To GameSalad: Is this reverse engineering?
Photics
Member Posts: 4,172
Hi GameSalad,
I'm planning on porting my games to Corona. I don't want to code, but they've got features that aren't here... and Game Center is on the way. It's well known that Corona and GameSalad both use Box2D and Lua.
If I figured out the Lua equivalent of GameSalad behaviors, is that reverse engineering?
I read the Terms of Use...
This morning I woke up and wrote down the 37 behaviors (minus iAds) and I was about to create a reference guide for myself. Example, how would "Accelerate" be done in Lua? Is that reverse engineering? I don't know, but I think it's legal. Lua is open source software and the concepts are general ones... "Display Text", "Destroy", "Move".
I like you guys, but I can't just sit around waiting for new features to appear. My games need more features to be competitive and I don't like the idea that "professional" is $499 a year with a forced splash screen.
I'm planning to port my GameSalad apps to Corona. I'm also planning to write a Corona textbook. Maybe a sudden surge in new GameSalad features would change my mind. I hate coding. GameSalad is so much easier to use, but there are too many limits.
I'm planning on porting my games to Corona. I don't want to code, but they've got features that aren't here... and Game Center is on the way. It's well known that Corona and GameSalad both use Box2D and Lua.
If I figured out the Lua equivalent of GameSalad behaviors, is that reverse engineering?
I read the Terms of Use...
8. ProhibitionsI think what I'm trying to do is permitted under the law. The Terms of Use says to contact you in writing before starting the project. That's why I'm writing this post.
Except to the extent expressly permitted in these Terms, you may not: (i) copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, reverse compile, decompile, disassemble, or attempt to discover the source code of any Software used, or made available, by GameSalad in connection with the Site, Services or Content, or make any derivative works of such Software; (ii) use any code, software, method or product to manipulate the Site, Services, Software or Content in any way that affects any user’s experience in using, or ability to use, same; (iii) reproduce, publish, broadcast, transmit, download, cache, distribute, perform, display, sell, or in any way exploit any Software or Content; or (iv) remove any patent, copyright, trademark or other proprietary notices contained in any Software or Content. To the extent the prohibition specified above concerning the reverse engineering, disassembly or decompilation of Software violates applicable local law, and you wish to take any action in contravention of this prohibition to the extent you are permitted to do so under applicable local law, then you must notify GameSalad in writing not less than 90 calendar days before taking that proposed action. GameSalad will then discuss with you, the scope of any necessary reverse engineering, disassembly or decompilation that would be required in order to enable you to exercise your rights as permitted under applicable local law, and you hereby agree that GameSalad, may in its sole discretion, carry out any such reverse engineering, disassembly or decompilation on your behalf, at no cost to you.
This morning I woke up and wrote down the 37 behaviors (minus iAds) and I was about to create a reference guide for myself. Example, how would "Accelerate" be done in Lua? Is that reverse engineering? I don't know, but I think it's legal. Lua is open source software and the concepts are general ones... "Display Text", "Destroy", "Move".
I like you guys, but I can't just sit around waiting for new features to appear. My games need more features to be competitive and I don't like the idea that "professional" is $499 a year with a forced splash screen.
I'm planning to port my GameSalad apps to Corona. I'm also planning to write a Corona textbook. Maybe a sudden surge in new GameSalad features would change my mind. I hate coding. GameSalad is so much easier to use, but there are too many limits.
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
2) GAMESALAD SHOULD GET MOVING! This should show everyone here the sense of urgency. They are two programs away from being usurped... a converter and visual editor. How does GameSalad win?
3) The answer could be for other developers, who might need to port their games.
Take me now, lord...
I thought of ways GameSalad could make this right and how they could be more competitive. Here are some extreme ideas...
1) Export to Xcode (That's a real professional feature... wow!)
2) Somehow let GameSalad developers add code. I don't really mind learning Lua, but I hate doing tedious work. What if we could figure out how to add Game Center to our games, and then we could share that code with GameSalad? If we could build and share custom behaviors, that would give GameSalad a tremendous competitive edge and it would strengthen the community.
3) Much more Game Assets and templates... Quark Xpress and InDesign are really expensive page layout programs. Dreamweaver is a really expensive web developing program. So, why do I use Apple's Pages and Artisteer? It's because I like having a starting point. At some point, these iOS SDKs will be really advanced and really easy to use. The only way to stay competitive is with content... a way for Developers to get past the blank page.
--- More templates / sound effects / music / graphics
--- The GameSalad store, where developers can buy and sell game assets.
I'm feeling an acute sense of deja vu here. Seriously, whatever feature you are craving again now is not the reason you are making no money. In the time I have been here I can think of this list of your excuses so far:
- "My games aren't selling because I need pro"
- "My games aren't selling because of release dates messing up"
- "My games aren't selling because of people jumping the review line"
- "I'm making no money because I need iAds (this one went on a long time!)
- "Somehow it's Polygame's 'max vectors' fault!"
- "The splashscreen is stopping my games selling"
- "We need gamecenter, that's why my games are not selling"
These are just quickly off the top of my head, I'm sure there were lots more. Now it is whatever corona has that gamesalad doesn't.
I remember saying something similar before to try and convince you that spending $2000 on pro was not a smart move. Now it's a case of you wanting to waste a hell of a lot of time porting your games over to corona. They are not going to sell any better. I gave you my honest opinion about Arcade Action in the past, the same goes for Annoyed tomatoes, fireball, commove and that valentine's game. It was not a lack of advanced features that prevented sales.
Not sure why I'm saying this as I am a firm believer in people learning from their own mistakes, but I just think you could spend the time learning how to use photoshop or illustrator to create fun looking graphics for your games and doing a little market research into the types of games that will sell. In corona a game will generally take about 2 or 3 times longer to make than in GS and if they still look and play like the last ones then they are going to remain low sellers.
Think fun! Fun graphics, fun sound, fun stylings. Interestingly most game companies start with basic concept drawings and then make the game code. I read that Nintendo first party software is designed the other way around. They start with the style, feel and graphics. That's quite interesting as I would rate Nintendo's games as some of the most 'fun' over the last 20 years.
But.... go ahead with the corona porting idea. Maybe you can prove me wrong, but I think it will go the same way as the other reasons you have been through in the last year.
I do not understand why you ALWAYS are griping about 'Lack of features'! Again if you want those features now then go over to Corona!
Lua is not a hard programming language it is one of the easier ones. If you want these features so bad then drive down to Austin TX and complain there! We do not want you trying to change GameSalad by making 50 threads about how they could make themselves better!
I THINK THEY GET THE IDEA!!!
Just my thoughts on the situation.
-Josh
While many of your points regarding GS, Photics, are valid, you just do not make good games. I only had to read the words 'Annoyed Tomatoes' to know that particular game wouldn't be close a tripple A title. Not trying to be mean, but I dont see that changing regardless of how many features you have at your disposal. You need to take a step back and stop blaming others for your mistakes.