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Creatures on iPad/iPhone/Android devices   
Jujul98

Jujul98
France  

 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/18/2020  6

Hi CreaturesCaves!
I have something to share with you.

I always wanted to see a Creatures app for tablet/smartphone. I thinked this would be done with Creatures 4 but no news at all...

So I decided to find a solution to "port" Docking Station to iOS devices.

I was able to do that with an x86 emulator named UTM.

Here's the result on an iPad Pro: https://youtu.be/UA6MSPz6Al4

It also working on iPhone and I think it can be setup on Android devices.

It runs very well, my norns are happy and I could bring them with me now!

I have free time to make a tutorial with preinstalled image.

So is anyone interested by that (iOS or Android users)?

Edit: Tutorials are available here for Android & iOS.
If you have any questions/problems, ask me :D

 
ylukyun
Patient Pirate

ylukyun

Manager



  4/18/2020

This is quite impressive. I'd be interested in an iOS tutorial.

How awkward was it to control the game using a touchscreen?

 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/18/2020

Nice!
Concerning touchscreen control, for me it's OK.
It's like using a touchpad, the pointer speed is customizable.

I'm currently testing on various devices in order to do a "compatibility list":

iPhone 8 or newer
iPad Pro 11-inch
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or newer)
iPad Air 3rd Gen
iPad mini (5th generation)

Also, I'm trying to get borrow an android device to test.

Patient Pirate, which device(s) do you have?

Thanks

 
Papriko
Peppery One

Papriko



  4/18/2020

Those results are pretty amazing, gotta say. If it runs on Android, I might have a use for that Samsung tablet I got laying around...

Also, the controls do look slightly awkward. I think it should be possible to write a custom cosfile that make the game a little more touchscreen-friendly. The options you are given with the hand are slightly more limited, but it's still an agent in the end.
It is possible to "detach" the ingame hand from the OS' mouse pointer. That way it can be teleported around with the MVTO command manually. Combine that with a left-click event script (which is what tapping on the screen triggers) and reading out global mouse positions..... We might have ourselves something here.
It should be possible to e.g. map a double-tap to right click instead. Heck, there might even be a way to detect mouse pressed (finger on screen) and mouse released (finger taken away from screen) separately to enable gesture controls and throwing stuff!

Another potential problem to worry about is a way to type in text. Maybe an onscreen keyboard? It should always be handy and it should be collapsible. Maybe the emulator's OS can provide something along those lines...
If not we can still make our own, lol.


Lets play plants! Photosynthesis... Photosynthesis... Photosynthesis...
 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/18/2020

That would be awesome if we can make DS more touchscreen-friendly.

For onscreen keyboard, the emulator provide one on iOS.

Here's technical informations:

On iOS (working):
- UTM emulator (based on QEMU)
- RedHat 8.0 (Psyche) VM with DS installed

On Android (I'm currently testing that):
- Limbo emulator (also based on QEMU)
- Same RedHat 8.0 VM that I made

Feel free to ask if you have questions :D

I will give my results on Android ASAP.

 
ylukyun
Patient Pirate

ylukyun

Manager



  4/18/2020

The device I'm on now is a 9.7" iPad (5th generation) running iPadOS 13.4.1.

Edit: Wrong OS.

 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/18/2020

@Patient Pirate
The iPad 5th gen is less powerful than devices that I test, I hope it will not be too slow.
We will have to try!

@Papriko
For Android, I successful install it on an old android Tablet (5+ years old), it's very slow!
I guess it would be far better on a newer device.

I will write tutorials for iOS and Android tomorrow :D


 
Malkin

Malkin

Manager


 visit Malkin's website: Malkin's page at CWiki
  4/18/2020

How do you add addons (agents, breeds, C12DS) to the game on an iPad?

Is it compatible with Albian Warp?


My TCR Norns
 
Namiraja

Namiraja



  4/19/2020

I don't think Albian Warp will work, but rebabel could
 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/19/2020

Hi everyone!
@Malkin, to inject addons, I'm using OSFMount software.
It's the easier way to mount RAW image with ext2/ext3 file system with Windows.

With this method, I'm able to browse Docking Station folder and copying files.

AFAIK Albian Warp needs an actual Windows OS.
To get better performance I'm using 20-years old linux distro (RedHat 8), so I it will not work...

Also, for those who want to try I just finished the Android tutorial : https://touchnorns.wordpress.com/android/

I think iOS guide will be ready this afternoon (more complicated than Android)

For the moment it's on a quick wordpress that I made but If you have better idea, please tell me :D

Oh and sorry for my English...


Edit: iOS tutorial is ready: https://touchnorns.wordpress.com/ios/

 
Malkin

Malkin

Manager


 visit Malkin's website: Malkin's page at CWiki
  4/21/2020

I can't get past installing AltServer on my iPad. :(

My TCR Norns
 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/21/2020

Malkin wrote:
I can't get past installing AltServer on my iPad. :(



Oh :\
Do you have an error message?
Windows or MacOS ?

