endloop blog

Hi everyone,

Check out our new iMockups v1.0.9 Features video. You can now share your iMockup projects with fellow iMockup users with a new project import/export feature plus 100 new icons. Enjoy!!

iMockups v1.0.9 was just submitted. Lets hope that all goes well and you will have the update in less than a week.

Thank you for all your support and feedback! We appreciate your contribution in helping us make iMockups better. You can also help iMockups by leaving a rating or review on the iTunes store. Much appreciated!!

New Feature & Changes:

- Export Projects via Email as iMockups Files - You can now email iMockups projects as .iMockups files. Backup, transfer and share your iMockups projects quickly and easily via email!
- iMockups now recognizes .iMockups files so you can import project files from other iPad apps like Mail, DropBox, Box.net, etc.
- Project File Management - You can now manage, backup and sync your iMockups Project files via iTunes.
- New Clone Project button is now available from the Projects View. This will allow you to quickly create copies of existing projects (or template projects) as new projects.
- 116 new Icon Images: You can now change the default Icon image to one of 116 new pre-rendered icons. More to come in future updates - requests welcome!
- New UI Control: Picker for iOS mockups
- Popover Control now has an option to change the direction of the arrow pointer
- iPhone and iPad Tab Bars now have a switch to hide the default icons displayed
- Back button now has an option to reverse the arrow to a Forward button

Bug Fixes:
- Fixed a bug where iMockups would crash on launch
- Fixed a bug where the Page scroller would get stuck when launching in Landscape mode

*UPDATE: here’s a the video guide for v1.07 of iMockups*

Hey folks,

I just wanted to let you know that we’re pushing out update v1.07 very shortly.

Due to high demand, the latest feature in v1.07 is Import Image.

• To use this feature, just drag an Image object onto your mockup and open the info panel.
• Resize the image object to your desired size first, then open the info panel for that object
  You’ll see an Import Image button.
• Tap that and you will be able to choose an image from your Photo Gallery

Please note that importing images can be very memory intensive and we’re going to do some compression of the image upon import otherwise the iPad will run out of memory quickly. Be careful not to import too many large images into your mockup.

Ok on to stuff that we’re working on for future updates:

• Grouping: you will be able to group a selection of objects and also resize them as a group
• Colours: you will be able to pick a colour for the background and the border/outline for any UI object
• More UI objects and updated features for current objects
• Balsamiq export
• Import/Export using iTunes shared file system

We want to continue updating iMockups far into the future and make this the best wireframe app possible. Please remember to rate and/or review new versions of iMockups on your iTunes as we need your support.

Thanks!
Ken Seto
CEO, Endloop Studios

Moar Cake

We just got back from 360iDev in San Jose and had an awesome time! Great to see old friends and meet new developers. If you’re an iPhone developer and haven’t gone to a 360iDev yet, you’re definitely missing out. It truly is one of the best, friendliest and most fun of all the conferences we go to.

And one of the best things about it this year was the Touch Arcade Game Jam. So many awesome developers, game dev veterans and novices, showed up and created some amazing concepts and games. This time, we teamed up with the awesome guys at Retro Dreamer and in a little over 9 hours, we managed to crank out Cake Defence!

Basically, you are a giant wedding cake and you have to defend yourself against the hungry masses. You do this by dishing out slices of cake (using tilt controls to aim) to appease and eventually defeat them. As you send out the cake though, you get smaller which means you have less cake to dish out - fortunately, this replenishes over time though. We even managed to include some powerups like Power Cake, Multi-Cake and even Infinite Cake.

We hope to have a video up soon, but in the mean time, here are some delicious screenshots.

Bankshot

We’ve just released Bankshot Ad-Free, which is essentially the same game as Bankshot but, well, without ads! We didn’t think ads bothered anyone (they don’t bother us), but you spoke and we listened, so now we’ve made an ad-free option available. It’s available on the App Store now!

Also, if you’re still not convinced it’s fun, check out these reviews:
TUAW.com

Bankshot delivers a quick hit of fun.
It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s the perfect kind of game to just pull up and play when you only need a few minutes of distraction.
If you want a quick arcade hit to play during your next few iPhone breaks, definitely pick it up.

iPhoneFreak.com

Like TRON, Paper Toss or Air Hockey? Check out the Bankshot game, its fun and free!
From time to time I sit and waste some time playing games on my iPhone, but given that I am far from a gamer the games I play are simple. I prefer the ones that you can pick up and put down with ease such as Bejewled, Peggle, TapTap, LED Football and Flight Control. I am also pretty cheap when it comes to purchasing games.
Given that I was happy to discover a new game called Bankshot. And it hit me right from the description…

Yes, that’s right, we’re looking to expand! Check out the job posting below and if you fit the bill, we’d love to talk to you!

————————————-
Endloop is a boutique iPhone App and Games development shop based in Toronto, Ontario that started in 2009. In a short period of time, we’ve developed some pretty cool apps and games and started to build a growing client base.

We are looking for a junior, rockstar developer (preferably a recent grad, looking to learn), who wants to develop and create awesome iPhone apps/games – plain and simple. You will be involved in anything and everything related to iPhone and game development.

Obviously, you should also love Apple, Macs, iPhones, iPods and, yes, even the iPad, despite its name (but we’ll forgive you if you don’t like Apple TV – neither do we).

