Category Archives: Development

Coffee Life

Seem to be getting better at this pixel art nonsense, art/ in game screenshot from my game Coffee Life being developed as part as #ColorJam0. Not sure if I’ll have a complete game by the end of the jam… but its all fun and games after all :D.

CoffeeLidf

Oh and this is the Colour Palette were restricted to for the jam XD… definitely makes the whole thing a bit more fun.

pallll

note: ignore aliasing… its supposed to be a 9X8 palette

Edit: The 7 day game jam version of the game can be played over at game jolt…

Play Coffee Life on GameJolt

 

PSVPAD – 1.2.1 ALPHA Update is here!?

Hello again,

Its definitely been a while since the last update so here you go…

for the newbies: 

This program allows you to use your vita as a game-pad for your PC. It requires both your vita and pc to be connected to the same network, I can confirm it will also work over adhoc connections if you prefer though not a necessity. Currently the software has only been tested on windows 7 but it should work on windows 8, and may work on earlier windows operating systems but is untested.

Requirements

  • PlayStation Mobile Developer Licence (Currently Free)
  • PlayStation Mobile Studios (Also free)
  • The download on this page (And again free)
  • patience

 

Supported OS

  • Windows 7 + Windows 8/8.1

Whats included in the download?

  • PSVPAD (Playstation Mobile Solution)
  • PSVPAD Server Software (PSV_Server)
  • Virtual Joystick Driver
  • Instructions(mildly updated)
  • A profile for xpadder ready set up

update

Updates:

  • Updated the Instructions
  • New user interface
  • Motion support
  • rear touch support
  • additional buttons added
  • ability to save connection settings added
  • Keyboard/ Mouse Binds added
  • added lots of new bugs
  • Still in development
  • Enjoy

ITS AN ALPHA BUILD WILL IT WORK WHO KNOWS?, THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE?

does work over ad hoc connections. Tested and works on Windows 7 + Windows 8 may work on other windows operating systems but untested. Instructions are included with the download. Any bugs please report them.

>>Please note this software is still in development as the time of writing this and as such you may find parts of the software are either incomplete or excluded completely.

Software is provided as is, use at own risk

KEY NOTES

  • The version of PSVPAD included in zip has not been compiled to save space and ensure that the project is built before being deployed to the vita, as this in the past has been somewhat of an issue for many people.
  • It’s suggested you make sure when building the application the build mode is set to release rather than debug,(Make sure you don’t click debug with playstation vita simply)
  • THIS IS AN ALPHA BUILD AND SOMEWHAT INCOMPLETE -> Expect Bugs
  • Parts of the application are either disabled or still in development
  • YOU CANNOT AS OF YET SAVE, ADD PROFILES ON THE SEVER, NEITHER WILL CONFIGURATION SETTINGS BE SAVED (IN DEVELOPMENT).
  • The instructions are somewhat lacking at this point in development so you’ll have to figure some of it out yourself.

DOWNLOAD:

UPDATE 1.2.1 ALPHA UNSTABLE 

Please check the bottom here of this post for details about known issues.

Dev Notes, issues & Bugs etc… 1.2.1 ALPHA:

  • Key repeat delay currently only effects buttons on the PlayStation vita and not axis’s
  • Multiple control configurations currently unsupported
  • Rear touch limited to 2 touch down events
  • sound is currently excluded – no plans for future integration however.. has been successfully achieved with little overhead.
  • Help Incomplete on vita.
  • Auto connection functionality disabled
  • Rear touch doesn’t support multi-touch properly
  • Issues server kicking client because it thinks there already connected, solution either reconnect or restart, server/ psvita app
  • Known ‘bugs’ adding new connection…
    • If only one connection in list selecting it does not update the name and ip address in boxes – however will still connect if the user presses the connect button.
    • The default connection is not shown when the psvpad application first loads up -> note the default connection is considered to be the last connection you connected from.
  • Binding the mouse movement may result in stutters, It’s not a bug as such just the mouse smoothing has yet to be implemented but is on the list for future developments.
  • Potentially some keys on the on screen keyboard on the server software may not work as intended.
  • The bind list is yet to be implemented
  • Vita on screen keyboard incomplete

Know Issues / solutions:

  • Problems connecting to server?, restart server software
  • application may(probably) crash if you spam connect button when already connected
  • If it says your connected on both the vita and server but it doesn’t seem to be working at all, its quite possibly a firewall issue, you need to add the server software as an exception.
  • Black screen? -> you need to clean and rebuild the solution before deploying to the vita

Random errors? Any others let me know.

