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GameSalad: Free HTML5/iOS game creator for Mac

58 points by instakill 15y ago

modernerd 15y ago
Offering embeddable, shareable HTML versions of games in the browser that are available in the App Store seems like a great way to boost iOS sales. Has anyone used their Creator app for Mac? How does it compare to building 2D apps with cocos2d/Xcode?
- kstenerud 15y ago
  It doesn't compare at all. We tried it out as a way of prototyping iPhone game ideas, but it didn't even have the concept of arrays, which made anything beyond the absolute most simple game state impossible. You can't build serious games without a powerful programming language.
andyb 15y ago
Is there anything like this for android? Other than Google's own app inventor, which frankly is still a bit rough IMHO.
- ukdm 15y ago
  Game Maker is currently implementing Game Maker Studio that will allow iPhone, Android, HTML5, and Win/Mac executables. It's meant to be finished this year and allows you to make games without coding. However, there is a scripting language built in (GML) which can be used with the non-programming functionality or replaces it completely. We've also got the App Game Kit coming soon http://www.appgamekit.com/ http://www.appgamekit.com/
  - walrus 15y ago
    Game Maker is the software that introduced me to programming. Assuming it has kept its roots as a learning tool (it's been 5 major releases since I last used it), I can't recommend it enough.
- seany 15y ago
  corona is cross platform http://www.anscamobile.com http://www.anscamobile.com and is more flexible/higher performance. (disclaimer: I work for them)
geon 15y ago
"No coding. Ever." That's supposed to be a feature? It just means I am limited to whatever functionality is built in. No thanks.
- jlongster 15y ago
  Agreed. These kinds of things are not only greatly simplified and more powerful with a basic scripting language, but it's a great chance to expose people (especially kids) to programming.
- rajat 15y ago
  While I understand this reaction, I must say that the range of games being shown is pretty impressive. I think it depends on what are the actual limitations (the limitations that a poet accepts can lead to greater creativity, for example).
  - gravitronic 15y ago
    It's not just about the limitations present in this solution, it's about developing reusable skills. Incidentally teach a standard scripting language to somebody and they have a powerful tool they can reuse outside of this platform.
    - dpcan 15y ago
      Gamesalad is probably aimed at turning game ideas into profit in the app store. I don't see a problem with this.
BlueMourning 15y ago
http://www.monkeycoder.co.nz/ http://www.monkeycoder.co.nz/ This thing offers cross platform game development with code, and comes with full source.
- fictorial 15y ago
  ... in Basic
pxlpshr 15y ago
Congrats to Michael and Tan on all the recent success. They've been building Gendai for a long time starting in Austin. Lots of sweat, blood, and tears went into this product. Great team, dedicated and innovative.
sitkack 15y ago
Bad name.

58 points by instakill 15y ago

Offering embeddable, shareable HTML versions of games in the browser that are available in the App Store seems like a great way to boost iOS sales. Has anyone used their Creator app for Mac? How does it compare to building 2D apps with cocos2d/Xcode?

kstenerud 15y ago
It doesn't compare at all. We tried it out as a way of prototyping iPhone game ideas, but it didn't even have the concept of arrays, which made anything beyond the absolute most simple game state impossible. You can't build serious games without a powerful programming language.

andyb 15y ago

Is there anything like this for android? Other than Google's own app inventor, which frankly is still a bit rough IMHO.

ukdm 15y ago
Game Maker is currently implementing Game Maker Studio that will allow iPhone, Android, HTML5, and Win/Mac executables. It's meant to be finished this year and allows you to make games without coding. However, there is a scripting language built in (GML) which can be used with the non-programming functionality or replaces it completely. We've also got the App Game Kit coming soon http://www.appgamekit.com/ http://www.appgamekit.com/
- walrus 15y ago
  Game Maker is the software that introduced me to programming. Assuming it has kept its roots as a learning tool (it's been 5 major releases since I last used it), I can't recommend it enough.
seany 15y ago
corona is cross platform http://www.anscamobile.com http://www.anscamobile.com and is more flexible/higher performance. (disclaimer: I work for them)

geon 15y ago

"No coding. Ever." That's supposed to be a feature? It just means I am limited to whatever functionality is built in. No thanks.

jlongster 15y ago
Agreed. These kinds of things are not only greatly simplified and more powerful with a basic scripting language, but it's a great chance to expose people (especially kids) to programming.
rajat 15y ago
While I understand this reaction, I must say that the range of games being shown is pretty impressive. I think it depends on what are the actual limitations (the limitations that a poet accepts can lead to greater creativity, for example).
- gravitronic 15y ago
  It's not just about the limitations present in this solution, it's about developing reusable skills. Incidentally teach a standard scripting language to somebody and they have a powerful tool they can reuse outside of this platform.
  - dpcan 15y ago
    Gamesalad is probably aimed at turning game ideas into profit in the app store. I don't see a problem with this.

BlueMourning 15y ago

http://www.monkeycoder.co.nz/ http://www.monkeycoder.co.nz/ This thing offers cross platform game development with code, and comes with full source.

fictorial 15y ago
... in Basic

pxlpshr 15y ago

Congrats to Michael and Tan on all the recent success. They've been building Gendai for a long time starting in Austin. Lots of sweat, blood, and tears went into this product. Great team, dedicated and innovative.

sitkack 15y ago

Bad name.