The ideal candidate will have some or all of the following skills:

Objective-C
Xcode w/ iPhone SDK (and Instruments)
Core Animation, Quartz 2D, Open GL-ES
Cocos2D, Unity3D, Torque
Box2D / Chipmunk

You should also be:

- Brilliant. Like ridiculously smart and can learn and soak up knowledge like a sponge.
- Passionate about something (preferably iPhone or game development)
- Code master (OOP a must, game dev would be awesome)
- Gamer and gadget freak

Have your own apps/games on the App store or in the approval process? Show us your apps for BIG bonus points.

No recruiters, please.

Email: jobs [at] endloop.ca
Website: http://www.endloop.ca

Yay! It’s great to be recognized for our hard work but it’s even better when it’s the fans that voted for us! Thanks for all your support, Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers was awarded 3rd Best Card Game of 2009 in the Best App Ever Awards!

We’re stoked about this because although, it wasn’t 1st place, we are in great company with Apple just ahead of us and then the biggest iPhone game developer on the planet, Gameloft, in 1st place. As in Indie Dev, it’s humbling to just be mentioned with those two!

Again, thanks for all the support and encouragement. 2010 is going to be an even better year!

We’re putting up Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers (recently selected as Apple Staff Favourites in App Store!) for the Best Card Game category in the Best App Ever awards.

If you’d like to support us, please nominate here: http://bestappever.com/c/crgm/339038562/nom

Arcade Solitaire iTunes link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arcade-solitaire-tritowers/id339038562?mt=8

Mobile Orchard is one of the judges and they are going to nominate their favourite apps from their readers, read all about it here at Moblie Orchard.

So what makes Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers is worthy of Best Card Game?

• Only card game in the App Store that displays, in real time, your progression through the leaderboard ranks while you play!
• Unique mashup of arcade action (timer, lives, rounds, combos, and rankings) with super addictive TriTowers/TriPeaks solitaire gameplay
• Highly polished graphics (over 30 backgrounds and decks, particle effects), sounds, and extremely fast and responsive touch controls

Here is what other people and review sites think:

★★★★★ “Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers is one seriously addictive game and is easily our top choice for solitaire on the platform.”
– AppAddict.net
http://appaddict.net/2009/11/28/arcade-solitaire-tritowers-who-knew-playing-by-yourself-could-be-this-much-fun/

★★★★★ “This is such a fantastic game… the presentation is absolutely flawless…it’d be a bargain at four times the price.”
– AppGirlReviews.com
http://appgirlreviews.com/arcade-solitaire-tritowers/”

★★★★ “Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers is one of the most addictive games I have encountered for the iPhone.”
– TouchGen.net
http://www.touchgen.net/arcade-solitaire-tritowers-review

★★★★ “One of the most addicting and amusing solitaire games on the App Store.”
– iphoneincanada.ca
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca/reviews/game-review-arcade-solitaire-tritowers-for-iphone/

Thanks for your support!!

A few more glowing reviews for Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers have popped up!

SlideToPlay

Solitaire is something mere mortals are helpless against. Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers is no exception. Early on, its clean graphics, gentle sounds, and smooth animation lull you into a state of euphoria. Then the simplicity of the gameplay– tapping on cards one higher or lower than the one in play– binds your animal brain so that you can hardly think.

Your global ranking is tracked in real time in the corner of the screen, and you can watch it soar ever higher as you play, pumping happy chemicals into your brain. The end of each round leads into the beginning of the next, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.

But you wouldn’t want to– you’re hooked. Our advice? Buy it. Love it. Surrender to it.

Casual Gameplay

One of the smoothest implementations of TriTowers on the App Store, this one not only looks great, it plays well and has some unlockables to boot!

And for anyone that can read German, I *think* this was a good review.

TapToPlay - 5/5 stars
Here’s the original German:

Gelungene Bedienung, Darstellung und Suchtpotential - TriTowers überzeugt und ist mit 79 Cent ein wahres Schnäppchen.

And the Google translated English:

Convinced Successful operation, presentation and addictive - TriTowers and is 79 cents a true bargain.

And the great reviews keep on pouring in!

AppAddict.net - 5/5 stars

Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers from Endloop Systems is one seriously addictive game and is easly our top choice for solitaire on the platform. Frankly we cannot believe we are THIS excited about a solitaire game, but the guys at Endloop obviously put a lot of time and thought into crafting a well balanced game, requiring a nice blend of both strategy and luck.

AppGirlReviews.com - 10/10 stars

If you’ve ever had even a small amount of fun playing Solitaire, you owe it to yourself to give Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers a try. I’ve never been a huge fan of card-based games, and yet I’ve spent many hours playing this little treasure. For the introductory price of 99 cents, this game is a no-brainer; however, it’d be a bargain at four times the price. Here’s the bottom line: the only thing wrong with Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers is the fact that your boss probably won’t accept it as an excuse for being late to work.

AppAdvice.com - 3.5/5 stars

Arcade Solitaire: Tri Towers is the best version of Tri Towers in the App Store … The scoring system, time constraints, flair, and online high scores present solitaire in a whole new way.

Another great review of Arcade Solitaire:TriTowers, this time from TouchGen.net!

Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers is one of the most addictive games I have encountered for the iPhone. Basically what developer Endloop Systems Inc. managed to do is to merge solitaire with arcade action.

The game looks bright, and sparkly with some really snazzy effects when you clear a lot of cards in a row.

There are no less than 30 decks and backgrounds to unlock, and you can combine them however you want to. The sound consists of chirpy sound effects, and you can play your own music alongside them.

Arcade Solitaire: TriTowers is a great time waster that takes the already addictive solitaire into arcade territory. At the introductory price of $0.99 it is an absolute steal, and even at $2.99 it will be easy for me to recommend.

4/5 Stars

You can read the full review here: TouchGen.net Reviews Arcade Solitaire:TriTowers