I’ve been spending this evening getting multithreading asset loading working. I’ve converted a lot of my iPhone code to C++ and keeping certain things as Objective-C objects only when I absolutely have to. This of course came back to bite me when trying to spawn off loading in a separate thread. Since the NSThread code expects a class object inherited from NSObject(id), it crashed everytime I passed it one of my C++ objects. I finally realized this and created a class wrapper whose only job is to be called by the thread and initiate the loading of the regular objects. Sure, it’s another layer, but now things are playing nice with one another and I can get on to the actual fun bits of the code.

With Apple’s iPhone app store hitting 20,000 applications, it’s already  a flooded marketplace making it difficult for any single application to get noticed. If this was an actual store, most of these applications would have long ago passed into the bargain bin and into oblivion. For a while now, developers have seen the app store as the next gold rush and jumped on board hoping to strike it rich. While some small developers have found a niche and made their development costs back, many apps are ignored and try desperately to find a market. Even though applications require a knowledge of an actual programming language that hasn’t stopped a ton of horrible apps from making it into the store. Now, comes along a company, 280 North, that has plans to make it worse. Their product allows those with the knowledge to make a webpage, the ability to put together a full iPhone application for sale on the app store. As if we didn’t already have a rush to the bottom when it came to price with most people refusing to even pay .99 for an app, this will push the price to nothing. Great for kids downloading apps to their iPod Touch devices, but a bad thing for developers actually trying to squeek out a business.

MobileCrunch.com has the full story on 280 North.

I get to go out to GDC next month. It’s been almost eight years since I’ve been last (since my son was born), so it’s going to be great to see how things have changed. I’ll be flying in halfway through Tuesday, so I’ll be missing part of the MS Developer Days. I’m hoping I’ll still be able to gather enough info as that really is the main part I want to attend. I’ve been looking at the GDC website today and trying to plan out the other talks I want to see.

I just added a few pages detailing the books, articles, and games I’ve worked on over the years. Check the links at the top of the page to go to each section.
I can’t believe I’ve been involved in game development for almost ten years, eek, where does the time go?
Even though I’m no longer working for a game dev studio, I’m still creating software and getting back my passion for programming. It’s great to work on applications that are my vision, things I find enjoyable.