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        Arimaa >> General Discussion >> iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
        
(Message started by: omar on Jun 24^th, 2010, 5:38pm)

Title: iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
Post by omar on Jun 24^th, 2010, 5:38pm

It's finally here!!! The iPhone app just went live in the app store.

I would like to thank Ken, Bruno, Naveed, Osman and Aamir for helping to test it. Also Avri for helping me with writing up the description in the app store. And of course Martti for making it happen. It's been about 6 months in the making.

This app has a bot built in to allow local playing. It also has a two player mode so you can pass the device and play with a friend. It does not have an online playing mode (we planned to do that in the future, if the Safari browser continues to not be able to play in the gameroom using the JavaScript client).

For strong Arimaa players the bot in this app is not going to pose much of a challenge. It is a modified version of the bot that was contributed by Ola Hansson (available on the Downloads page). The CPU on an iPhone is not very powerful (under 600MHz) compared to desktop computers; and the RAM on an iPhone is only about 128 MB. But for beginners it is strong enough to give an exciting game and train them on the rules, the interface and some fundamental tactics. That's why we called it 'Arimaa Trainer'.

For advanced Arimaa players there is the option to play with handicap and fast timed games. The app allows moving pieces off the board during the setup stage so you don't need to use steps to suicide pieces in the first move. Also a timer can be used so you have to move quickly; but the timer only applies to you and not the bot :-) making the game difficult even for advanced players.

Both beginners and advanced players will like the two player mode which essentially turns the app into an Arimaa game set and clock you can carry in your pocket. The app can be setup to auto-rotate the board so if sitting side by side with your opponent you can just pass the iPhone to each other and easily enter moves. The app can also be setup to auto-rotate the whole app so that if you are sitting across the table from your opponent, you can just place the iPhone or iPad on the table between you. Combining the two player mode with the timer allows for serious competitive games.

The game interface of the app is very nice. Pieces can be moved by just dragging them around and the app keeps track of how many steps have been used.

The app was tested on the iPhone, iPad and iTouch.

We priced the app at $9.99 since that's about how much the full version of chess apps are priced at. But of course there's a big difference in the size of the chess community and Arimaa community :-) We are also planning to release a free version in about a week. But it will not have the two player mode or more levels of bot strength. The free version is intended to give people who know nothing about Arimaa a chance to learn the rules and see what the game is like.

So please try it out, rate it and write a review. Thanks.

Title: Re: iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
Post by knarl on Jun 24^th, 2010, 7:54pm

Well done!

I'm suprised the iphone browser doesn't work with the javascript gameroom client. I thought safari was powered by web-kit, which is the open source browser project that powers the default android browser as well.

The android browser works very well. The only thing that doesn't work for me so far is the expert mode.

Maybe it would be possible/easy to write a front-end to webkit that uses the javascript client to play on the gameroom, but would look like a standalone iphone app or android app.

Cheers,
knarl.

Title: Re: iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
Post by fraaz101 on Aug 7^th, 2010, 9:08am

:o :oTHAT IS SO COOL I CANT BELIEVE THEY REALLY MADE AN APP FOR ARIMAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

Title: Re: iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
Post by omar on Aug 21^st, 2010, 4:32pm

Yep, try it out if you get a chance. We had some issues with the pushing step getting registered twice, but its been fixed now.

Title: Re: iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
Post by mistre on Aug 10^th, 2011, 2:37pm

I just recently got an iPad2 and I wanted to see if it was possible to play Arimaa on it.

So I went to the website and everything loaded fine and I played a bot game. Everything worked fine except that in order to move pieces you have to click on the piece and then click on the square you want it to move to which is a bit tedious.

So, I was thinking it would be really neat if there was an way to play Arimaa on the iPad which would make use of the iPad's ability to swipe in order to move pieces.

Then I came across this App, but it appears to be limited in its applicability (no full-screen mode, can't play online, etc.)

So, I am wondering if a client can be made to work specifically with the iPad? Or do you have to go the App route?

Title: Re: iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
Post by VinceS on Aug 15^th, 2011, 12:49am

Yes ... a client for the arimaa gameroom on the ipad would be great!!

Title: Re: iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
Post by Hippo on Aug 8^th, 2012, 5:12pm

There is bug in the immobilisation detection in the application. Pushes are not considered in the test.

Title: Re: iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
Post by qswanger on Oct 16^th, 2013, 8:59pm

Is anyone else experiencing issues with the Arimaa Trainer app since the release of iOS7? I have the latest iPad (version 4?) and the app will now no longer let me access its menu button. Frustrating!

Title: Re: iPhone app 'Arimaa Trainer'
Post by qswanger on Oct 16^th, 2013, 9:10pm

Oh, and by the way, there now seems to be an Arimaa Puzzles app in the AppStore too! Free initially, but it appears the have some in-app purchases. I downloaded it, but haven't tried it out yet.