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Oh, how Apple was so kind enough to let anyone with $100 and a Mac to make applications for their devices. So kind enough indeed, to let even the youngest of people to sign up as a developer and become part of a new era: mobile applications. For the first time I can call myself a developer. A sole proprietorial developer, but a developer nonetheless.
After being rejected from my initial college applications, going on a vacation to Palm Island, FL, and talking to my dad for a few days, we finally decided back in March of 2011 that I would be getting a MacBook Pro so I could start working on iOS apps while I wait for next year to apply for college again.
Why did I get rejected? Well, my love for Computer Science as well as California (currently residing in Ohio) had me apply to some big name colleges: UCLA and USC. Both of which said no due to my not-so-impressive grades and nothing really impressive outside of school. So we thought "Hey! Let's show them that you really do care about Computer Science and make real-life stuff: apps for the iPhone/iPod!"
![[image loading]](http://img.brothersoft.com/news_uploads/news/app%20developer.jpg)
We got started. An initial dump of around $1500 for the Mac, developer's license, and a book on iOS 4 programming. Up to this point, I had taken AP CS in 10th grade, and a 2-year, 3-hours per day programming class. So I knew my logic, just not the syntax. But that was about to change.
A month or so in, I created by first app that got submitted with no problems: Coach Hines Soundboard. It's a simple application, but it was (is, technically) something I could present to someone when asked what I've done before (like, something I could put into a portfolio).
However, it's not something I was truly proud of. Since my passion for many years now has been games, I've always wanted to create games when I got older. Now was the chance. In late June I started reading a bit about OpenGL ES (the graphics on the iPhone). Then early July I heard about a graphics engine called Cocos2d. Although many of you may not KNOW what Cocos2d is, it's basically a graphics engine that takes care of everything as long as you tell it was images to present and how to control those images. Want an example? Angry Birds, although not made with Cocos2d, could be made exactly the same with Cocos2d.
![[image loading]](http://www.iphonegamekit.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/resources-320x480-splash-happy-01.png)
Anyways, with my newly discovered ability to create games with seemly such ease, I got right to work on an idea. "But what would be a good idea?" I asked myself for days. Then my dad suggested I make a simple game for practice and recommended a mini-golf game. I agreed, since after all, what COULD be simpler than a mini-golf game?
After a long 2 months of coding, drawing images in Photoshop, using Dropbox to transfer files, and extensive testing, I finally came up with a final product that we named iGolf Mini. Unfortunately the term iGolf was taken, so I had to rename it to Crescent Ridge Mini Golf.
So, I present to you my first game I'm actually proud to call my own: Crescent Ridge Mini Golf. It's a mini-golf game that you swipe forward as if you're playing a real game of mini-golf. The faster you swipe, the faster the ball moves. It got approved on October 13th (technically the 14th since it was late on the 13th by the time it actually went up). I'm writing this now since I was waiting for my 2,000th post to come up.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/IZWgu.png)
And now, with all that knowledge under my belt, and practice with the Cocos2d library, I am almost finished with another game of mine, hopefully to be released on or before the dates of Blizzcon (if I submit it today). And after that, I've already got another idea flowing.
Screenshot of my current (about to be submitted) project:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/IYlwH.png)
Uses the accelerometer to dodge rocks coming at you, endurance-arcade style game
I think it's really fun to develop games, especially when I design the game, the graphics, the sound, and everything else that makes a game, a game. With the accelerometer, the touch input, the audio input/output, and all the other great stuff including Apple's devices, an almost endless amount of content can be produced.
I don't plan to make iPhone apps for the rest of my life, which is why I hope these apps, produced at an age of 18 (quite impressive in my opinion) can be a huge benefit to getting a job with a company that makes large-scale games for either PC or console. (Blizzard, hint hint!)
With that I leave you, TL, to enjoy my games and wish me luck on my journey, in what will hopefully be a successful attempt at applying to colleges this year due to content that most (if not all) people my age only dream of making, as well as a successful life as a programmer, working towards Software Engineer.
Best regards,
KeitZer
PS: If you ever have an idea for an app, don't hesitate to ask me and I'll see what we can do.
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Are you in school at all during this time? Developing apps seems like a kind of roundabout way of getting into school when you could reapply as a transfer while doing this on the side.
"Oh, how Apple was so kind enough to let anyone with $100 and a Mac to make applications for their devices." I'm confused... how are they being KIND here?
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Well instead of the older phones where 3rd parties were barely allowed (if allowed at all).
And no, I'm not currently enrolled in school because UCLA only accepts first-time freshman and junior-level transfer students... If they did accept sophomore-level transfers I would absolutely go that route. I'm just waiting 1 year, re-applying to UCLA and many other school, and if I still do not get accepted, then I will attend a community college or something else and try the transfer in a few years.
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Sounds like you have a cool father, good luck with everything!
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Hey, a friend of mine does the same but he is also monetizing his stuff, although he was programming for the android market(I think, not too sure.) Are you planning to do that yourself(sorry I don't know the apple market ^^)? Would be really interesting to see a little blog about how well you do with that, being a "programmer" myself(well I'm going to study soon but I'm not there yet, just doing everything myself) I'm always very curious about how well others do.
Also:
Why do you need a MacBook Pro to make iOS apps? Can't you just use program with java on any hardware? I mean...is the iOS THAT closed? O_o'... Or is this some kind of editor stuff you are using?
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I've been dabbling with some windows phone development as it's a platform I know from work (plus I dont have a mac :D), quite interesting.
