When enabled, Cocos2d supports automatic loading of standard and Retina based images and textures based on whether the filename has a -hd suffix before the extension  (ie, MySpriteSheet-hd.png).  If the filename doesn’t contain a -hd, it will be treated as a “standard” resolution file.  In code, when loading a texture or image, you use a filename that does not include the -hd suffix.  Here’s an example of code to load a background image.  I have two versions of Background.png.  One named Background.png, and the other named Background-hd.png.  Cocos2d will automatically load the correct version based on whether or not the device has a Retina display or not.

// Add main background to scene
CGSize winSize = [CCDirector sharedDirector].winSize;
self...

After going through my various iPhone app ideas, I’ve finally decided on my next app.  It will be an “edu-tainment” app, designed for children in early elementary school.

I recently watched a Ted talk about “Re-engaging” boys in learning.  Having three boys of my own (3,4 and 6 years old), I feel it’s very important that they learn to love learning, and do so using any method available, including learning through gaming.

I’ve started the process of planning and designing a game that helps young kids learn math.  Now, there are a TON of run of the mill math apps out there (traditional flash card based apps), so I’m aiming to take it to the next level…  Stay tuned for updates as I progress in the design and development of this app.

After only two days sitting in the Apple approval queue, the update to Time ‘Til Ticket has been approved.  Download away!

An update to my first iPhone app, “Time ‘Til Ticket” has been submitted and is awaiting approval.

This update includes:

• A new look and feel, with support for Retina displays
• An improved algorithm for determining the time until your ticket is called.

Here’s a screen shot:

Time Til Ticket screen shot

Just a quick note to let my 20 or so users of Time ‘Til Ticket that an update is coming.  I know, not a huge user base…

I’ve updated the look of the app, fixed some bugs and switched to a better algorithm for determining the time between tickets.  The newer algorithm helps deal with large, irregular time differences between called numbers.

I’m just about done with these changes and should be submitting the update soon.

Well, soon after I started the new version of my site, I got insanely busy at my day job making it difficult to keep up with this site.

My industry has a trade show every fall called the Global Gaming Expo, or G2E.  Since my team was slammed with our currently scheduled games, I volunteered to do a game based on some new technology our company is developing.  The game was to be based on a very popular series of movies.

Since the trade show was only 8 weeks away, I ended up work 100+ hour weeks in order to get the game to a presentable state by the time the show started.  Well, I’m happy to say that I was able to get the game ready in time.  It, and some of the technology developed by my friend and coworker were a smash hit at the show...

Recently I partnered up with another developer and artist from work, and we set out to create an iPhone game.  We came up with a few ideas, mostly derived from other games we had previously played and loved.  No idea was solid, but some had promise.  We settled on one idea to start, and decided to run with it.  We each went separate ways to work on our portions of the game.  The artist was to develop concept art for the game and work on character development.  The other dev and myself were to determine which game engine was right for us and start prototyping some of the basic concepts in the game.

Determining the engine to use wasn’t too difficult.  Our game wasn’t going to be 3D, and after some research we quickly settled on Cocos2D as our engine of choice.

In my spare time away ...

Yes, this is the first post.  I plan on using this site to discuss software development, photography and anything else I find interesting.  I’ll also showcase some of the iPhone apps I’m working on, including concept and testing apps.