Creating a game is an exciting and informative process. This is especially noticeable when you do a remake of the "classics" yourself, guided by the ideas of the original and the dozens of hours spent on the campaign. I didn’t have any significant development experience for Android "a, so the creation of a working" as it should "application for the tablet at first looked pretty foggy, but no less attractive. If you have the time and capabilities, you can dust off old games, grease and glue, adding support for "large" permissions and it turns out that they look no worse than modern products laid out on the market, even with the RGB565 palette without an alpha channel. I assumed that there would be pitfalls and carefully hidden rakes that lie quietly in development time, but it’s painfully hammering on the head, it’s worth starting the game on real hardware.What was missing was a debugger, and the problems that had arisen only strengthened the desire to achieve the goal. Under the cut will be a story about how it all worked.

  It is worth immediately warning that it will probably be a story about bicycles, I haven’t come up with anything that doesn’t google on the Internet. Also, the Reader is unlikely to see new solutions or mega technologies, but will find tried and tested instructions for building an application using SDL1 / 2 for Android.

3. creating a configuration file for building the game through libsdl-andlroid

In the source folder, you need to create or copy the AndroidAppSettings.cfg file from another project, below I have given its contents in my config
   comments are subject to deletion, also I omitted the default settings
  # The application settings for Android libSDL port
  # Name to be shown to user
  AppName \u003d "CaesarIA"
  # package name
  AppFullName \u003d net.dalerank.caesaria
  # internal version of the application
  AppVersionCode \u003d 1740
  # this version will be shown to the user
  AppVersionName \u003d "0.3.1740"
  # here you can specify a local or remote archive that will be unpacked after installation
  AppDataDownloadUrl \u003d "!! Game data is 100 Mb | cache.zip"
  # version of the library with which the application is being built (version 2.0 does not work)
  LibSdlVersion \u003d 1.2
  # screen orientation
  ScreenOrientation \u003d h
  # color depth, supported 16/24/32 - 16 the fastest, by eye differences are not noticeable
  VideoDepthBpp \u003d 16
  # This and the next two flags are responsible for connecting OpenGL to applications,
  # since I do not use GL, it makes no sense to connect them
  NeedDepthBuffer \u003d n
  NeedStencilBuffer \u003d n
  NeedGles2 \u003d n
  # flag is responsible for storing textures in RAM, if on a PC it did not cause problems, then
  # on android without this flag textures may not be displayed
  SwVideoMode \u003d y
  # mouse emulation, a flag is needed for the next two flags to work
  AppUsesMouse \u003d y
  # handling multiple simultaneous clicks
  AppUsesMultitouch \u003d y
  # emulation of pressing the right mouse button, tap the second finger
  AppNeedsTwoButtonMouse \u003d y
  # cursor display
  ShowMouseCursor \u003d n
  # in fact, yes should be here, but when this flag was turned on, the input field was not removed
  AppNeedsTextInput \u003d n
# permission to read from the drive
  AccessSdCard \u003d y
  # if the cache is pulled from the Internet, then you need to set it to yes
  AccessInternet \u003d n
  # the number of built-in virtual SDL buttons, I use my GUI, so there will be no buttons
  AppTouchscreenKeyboardKeysAmount \u003d 0
  # delay of the SDL splash screen before starting the application
  StartupMenuButtonTimeout \u003d 3000
  # under which abi will the application be built
  MultiABI \u003d armeabi-v7a
  # here you need to specify the library. in addition to sdl, which are needed for the application to work
  CompiledLibraries \u003d "sdl_mixer sdl_ttf lzma ogg"
  # additional compilation flags, I have RTTI and exceptions enabled
  AppCflags \u003d "- O2 -finline-functions -frtti -fexceptions"
  # here are the folders where you need to look for sources for the assembly, in addition to the current
  AppSubdirsBuild \u003d "dep dep / smk dep / aes dep / lzma dep / bzip2 dep / libpng source source / vfs source / core source / gfx source / game source / gui source / sound source / scene source / pathway source / walker source / objects source / good source / city source / events source / world source / religion "

4. setting the path to compile the desired application

   $ rm project / jni / application / src
   $ ln -s caeasaria project / jni / application / src

5. apk assembly

   $. / changeAppSettings.sh -a
   $ android update project -p project
   $. / build.sh

6. signing and installing the application on android

If everything compiles successfully, then the MainActivity - unsigned.apk file will appear in the commandergenius / project / bin folder, which you need to sign and install on the device.

