Frequently Asked Questions

From Pixelwave

Documentation > Frequently Asked Questions

This section is currently under construction and will be updated soon.

1 Getting Started

1.1 I'm new to coding, should I use Pixelwave?

Yes, but you should learn the basics of iOS programming first. Pixelwave provides a simple software development kit (SDK) that programmers can leverage to make the task of creating games and interactive applications easier. While there are several game development tools for non-programmers, to make a truly unique experience we believe at least some programming experience is necessary.

1.2 What tools do I need in order to run Pixelwave?

You should have a machine running Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or higher, the latest version of Xcode, and the iOS SDK. You can download Apple's developer tools for free from http://developer.apple.com/iphone.

To run your app on an iOS device you'll of course need to be enrolled in Apple's iOS Developer Program.

1.3 What language is Pixelwave written in?

Pixelwave is a native iOS framework and is written in Objective-C. There are some parts of the framework which are written in C for extra performance, but they are completely hidden from the average user.

1.4 What devices does Pixelwave run on?

Every version of the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

1.5 Can I use Pixelwave to make 3D games?

While Pixelwave is built on top of OpenGL, a 3D GPU accelerated library, it is designed with 2D applications in mind. It is of course possible to add support for some 3D effects, but for a full-blown 3D engine we suggest using one of the many open-source solutions available.

1.6 I'm a Flash developer, will that help me learn Pixelwave?

Sure! Almost all of the Pixelwave API is based on ActionScript 3.0. While Pixelwave is written in Objective-C, and some things were changed to fit better into the mobile paradigm, developers with AS3 experience and some Objective-C knowledge should be able to dive right in and start using the framework without even reading through the documentation.

1.7 How much does Pixelwave cost?

Pixelwave is a free, open-source project. It is released under the permissive zlib license

1.8 What's the best way to start?

Check out the getting started guide.

1.9 Who made Pixelwave?

Pixelwave is the product of Spiralstorm Games. It started as an internal tool that became a public open-source project.

While contributions from the community are important (if not crucial) to Pixelwave's development, it is also backed by a passionate and experienced development team with the full-time job of making Pixelwave awesome.

1.10 Do woodchucks REALLY chuck wood?

I'm not sure, but this guy seems to have the answer.

2 Graphics

2.1 What makes the Pixelwave renderer fast?

While Pixelwave provides a clean and object-oriented API, it does a lot behind the scenes to make your apps run as efficiently as they can. The 3 main reasons for Pixelwave's performance are:

It's hardware accelerated

Everyone knows that the GPU rules and the CPU droolz.

The core is written in C

To squeeze the most out of the processor, Pixelwave uses efficient C code under the hood to handle key engine tasks.

It's intelligent

Pixelwave doesn't just naively translate your scene's geometry to GPU commands. It always tries to consolidate expensive operations and avoid redundant calls. Traditionally these tasks would be handled by the user, but Pixelwave uses several clever techniques to make them as simple and invisible as possible.

2.2 Can I write my own rendering code for Pixelwave

Yes. You can inject your own rendering code into Pixelwave display objects. Get ready to get down and dirty with some C and OpenGL.

For more information check out the section 'Extending Pixelwave' in the manual.

2.3 What version of OpenGL does Pixelwave use?

Currently Pixelwave supports OpenGL ES 1.1. Support for OpenGL ES 2.0 is planned for a later release.