Hi Guys, I’m new to Unity and I have a lot of questions…!
Q1. How simple is to publish a game for the iOS, the Android and the 3 major consoles? Aren’t there specific requirements that need to be met in order to successfully upload your content? Plus, how these requirements differ among these platforms?
Q2. Do I need to own a Mac, to develop a Unity3d game for iPad/Phone/Pod? Plus, is it necessary to know Xcode and Objective-C or I can just write everything in JavaScript and let Unity compile all my code to let’s say Objective-C for Apple Apps.
Q3. I have seen that some developers face compatibility issues when working with Apple’s iOS 4.3.3 and Unity3d 3.4. Does Apple accept content from Unity 3d on their new iOS 4.3.3?
Q4. Does Unity3d 3.4 support game development for games that utilize iPad 2 features?
Q5. How easy can it be to publish a game simultaneously on many platforms?
Q.6 Finally, when developing a Unity game for the iOS, Unity Technologies get 20% of sales (right?) and Apple 30% of sales for letting you publish on their stores (right?) how profitable can that be for the developer ? What does Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft offer when publishing on their networks (PSN/Xbox Live/N-Virtual Console etc.)?
Some questions may seem odd/stupid etc. but I’m seeking answers from those who have experienced these issues first-hand. Thanks in advance for your time.
Console publishing is not something you do casually; it takes (by hobbyist standards) a lot of money and there are various steps you have to go through to qualify (not related to Unity).
Yes. Objective-C isn’t something you “compile to”. It’s worth knowing if you want to get the most out of Unity iOS, but isn’t necessary if you only use the built-in features.
Yes.
Yes.
Depends; that’s a very broad topic. It’s surely much easier than not using Unity and porting everything yourself from scratch.
Easy for android and ios. Just have a test device. For ios, you need a mac as well, or its a no-go. See bottom of post for consoles.
You need a mac, end of story. It can be a cheap crappy mac, so long as it’s an intel mac. Because unity creates an xcode project. You do not need to understand much of xcode except where the build and run button is plus a few other little quirks.
Apple are fine with it. What are the compatibility issues you speak of?
Yes, my ipad2 game is heavily customized for ipad2.
Very? minimal changes need to be made mostly for input. You’ll also be detecting what device it is running on and scaling down the graphics if need be.
No. Unity gets nothing from mobiles or desktop or console or anything. What you’re speaking of is an optional publishing route called Union, for getting your game on devices you might not have access to normally (ie they don’t have an appstore).
Finally, forget consoles unless you have a license to develop on consoles from a publisher or if you’re an AAA developer then this is a moot question. But for indies - forget it. You need large pockets or a publisher.
Thanks for spending time to answer my questions, you have enlightened me!
The issues reported regarding iOS 4.3.3 and Unity relate to some crashing incidents. Although the game could run fine when tested on Apple devises, the App store would regent them and the developer should downgrade. Could that mean more than just a random incident?