Windows 8 Error MSB4185 Fix
If you experience this error “Error MSB4185: The function “CurrentUICulture” on type “System.Globalization.CultureInfo” has not been enabled for execution.” 

  • First make sure Playstation suite is closed.
  • Open the console(cmd) as Administrator, Can be found by searching “cmd”
  • Run this command: setx MSBUILDENABLEALLPROPERTYFUNCTIONS 1
  • Relaunch Playstation Suite

 

But in all seriousness I should probably go over the current status of the software, what is include, whats still in development, and whats included but not as of yet functional.

SO What does this update ADD?

>>Keyboard & Mouse Binding<<

Added the ability to be able to bind controls/ input on the playstation vita to keyboard and mouse events. I would say its about 90% functional, there is still a few issues/ drawbacks with it, but it however does provide a reasonable alternative to third party software if this is the functionality you require. It’s sadly based off UK keyboard layout, but that shouldn’t be too much of an issue hopefully -_-.

Anyway carrying on so what inputs can you bind…so far anyway?

1. You can bind all the basic keys on the vitaPSVPAD1

 

 

2. You can optionally bind to the rear touch panel, there’s currently only 2 buttons which is basically left touch, right touch, in the future it’ll hopefully be taken to having swipe events as-well.. its in the works. Or you can code it yourself using the given enumeration, I don’t think it’s disabled on the server side, i’d have to check that one…

PSVPAD2

 

 

3. You can even bind to the vitas motion sensors, if you can work that out… and find a valid use for it. Its certainly possible to use and has been tested against Next Car Game and Dirt3… I’m not going to explain how to set it up, I shall leave it to people to play… If you do want to use the vitas motion, you’ll need to ensure that the gyro is enabled on the vita app, as-well as enabling the axis’s in the configuration on the server,  they’re disabled by default, …well all hell would break lose if they weren’t because there basically always active…  But I would suggest TAKE CAUTION… just to point out but, they also emulate 3 separate joy axis’s.. I’d just keep them disabled unless you plan on using them.

PSVPAD3

 

 

4. And finally you can bind the set of additional on screen buttons provided by the vita app…

PSVPAD4

5. I must also point out its entirely possible to set up all these binds in xpadder if you prefer… I included a profile for anyone that does own xpadder and would prefer to use that, all binds are ready set up… accept for the gyro binds.. which I would suggest you set the axis manually in xpadder if you do… As a NOTE: I use the latest version of Xpadder taken from the developers website, you may find that older versions don’t work quite as expected.

 

>>Additional On Screen Buttons<<

Finding the vita didn’t have enough buttons? well this might just help, it adds an additional 14 buttons to the vita which act as joy buttons and can be bound just like any other button on the controller… I must remind people I posted this as an alpha release so anyway a minor issue went unnoticed with the additional buttons which I will try to resolve with the next update… The problem being that if you press a button then move your finger horizontally across the screen in either direction it’ll result in the button staying pressed as such… well as far as the servers concerned… this doesn’t happen when you move your finger vertically… I couldn’t tell you why exactly.. but yes it is one to look out for.

PSVPAD5

 

>>A Keyboard?<<

yes one of the latest additions is in fact a pop up keyboard, which in fact acts just the same as a normal keyboard in windows… accept somewhat lacking. The keyboard is still to be completed and provides just the basics for now.

PSVPAD6

 

>>Settings?<<

Finally a way to save you connection, once you’ve added a connection it’ll be saved simple, then in the future it’s just a matter of selecting the connection in the drop down box and clicking connect next time you use it… though if you IP changes for whatever reason it may mean you have to enter the details again sorry.. Auto connect is disabled for now.  Considering setting up the auto connect so you never have to enter an IP at all, but if multiple versions of the software are running on the same network… you might just run into issues… we shall see.

