Research Group for Applied Software Engineering
Forschungsgruppe für Angewandte Softwaretechnik

Seminar Games Development with iOS (WS13/14) - Results

Goals

The seminar is a programming course for students who want to learn games development for iOS. In the first week, they learn basic concepts in Xcode and Objective-C in interactive tutorials as well as more advanced concepts of Cocoa Touch and games development, using Apple's new framework SpriteKit.

In the second week, teams of two students develop their first iOS game. The goal is to develop an AppStore ready game with the main features implemented and well tested. On the last day, the teams present their game idea in a Pecha Kucha presentation and demonstrate their game to all other students in the seminar.

In this semester, 11 teams published their game after the course into the iOS AppStore. An overview of all games developed in the seminar can be found here

 

Supervisor

Stephan Krusche Barbara Reichart

Stephan Krusche

Barbara Reichart

 

Games Overview

The following games were developed during the seminar in the winter semester 2013/14. If you click on one of the games, you can see more details about it.

1 on 1 Soccer 1 on 1 Soccer   Calc(H)it Calc(H)it   Defense Wars Forest Defense   fastroad Fast Road   hexedrez Hexedrez  
hitthefruits Hit The Fruits   jumpyjump Space Jump Monkey   mazyescape Mazy Escape   nop No Operation   projectneon Project Neon  
spinsane Spinsane   tardis Tardis   tomato Tomato Splash   trikon Trikon        

 

1 on 1 Soccer

Overview

1on1 Soccer is a multiplayer soccer game for Ipad, which can be played against a friend on the same device via Splittscreen. To score a point you have to move your characters via Touch Gestures against the ball to carry it in the opponent’s goal. Furthermore we enlarged the width of the scene to provide a more tactical gameplay.

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/1on1-soccer!/id747647899

Features

  • iPad Game
  • Move your player to score a goal

Technologies

  • SpriteKit
  • Particle Effects

Team

Thomas Krex

Chen Wenwen

Screenshots

Menu Game Tutorial Game

 

Calc(H)it

Overview

The basic idea was to develop a game where the player needs to combine his mental capabilities with his reaction skills. Based on this idea the player must solve mathematical equations in a limited amount of time. Mathematical terms (e.g. “3+2” compare figure below)) are contained by bubbles, which are flying over the screen. In combination with a given solution (e.g. “=5”)that is displayed at a fixed location, the bubbles form a complete mathematical equation.

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/calc-h-it/id743864902

Features

  • iPad Game
  • Hit the bubble with the right term that matches the solution

Technologies

  • Core Motion
  • SpriteKit

Team

Ralf Glawe Andreas Hofbauer

Ralf Glawe

Andreas Hofbauer

Screenshots

Main game scene 10 in a row
Main game scene 10 in a row

 

Forest Defense!

Overview

Forest Defense is a casual defense game. You have to do, what the title of the game says: Defend the forest! Evil humans assault your forest with monstrous diggers. You can choose between being a swift, determined Bunny or a big, strong Teddy.  Both have different weapons to protect their home against the diggers.

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/forest-defense!/id757811482

Features

  • iPad Game
  • Move and fire your weapons to defend the forest

Technologies

  • Sprite Kit
  • Persistent Plisits

Team

Nicolaos Tzioras Roman Maier

Nikolaos Tzioras

Roman Maier

Screenshots

Tutorial 1 Tutorial 2 Tutorial 3 Store
Tutorial 1 Tutorial 2 Tutorial 3 Store

 

Fast Road

Overview

FastRoad Game is a game for car race lovers. To succeed you need to try not to collide with the traffic. He scores by not colliding to the traffic. In the beginning traffic would be slow but gradually number of vehicles coming from the other direction would increase in numbers as well as their speed would increase. So, it becomes a challenge for the player to deal it tactfully and set the high score for others and invite their friends to beat them. 

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/fast-road/id747617915

Features

  • iPhone/iPad Game
  • Move your car to avoid collisions

Technologies

  • Sprite Kit

Team

Fabian Isele Shakti Saxena

Fabian Isele

Shatki Saxena

Screenshots

Launch Screen Swipe to move Game Over
Launch Screen Gameplay Jump over holes

 

Hexedrez

Overview

Hexedrez is a turn-based board game. Its name is a combination of “hexagon”and “ajedrez” (spanish for chess). Two players each command a little army of different units, playing in alternating turns on the same device. In each turn, a player can move one unit for either switching position or attacking another unit. The game takes place on a hexagonal board with different possible sizes and random-generated maps. For winning the game, you have to defeat all units of the other player.

