Zaccharia for Android: Initial Release Discussion

SilverBalls

Active member
Apr 12, 2012
1,233
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Tried 4 tables, and that was enough to buy Gold! Love it, so many options to play with. The lighting in very impressive and on my Nexus 7 2012 too. The Metal FX even plays smooth and looks great. Dirt options, scratched glass, adjustable physics... Thanks for listening to the PAF community. The selection of tables is perfect and EMs too. You guys rock and roll. This will keep me amused for a long time. Thanks Zsolt!

One tip: Before I bought the game with the advertising banner the Time machine table was slightly stuttery, but the others I tried were fine. However once I bought and the banner was gone everything is super smooth, so I guess the advert was doing it.

One request: Is it possible to use the full screen and hide the 3 Android buttons when in the app? Thanks.
 
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Baron Rubik

New member
Mar 21, 2013
1,852
1
Loving the gold subscription and the tweaks available.
Camera tuning is awesome.

Only things I'd add would be Native Bluetooth controller support with analogue nudging (Google Moga sdk, for easy integration tools), and I'd add Immersive mode (hiding the Navbar) support.
I'd maybe add a memory state for settings like background noise, etc, too.

Awesome value for money, so glad this came to Android. Thanks Zolt.
 

Snorzel

New member
Apr 25, 2014
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Gold member! Already notice how good the physics seem compared to my s4 iphone! Thank you Zsolt excellent job this game has become what I always hoped it would. Yes please to the nudge control and bluetooth controller support as Baron Rubik said.
Is this on the Ouya?
 

jaredmorgs

Moderator
Staff member
May 8, 2012
4,334
3
[MENTION=2322]Zsolt[/MENTION], and the rest of the ASK team

First of all: THANK YOU!

I'll be honest and say that TPA could take some cues from you guys about how to provision a great UX...

+1 to the suggestions about Immersive and Moga API support (which will make it compatible with Shield Tablet and Shield Portable as well). Please read further about some considerations when implementing controller support.

These observations should all be considered "lessons learned" while being involved in Beta Testing the Moga API in TPA. Learn from FarSights' oversights. Please.

Controller Considerations

You might need to implement a Mode A and Mode B mode like TPA did so we can switch out the shoulder button assignment (some controllers differ in the way these buttons are assigned when used with the Moga API).

I would also strongly lobby for full controller implementation in the menus and while playing. This is what TPA *doesn't* do, and it makes playing the game seamlessly a real pain in the backside. Particularly when you connect your device to a TV

If you want to know what the correct user experience should look like, take a look at Zen Pinball's offering to get an idea what I'm talking about when playing that with a controller (even a Bluetooth Keyboard works with Zen). Zen chose to use the Android native controller API, which may affect how they were able to implement menu interaction.

If done right you could theoretically offer Zaccaria on Play TV and Android because it offers full interface navigation. I'm not certain whether Google requires a certain type of controller implementation for Play TV support. I recommend you do your research up-front and implement the recommended approach at the beginning to save a stack of time later, and to allow ASK to open up Zaccaria to other Google markets.

Android System Button Observations

I noticed that while you're in-game, if you tap the System Back button, you won't activate a pause menu, but will bring up a dialog box asking you to quit. What would be better is to have the System Back button open the options menu, or a dialog that lets you quit to menu.
 

SilverBalls

Active member
Apr 12, 2012
1,233
3
I noticed that while you're in-game, if you tap the System Back button, you won't activate a pause menu, but will bring up a dialog box asking you to quit. What would be better is to have the System Back button open the options menu, or a dialog that lets you quit to menu.

Controller support would definitely make a massive difference. Shame that the iCade can't work.

Wouldn't it be better maybe to hide the system buttons altogether like TPA does, to get more space?
 

jaredmorgs

Moderator
Staff member
May 8, 2012
4,334
3
Controller support would definitely make a massive difference. Shame that the iCade can't work.

Wouldn't it be better maybe to hide the system buttons altogether like TPA does, to get more space?
Yeah, that's immersive mode. It is on Android 4.4 and higher. Definitely would be better to have it in.
 

IGoFirstIndy

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Jul 12, 2014
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curious what physics you android lot have. is the ball very spastic and elastic or did you get an earlier build while we wait for the new physics to be implimented?
 

SilverBalls

Active member
Apr 12, 2012
1,233
3
Yeah, that's immersive mode. It is on Android 4.4 and higher. Definitely would be better to have it in.

Oh that is immersive mode : ). I am catching up slowly ;)

I can't get over how could the lighting and reflections are on mobile devices. Ask have a really nice engine here. Would be great if at the end of the Zacc tables they could pick up some tables from other companies.

Incidentally I tried the game on a 24" touchscreen Acer da241hl Android (it is like a giant tablet) and it looks very nice and plays very smooth and in dark mode too. To get smooth play I just needed to turn off background room surroundings (which I prefer anyhow) but left metalfx on. It is a shame this computer can't rotate portrait. Seeing it on this big screen shows just how good it would be on PC. It will be an excellent device to play on with a control and only about 230 Euros on Amazon. Not so great using touchscreen controls on this particular screen but once controller support is there, highly recommended.
 
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Baron Rubik

New member
Mar 21, 2013
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Physics seem quite realistic and harder than TPA in 'simulation' mode. Not really played with custom mode yet.
I'm in drop target heaven. :)

(and I've got Addams Family sat in the side lines relatively untouched - I'll get to you tomorrow).
 

Snorzel

New member
Apr 25, 2014
1,353
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If this is the same physics engine, it is playing better than I have ever seen on ios and I have been playing since Blackbelt. I think this is the new physics engine :) things I noticed right away were the launch on Star God is now powerful enough to loop the ball around to the rollovers. MUCH easier to aim a shot and hit what you expect. More fluid and natural movement of the ball when interacting with play field features. No more unrealistic mega-fast ball movement. This is looking so promising I cant wait for controller support and/or PC port. Great job as always Zsolt I am really impressed :)
 

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