PSVPAD7

 

 

>>VITA GYRO MOTION<<

Although mentioned previously if anyone bothered to read all this, Functionality has been added so you can use the vitas motion sensors.

 

>BASIC REAR TOUCH SUPPORT<<

Currently limited to a left touch and right touch, the plan is to add additional functionality for swipe events in the future…

 

That’s it for now… tired of typing…

PSVPAD – UPDATE COMING VERY SOON

Hello again,

Sorry everyone for the delay, Its been very hectic recently to say the least and the update hasn’t exactly been one of my highest priority’s and it pretty much got thrown to the side for a while.

However no worries I’ve started working on it again and It’s very close to being ready for a release, sadly I could not get the sound functionality working as I wished so it will be left out of the next update, but once everything else is done I’ll have another go at it and see if it can be added in the future.

I can’t give an exact date for when the update will be released but It’ll be before the end of the year, I was hoping to have it out in the next week or so but I’ll see how it go’s and I’ll try to keep people posted.

In response to a few people in regards to compatibility issues -> currently the PSVPAD server uses a third party library to interact with a virtual driver in order to emulate a joystick in windows, whilst I continue to use this third party software to emulate the joystick its essentially out of my hands. There are no plans as of yet to change how the joystick is emulated in windows but it is under consideration. In an ideal world I would write a custom driver and be done with it!, Suggestions of how the software can be improved are always welcomed so please feel free to contact me either via the contact me form on this website or via my email address AJ_Moore@UnorthodoxGameStudios.co.uk.

PSVPAD

What to take away from this post:

  • Update Before the end of year
  • Sadly no sound support ):
  • Suggestions for improvement always welcomed

IF YOU DO HAVE SUGGESTIONS NOW IS THE TIME TO TELL ME WHILST I’M ACTIVELY WORKING ON THE SOFTWARE. 

Thanks,

Update PSV PAD 1.2

This program allows you to use your vita as a game-pad for your PC. It requires both your vita to be connected to the same network, does work over ad hoc connections. Tested and works on Windows 7 + Windows 8 may work on other windows operating systems but untested. Instructions are included with the download. Any bugs please report them. 

Note: Requires PlayStation Mobile Developer Licence

Whats in the download

  • Server Application
  • Xpadder Profile + Image (Xpadder Not Included)
  • Playstation Mobile Solution (PSVPAD Application)
  • Instructions + Change-log

1.2

 

Updates:

  • Updated the Instructions
  • Changes to how data is sent over network
  • Reduced Lag
  • A lot lot lot lot faster
  • Enjoy

Clean And Rebuild The Solution Before Deploying to Vita Hotkey: Ctrl + F8

Download/s:
Note: PSVPAD win8  Tested works on both windows 7 & windows 8

Update 1.2.1 Alpha Release See Page: PSVPAD_1.2.1_Alpha 

Windows 7+ Windows 8 : PSVPAD_1.2_Win8

Problems with net framwork 3.5 : PSVPAD_1.2

Black Screen Fix:
If your having problems with a black screen make sure you clean and rebuild the PSVPAD application before deploying it to your vita Ctrl +F8.

One Pixel fix for 1.5.1 worth a shot if all else fails: PSVPAD-959X543

Windows 8 Error MSB4185 Fix
If you experience this error “Error MSB4185: The function “CurrentUICulture” on type “System.Globalization.CultureInfo” has not been enabled for execution.” 

  • First make sure Playstation suite is closed.
  • Open the console(cmd) as Administrator, Can be found by searching “cmd”
  • Run this command: setx MSBUILDENABLEALLPROPERTYFUNCTIONS 1
  • Relaunch Playstation Suite

 

 

PSVPAD UPDATE – V1.15 beta PSM SDK v1.11.01

Just Updated the PSV PAD… Enjoy. I re-uploaded the zip you should actually be able to extract the files now.

