GoogHacks Lite v1.2 Released!

I just made a few minor modifications to GoogHacks Lite and released them with GoogHacks Lite v1.2! I added an Image search due to some feedback suggesting I go ahead and do it, modified the eBooks search so that it was more effective, and fixed a few minor errors that have been reported. Let that be a lesson to anyone that's interested in anything new being available in the GoogHacks app: I do read my comments and make changes accordingly.

Download GoogHacks Lite v1.2

Screenshots - Updates

Hello everyone! I apologize, I haven't posted anything in over three weeks! No worries, though, I'm still here and steadily working on my first game! (Which is going, eh, okay) The ball is rolling slowly, but I'm going to give out a few screenshots of how it looks now (with my crappy, ten-minute-drawn pixel graphics). Obviously the game won't appear this way when I'm finished, but here are some shots:






It's not much, but as time passes it should be a really fun game to play -- very Spore-like in that you grow, evolve as you eat, and customize when you evolve, but mobile, of course, and centered around just your creature's life and not so much the species as a whole. We're throwing around ideas for mini-games, resource gathering (not in space), boss battles... Anyway, there's a little sneak preview at super-early development. I will try to post something else soon.

Game Under Development

Great news! I am officially building an Android game! The concept is both original and addictive -- at this point it's probably not a good idea to give you much more than this, but I will say that it will be very like certain creature-building games mixed with mini-games and other fun aspects that I love in flash games. There's more good news though! I've officially added another member to the team and he will be helping me with the development process from beginning to end; we're also very likely going to pull an artist into the mix as the code begins to come together (because my graphic-design skills are flaky at best)! Anyway, our newest member is going to head up the concept development and play-ability portions of the team, but for now will just be focusing on this one game; don't want to crush the newbie in work. Well, everyone enjoy the rest of their weekend, I'm gonna get back to hacking this thing out.

Small Tweaks

Should release an update to GoogHacks Lite soon that will tweak a few things. Namely my tips screen can be a little annoying to get rid of on smaller screens. Other than that, I'm just trooping along with my art app, but still not ready to release a beta version. I should be working on the Premium version of GoogHacks, but I'm a bit of an art nerd so it hasn't happened yet. Also, hopefully going to add a new developer to the team today and begin working on an android game! Something simple, but addictive, of course, but we'll see how that goes. 

Look for an update soon!

GoogHacks Lite v1.1 Released!

I just released GoogHacks version 1.1 to the Android App Market!

Here's what's new:

• How-to & Tips Info Added - Had a comment about some confusion on how to download, so I figured a nice How-to/Tips window at the initial installation would be helpful.
• Menu Added (not an ActionBar) - I added a simple menu for accessing a couple of things people may be interested in using.
• Info Button Added - Put this in the menu so you can review it if you're having trouble locating files.
• Blog Button Added - Links you directly to my main page! Nothing better than staying up to date on the latest apps!
• Rate Me Button Added - Only one lonely fellow has rated me as of this post... Seems kind of slim for 200 installs, so I put a market link in the menu as well.

I'm getting pretty hyped up about how well GoogHacks is doing. I've been averaging about 20 installs a day since Christmas, which means word is getting out there. If the word keeps spreading and this app really starts getting some attention you can look forward to some frequent updates and some of those powerful tools I've been talking about. Hope everyone that's reading this is enjoying my app. Don't forget to rate my app if you like it or have a suggestion for me! Thanks!

PC Link: GoogHacks Lite v1.1

Android Link: GoogHacks Lite v1.1

Keeping You Posted

You will have to forgive the radio-silence for a while -- I'm focused and I want to get the base art app out quickly. This is just a quick update to let you know I'm here and working. GoogHacks continues to do well for a baby app; I've had some good feedback on the forums (but no comments, guess I need to build a link in-app) but at the moment I am focused on the art app. I have implemented a functional bucket, but it isn't perfect - either its 100% effective and too slow, or 90% effective and fast. Considering art is about blending and working with the tools you have (at least for myself) I am going with 90% effective and fast until further notice. I've moved on to creating an alpha interface, and may dabble in a few other tools including opening images, but then I'm going to build the undo process and start into creating a layering interface... The interface will need a seismic overhaul because, to me, an art app should be all about shortcut keys and speed when it comes to accessing the tools you need. I'm excited and working hard. Hope everyone has a great Christmas/Holiday season.

Additional Update:

• Finally figured out what was glitching the floodFill algorithm (Color Fill) YEAH!
• Tweaked Brush Size interface to be Brush Settings interface
• Added opacity to the Brush Settings interface
• Added antialias and dither checkboxes to Brush Settings interface
• Fixed error with Brush Settings interface
• Removed color tolerance until further notice (too giltchy)
• Began work on Open Image option
• Tweaked Undo/Redo a little to prepare for full integration (still not functional)
• Getting excited about Christmas (hohoho)

Art App Update

So the "art app lite" release deadline has come and gone with no release, but all is not lost! I've made great progress with the Fill Bucket tool, which is really a huge obstacle, apparently, but I'm toughing it out and looking for an algorithm that works. I won't get too technical here, but basically at the moment it works great, but the memory is getting full before the app can catch up to perform certain actions (We in the dev. world call that a "stack overflow"). I'm a problem-solver, though, and considering how far I've come in so little time I am not concerned about it. So you can update Fill Bucket to: Structure Built. Yay!

While I'm here, I might as well tout that Googhacks Lite is still doing well! Check it out when you have some free-time. Also, good news: not only are real live people coming to this blog, but they are also reading it! (Or pulling it up and letting it sit there for 20 minutes.) I like readers. Hello reader.

Enough play-time, back to work!

Android Only: Direct Link to download GoogHacks Lite

Quick Update:
I didn't feel this warranted an actual post, but it is some really big news. The Fill Bucket tool project is a success! I have a few, minor glitches I need to work out to fill in the gaps, but it is running surprisingly fast even on the slower processors! The great thing? Thus far the build is compatible with all Android 1.6+ devices! Give me another few days and I may feel comfortable releasing a new deadline for my new Lite app!