Getting frustrated with Gamesalad!
games4fun
Member Posts: 185
I've been using Gamesalad for a few years now and its getting to a point to where I need to say enough is enough. Its been over 4 months now since the last version 10.3 has been released. Every week we hear the same stuff getting closer to stable update should be soon. Amazon in-apps should be released next week, yet it's been a month of them saying that. Not to mention Gamesalad has been around for over 3 years and look at all the features that are still NOT available.
The game engine can only make relatively basic games otherwise the apps crash all the time. Memory performance is a joke. By the time they get all the features we would want working correctly it might be 3-5 years, and by then mobile gaming might be a thing of the past.
Gamesald needs to stop beating around the bush and start producing results.
The game engine can only make relatively basic games otherwise the apps crash all the time. Memory performance is a joke. By the time they get all the features we would want working correctly it might be 3-5 years, and by then mobile gaming might be a thing of the past.
Gamesald needs to stop beating around the bush and start producing results.
Comments
As a prototyping tool it's amazing, as an engine capable of producing an application on par with what's out now, forget it.
it does suck though that your able to create something that the software cant handle...in its own software.
and on the update part... idk about b4, but now im pretty sure there waiting for iOS 7. no point to update b4 this.
but other then what i said... i do wish they will make it better because its already a great software... it would make it top dog!
2. If you ain't happy then don't use it.
But lately I have slowly started to drift away from using GS because I just cannot see them keeping up with the changes that keep coming from iOS and Android as well as implementing new and interesting programing/design tools. While I don't relish the prospect of spending another 3-4 years of learning code just to get to the point I am at now with GS. I believe that ultimately learning that code will pay off more than it has by learning GS. Right now I am between learning Unity, Corona and Cocoa Touch...
With all this being said I still love GS, I believe if you are starting out and really want to get into game design it is a great tool! There is a lot that can be done with it to stoke the fires of your inner game designer! Five years ago I would have never dreamed that I would have games out on the iOS store and it's only possible because of GameSalad. GS is an amazing stepping stone to branch out into the world of game design and hopefully in the future it can be much more that that.
It's very easy to blame the tool for our own lack of experience/knowledge though.
For example, just the other week I was cursing the save/load system as it wasn't working. Using the nightly builds, my first thought was 'Is this a bug in the software?'
It wasn't. It was an error on my part. And it took some working out. But my initial reaction was 'It can't be me, it must be the software'
You see this everywhere btw - people will complain about the tool because it couldn't possibly be them. Inconceivable, right? Check the Unity forums. The Corona ones. The Stencyl ones. Everyone's blaming the tool!
Personally I've resigned myself to not looking forward to anything new from GS. Not because it's not coming, but because if I can't make good games without what I have now, I never will.
A lot of the new stuff is focussed on monetisation anyway, which is not a priority for me.
Also, my frustration is alleviated somewhat due to having a Pro account. This means I get to see and play with some of the new toys in the nightly builds.
So while the software looks like it's 'standing still' for you, the perception of Pro users will be somewhat different.
So, to the OP, I recommend taking a break. Look at some other software if you like, and good luck.
Maybe that's why I like it!
I agree, it's a fantastic learning tool, but I think you're putting the cart before the horse here.
Your focus SHOULD be on game making in my opinion. It's what you're going to sell to make money after all.
Too many people think they can make money easily doing this. The truth is, 90% of games will not make much money at all, even with all the features/analytics in the world. It's just how the market works. It's been true in the games industry for decades across multiple generations of consoles. And it's true on mobile too, which is why the best selling games hardly change week on week on the app store.
But you know, the games market is riddled with this kind of 'me too' attitude. If Call of Duty makes millions of dollars, then if we copy it, and change a few things, WE can make millions of dollars too, right?
If Candy Crush is making millions of dollars whilst being free with IAP or ads, then we can do the same and make millions of dollars too, right?
Funny how it never pans out...
Many much more talented people than I have made thousands of dollars with the same software you have right now. With GameSalad. With the same set of rules. And some of those are, I'd argue, on par with what's out there already from others.
These were (largely) not overnight successes. The people behind them (I'm thinking Firemaplegames and Gamesmold here) had experience in making games/programming/art *Before* they started with Gamesalad.
Their experience helped their success. They were also very very smart and played to the engine's strengths.
Of all the people that left GS to take up Corona, or Unity, I've not really heard of anyone that's suddenly made a ton of money thanks to the switch.
In fact, the only ones I can think of are FMG and Gamesmold. Who'd already had success with GS.
TL;DR - Yes it can be frustrating waiting for stuff, but this new stuff will not magically make you better at making games/money
Cheers,
QS
If people really need certain features then they clearly shouldn't be using GS. Go learn all the other stuff thats available out there.
Don't put your hand in s*** and then complain it smells, no one forced you to do it.
if it could handle it.....
lol
GS for my 2d games just for the time I save. Time is money. I'm a full time developer and do lots of client projects and I use the software 8+ hours a day everyday and I never have any of the issues most people have. If you really know how to use the software and build logic you don't have issues. I can't remember the last time I had an issue. Lots of the time people post a picture of the logic I can spot the error in like 2 seconds. Pay attention to your logic structure and take the time to learn the software.
I'm sure Gamesalad is working hard to push out the best product possible, which is why they haven't released all of the features/fix's everyone wants. And, for most of us, its free. I can't see how anyone using GS for free can complain. Pro users, I think, have a right to complain, maybe. Yet, the pro users seem to have an understanding about the current state of GS and are willing to wait because they know GS is only going to get better. Just my opinion. lol I might be complaining 4 years down the road as well.
It's like with graphics software, I don't just use Photoshop I also use Illustrator, or Artrage. For 3D I use Cheetah 3d and Sketchup. Different tools for different jobs. We all want GS to be the best tool it possibly can be, but sitting and waiting for just one tool to do everything you want is crazy.
I totally understand your frustration, it can be super frustrating being a Gamesalad user, but right now, more than any time in the last few years Gamesalad is moving in the right directions and the skies are looking clearer ahead
What I do dislike at times is that I see that the response on the forum or support is slow. But that is not always the case. It's happening in this period. You see less reactions from GS employees. Most of the time that happened in the past is because they are breeding on something. Something new and awesome came soon afterwards. But in my opinion this does hurt GS. When you are quiet people tend to make there own stories and that's bad for GS.
Edit: Ah, you see that's why:
http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/59970/state-of-gamesalad-on-9-11-2013#latest
I've launched two games in 2012. They are free, and haven't had much sucess, really. But one of them was featured in major mobile gaming websites, and that made me want to continue, people were liking it. I had only a couple thousand downloads, but all around the world! I'll continue using GS and someday, create a top ten hit!
GS rules! It has its flaws, but it gives much more than it takes!
There are things that I definitely wish Gamesalad could do. Why Joints is still not available after all this time, is completely beyond me. But it is what it is. I think of Gamesalad as a tool that I can use to make money. I also use Corona. Why? Because it is a tool that I can use to make money.
You just have to know the strengths of Gamesalad and play up to those. Just like any tool in your arsenal.
Again, it all boils down to what you want to accomplish and what you have available to make that happen. If Gamesalad cannot do it, then there are other tools available. In all honesty, I don't really care what we use. Just so long as the end result is the same. :-)