  $ keytool -genkey -v -keystore rs.keystore -alias caesaria -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000
  $ jarsigner -verbose -sigalg SHA1withRSA -digestalg SHA1 -keystore rs.keystore ~ \u200b\u200b/ projects / commandergenius / project / bin / MainActivity-release-unsigned.apk caesaria
  $ mv ~ / projects / commandergenius / project / bin / MainActivity-release-unsigned.apk ~ / projects / caesaria.apk
  $ adb uninstall net.dalerank.caesaria
  $ adb install ~ / projects / caesaria.apk

Underwater rocks
  0. Definition of the environment: first you need to decide in which environment Windows, Linux or Linux Android will work.
  Solution: Check for ANDROID / __ ANDROID__ defines.

1. Logs: you can view error messages and other output through abd logcat, but as it turned out standard tools like stdout / printf do not work, you can of course use the output of the log to a file and watch it already, but I wanted some more familiar debugging.
  Solution: connect the header file of the android logs #include , and to display the message we use the function
   __android_log_print (ANDROID_LOG_DEBUG, CAESARIA_PLATFORM_NAME, "% s", str.c_str ());

With the familiar printf syntax.

2. Using OpenGL: if anyone needs OpenGL, then his close relative GLES lives on mobile platforms.
  Solution: connect instead of standard header files   and , there are slight differences in the use of textures and rendering, but basically the code (the simple code that I used) works almost unchanged.

3. Event handling: the SDL_MOUSEBUTTONUP event disappears when you move your finger across the screen, it could be a flaw in the libsdl-android library itself or I lost it somewhere. Sometimes it manifested itself in the absence of reaction of the interface elements to the actions you use, for example, after the movement, we stopped at the button, which in theory should go into the state if the mouse cursor is above it.
  Solution: Specifically for my application - when assembling for android, a forced update of the state of elements under the cursor was added when the latter was moving.

4. Small interface: the screen resolution of modern mobile devices is comparable or higher than the resolution of the monitor used 10-15 years ago, but the physical dimensions are much smaller, and therefore the user interface elements themselves look small and it will not always be convenient to use them.
  Solution: Altering the interface is a rather troublesome task and it is not always possible to maintain the original appearance.

One move equals two fires(folk wisdom)
  It all started with the fact that one of the committers sent a link to the development branch, where he successfully launched the game using the relatively fresh SDL2 library, and before that, the version SDL1.2 - 2008 release was used. I must say that I myself was considering the possibility of switching to a new version, especially after viewing, which promised normal support for Mac and Android, which is called “out of the box”. And then there was a mini-vacation at work, taking a sledgehammer with a bigger guide and a big cup of coffee, I began to transfer the remake to a new “engine”.
I don’t want to bore the reader with the technical details of the move, just at the very library with the advent of hardware support, the ideology of work changed, which at first caused certain difficulties until I got used to it. The move lasted for a week evenings and in the end was a correction of the remaining defects and graphic artifacts. The alterations were completed and the assemblies were prepared for the "large" OS, and again there was a need to re-read the manuals for building the application for Android, because libsdl-android is normally adapted to work with SDL1.2, and SDL2 support seems to be abandoned (as the authors themselves and write in readme)

Hidden text

The libsdl.org now has an official SDL 1.3 Android port, which is more recent and
  better suited for creating new applications from scratch, this port is focused mainly
  on SDL 1.2 and compiling existing applications, it "s up to you to decide which port is better.
  Also this port is developed very slowly, although the same is true for an official port.

