192 replies to this topic

[Oni Ralas]

If you need help, lemme know.

If you happen to be a softie, ping me your alias

[Sugomi]

focuspark, on 10 November 2013 - 09:12 AM, said:

This I have no idea about as I've never tried to install an app on my phone from the website directly. Most cases the WP OS waits for a "free" wireless (read: no cost to use network) before downloading anything over 2MB. Additionally, I've found a number of public wireless networks where Zune cannot pull data despite being free.

I suppose this could be your problem. Perhaps your phone is confused and attempting to avoid you fees, which means it is stuck in limbo with regards to downloading the app. However, as I said: I have no idea about this.

I feel like a derp. Program shows up under 'games'. Works great! Thanks much!

[Atlai]

This is amazing, thanks!

[Veranova]

Yay! Windows Phone gets an app which Android/iOS don't have!
In yo faces!!!

p.s. get it up to speed with Smurfy's and you'll have a paying customer. But really great start!

Edited by Veranova, 10 November 2013 - 02:27 PM.

[NRP]

I believe Mechlab programs are available for other phone OSes. I'm just glad Windows Phone gets one too (and a good one at that).

[focuspark]

NRP, on 10 November 2013 - 09:24 AM, said:

Thanks for your quick response!

You're quite welcome. I'll make sure to update this thread as soon as it's available for download.

Pariah Devalis, on 10 November 2013 - 09:59 AM, said:

Always blows me away how quickly you push patches out.

15 years software development experience. 10 @ start ups, 5 @ NVIDIA - you learn to diagnose and fix quickly, or you quickly learn how to find a new job :-p.

Tungsten MD, on 10 November 2013 - 01:20 PM, said:

I feel like a derp. Program shows up under 'games'. Works great! Thanks much!

The app description says as much, but I understand the confusion. Imagine my surprise when after a month in development (and it being in the normal app location) I publish and the app disappears. Took me a while to figure it out as well. I do think this is a common source of confusion; unfortunately the WP Market Place people want it under Xbox Companion, and so it is.

Mason West, on 10 November 2013 - 02:15 PM, said:

This is amazing, thanks!

You're welcome!

Veranova, on 10 November 2013 - 02:18 PM, said:

Yay! Windows Phone gets an app which Android/iOS don't have!
In yo faces!!!

Lol

NRP, on 10 November 2013 - 02:21 PM, said:

I believe Mechlab programs are available for other phone OSes. I'm just glad Windows Phone gets one too (and a good one at that).

Thanks. Actually, at least last time I checked, it was the only mobile MWO centered mechlab for phones. That might have changed in the past few months. In all honesty the only reason I maintain this app is because Surfy's doesn't work with touch based interfaces.

The short answer is: "no, there won't be an Android or iOS port"

The long answer is: this was a science project where I wanted to get back to doing some coding in C# (I'd been working in C for a long time), coding apps (I'd been working on drivers for a long time), and I wanted to learn Windows Phone API (because... well, why not? and I had a Windows Phone because I loved Zune music). I maintain the app because maintenance is "cheap" (2-6 hours per week) but developing a new app against a new API would take on the order of 100 hours which I just do not have AND I'd have to maintain multiple codebases which I just don't have the time for. Sorry!

Edited by focuspark, 10 November 2013 - 02:46 PM.

[Pariah Devalis]

Honestly, one of my favorite aspects of the app is that you can build "illegal" mechs before the chassis is released. By that, I mean, for example, I used catapults and figured out all the Jagermech loadouts I wanted to try about a week before they were released. I built my Jester in the app as soon as it was announced. Etc. Being able to put parts where you want them, despite the 'legal' hardpoint limits of the mech you are building on top of, is a fantastic feature of the program that even Smurfy does not have.

[focuspark]

Veranova, on 10 November 2013 - 02:18 PM, said:

p.s. get it up to speed with Smurfy's and you'll have a paying customer. But really great start!

Actually, I usually beat Smurfy's with updates because Smurfy's has to read the game files to update and I can edit my config's directly. I'm however limited by the speed at which the Microsoft Windows Phone Market Place can process the submission. They certify that I'm not hacking your phone or providing pornography; and for that lovely service you have to wait 3-10 business days.

That said, the only reason I put a "pay for" version up was because MSFT asked me to. Basically, if you pay the US$1.99 the app stops using screen real estate for ads.

Oh and the patch MSFT released today, does catch me up with Smurfy's for the version you can download.

Pariah Devalis, on 10 November 2013 - 02:49 PM, said:

Honestly, one of my favorite aspects of the app is that you can build "illegal" mechs before the chassis is released. By that, I mean, for example, I used catapults and figured out all the Jagermech loadouts I wanted to try about a week before they were released. I built my Jester in the app as soon as it was announced. Etc. Being able to put parts where you want them, despite the 'legal' hardpoint limits of the mech you are building on top of, is a fantastic feature of the program that even Smurfy does not have.

