Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine - Comments for "Review: PPL - Pocket Programming Language from ArianeSoft"

Hi Game Developer:

I would love to review and critique anything you create with PPL.

Keep in touch.

I am not aware of any successful games written with PPL yet. I am working on resolving this though. :-)

PPL is slow to take off like a good Scotch or vintage wines. Takes a mature individual to recognize the languages potentials and put it to good use. From what I have learned thus far, it does take some time to learn cause it is not like any other langauge. PPL has loads of capabilities that are normally add-ons or not available in other languages. The developers are constantly working hard in ensuring that the compilers truly are transparent between platforms thus if it works on a Windows Mobile device then it will work on a desktop. There will always be issues with the different Windows Mobile devices with any language including PPL if you create a program which uses something in the hardware that is not standardized on all Windows Mobile devices like bluetooth devices. Not all Windows Mobile devices with BT support the same BT profiles.

As far as games goes, this can apply to the hardware buttons too. Not all Windows Mobile devices have hardware buttons that behave the same. At least if your game is all touch screen oriented, I cannot see anything going wrong with the game on one device if it works fine on another device in general though. Since some devices have accelerated graphics and some have faster processors, there will always be some performance differences between devices. If you write taking into account the slowest Windows Mobile device running a given Windows CE version then you should be OK.

In the end though, the only way to know for sure is to write one yourself. PPL does have a trial version you can download and try.

At the bottom of this page, you will see all the categories PPL is designed to work with.

http://www.arianesoft.ca/page.php?1

As far as compatibility goes, since the compatability is based on the final code created and not the actual JAVA code or runtime file, PPL is far more compatible. I cannot say 100% how compatible since I have never tried PPL on all devices in all the categories. PPL compiles the same code for the specific devices. JAVA is not 100% identical as far as code structure goes among all platforms since there are various versions of JAVA supported thus some JAVA may not translate over perfectly. This means the developer needs to take these differences into account while creating the application. As far as PPL goes, it's more of the physical issues you need to be aware of and not the code itself since there is only one PPL language that is used used and compiled for all the different platforms. Like a Pocket PC uses a touch screen and a Smartphone uses virtual buttons instead. So you cannot create a Pocket PC and a Smartphone version with the code being 100% identical. Screen sizes vary also. In the end, you can create titles for both.

Hope this answers your question.

Certainly, GPS and trapezoidal image manipulation is a breeze in PPL. The built in graphics support will minimize your coding and maximize your applications functionality.

Take a look at some example code here.
http://www.arianesoft.ca/page.php?27

In either program type you mention, the objects or sprites you create can be easily manipulated on top of the GPS map or background. Image manipulation is not solely for games and can apply to uniguely shaped or animated input controls too.

Hi Jon:

It is important that I answer your questions in reverse order.

1: Technical support is very good via the online forums.

2: As far as the manual goes, only you can determine this in the end cause it depends on your level of comprehension as far as basic computer and programming terminologies goes. I feel it is sufficient to get anyone started
Newbie could mean:
- new to PPL style of programming
- new to programming in general
- new to computers and programming in general

3: PPL has been around for a good number of years already but the future holds no guarantees for anyone. To insure that they will be around for a long time means people like yourself on the fence must commit to PPL now and buy anyone of their offerings. This language is great for developing software titles for current Windows Mobile devices.

No one can predict the future but we can do our part to guide things along. . . :-)

Hi Jon:

PPL is created using .NET
Direct Access to Windows API's are available and external DLL's can be accessed as long as the functions can be imported. You can also create your own DLL's through PPL.

In regards to the database, Eric Pankoke suggests SQLite which he describes here. http://www.arianesoft.ca/page.php?48

As far as S309 picture box or timer are concerned, PPL does not require them since more powerful functions are included. Same with NS Basic. A more powerful version comes standard now which are based on the original S309 versions.

I do not consider PPL to be easier than NS Basic to learn initially but has more built right in thus avoids the time consuming search for third party DLL's that may or may not work with NS Basic. Over time, PPL will become a comfortable language to use and has the power in the core which minimizes your coding efforts.

Hope this helps you.

Bob,

If I understand your question correctly, GE provides plenty of control over the non-gaming aspects of the game.

As far as your first and second question go, these can be created virtually the same way as everything else in the game. And as far as your third question goes I know that you can set up a registration code if that's what you're asking (I don't know the particulars on how to do this though).

For a good example that will address most if not all of your concerns, take a look at "Last Defender" or a "Bloody Mess" (both available at the site I listed in a previous comment). Both of these titles require registration via a user-specific registration code, and both of them have intro screens.

Let me know if this isn't clear and I"ll try to explain better.

Hi Ben:

Let me ask you this about GE.

How much control and flexibility does GE have when creating the non gaming aspects of the game?

Like:
1: Creating the intro screens.
2: Creating the HELP screens
3: Implimenting your own demo mode and registration encryption?

The last time I looked at GE these were lacking for me.

I don't think it has isometric display either although I know that some people have manually created it in GE.

As far as GE's interface is concerned, I find it to be fantastic once you've acquainted yourself with it. For what it's worth, I think there is a major interface overhaul in the works (there are pictures somewhere on the GE forums).

And yes, GE is only for games. Personally, I would use GE for games and PPL for apps.

YES Game Edtor does have built-in Physics and path control but not as flexible from my perspective.

Smartphone &amp; Pocket PC magazine - Comments for "Review: PPL - Pocket Programming Language from ArianeSoft"

Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine - Comments for "Review: PPL - Pocket Programming Language from ArianeSoft"