 
Malkin

Malkin

Manager


 visit Malkin's website: Malkin's page at CWiki
  4/21/2020

MacOS, no error message. :(

My TCR Norns
 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/21/2020

It's weird!
Just to be sure, please check if you have "AltPlugin.mailbundle" enabled in:
Mail app (macOS) > Preferences > Manage Plugins.

Mail App has to be opened during installation of AltServer.

Also, in which step do you have the issue?

1. Download AltServer for Mac.
2. Copy “AltServer.app” to your Applications folder.
3. Launch AltServer (it will appear as an icon in the menu bar).
4. Connect your iPhone to your computer and make sure it is unlocked.
5. Trust your iPhone with your computer (if needed).
6. (Mojave only) Open iTunes and enable iTunes Wi-Fi sync for your phone.
7. (Catalina only) Open Finder and enable “Show this iPhone when on WiFi” for your phone.
8. Click the AltServer icon in the Mac menu bar, click “Install AltStore”, then choose your phone.
9. Enter your Apple ID email and password (NOTE: both email address and password are case sensitive).
10. (First time only) AltServer will ask you to install a Mail plug-in. Follow the instructions to continue (or see below for more detailed instructions).
11. Wait a few seconds, then AltStore will be installed to your phone.


Which iPad model do you have?

I'm trying to find another solution to install UTM App easier.
Thanks

 
Malkin

Malkin

Manager


 visit Malkin's website: Malkin's page at CWiki
  4/21/2020

I can't find the manage plugins button and it's step 3 where I have the issue - after launch it doesn't appear as a button in my taskbar.

My TCR Norns
 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/22/2020

Well, if you don’t have this button, maybe an issue during AltServer launch.

I’m sorry I don’t have this issue (using macOS Catalina).

To "bypass" this problem, I’ll advise you (if you can!) to use another computer running Windows for example or virtual machine.

Also, this video is great and explains Altserver install process on Windows and MacOS, that can helps!

 
Papriko
Peppery One

Papriko



  4/23/2020

Alright, I tried it with with the SM-T585, a Samsung tablet from 2016. I have the 2GB RAM version (there's also a 3GB one). I activated developer options and checked how much RAM I had still free. 600 some-odd MB.
I created the virtual machine pretty much according to the guide, however, I gave it 512 MB RAM and increased Limbo's process priority.

It works, kind of, but it is really slow. After hatching two chichi norns it became more or less unbearable. If I find tricks to speed it up, I'll let y'all know, but I suspect the tablet's just too weak.

One thing I noticed is that key combinations do not work with the standard Samsung system keyboard. It does provide a Ctrl key, but it doesn't work with the key combinations in the game.
Arrow keys up and down are not present either, only left and right.
Right clicking is on the volume down button when you use Limbo, but I haven't found scrolling with the mouse wheel yet, if there is an option for that.


Lets play plants! Photosynthesis... Photosynthesis... Photosynthesis...
 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/24/2020

Thanks for your feedback Papriko.

Indeed, it needs a fast cpu to emulate x86, I have the same issue with my android gps car unit (the only android thing I have but not powerful at all...).

For the keyboard, I’m using « hackers keyboard » from Google Play to get all needed keys like Ctrl and arrows.

 
Papriko
Peppery One

Papriko



  4/24/2020

Another word of caution: when you want to use Limbo for this, follow the guide and get the APK file straight off github!
The version in the Google AppStore is a fake! It looks like garbage, it tries to get you to download sketchy files off of Mediafire and I didn't find any options to actually do, you know, what it's intended to.


Lets play plants! Photosynthesis... Photosynthesis... Photosynthesis...
 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/24/2020

Oh many thanks for this warning!
I will add it to the guide.

It’s annoying these garbage apps in Google Play Store...

 
Namiraja

Namiraja



  4/24/2020

While at the topic of app-stores: There's a download to the emulator in F-Droid, but it's an older version.

Did a quick test on One Plus 3 out of curiosity, but yeah, very slow.
Still quite interesting, thanks for the guide :)

 
Jujul98

Jujul98


 visit Jujul98's website: TouchNorns
  4/27/2020

I did not know about F-Droid, thanks for the tip and your feedback on One Plus 3!
 
Rascii
Caves Dweller

Rascii

Administrator


 visit Rascii's website: Creatures Caves
  8/24/2020

I'm stuck at step 5 for iOS:

Step 5:

Unzip “Docking Station.utm” file.

Using iTunes (Windows) or Finder (macOS), Copy “Docking Station.utm” to UTM App in “Files” tab.

When I open UTM app on my iPad, there is nothing there even though I copied the "Docking Station.utm" file over using Finder.

Any thoughts?


- Rascii
 


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