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/hexedrez/id743794616

Features

  • iPad-Boardgame
  • Attack the opponents units

Team

Maximilian Tharr Paul Tolstoi

Maximilian Tharr

Paul Tolstoi

Screenshots

Hexedrez Noah's 20
Menu Catch each animal twice Game Over

 

Hit The Fruits

Overview

Simple, Easy to Play but Addictive are the main motivation to develop this game. This is like popular BREAK OUT game with natural juicy flavor. Easy to play and re-known so player will be addicted to play again and again. Game scene is not static, types of fruits and number of fruits is different every time. Player will get three extra balls and can play maximum 5 minutes. So player will not get bored. Main concept of this game are easy to play, funny, addictive and juicy natural flavor in game world. 

Features

  • iPhone Game
  • Hit the fruits with balls

Technologies

  • Sprite Kit
  • Storyboarding
  • Physics Effects
  • Core Animation
  • Game Center

Team

Anamika Chowdhurry Moinul Islam

Anamika Chowdhurry

Moinul Islam

Screenshots

Hit The Fruits Hit The Fruits Hit The Fruits
Gameplay Game Paused Won Game

 

Space Jump Monkey

Overview

The primary goal of the game ”Jumpy Jump” is to keep the player, “Space Monkey” alive and achieve the maximum score (height and points). The player moves upwards when the gamer taps on the player on the screen. The gamer has to keep tapping accordingly to keep the player from hitting the bottom in which case the game ends.  The direction of the thrust is dependent on the relative distance between the tap and the player’s center. The gamer can also use the tilt input to move the player sideways to collect points and evade rock enemies. The gameplay is all about timing and precision. Rocks are the enemies. The player needs to avoid making contact with the rocks. In case of collision between the player and the enemy, the player is hurt. The player can at most have three contacts (three lives) with the enemy after which the player dies and the game ends. The player can also collect points during the gameplay. Every fruits collected adds points to the scoreboard. Based on the type of fruit collected, points are added to the scoreboard.

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/space-jumpy-monkey/id757811530

Features

  • iPad Game
  • Tap the screen to keep the monkey flying
  • Avoid the rocks

Technologies

  • Core Motion
  • SpriteKit

Team

Adrian Haarbach Rishigesh Murugesh

Adrian Haarbach

Rishigesh Murugesh

Screenshots

Space Jump Monkey Space Jump Monkey Space Jump Monkey Space Jump Monkey
Gameplay 1 Gameplay 2 Gameplay 3 New Record

 

Mazy Escape

Overview

“The Mazy Escape” is an adaptation of the classic dexterity game “Labyrinth” to the iPad. In the game the device becomes a board that the player tilts in order to control the movement of a ball and help it escape from a maze.

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/the-mazy-escape/id743861902

Features

  • iPad Game
  • Tilt your device to get the ball out of the maze

Technologies

  • SpriteKit
  • Core Motion
  • Persistent Plists

Team

Artur Grunau Emilia Markovska

Artur Grunau

Emilia Markovska

Screenshots

The Mazy Escape The Mazy Escape The Mazy Escape
Menu Level Selection Gameplay

 

No Operation

Overview

No Operation is our take on the Twin-Stick Shooter Genre. You control an aircraft and have to survive as long as possible. Because it would be not comfortable to hold the iPad in the required position we planed the game for iPhone only. To have enough space for the dual joysticks we locked the game orientation to landscape mode. Therefore the player is moving from left to right. The movement is simulated with a scrolling background. Enemies spawn in a random pattern and fly from right to the left. The core mechanic to keep players interested is a complex upgrade system. The player starts with a basic aircraft, which doesn't survive very long. To ensure a play time limit we also implemented a fuel system, which can be upgraded. Additional a lot of statistics are presented to the player. To round things up we included Game Center support for different leaderboards.

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/no-operation/id723705847

Features

  • iPhone/iPad Game
  • Fight the enemies with your weapons

Technologies

  • SpriteKit
  • Game Center
  • Persistent Plists

Team

Andreas Reiser Benjamin Schagerl

Andreas Reiser

Benjamin Schagerl

Screenshots

No Operation No Operation No Operation
Gameplay 1 Gameplay 2 Upgrade Store

 

Project Neon

Overview

Our idea was to create a fast paced mixture between a pinball game and a physics puzzle game like “Cut the rope”. Therefore we gave the player the ability to use a slider to apply impulses on a ball in order to destroy all bricks located on the screen. To make it more complex we added different obstacles with different abilities such as working as a force "eld or teleportation. Furthermore we designed everything in a nice looking neon environment to achieve an unique look. 

