Amiga MegaBall for iPhone

[Art]

Hi Guys,
An Amiga for iPhone with UAE4All, bound to a single 1991 game & A500 OCS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/megaball/id662086959?ls=1&mt=8

I'm sure you've never seen this before:


There are some tricks in the iPhone settings menu & do a 360 rotate to save hi scores.

I still owe this app some work, it's not a first and final.

Obviously, thanks goes to Mike too
Cheers, Art.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Android version?

[ChaosLord]

I want an Android Version too.

btw what features does UAE4All support?

Is it still limited to 1985 Amigas?
Or can it do 1992+ Amigas now too?

[Art]

Android version?

?

There already are Amiga emus for Android.
Several of them from my understanding....
Or Cloanto wouldn't have made the Kickstart pack available...

[Matt_H]

Yes! Thank you for this - you have no idea how happy this makes me!

My main suggestion for future versions would be to allow users to select between the different versions of Megaball. It looks like you've got 2.0 in there, but 2.1, 3.0, and 4.0 each have their own fun little gameplay quirks. It would also be great if you could add in the ability to load new boards, or better yet, the board editor itself.

Looking forward to updates. Do you have a donation page?

[Art]

Hi,
It must remain non-commercial, and I must not receive any money from this one.
Your comment here (and your potential App Review.. hint!) is your donation and it is appreciated.

There is a small update that will arrive quickly, but after that I don't want to
trickle them...
I get annoyed as the end user myself with heaps of updates with small improvements.
The UAE branch also does need work.
Thanks again

EDIT,,
would you prefer that stuff to actual work on the emulator?

[Matt_H]

Hmm, I think the main priority for UAE should be getting the keyboard working, since that opens up more flexibility in handling other improvements. It's a liiiiiittle slow on my iPhone 4, but not intolerably so. The extra, blank screen space actually works well as a trackpad area so I can play the game without blocking the screen with my fingers. The sound output could be improved as well. I consider these other issues a lower priority, but you and others may disagree

Have you used the iOS version of ScummVM? It requires a jailbreak, but they handle the screen in a pretty neat way. In landscape mode, it's full screen with either direct touch or trackpad cursor input (switchable). In portrait mode, the screen is scaled to half size and a keyboard pops up below. It's small, but it displays the entire screen and allows keyboard input. Something to consider here, maybe.

I will get a glowing review in to the app store ASAP.

[Art]

So a level editor for Droid and everyone is happy

Throughout the day, I'm finding it less acceptable that a level editor is absent.
It should at least look for board files created with a real Amiga.

The versions of MBall that require an AGA Amiga are a bit hopeful for now,
but there are better branches of UAE around.. just need to investigate where
iOS jailbreak and Droid are up to with Amigas.
If they aren't doing AGA Amigas, then it might not be easy.

Since the game uses no special keys, I was just going to look at the iOS
keyboard to get the player name for the hi score table.

[Matt_H]

Actually, no version of Megaball requires AGA. 3.0 and 4.0 have extra colors on AGA machines, but they work just as well on non-AGA machines.

[weirdami]

"Item Not Available"

"The item you've requested is not currently available in the U.S. store."

[Art]

I think that is because you are looking with an iPad.

It's only for lack of testing that iPads are disqualified currently,
and should't be long before I can test them.

If it's an iPhone 4, 4S, or 5, let me know. It's still fine in Aus.

[ChuckT]

I play DX Ball 2 for the PC from Longbowgames which basically has the same look and feel as Megaball but I got bored with it and only played with it for less than six months because it takes up too much time..  You can google it and find it for download.

The original makers are interviewed here:

http://www.amigapd.com/interview-mackey-brothers.html

[Art]

I read that one, and sent an email to both before using their game.

I have seen a tweet from Ed reposting the App Store link,
and it was cool that he liked it (I know he must have played it)

Played DX Ball as well, but I do think it was inspired by MBall, (if not the same author).

I'm a long time Breakout fan and did my own for two platforms.
I have gone a little bit further with my native iOS one.
There are spinning wheels and teleporters, etc on the play field,
that interact with the ball.. was trying to make it feel like a pinball machine.
No drop down power ups, they are all from hitting targets.

But I do not yet have the bricks that interact with each other
exploding bricks in patterns that cause the chain reaction, are something
you look forward to in MBall.

[hbarcellos]

Art, when you're going to tell us how can we change the ADF for anything?
I have already downloaded. Shall I rate it, or you prefer to stay low profile?

[Art]

I can't pretend I wouldn't like it, but there isn't a loader.

I know it seems unlikely, but it really has to be that way for this one.
Whatever non-game specific work I put into this can easily apply to another iOS Amiga emulator,
and the longer this one is in there, can only be better for future Amiga in iOS.

Don't get me wrong, I raced to download Gridlee (hidden MAME loader)
before it was deleted, but I wouldn't have been the one to distribute it,
and (specifically with iOS) don't think it helps in the long term.

I don't want to own the Amiga in Apple's App Store either,
I want to potentially make it easier for others.
So long as Apple are playing ball when it's done properly, I'm more than happy.