I realized the veracity of this text when several hours were spent trying to start the port in the old configuration via libsdl-android. Well, negative experience is also experience: I will use the available tools.

Attempt number two, not entirely successful
  SDL2 already contains all the necessary configs for building the application for android, after reading what is recommended on the official website, you can try to collect something. Again, there will be a few steps, except for installing and configuring adt.

0. copying the example from the SDL2 delivery

  $ git clone bitbucket.org/dalerank/caesaria
   $ hg clone hg.libsdl.org/SDL
   $ mkdir caesaria / android
   $ cp sdl / android-project caesaria / android
   $ mkdir caesaria / android / libs
   $ mkdir caesaria / android / data
   $ cp SDL caesaria / android / libs

Why are all these copies made ??? to make it easier to read relative paths for libraries. In the android / libs folder there will be SDL and the company, in the android / data folder there will be an application icon.

1. creating a folder structure for the project

In folder   android / android-project / jni   create symbolic links to application components

   $ ln -s ../../libs/SDL SDL
   $ ln -s ../../libs/SDL_mixer SDL_mixer
   $ ln -s ../../libs/SDL_net SDL_net
   $ ln -s ../../src/dep/aes aes
   $ ln -s ../../src/source application
   $ ln -s ../../src/dep/bzip2 bzip2
   $ ln -s ../../src/dep/freetype freetype
   $ ln -s ../../src/dep/libpng libpng
   $ ln -s ../../src/dep/lzma lzma
   $ ln -s ../../src/dep/smk smk
   $ ln -s ../../src/dep/src src
   $ ln -s ../../src/dep/ttf ttf
   $ ln -s ../../src/dep/zlib zlib

A little about what I wrote here:
  zlib is needed to build freetype, which in turn is needed for SDL_ttf and will be responsible for rendering fonts.
  The smk library is needed to play videos in the smack format, the videos of the original game are made in this format.
  Bzip, lzma and aes are needed to work with zip archives.
  libpng is required to load textures for the game.
  SDL, SDL_mixer, SDL_net are responsible for drawing, working with sound and network, respectively.
  application contains the source code of the game itself, which will be compiled into the libapplication.so library
  in the src folder are the sources of the libmain.so library, but for it a lace of java-calls above the c-code is already written for it, which will allow us to successfully start and please the user with a bright picture.
  Project settings and configs for ndk are already kindly provided by the authors of SDL2

2. writing configs for assembling game components

In order for the build system to see which libraries we need to work and assemble them, we need to write configs for them, like Makefile. With a high probability Android.mk will already be present in the library repository, or they can be found on the Internet. I had to add build configs for the game and the libsmk library.

Android.mk for libsmk is very simple and will be understandable to people who are not related to android programming
# smk / Android.mk
  LOCAL_PATH: \u003d $ (call my-dir)

Include $ (CLEAR_VARS)

LOCAL_MODULE: \u003d smk
   $ (wildcard $ (LOCAL_PATH) / *. c))

The config contains an instruction to compile all files with the extension .with,   found in the current folder (for libsmk it will be jni / smk)

Similarly, the config is written to build the library, which will represent the game itself.

# application / Android.mk
  LOCAL_PATH: \u003d $ (call my-dir)
  include $ (CLEAR_VARS)

LOCAL_MODULE: \u003d application

SDL_PATH: \u003d ../../libs/SDL
  SDL_MIXER_PATH: \u003d ../../libs/SDL_mixer
  SDL_NET_PATH: \u003d ../../libs/SDL_net
  GAME_PATH: \u003d $ (LOCAL_PATH)
  DEP_PATH: \u003d ../dep

$ (LOCAL_PATH) / $ (SDL_PATH) / include \\
   $ (LOCAL_PATH) / $ (SDL_MIXER_PATH) \\
   $ (LOCAL_PATH) / $ (SDL_NET_PATH) / include \\
   $ (LOCAL_PATH) / $ (FREETYPE_PATH) / include \\
   $ (LOCAL_PATH) / $ (GAME_PATH) \\
   $ (LOCAL_PATH) / $ (DEP_PATH) \\
   $ (LOCAL_PATH) / $ (DEP_PATH) / libpng

