Osmos for iPad: the beta begins (and what about iPhone?)

Posted by on Jun 12, 2010 in iPhone/iPad, Osmos | 9 Comments

For the lucky folks out there with an iPad, we’ll skip the foreplay and jump straight to the gist: the beta is starting and we’re looking for players (both new and old) to test it out! If you’re interested, send us an email at webmaster@[this domain].com.

ipad_menu

Some of you may be thinking “What, no iPhone version?” Not to worry, it’s coming. Here’s the scoop:

About six months ago, Aaron – who had just finished a great job on the Mac port – began work on the iPhone version of Osmos. To be honest, we weren’t sure it would “fit”. Would the iPhone be powerful enough to simulate and render everything? How would Osmos feel and play with multitouch controls? Would it be fun and playable on “such a small screen”? Aaron decided to jump in and find out.

Over the next couple of months, he confronted and solved all the technical problems: new Objective-C core and wrappers, check; conversion to OpenGL ES, check; sound (streaming, pitch shifting, etc.), check; multitouch controls, check! We knew there was still redesign work ahead, but our initial impressions were really positive: yes, Osmos would work very nicely on the iPhone.

And then a funny thing happened. Apple’s rumoured new tablet became a reality — and it was hot. We decided to get one, but unfortunately they were so hot we couldn’t get our hands on one for months! So we continued with the iPhone redesign: new game structure, new menus, more levels, difficulty curve smoothed out, everything tweaked for the screen size and processing power of the device. It was a lot of work, but everything was falling beautifully into place. A few weeks ago, we were 95% done — and very happy with the results.

That’s when we got our iPad. (Finally, on the international release. Oh, Canada.) Aaron had been preparing for it on the simulator, and it only took him a few hours to get Osmos up and running on the device. There were issues at first (more on that in another post), but overall: wow! We were really excited and impressed. At that moment we knew we had to release the iPad version first — kind of like when Butch Coolidge (the character played by Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction), chainsaw in hand, sees the katana. An obvious choice.

So, while we promise to release the iPhone version of Osmos (which still rocks!) soon — up next: iPad! Get’cher beta! :)

9 Comments

  1. Cameron
    June 15, 2010

    Hey Eddie, I’m the one who briefly talked to you over Steam under the account “The Bat Outta Hell”. I’d love to test the iPod version once it goes beta, let me know once it does under my email listed. I’ve beta tested over 20 iPhone games, so yes I have experience =)

    Thanks.

  2. Osmos headed to iPhone/iPad | iGame Radio
    June 21, 2010

    […] the process of bringing their award-winning game, Osmos, to the iPhone and iPad. According to the blog post, as soon as they had completed the Mac port they began porting the game to the iPhone six months […]

  3. eddybox
    June 23, 2010

    Update: the beta is over and we’re about to submit “Osmos HD” to the App Store! Big thanks to everyone who helped us out. :)

  4. Abhi S.
    June 24, 2010

    Do I spy OpenFeint with my little eye? :)

    I’m wondering whether to buy the iPhone or PC version. PC = big-screen, optimized-control fun. iPhone = portable fun.

    Alternatively, it would be great if the “platform-independent license” deal also worked for the App Store through promo codes… :)

  5. Erona
    June 25, 2010

    Ahhh! So excited to get this for my iPad! Believe it or not, Osmos was one of the deciding factors in getting one once I heard it was in development. You guys are great :)

  6. Cobbity
    July 9, 2010

    fantastic to see! Is there any chance of any of the Amanita games coming to the world of Ipad?

  7. SAP
    July 10, 2010

    Please make sure that the iphone4 version supports the retina display :)

    Make it an universal app at best :D

  8. Ataru
    July 10, 2010

    Looking forward to the iPhone version, and I sincerely hope it will be a Universal app. I have an iPad as well, but I very rarely buy iPad only apps as I use my iPhone more for gaming. It’s very nice to have the option though, and Universal apps give me that without forcing me to buy the same app twice. (which I have to say, really feels like a scam)

    Please support the iPhone 4’s retina display too. As with Universal support, retina display is one of those things which can tip me over the edge with an app and convince me to buy.

  9. NamnblveAndreas
    February 24, 2012

    Jag