Where to Start on Story Book App

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

Hi guys, I had been searching for an SDK to develop a story book app for few weeks now, then I come down to this awesome place now. I would really like to know where to get started to create a Story Book app that has the following features:

  • "Read to Me" : listen to the narrated story with words highlighted as they are read
  • "Read it Myself" : read the book in its traditional form.
  • "Auto Play" : plays like a movie, automatically reading and turning pages.
  • Zoom in and out on the section of the pages.

For example, the storybook app by Oceanhouse Media’s “All By Myself - Little Critter” storybook app.

Is Corona the right SDK for me to implement this Story Book app? As I had been doing only back-end programming with Java for enterprise system and not much game programming.
Thanks in advance. [import]uid: 138950 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 324688[/import]

#2

Corona would be a great choice for this; a developer I know recently made an app/book like this.

Certainly something you co do in Corona :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 100055[/import]

#3

Thanks, do you mind giving pointers on how to do this in Corona?

  • “Read to Me” : listen to the narrated story with words highlighted as they are read
  • “Auto Play” : plays like a movie, automatically reading and turning pages.
  • Zoom in and out on the section of the pages.
    Cheers. [import]uid: 138950 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 100072[/import]
#4

Take a look at http://learningcorona.com - one of the first things to learn about would be either Director or Storyboard as these are what you would use to make multiple “scenes” or “scenes”. (Presumably one per page.)

We have samples for zooming in the code exchange, so take a look there for that part.

You’ll also want to check out the audio docs or any basic audio tutorial from the site mentioned above (possible Corona For Newbies Part 2).

That will give you some basics that will let you move forward.

Peach :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 100255[/import]

#5

Awesome tips Peach, definitely getting Corona SDK once get over the learning curve!
Cheers. [import]uid: 138950 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 100306[/import]

#6

You check check also http://www.kwiksher.com - you can do your work without any code, directly from Photoshop and Kwik will create the code for you.
Alex [import]uid: 4883 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 100315[/import]

#7

Oooh, yes - Alex mentions Kwik which is very popular, I’ve seen some nice projects created with it. Certainly worth a look :slight_smile:

The learning curve might feel steep at first but trust me, after a little you will have this “uh huh!” moment where things start just clicking.

Peach :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 100384[/import]

#8

Thanks Alex for the tip, wish they had provided the trial version of kwiksher, though.

Yup Peach, hopefully I will get to that “uh huh!” moment soon!
Cheers. [import]uid: 138950 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 100479[/import]

#9

FreeDevz, I didn’t understand what you mean by “wish they had provided the trial version”.

Kwik (the product) is free for trial projects (2 pages max)since its launch in May, 2011. Also, it is included with Corona bits since last year.

Check the site (especially the blog) and you will see several apps made with the plugin (some of them being Ansca’s app of the week/month.

if you use Photoshop CS5 or above, it is a no brainer.
Alex [import]uid: 4883 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 100577[/import]

#10

Thanks for the generous advice Alex!! Just realized there is kwik under “Corona SDK\Tools\Kwik”!! =)

Yup, I notice in the samples that Kwik is using Director class as well.

I am working on integrating page curl from Jonathan Beebe’s tutorial on http://blog.anscamobile.com/2011/12/how-to-create-a-page-curl-in-corona/" to the Director class, so it just doesn’t move onSwipe, but play the page curl animation too onSwipe.

Kwik is now on my target list as well! That is one productive tool. =) [import]uid: 138950 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 100708[/import]

#11

Hi Alex, I just tried kwiksher trial version with the samples from http://www.kwiksher.com/learn.html , tried all Candice, Magazine and cats projects.

Sadly when I was trying to preview, the exporting process seems to just hang up there and not moving forward anymore.

Checking the Cats.log :

PJ001 - Creating folders  
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* -   
  
Initializing the Lua code for page cats - Creating header at Sat Apr 21 2012 15:24:53 GMT+1000  
Setting images and audio folders - /build/ and /build/  
Preparing page (1) for export - Verifying settings  
Checking for multi-language settings  
Creating multi-language selection  
Creating table with multi-language layers  
Adding in-app purchase code - Entering list of products  
Setting readMe audio - Working on correct variables

I am using WinXP and Photoshop CS5 Extended version 12.0

Any idea on this? [import]uid: 138950 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 102373[/import]

#12

FreeDevz,

I am rebuilding the entire site with new demos and tutorials. The current demos are old, some of them do not have all the project files (videos and/or audio), and since Cats, many things have changed in Kwik (meaning some demos are not compatible). They were published there when their respective versions were launched.

The reason I keep them there (before the new site arrives) is mostly to show people some tricks while designing.

Like any software, Kwik has an initial learning curve. I suggest you to start with the basics: play with simple shapes, then move on more complex projects.

For the next questions, please use the Kwiksher Forums (www.kwiksher.com/forums) - i don’t use Ansca’s for Kwik related questions.

Let me know if you have further questions and keep your eyes in our blog as well. Lots of good tips from fellow, published, users.

Alex

[import]uid: 4883 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 102416[/import]

#13

Tried to post questions there as I am having same problem as this guy, http://kwiksher.com/forums/index.php?topic=276.0

But I am still waiting for my registration to be approved. =(
Cheers. [import]uid: 138950 topic_id: 24688 reply_id: 102428[/import]