this man. I would also like to see better save options for the G2 2.2

sent IM with email interested in helping some and play BA so would be willing to help with that data file

-0dd

A few updates here.

1) I've completed everything in the app that I wanted to include before putting it out on the market. I'll post updated screen shots later, but nothing much changed visually except for the army selection screen. The changes include:

-downloading data files from the internet
-saving and outputting multiple lists
-many updates for unit customization functionality
-6 armies are available in the data file right now (Necrons, SW, BA, Eldar, Orks and Daemons). Updating about 1 each week and hopefully more as the major app work is done now. IG and CSM are next.

2) I'm not going to be sending out the app to new testers anymore since I'm getting close to a release now.

3) Anyone want to give an opinion on how high you would pay for an app like this? In other words, what would your breaking point? Options I'm looking at are $2, $3 and $5.

4) One last item of note for you iPhone owners. It turns out that I cannot develop this for apple devices unless I have an apple computer. So I will port this over to the iPhone, but only if I earn enough money from the app to purchase the equipment I need.

Okay, few questions:

1. So, you'll put it on the android market? Awesome! When do you expect it to be there?
2. How much will it cost?
3. What's the exact name of the app? So we can find it there

Dummgelaufen wrote:Okay, few questions:

1. So, you'll put it on the android market? Awesome! When do you expect it to be there?
2. How much will it cost?
3. What's the exact name of the app? So we can find it there

What he said
Also, I'm guessing that this is going to be available a) in the UK, and b) for all Android phones? (I have a Wildfire myself)
As to your question about rough price, £3 probably, that ends up being, what, $2 or something? TBH probably more if it turns out well, which it seems it will do at this rate

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Sandyman11 wrote:

Dummgelaufen wrote:Okay, few questions:

1. So, you'll put it on the android market? Awesome! When do you expect it to be there?
2. How much will it cost?
3. What's the exact name of the app? So we can find it there

What he said
Also, I'm guessing that this is going to be available a) in the UK, and b) for all Android phones? (I have a Wildfire myself)
As to your question about rough price, £3 probably, that ends up being, what, $2 or something? TBH probably more if it turns out well, which it seems it will do at this rate

Answer to #1: Yes, that has always been the plan. An aggressive estimate would be early April, but it really depends on the completion of the data file
#2: That is what I'm still deciding and was asking for general opinions
#3: It will be called "Army List Creator" and I'll make another announcement when it is available.

I'm pretty certain it will be available on the UK market. Only reason it wouldn't is if Google has some weird rule on US retailers selling outside the US. Should work on all Android phones, but I cannot promise bug free on certain phones as I do not have all of them tested. I do promise to work through any bugs reported to me as quick as I can. And 3 GBP is actually about $4.80.

I would get that I think
I mean there's no effective list maker yet for 40K that contains for a Data files

I have data files written up for about six of the 40k armies. If you can send me your BA data file so I can take a look at how much fiddling around it would take to change my formatting/include needed information for your application I could see what I can do. I have BA/Necrons/C:SM/C:CSM/Tau/SW done now.

Wish I had the motivation you do. I have been working on my replacement AB for too long now and barely have anything done (beyond being able to actually make the list and print it).

I would also possibly be interested in collaborating on an IPhone version. I'm pretty comfortable in Objective C. I'd definitely want to collaborate though - I like your layout and graphics quite a bit and would love to use them but only with permission.

Edit: As for cost, you probably couldn't go wrong with either one of two ways. $4.99 like the other non-terribad army builders for mobile is a pretty proven model that sells. Or you could go with somewhere around $1.99-2.99 and have the Dakka community love you. If you want to make a lot more money look in to doing an advertisement version for free with semi-limited functionality.

I would like to lend some testing help as well, running a motorola droid and soon a rooted nook color... also will be running the witchhunters, chaos, and vanilla marines lists a personal test drive

edweird2w1@gmail.com

yakface wrote:


However, in order to avoid legal issues, here is what you need to do (coming from someone who IS not a lawyer, of course):

1) You need to remove any and all references in the app towards 40K or other company's IP. Instead, make it a generic army list entry device that people can manually put their own info into.

2) you need to remove all references and point values for their games...

That aint right. Of course it depends on the legal system you are subject to, but even Anglosaxon legal systems allow the usem of their names, even point costs, stats would be too much though.

Interesting point is, do you want to sell it or would it be free?

German example:

http://www.onlinecodex.de/forum/portal.php

Dark Scipio wrote:

That aint right. Of course it depends on the legal system you are subject to, but even Anglosaxon legal systems allow the usem of their names, even point costs, stats would be too much though.

Interesting point is, do you want to sell it or would it be free?

German example:

http://www.onlinecodex.de/forum/portal.php

There was a lot of discussion on this already, but I'm going to play it as safe as I can while still being able to release this. Right now there is nothing in the app itself that has references to GW's materials. All of that information is in the data files. This is similar to how AB does their program and GW allows them to sell the program. My app is also functional to include other game systems assuming data files are created for them (should be able to use Fantasy, Warmachine, Flames of War, etc but may need minor tweaks in the app to accommodate). For the data files themselves, I'm giving it a kick start by generating the initial 40k lists, but I'm hoping that the community will help to maintain (and host) the files going forward. If the app does well enough to get GW's attention, that should be a feasible option.

And as I mentioned in my recent posts, I will be selling it. I've put in a lot of time over the last couple of months and would like to earn at least a little bit for my time.

AB sells the program, however the datafiles are all created and maintained by volunteers which may be why GW leave the datafiles alone - and which you would not be doing.

It is definitely worth talking to GW or a lawyer, or preferably both, before releasing an app. GW attack pandas hurt...

nosferatu1001 wrote:AB sells the program, however the datafiles are all created and maintained by volunteers which may be why GW leave the datafiles alone - and which you would not be doing.

It is definitely worth talking to GW or a lawyer, or preferably both, before releasing an app. GW attack pandas hurt...

I agree that this isn't the safest plan that I have, but I think it is low risk at this point. How did AB get started? There is no way they couldn't have been completely uninvolved in the process and any updates that occur for AB that would involve a change in the data files to accommodate would have some involvement with the people who maintain the files. They could've been less involved initially than I'm doing now, but that is the risk I'm taking. But after this is launched I will be disassociating myself with the data files going forward.

Wow this looks amazing, one idea that occured to me is, possibly contact AB, see if they would be interested in working with you on this if your running into trouble on the technical/legal end. Not to mention if they gave you access to the datafiles they already had...

May be a good idea, or a horrid idea depending, but thought it worth tossing out. I'm running a HTC Incredible so I'd be down for testing as well.