  # Add your application source files here ...
  LOCAL_SRC_FILES: \u003d $ (subst $ (LOCAL_PATH) /, \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / core / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / vfs / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / objects / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / gui / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / city / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / gfx / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / events / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / world / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / pathway / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / walker / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / good / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / religion / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / scene / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / sound / *. cpp) \\
   $ (wildcard $ (GAME_PATH) / game / *. cpp))

LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES: \u003d SDL2 SDL2_mixer SDL2_net sdl_ttf pnggo lzma bzip2 aes smk
  LOCAL_CPP_FEATURES + \u003d exceptions
  LOCAL_CPP_FEATURES + \u003d rtti
  LOCAL_LDLIBS: \u003d -lGLESv1_CM -llog

Include $ (BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)

It should also be clear, in LOCAL_C_INCLUDES it adds paths where you need to look for header files, in LOCAL_SRC_FILES we add files with source code,
  in LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES we write application dependencies.

Flags rtti, exceptions   Responsible for using RTTI and exceptions.

3. assembly

$ cd android-project
   $ android update project -p. -t android-15
   $ ndk-build V \u003d 1
   $ ant
   $ ant install

  Theoretically, after performing the described steps on the connected device or emulator, you will see the installed application.

Rake
  1. Where to look for resources ???
  The placement of resources depends on the particular OS implementation, but in most cases the folder will be accessible to the application   / sdcard / Android / data / package_name / files, when using the path directly, there may be an access error or a file search error.
  The full path to the application directory can be obtained through the SDL_AndroidGetExternalStoragePath () function defined in the SDL_system.h file
  2. Using window creation flags.
Combination SDL_WINDOW_OPENGL | SDL_WINDOW_SHOWN | SDL_WINDOW_BORDERLESS does not work on all devices, remove SDL_WINDOW_OPENGL or SDL_WINDOW_BORDERLESS and see which flag crashes the program. I can’t explain what this behavior is connected with. With the flag SDL_WINDOW_SHOWN, it logs one-on-one along the logs, as with all flags, but the probability of departure is much less.
  3. Too many audio channels.
  There are crashes when calling the function SDL_mixer :: Mix_AllocateChannels (N\u003e 16) with the error that it is impossible to initialize the sound. It is by reducing the requested number of channels, how correctly to solve this problem in this way I do not know.
  4. stlport vs gnustl
  Crash when using stlport, ran into this bug when traversing a vector using iterators on the Nexus 7 emulator (Android 4.0.3). Again, I can not explain the fact of this error, I decided to use gnustl when building the application.
  5. My kungfu is stronger than yours.
  Using a library with a name similar to the name of the one already in the system leads to the loading of someone else's library, which may not have the necessary functions. The error appeared due to the fact that I am building my version of libpng.so, the solution was found on stackoverflow, it was fixed by replacing the library name libpng.so   on the libpnggo.so

In custody...
  Works! Almost no different from BB! Am i satisfied Not really!

The thing is, I’m krivoruyi roofing felts, skiing felts do not go, but on the tablet the application turned out to be extremely slow (10-12 fps for an extremely simple picture, the result is dull), I think the fault is in the hands and ignorance of the materiel. SDL is a great library in both reincarnations, and a lot really good games   uses it as well as add tags

Today, most users of phones and tablets are happy to go through a new circle all the toys that previously went only to a personal computer. There are cropped utilities, redone for a new one operating system, and there are fully ported games on Android. Do you want to play the best ported apps?

Screenshots

Game process

The first application in the list of ported games from PC to Android is the legendary RPG strategy, which has won more than one heart of gamers. Most users have known this utility since '98. Now she has appeared on devices and continues to delight her fans.

After launch, you have the opportunity to look at the tips for managing the character, for this you just need to click on the Tutorial key. Then you can choose the standard version of the utility or download an additional storyline, but it is better to start from scratch.