PSVPAD Description – Allows you to use your Playstation Vita as a Game Pad for your PC, It is possible to set up an ad-hoc connection on your computer and connect directly…Instructions may follow.

psvserver

PSVPAD 1.2 Update

PSVPAD 1.151 beta – PSM v1.11.01 Download

  • Bug Fixes 

PSVPAD 1.15 beta – PSM v1.11.01 Download 

  • Windows 8 Support
  • Fixed app.xml missing error
  • Minor changes

Microsoft IllumiRoom

I’ve actually know about this for a while now but its only just recently I’ve been able to see the concept in action, I originally herd about t a while ago when it was reported that Microsoft had taken out a patent on this technology plus a few very interesting other concepts that I may get into another time

IllumiRoom is a very interesting concept it was designed to augment a room surrounding your television to try and improve gaming experience and add a level of immersion that we have never seen before. It allows the games as well as video to come out of your tv into the real world. IllumiRoom makes use of a kinnect system as well as a projector to produce some well… pretty amazing effects. The video below goes over the illumiRoom and all the different effects that can be created and how it interacts with the room around.


Although I really like the idea I can’t help but see the many issues that will arise with it, one of the first flaws that I see which was the same with the kinnect system is that i can see it relying a lot of space and personally I don’t think its something that I would have space for in my bedroom necessarily. Something else that worries me is this is the sort of thing that I can see really messing with my head, looking at some of the stuff in the video it seems kinda trippy.

Anyway its something totally worth checking out, I can definitely see this as something I would love to have sat in my living room.

You can find out more at Microsoft Research: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/illumiroom/

Sorry about the sloppy writing its quite late XD, have a good evening Good Night and thanks for reading. xoxox

PSV PAD Update

So every now and then I get emails from people regarding the application for the vita I developed a while back so I though I would official address the issue.

When I developed the application the PSM was in beta and you could install applications of the vita without having to buy a licence now that is no longer the case. Not long ago I tested the application using the build in emulator in PSM and it seemed to work fine. I am unable to test the application on the vita because I don’t have a licence myself and have no interest in purchasing one at this moment in time. Without a developer licence I’m afraid you can’t install anything on the vita.

I’m Back! – Been a while

If you noticed I haven’t really been around for a while I stopped updating the website and it was hacked and taken down and all that crap. But anyway I’m back and thought I’d let the world know whats been happening in my absence.

Initially I wasn’t updating my website because I was quite busy with work and other things and my life became quite hectic and I really didn’t have time to focus on my website.

Along with all this back in December last year I got very ill and because of that I’ve been in and out of hospital since, It started off as pain, then had surgery in January which led onto complications which had me re-hospitalized in February eventually I was let out with antibiotics but I still continued to deteriorate and was sent back to hospital in march when I spent 6 weeks before having major surgery on the 17th of April. I was Discharged from hospital 2 days ago and seem to be doing well.

me

Naturally having been ill so long I’ve fell quite far behind with uni work and everything I’ve been working on has gone to pot.

Just in case anyone’s interested as far as my engine is concerned I actually started work on a new Engine “Nightmare Engine” Back towards the beginning of this academic year the pure focus of the engine was simplicity more than anything. I was focusing primarily on making all the different modules of the engine independent with next to no coupling to keep the project simple. The irony being is potentially this engine although far simpler than my previous engine, is more powerful, there’s less coupling and is far easier to maintain and add new features. Obviously having being ill I haven’t really worked on in for a while but nether the less it has a nice set of functionality which I plan to improve upon over the next few years. I had planned to do a lot more by now but due to illness I have  been unable. At some point either on here or on its own separate website I’ll be putting up some information about my engine and maybe a few demo applications to check out.

So hopefully how I’m better I’m going to start writing some random but maybe quite interesting posts again and get back on the development front.

Thanks for reading.

Allan.

Looking for Cool Ideas

Over the following weeks I’m probably going to have another bash at the PSM SDK at making some fun quick app’s, I was kinda just wondering whether anyone’s got any ideas of some stuff they would like to see on the vita and then maybe over the summer I’ll give it a shot. You can either contact me using the generic contact form on this page, or send me an email if you have my address or just post a comment below.

Busy Weekend

I did say to a few individuals that I would be posting an update for the ps vita app that I made… but I’m sorry to say I have be unable to find the time busy weekend…went to a wedding and stuff… And I suspect this following week will be fairly busy for me to. I will try to make an update available soonish, for now I hope you’ll able to resolve any problems your having by yourself without the need of the update, otherwise I’m very sorry. If you find any issues let me know and I’ll try to work it into the update.