Thanks. I've "unlocked" the engine select screen in the next update to extend this possibility.

Edited by focuspark, 10 November 2013 - 03:00 PM.

[Veranova]

focuspark, on 10 November 2013 - 02:50 PM, said:

Actually, I usually beat Smurfy's with updates because Smurfy's has to read the game files to update and I can edit my config's directly. I'm however limited by the speed at which the Microsoft Windows Phone Market Place can process the submission. They certify that I'm not hacking your phone or providing pornography; and for that lovely service you have to wait 3-10 business days.

That said, the only reason I put a "pay for" version up was because MSFT asked me to. Basically, if you pay the US$1.99 the app stops using screen real estate for ads.

Oh and the patch MSFT released today, does catch me up with Smurfy's for the version you can download.

I really mean in terms of limitations and build rules, such as hardpoints.
Right now you can put an AC20 in an Energy spot if you're not careful.

That's just one example
I'm looking forward to the development, although understand it will probably be slow!

[focuspark]

Veranova, on 10 November 2013 - 03:10 PM, said:

I really mean in terms of limitations and build rules, such as hardpoints.
Right now you can put an AC20 in an Energy spot if you're not careful.

That's just one example
I'm looking forward to the development, although understand it will probably be slow!

You can put a component anywhere. If it putting it there breaks MWO rules you'll get a little red icon. If it puts the mech over weight, the tons turn read. That's the design mantra. Put the user in control, but let them know when they're out of compliance with the game's mechanics.

Spoiler

If you want the app to prevent you from being allowed to play around, then I'm not sure how to help you. Blocking a user's actions just isn't in the heart of the app. The good news is that it's a completely free app (if you don't mind ads), so even if it's not perfect and you not willing to pay for it, you can still use it with 100% functionality.

Edited by focuspark, 10 November 2013 - 03:19 PM.

[Veranova]

That all makes sense!
I appreciate the thought process!
You've got yourself another customer

[Vegetal Maldito]

I posted a while ago here that the app wasn't available on my region. I live in Brazil, and it still isn't available.

[focuspark]

Vegetal Maldito, on 12 November 2013 - 08:04 AM, said:

I posted a while ago here that the app wasn't available on my region. I live in Brazil, and it still isn't available.

Ahh, yup. Brazil is on the countries that requires that I get a specific kind of certification before I can make the app available there because it is "game related". There are other countries with similar rules or requirements and I've chosen to not make my app available there instead of paying for the certification.

I do find it odd that a web site which offers gaming and/or gaming related material can go "uncertified", but an app has to pay a tax. I'm sorry for the inconvenience but the Brazilian government has made the app unavailable to me by making too problematic and costly for this app developer to make his wares available to you.

[Vegetal Maldito]

Wtf? Game related? Never heard of that one before, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Sigh....nevermind then, but your app looks cool

[focuspark]

Vegetal Maldito, on 12 November 2013 - 08:52 AM, said:

Wtf? Game related? Never heard of that one before, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Sigh....nevermind then, but your app looks cool

Don't feel to bad, there's actually quite a long list of countries which either require special steps because it's game related, or require a localized version to be available before I can list the app.

Here's a quick list of countries I cannot make Skunkworks available in due to their regulations:
Bahrain, Brazil, Costa Rica, Egypt, Estonia, Iraq, Korea, Kuwait, Lativa, Lebenon, Pakistan, Quatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Tunsia, UAE, and Vietnam.

There are others, but those are for other reasons. My biggest downloading countries by far are (in order) the United States, Germany, Canada, UK, China, and France.

[Mogney]

Can't believe I didn't find this earlier.

Now I can waste time thinking about MWO on my phone too

Thank you sir, awesome job.

[NRP]

I found another anomaly - each of the Victor model templates shows an energy slot in the head. There is no energy slot in the Victor's head.

[HydroSqueegee]

man i would pay good cash money for an Android mechlab that lets you save and load mech loadouts.

[focuspark]

NRP, on 12 November 2013 - 01:25 PM, said:

I found another anomaly - each of the Victor model templates shows an energy slot in the head. There is no energy slot in the Victor's head.

I'll get this fixed ASAP. Thanks for finding it.

HydroSqueegee, on 12 November 2013 - 01:33 PM, said:

man i would pay good cash money for an Android mechlab that lets you save and load mech loadouts.

Sorry man. Maybe somebody will take the action item and run with it.

[AdamBaines]

Love my Windows Phone and love Skunkworks Mechlab for Windows Phone!!!!!