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/project-neon-free/id747600268

Features

  • iPhone/iPad Game
  • Accelerate the ball to destroy all the bricks
  • Don't let the ball get to the bottom of the screen

Technologies

  • Sprite Kit
  • Persistent Plists

Team

Julius Appelhagen Max Wandinger

Julius Appelhagen

Max Wandinger

Screenshots

Project Neon Project Neon Project Neon Project Neon
Gameplay 1 Gameplay 2 Gameplay 3 Menu

 

Spinsane

Overview

SpInsane is a single player puzzle game. The goal is to line up four or more items of the same color to collect points and achieve a high score. Every game has a duration of 90 seconds. The best 10 scores are saved in a high score list. The game board consists of four independent frames of sizes 9x9, 7x7, 5x5 and 3x3. The smaller structures are enclosed by the bigger squares and contain items, which can be moved around inside the frames.

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/spinsane/id740441657

Features

  • iPhone/iPad Game
  • Move the frames to get 4 or more identical shapes in a row
  • Score as much as you can in a limited amount of time

Technologies

  • SpriteKit
  • Persistent Plists

Team

Nadine Frankenberg Ulrich Konrad

Nadine Frankenberg

Ulrich Konrad

Screenshots

Spinsane Spinsane Spinsane
Menu Game is Starting
Gameplay

 

Tardis

Overview

Our game is a Space-shooter inspired by the BBC sci-fi TV series “Doctor Who”. It is a single player game where the player has to evade asteroids and escape and destroy enemies while travelling in space. A time machine which looks like a police box called Tardis represents the player. The Tardis is equipped with a weapon, which fires bullets at the obstacles to defend itself. The player controls the movement of the Tardis through space with the accelerometer in the device. Bullets are fired by touching anywhere on the screen. The obstacles are the Asteroids, which collide with the Tardis and cost life. The enemies are called Dalek’s and they have the capability to fire bullets just like the Tardis.The player receives points for every enemy and asteroid destroyed. Every player has three lives. A life is lost when the Tardis collides thrice with the Enemy or the Asteroid. Here are some images from the concept stage. 

Features

  • iPad Game
  • Avoid or destroy obstacles whilst traveling through space

Technologies

  • SpriteKit
  • Core Motion

Team

Abhijith Srinathan Nikanj Gupta

Abhijith Srinathan

Nikanj Gupta

Screenshots

Tardis Dash Tardis Tardis Tardis
Splash Screen Menu Gameplay 1 Gameplay 2 Game Over

 

Tomato Splash

Overview

Tomato Splash is a combination of strategy and action-game realized for the iPad. The player has to combine strategy, skill and quickness to win against the computer. The game scene consists of a divided field through the diagonal of the screen. On the top half are the enemies controlled by the AI. On the other half are the figures of the human player. The two teams fight against their opponents by throwing tomatoes on them. Every game figure resists only three tomato hits. After the player defeated all his enemies the level is completed and he can play the next with more enemies to fight against. Because it is not allow to throw tomatoes while walking the player has to think about a good strategy to come closer to the enemies for an easier and faster shooting, but not dying on that way.

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/tomato-splash/id747616490

Features

  • iPad Game
  • Fight the enemies by throwing tomatoes at them

Technologies

  • Storyboarding
  • SpriteKit
  • UIGestureRecognizer
  • Persistent Plists

Team

Benjamin Strobel Martin Schwörer

Benjamin Strobel

Martin Schwörer

Screenshots

Tomato Splash Tomato Splash Tomato Splash Tomato Splash Tomato Splash
Prepare for the next wave! Level Complete Gameplay 1 Gameplay 2 Menu

 

Trikon

Overview

Our goal in developing TRIcon was to create a fun game, with high replay value and immense addiction factor. In order to achieve this we came up with a simple concept. The player is controlling a ship via motion control which is driving along an unsecured, narrower getting, dynamically generated path over a deep abyss. Falling off the path results in Game Over while the distance the player traveled reflects in his highscore. In order to increase the complexity of this simple concept we implemented several PowerUps, which make immense influence on the gameplay. All this is accompanied by a minimalistic simple design that is simply fun to play with, giving the player all the info he needs in an intuitive way at the same time. 

The game was published to the iOS AppStore!

Download for free: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id740401213

Features

  • iPhone/iPad Game
  • Maneuver the ship along the path by tilting your device

Technologies

  • Core Motion
  • SpriteKit
  • Core Graphics
  • AVFoundation
  • Game Center

Team

Alexander Bielski Timm Beckmann

Alexander Bielski

Timm Beckmann

Screenshots

Trikon Trikon Whack A Squirrel 3D
Gameplay 1 Gameplay 2 Gameplay 3