We’re aware that there are a fair number of Android devices out there, and that some of them are owned by King of Dragon Pass fans.
We also know that things have changed since we began development about 20 months ago. Unlike then, the Android Market is now available in Finland (which is one of our most important markets). And unlike then, the Android Market will now accept apps as large as King of Dragon Pass. (Sadly, we’ve heard about some problems facing developers with Amazon’s Android App Store.) So unlike when we started, an Android version is at least conceivable.
It would still face a number of hurdles. The biggest issue is the same one that the iOS version faced: King of Dragon Pass is a big game, with around 40 screens. We’ve worked out the new layout, but that’s for a 480 x 320 screen, and many Android devices vary. The UI would need to be reworked for a new API and a new language (i.e. all the code would need to be rewritten). Even if it’s easier the second time, it would still be a long-term project.
Is it financially worth undertaking such a major project? The easiest way to justify it would be if the iOS version sells really well. So ironically, the best way to convince us to port King of Dragon Pass to Android would be to buy it for iOS. (You don’t need an iPhone, after all. Used iPod touches are apparently under $100 on eBay, and if you want a larger screen, iPad is still the only choice that really makes sense.)
One thing hasn’t changed: A Sharp is still a small studio, and can only do one project at a time. (And we’re not done with iOS once the game releases. More on that in the next post.)
Thanks for the info. Here's one finn who's chained to this Android device for 14 more months. Fortunately I can play the original PC version, but I would buy the Android version in a flash if such would be available. KoDP has been fixed on my all-time top five games since it's debut. Been enthusiastically playing computer games for 30 years now so that's not a little thing to say. :P Amazing game with amazing atmosphere!
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to be buying an Apple to play the game, but if it ever rolls out for Android, I'd be all over it.
ReplyDeleteCome out with an Android version, and I'll update the FAQ.
ReplyDeleteIts nice to hear Finland is one of your largest markets. What can I say, we've got good taste (well, sometimes).
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see an Android port and would definitely buy it. I hope the iPhone version sells well enough to justify it - I for one have been eager to see a sequel or remake ever since the original.
Not going to buy an iDevice especially for this, but I'm likely to buy it if it comes out for Android.
ReplyDeleteWould a kickstarter project get you the funds to perform dual android development at the same time?
ReplyDeleteBruce is the only one to tempt me…
ReplyDeleteI don't know how well Kickstarter works with something sold through an app store — so far as I know there's no real way to directly reward contributors to say an iPhone sequel.
David Dunham:
ReplyDeleteFor Android, I'd say that it's possible to gift contributors with apps, or at least with the .apk (~= .exe)
I don't know much, though. Sorry if this is wrong.
Im Brazilian. Just bought the game for my ipad2 and love it. Asharp game is the most amazing strategy/rpg game for IOS devices. Me and others android phone owner(galaxy s2),really want the game for android.
ReplyDeleteI can't buy it for iOS to support the idea, but promise to buy it for two Android devices.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should think about creating a web version or implemented in Java and use an HTML interface. So the "android port" will also work properly on PCs
ReplyDeleteA brand new implementation is a brand new implementation — a LOT of work no matter what might run it.
ReplyDelete