Game development framework for iOS

Matej Jan (2011) Game development framework for iOS. EngD thesis.

Preview

PDF Download (7Mb)

Abstract

Many parts of source code in game development stay independent of gameplay. They are separated into program libraries for reuse on multiple projects and sharing between users. Game development identifies them on different levels, from lower level libraries and frameworks to higher level middleware and game engines. The thesis focuses on the development of XNI Framework, a mid-level static library for developing games for iOS devices. It is designed as a one-on-one class copy of Microsoft's XNA Framework due to our positive experience and high regard of its use in education. Our analysis of the differences between C# and Objective-C, as well as the respective environments of the source and target platforms, enabled us to develop useful techniques for translating code and reimplement the framework with iOS libraries. Throughout the iterative development, we perfected the workflow for producing, using and publishing a static library with Xcode. XNI was successfully used in practice, both in education and professional game development. We also identified many potential areas for improvement and provided solutions for their utilization. Our work is concluded with possible long-term direction of the framework with insights into both technical and economical aspects of its future.

Actions (login required)