How to Design an iPhone Game

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Making a game for the iPhone is no simple task. Designing and developing a game, or any application for that matter, requires knowledge and imagination. A background knowledge in the C programming language --- specifically Objective-C --- proves especially helpful, as does a familiarity with algebra. Some of the simplest games require implementation of heavy math and physics.

Things You'll Need

• A mac computer
• An internet connection
• Enough free memory for the downloads and programs to run
• Some free time

Instructions

1. Go to the Apple Developers website to confirm your computer and operating system are compatible with the development software. Read through the site to familiarize yourself with the Apple Developer Program. While the tools can be downloaded for free, you have to enroll in either the Standard Program or Enterprise Program to distribute your games through Apple's App Store. Both programs require a fee to join, but they provide the necessary development resources for testing and distribution.

2. Sign up to become a registered iPhone developer to proceed to download the tools.

3. Download the iPhone SDK (Software Development Kit) with Xcode IDE. The Apple site also has downloads available for the interface builder, compilers and shark analysis, as well as frameworks and samples.

4. Download the iPhone simulator. Use the iPhone simulator to test the program you are building on a virtual iPhone interface on your computer.

5. Familiarize yourself with Objective-C programming language. Prepare to do a lot of reading. While doing so, experiment with your development tools to understand the way things work.

6. Take extra care in debugging and error-proofing your software. Try to break your programs when you test them. Perform unusual game play. Touch screen game play, while principally similar to standard mouse game play, opens up possibilities for innovation as well as for critical errors. Not only is careful programming necessary, but seeking problems and conflicts trains you to think ahead and become a more efficient programmer.

7. Join forums and learn from your fellow developers. If you are stuck on a problem, seek the help of the iPhone programming community. Stay active in the forums to open possibilities that you have not previously considered. Keep at it and don't give up.

Tips & Warnings

• If your math skills are rusty; refresh your memory and reteach yourself until you are at least comfortable with general algebra equations and expressions; the use of variables in conjunction with constant values is a very big part of the core of programming.

• Play other people's creations. When doing so, try to imagine how their application actually works. Things almost always appear simple on the surface of a game, but underneath the user interface is a whole lot of unseen function. Try to imagine ways to build the game in your mind while playing the games to further learn and possibly find some new inspirations along the way.

References

• Technobuffalo; Introduction to iOS Development: Understanding Your Platform; Jack McGrath; February 2011
• Apple Developer: iPhone Development Center