- Version upgrades
- Custom software development
- Tracking down difficult bugs
- Mobile application development on Android and iOS in VisualWorks Smalltalk
- Instructor-led Training
- Introduction to Smalltalk
- Advanced VisualWorks Topics
- Design Patterns
- Improving Object Oriented Design
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Smalltalk contract work
Looking forward, I'll have some time available between now and the end of the year to take on other projects. If anyone is interested in contracting some work to Simberon let me know. Simberon specializes in Smalltalk software development (VisualWorks, ObjectStudio, VA Smalltalk and GemStone). Services include:
Sea Turtle Rescue
I've been a bit quiet about my game recently. It's not because I'm not working on it - I am. It's that I'm changing the game around so much that I have to get my head around it.
I'm in the process of transforming the game to a new theme and new title. I've hired an animator and graphics artist to do artwork for me.
The new game will be "Sea Turtle Rescue". The goal of each level of the game is to hatch sea turtle eggs and guide the sea turtles into the ocean. The basic mechanics will be the same as HexSolve but the graphics and animation will all change.
Tiles in the board will become tiles covered with sand. The target will become a sea turtle egg. When you make a sequence (a path) from 1 up to the tile with the egg, the egg will hatch and a sea turtle will emerge. The sea turtle will shuffle down the path you built (in reverse order: eg. 4, 3, 2, 1) until it gets to the 1 tile where it will drop into the ocean below.
I'll be adding sound and music to the game to add an extra ambiance.
I like the new theme much more than the strict mechanical puzzle theme of HexSolve. It gives a nice purpose for the game and an interesting theme. I'll try to keep you posted as we make progress.
I'm in the process of transforming the game to a new theme and new title. I've hired an animator and graphics artist to do artwork for me.
The new game will be "Sea Turtle Rescue". The goal of each level of the game is to hatch sea turtle eggs and guide the sea turtles into the ocean. The basic mechanics will be the same as HexSolve but the graphics and animation will all change.
I'll be adding sound and music to the game to add an extra ambiance.
I like the new theme much more than the strict mechanical puzzle theme of HexSolve. It gives a nice purpose for the game and an interesting theme. I'll try to keep you posted as we make progress.
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Native development of mobile games
When I tell people that I'm developing mobile games in VisualWorks Smalltalk, they often look at me quizzically and ask why. It's hard to explain the advantages of using Smalltalk when the game needs to run on a mobile device with only a serial interface connected to my own low-level debugger.
I've now broken through that barrier. I can now run the code natively in a VisualWorks development environment.
This is my game running inside a VisualWorks window on a Windows 10 laptop. The Smalltalk code is virtually identical to the Smalltalk code that runs on the mobile device. The only differences are in the low-level interfaces to the file system, the FreeType library and OpenGL.
This is a game changer for me. I now have access to the full Smalltalk development environment including the inspectors, the debugger, condition breakpoints and the ability to change code while the game is running.
Now I feel like my decision to use Smalltalk will pay off in spades.
I've now broken through that barrier. I can now run the code natively in a VisualWorks development environment.
This is my game running inside a VisualWorks window on a Windows 10 laptop. The Smalltalk code is virtually identical to the Smalltalk code that runs on the mobile device. The only differences are in the low-level interfaces to the file system, the FreeType library and OpenGL.
This is a game changer for me. I now have access to the full Smalltalk development environment including the inspectors, the debugger, condition breakpoints and the ability to change code while the game is running.
Now I feel like my decision to use Smalltalk will pay off in spades.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
HexSolve Puzzle Game
Your challenge is to slide tiles around a hexagonal board and create numbered chains. End the chain with target tiles to advance to the next level. Make chains too early and you can get stuck. With over 200 levels from Easy to Wicked, you will find this game challenging yet satisfying. How far can you get before you meet your match?
Available on the App Store and on Google Play.
For more details, visit http://www.simberon.com/HexSolve
Available on the App Store and on Google Play.
For more details, visit http://www.simberon.com/HexSolve
Monday, April 2, 2018
HexSolve Puzzle Game for iOS and Android
Simberon is proud to announce the release of the HexSolve Puzzle Game for iOS and Android. You can download them on the App Store and on Google Play.
HexSolve challenges you to create chains of tiles on order to make special "target" tiles advance. As you swipe the screen in one of 6 directions (left, right, up-left, up-right, down-left and down-right), all of the free tiles will move as far as they can in that direction.
At the end of the swipe, and chains of consecutive numbers starting at 1 are "combined". All the tiles except the highest number are removed and the highest number tile is advanced. If that tile was a target tile, the target is removed.
You finish the level when there are no more target tiles left on the board.
After the Tutorial level which guides you through the game's rules, you'll advance to higher levels including Easy, Challenging, Tough, Hard and Wicked.
You can play the game from start to end without making any purchases. In that case, you'll have a limited number of restarts per hour and you'll receive ads occasionally. If you want to eliminate the ads, get hints on how to solve levels, or get unlimited restarts, you can purchase those options from the Shop.
Download it now and have fun. If you can solve any Wicked level on your own, let me know. Those levels are really hard.
I'd love to hear any feedback you have by e-mailing hexsolve@simberon.com.
HexSolve challenges you to create chains of tiles on order to make special "target" tiles advance. As you swipe the screen in one of 6 directions (left, right, up-left, up-right, down-left and down-right), all of the free tiles will move as far as they can in that direction.
At the end of the swipe, and chains of consecutive numbers starting at 1 are "combined". All the tiles except the highest number are removed and the highest number tile is advanced. If that tile was a target tile, the target is removed.
You finish the level when there are no more target tiles left on the board.
After the Tutorial level which guides you through the game's rules, you'll advance to higher levels including Easy, Challenging, Tough, Hard and Wicked.
You can play the game from start to end without making any purchases. In that case, you'll have a limited number of restarts per hour and you'll receive ads occasionally. If you want to eliminate the ads, get hints on how to solve levels, or get unlimited restarts, you can purchase those options from the Shop.
Download it now and have fun. If you can solve any Wicked level on your own, let me know. Those levels are really hard.
I'd love to hear any feedback you have by e-mailing hexsolve@simberon.com.