Do you do the artwork yourself? The toughest parts for me are the artwork, cause I never really cared for art, and now it's biting me. The other bit is sound, but then there are tone of free sound sites on the net, you just need to read the license info carefully, but then mashing together free sounds doesnt really feel consistent at all times.
Agree with loser777, how are they being kind ? :p
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5930 Posts
Its probably more fun dealing with small iPhone games rather than large projects. Small risk, less pressure, you're basically your own man, and generally no "crunch" period that always happens close to release date. The only single place that seems nice in the AAA game industry seems to be Valve. I guess you can call it rewarding helping develop a huge AAA title but most of the grunts don't seem to enjoy it too much.
I've got a question: how are the documentation and development tools provided by Apple?
Why do you need a MacBook Pro to make iOS apps? Can't you just use program with java on any hardware? I mean...is the iOS THAT closed? O_o'... Or is this some kind of editor stuff you are using?
My impression is that no, you don't need a Mac to code iOS apps. However if you want to do it right, you need the APIs and SDK that are a part of Xcode, which is Mac-only.
Which is why I'm curious on the quality of the provided tools/documentation. I've heard stories of some extremely young teenagers developing some very basic puzzle games so I'm guessing a lot of the hard part, like touch controls, is simply automated since Apple is big on UI consistency and ease of use.
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Interesting. I wonder if projects like these can actually help you get into the school you want. Don't get me wrong here, these look impressive and probably are i'm sure, but i wonder (without any clue how to do this kind of stuff or anything) if your projects are large/big enough for a "college resume", if i may put it that way? Of course it shows your dedication, so that should be easily +++.
Your dad sounds like a nice guy. Always great to hear parents supporting their child(s), especially this way. Good luck to you sir, i hope you can get into the school you wanted!
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Interesting thread  I think Steam and mobile gaming is really lowering the access requirements for people. From what I've read about market research into iOs / Android markets, the Apple side is still considerably more profitable due to the iTunes account integration.
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On October 15 2011 22:01 Grettin wrote:
Interesting. I wonder if projects like these can actually help you get into the school you want. Don't get me wrong here, these look impressive and probably are i'm sure, but i wonder (without any clue how to do this kind of stuff or anything) if your projects are large/big enough for a "college resume", if i may put it that way? Of course it shows your dedication, so that should be easily +++.
Your dad sounds like a nice guy. Always great to hear parents supporting their child(s), especially this way. Good luck to you sir, i hope you can get into the school you wanted!
Can't imagine it not helping a good deal... whether it's enough... probably depends on schools policy and then the particular person but if it was me it would pull a lot of weight.
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Wow I read it all and what stood out the most for me was your father, man big props to both of you.
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On October 15 2011 21:35 KeksX wrote:
Hey, a friend of mine does the same but he is also monetizing his stuff, although he was programming for the android market(I think, not too sure.) Are you planning to do that yourself(sorry I don't know the apple market ^^)? Would be really interesting to see a little blog about how well you do with that, being a "programmer" myself(well I'm going to study soon but I'm not there yet, just doing everything myself) I'm always very curious about how well others do.
Also:
Why do you need a MacBook Pro to make iOS apps? Can't you just use program with java on any hardware? I mean...is the iOS THAT closed? O_o'... Or is this some kind of editor stuff you are using?
The monetizing aspect of it is really interesting.... I just put the price, people buy, and Apple pays me at the end of each month. Unless it's a really popular app, it's not worth NOT having a job (eg. Tiny Wings has, iirc, sold millions, so that guy can literally retire now, but me, not so much... yet).
The Mac is required if you want to use Xcode and do everything "correctly". Yes you can probably (actually im 99.99% sure you can) develop on a PC, but I just wanted to make sure when it came time to submit, ours didn't get declined due to it not be legitimate or whatever... The language is Objective-C, Android is in Java, and yes I'm pretty good with Java too so I might look into that next year.
On October 15 2011 23:38 nVusPip wrote:
Wow I read it all and what stood out the most for me was your father, man big props to both of you.
Ya, he's a really cool guy. Always has been and hopefully always will be supportive of us (me + 2 siblings).
On October 15 2011 21:35 dartoo wrote:
I've been dabbling with some windows phone development as it's a platform I know from work (plus I dont have a mac :D), quite interesting.
Do you do the artwork yourself? The toughest parts for me are the artwork, cause I never really cared for art, and now it's biting me. The other bit is sound, but then there are tone of free sound sites on the net, you just need to read the license info carefully, but then mashing together free sounds doesnt really feel consistent at all times.
Agree with loser777, how are they being kind ? :p
Artwork myself, yes. I took Comp Apps (basically excel, photoshop, indesign, all in 1 class) in 9th grade, and I got photoshop on my main computer during that same year. Almost everyday I use it to make some really cool (to me at least) looking stuff. However, I still wish I could make some REALLY cool stuff like these:
+ Show Spoiler [7 images] +
As for sound, I use FL Studio as well as my friend's guitar. I should probably get a hold of a better solution (aka, my OTHER friend who's in a band and almost always works with recording audio stuff and what-not).
How is Apple being kind? I don't really know, I guess I just chose the wrong word. I guess I was thinking along the lines of: I'm not really a company, but I can sign up with Apple that I am. I can still makes apps and still get paid just the same. Especially being by myself at a really young age (compared to companies with actual employees). However, Microsoft and Google both allow it, so it's not unique to Apple (which is probably why some of you are confused, and now I agree with you, hehe).
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