After watching the initial video, you can:

• start a single player game;
• download multiplayer to play with friends;
• enter the settings to change the language and sound volume.

After the initial settings, you need to decide on the character, in the utility there is an opportunity to take an existing hero or create an evil fighter on your own. To create, you need to click on the Create button, then you should select the gender, race, clan and other characteristics.

Additional buttons are located on the left side of the display. You can see information about quests by clicking on the compass, a transition to the utility map takes place. In order to look at the backpack, you need to click on the image of the sword and bag, and to download the data of the hero you need to click on the picture with the man.

  The main mission of the utility is to defeat enemies and attract as many people as possible. The game has collected about a hundred different magic spells, more than 40 different classes, more than sixty hours of playing time.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• great graphics;
• beautiful plot;
• many clans;
• good music.

The lack of utility in the absence of the Russian language, which complicates the passage for the novice gamer. The application weighs a lot, so you can not download it to every device.

Download

Max payne

Screenshots

Game process

Max Payne is a first-class shooter with its own interesting plot. Max was a respectable policeman who once went to a group of very serious criminals. The bandits tried to persuade Payne not to touch them, but decency and faith in justice did not allow Payne to retreat from his goal. Then the criminals decided to kill the whole family of the character, after that the whole life of Max changed ...

By running the utility, you can undergo training, adjust touch control to your desires, turn on the display of the virtual joystick, and also enable automatic saving and changing of weapons. There are four levels to the application:

• fugitive;
• hard-boiled;
• dead upon arrival;
• time is running out.

Initially, you can play only at the first level. To open the next episodes, you must go through the previous ones. The application begins with a short movie, the same as it was once on a personal computer. The hero talks about his past, how he lived until the death of his wife and daughter and after their death.

Entering the house, the hero understands something is wrong, then he sees the image of a syringe on the wall and hears his wife scream. He kills three people who were dressed in the clothes of doctors, but Max does not have time to save the family. The killers of the family were pumped up with some new narcotic substance, and this prompted the character to go to the anti-drug authorities.

At the top of the screen a silhouette of a person is drawn, it shows the standard of living of the main character. To increase vitality, you need to look for first-aid kits. On the right side you can see the image of the pistol, by clicking on it the ability to shoot appears, at the top you can see the number of rounds.

If you need to change weapons, click on the arrow above. If an exclamation mark appears on the screen, this means that there is some kind of object nearby that needs special attention. There are virtual joysticks for moving and turning the camera, their location can be changed in the settings.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• great storyline;
• there is access to the auto sight;
• completely in Russian;
• many settings.

The utility is inferior in graphics compared to other games of a similar type.

Download

Worms 2: Armageddon

Screenshots

Game process

War worms have long migrated to phones and tablets. One of top versionsAccording to most users, Armageddon is considered. It was initially possible to get acquainted with the utility on a PC, but those who have not played this funny toy before can start a battle on the device.

Having entered the application, you can choose the level of difficulty, from the most elementary to the class of gurus in battles. Each level has a specific time for the round and for the implementation of the move. Scrolling further you can see the options for ammunition that will be available during the mission. Let's say 90 minutes of playing time are allotted in an easy level, for each worm the life span will be one hundred percent full.

Initially, 50 gold is given by clicking once on the image of coins, an automatic transition to the utility store takes place. In the store you can buy a worm hats for protection and more interesting design, buy additional weapons, forts and even tombstones.

If you have never played, then you can go through a training battle. Having mastered the basics, there is an option to start a single player game or go into multiplayer to fight with friends. The utility has the ability to change weapons, zoom in or out worms. The application contains all the weapons that were previously on the PC. The essence of the game is to kill all the worms of the enemy.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• great graphics;
• large selection of weapons;
• many rooms.

The disadvantage is the lack of a Russian translation.

Download

Summary

Each of the programs reviewed deserves special attention. If you love RPG, then do not miss the opportunity to play in Baldur’s Gate, for fans of shooters the legendary Max Payne game is suitable, but for raising the mood worms will become irreplaceable.