Dec 17th Newsletter thoughts

Solar2D Daily Builds and Public Releases
#1

FIRST OF ALL - I have no insider information or knowledge of upcoming features.

In the first bullet point topic in the Dec 17th 2010 newsletter entitled Big announcements coming soon, they mention that “we believe they will open up mobile development to an even larger market”. In my opinion this sounds like we may be getting a GRAPHICAL DEVELOPMENT INTERFACE akin to GameSalad!

If you think about it for a moment, it really makes sense. There has been a huge migration of GameSalad users to Corona, but there are still a LOT of people out there that would love to enter the mobile gaming arena who simply can’t write code or don’t have the time. Corona already has a pretty impressive feature list so adding a GDI (I’m sure there’s a proper term for this, I just can’t think of it at the moment), makes it an insanely powerful product, and a hugely competitive development tool for mobile games.

When I first started using Corona, I recall reading something about a GDI being considered (maybe even in development) although I can’t recall if it was in the roadmap or mentioned in the forums.

Another thing mentioned in the newsletter is premium support. I’d like to throw in my idea of how I envision this working. I don’t expect we’ll get a dedicated support representative or even a support phone number. We’ll most likely get a support email address (or a form on the Ansca site) with an SLA. Obviously, our biggest concern as customers, is price - how much will they charge for this premium service. From a business standpoint they need to price it high enough to pay for the resources they are dedicating in order to meet the SLA’s. From a consumer standpoint, it needs to be low enough to justify it as a business expense. These 2 standpoints conflict with each other. If they charge $40 - $50 per month and a lot of people sign up - the chances of Ansca meeting a 4 hour SLA is slim to none.

My proposal is to make various SLA’s. I’m just throwing these numbers out there…
$25/month gets a 60 hour SLA
$50/month gets a 48 hour SLA
$100/month gets a 24 hour SLA
$199/month gets a 4 hour SLA
$299/month gets a 1 hour SLA with 15 minute response time

Just for the record - a 60 hour SLA doesn’t mean that you will get a resolution in 60 hours (you may get a resolution in 6 hours) it just means that they have UP TO 60 hours to close your ticket.

Any thoughts on the GDI or premium support?

Dave

[import]uid: 8194 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 304557[/import]

#2

I’m guessing that one of the “two major product announcements” is CPM integration, or a CPM-like interface. :wink: [import]uid: 10248 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14372[/import]

#3

I think the additions will be

  1. Time travel
  2. The answer to whether the light goes out when you close the fridge door. [import]uid: 9371 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14377[/import]
#4

I definitely agree with dweezil.

Although dweezil, I personally have the answer to question #2. If I told you, I’d have to kill you, sorry. [import]uid: 4196 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14383[/import]

#5

I don’t see a graphical interface ala GameSalad coming any time soon to be honest. And while it would certainly be nice, there are far more pressing features to be added. Plus if it results in degraded performance you can forget it.

I’m really interested in premium support. Can’t wait to find out how it will work. Also it would be nice to be able to get it at the relevant times in your development cycle. When I’m in the middle I have no need for super fast responses, but when I’m nearing submission you bet I do. [import]uid: 10835 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14385[/import]

#6

I totally agree with IgnacioIturra that there are more important features that need to be added. Some of those are already listed elsewhere in the newsletter or in Carlos’ upcoming features post.

What I was referring to is the first bullet point in the newsletter that specifically indicates a feature that will “open up mobile development to an even larger market”. Although In-App purchases, in my opinion, is more important than a graphical interface, I don’t think that generally exposes Corona to a larger market.

So what else can fall into this category - “open up mobile development to an even larger market”?

  • A Windows/Linux SDK

  • Native iPhone UI elements (since currently Corona is mostly a game development SDK)

  • 3D support

  • Graphical Development Interface (for non-programmers)

  • Free SDK, free to publish but with profit sharing (like GameSalad)

  • Ability to publish to additional platforms - Mac/PC Games, Windows 7, DS, XBox, PS3, etc

Those are some of the game changers that open Corona to a larger market that I can think of off the top of my head.

Am I missing any?

[import]uid: 8194 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14389[/import]

#7

Uhhhh I know I know what it is ! but am not telling !

:slight_smile:

It is so awesome to see this… You guys really know your conspiracy theories… Yeah baby !

I am keeping an internal tally to see who will be closest to the ‘big announcement’

carlos
[import]uid: 24 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14395[/import]

#8

Is there a prize? :stuck_out_tongue: [import]uid: 8194 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14399[/import]

#9

Your very own

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLe7eGnSbJU&feature=related

c [import]uid: 24 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14402[/import]

#10

@dknell, GS dropped the profit sharing model for their free product. They are reserving that for apps that are selected to be published and actively marketed by GS (which it seems will be the minority). [import]uid: 10248 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14403[/import]

#11

Thanks BarkBark,

I must’ve missed that. I didn’t mean for that to be misleading. [import]uid: 8194 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14406[/import]

#12

My guess to bullet one would be the ability to output for the new Windows mobile platform, and probably the ability to develop under Windows.

My hope is that I’m wrong on at least one of the guesses, and that it’s actually the ability to generate for the Mac desktop platform, so one Corona app could be tweaked for both Apple stores.

– Walt Sterdan [import]uid: 4329 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14447[/import]

#13

My pick for the big two announcements:

  1. GUI Builder
    With Ansca’s Flash development pedigree I would expect nothing else

  2. Full Suite of Native UI Components
    With a GUI builder it would make sense to have native objects.

Since Carlos mentioned “conspiracy theories” it’s making me wonder if they might drop a bomb-shell and introduce Wiki-Leaks integration.

hmmm… Rereading that last line, I wonder how many Google hits thats going to get. [import]uid: 11393 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14461[/import]

#14

My guess:

Jan 6, 2011, 1am PST. Mac App. store opens for business.

Jan 6, 2011, 10am PST. Ansca Press Release, linked to from the Mac App. Store, announcing that Corona can be used to develop apps simultaneously for iPhone, iPad, and now for Mac desktop and laptop PCs. [import]uid: 9422 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14476[/import]

#15

My take on the conspiracy theories…

Steve & Carlos walk on stage together and introduce the new Corona owned & supported by Apple…

How about that! Now top that if you can… :slight_smile: [import]uid: 11904 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14498[/import]

#16

i got some coolwhip [import]uid: 7911 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14524[/import]

#17

My guess…

3rd party marketplace for Android Apps & Publishing to Mac App Store… :wink: [import]uid: 10478 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14528[/import]

#18

i know now but im not telling [import]uid: 7911 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14536[/import]

#19

I don’t know, but if someone tells me I promise I’ll keep it to myself! :slight_smile:

Jay [import]uid: 9440 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14557[/import]

#20

Depends on which market you look at. ANSCA’s market or our markets. I know about one but I am not telling :stuck_out_tongue:

OSX support would be awesome. But like someone said before, I would prefer pushing the already available features more and bring them also to Android. Like Openfeint for an example.

Anyway, I am busy like hell so time will fly by till that date. [import]uid: 5712 topic_id: 4557 reply_id: 14607[/import]