iBath is a charming physics technology demo that also doubles up as a pacifier for young kids.

$0.99 / 69p price range (Tier1)

http://itunes.apple.com/app/ibath/id486196001?ls=1&mt=8

If you would like more information or a Promotional Code please write to hello@dadako.com.
Images are also available in a zipped file here.

Video promo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED8v_brIUUU

Ripple effect can be seen in action here: http://vimeo.com/33961381

In this post I’ll talk about the following:

• Feedback from iBath 1.1
• Issues faced
• Changes I’ve made
• New features
• Easter egg

Feedback from iBath 1.1

After an initial release of iBath, and largely giving it away to friends with toddlers / little people in tow, I’ve had quite a swathe of feedback. Kotaku reviewer and father to a young’en Brian Ashcraft noted (quite rightly) that the icons were too close together on the iPhone layout, which caused erroneous taps for yet to be dextrous digits.

James Bowskill of ACO in Tokyo noted that those over the ages of about 4 didn’t really have enough to do and were soon sidetracked by Robot building apps (like the awesome Toca Robot Lab by TocaBoca). Those of a younger age seemed to be entirely engrossed by tapping ducks however.

Others noted that it would be nice to have some other objects fall into the bath.

It was noted that the “info” button was being tapped incessantly by a few, so this needed some kind of solution.

Thank you to everyone who sent in pictures of their kids using the app, for me this was the unexpected part of the project (lets face it, who isn’t snap happy with their own kids?!) and it was heart warming to see. It’s always nice to see people using software I have built.

Issues faced

Directly from the outset, I noticed the app was over the 20mb limit most countries have on 3G network downloads. This can be a death sentence for apps like iBath, as Apple don’t really offer any kind of bookmarking system for iTunes. You get a warning dialogue and are off to check another app, entirely forgetting the one you have just seen.

To bring down the file size I had to make some tough calls. In the end it was at the sacrifice of Ambient Music and some textures.

iBath is deathly slow on iPhone4, iPhone3G, iPad1. This escaped me largely because I was focussing on iPad2 and iPhone4S. Not that anyone has actually complained, but seeing it run for the first time on iPad1, my heart sank into my gut. This had to be fixed, and I knew that wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

Changes I’ve made

Concerning filesize, I’ve hopefully squeezed the app into something like 19.9mb. ( ! )

Overhaul of the water system; this now degrades gracefully over all handsets, even works fairly fast on the iPhone3G – which is some kind of miracle – the thing slowing this down is my quest for nice shiny, ripply, water on iOS. Easier said than done.

L.O.D. has been implemented (Lots.Of.Ducks, a great quip from Phil Harrison showing of the Playstation3 at E3 in 2005) – it’s basically a system whereby one loads lower detail graphics as the scene becomes more intense or objects are father away and don’t need such high detail. This was a great learning experience (iBath is), much hair pulling later.

iBath is now insanely fast and an utter joy to use on all platforms.

I’ve moved the icons around a bit.

Info is now contained in the splash screen, I toyed around with the idea of having this info in the iPhones settings app, but it looked like way too much work for something so miniscule. Actually the new splash screen takes you into the app directly. As noted by friend and fellow app designer James Bowskill, confident apps have no splash screen. Gimme a slice of that.

New features

Icons have changed slightly to include a new option: Camera Switch. (4 views)

(side view)

(bottom view & angled view)

You can also notice that horizontal views are now supported by both the cameras and icons. (this took an age to program)

With the new re-arangement of the icons on iPhone it should make for less erroneous taps.

This icon layout on iPad is slightly different:

All in all it was quite a slog adding these new features, and improving the water’s performance on different devices. A heck of a lot of programming went into making a sleek and responsive system that dynamically degrades the graphics based on performance, that is constantly comparing and altering it’s self. High tech for ducks in a bath.

iBath 1.2 is now with Apple waiting for review, you can find the current version here, or watch this lovely video:

Easter Egg

More observant of you might have noticed a new item in those screens above… I didn’t want to alter iBath too much with new items, as ducks are what it’s all about. (Heck, open Twitter call for suggestions returned everything from Poo to Severed body parts.) So I added something of a secret to the app that seasoned gamers might find:

Firstly, if you are in the bottom view, tapping ducks has the opposite effect (sends them skywards):

If you keep tapping, the duck will keep gaining altitude! At a certain height, this will unlock the TACO! (octopus)

Secret 2 is a little harder to unlock, as now ascending ducks has no effect. Sending the TACO skyward however, will unlock a secret screen giving you stats on your interaction with iBath:

Our secret.

Wish it could be bath time, all the time? Now it can! Play with iBath simulator. Charming 3D graphics with realistic Physics.

This application is highly recommended as a playful treat for iPad2 users with a Smart Cover.

Although iBath was designed with tiny humans in mind, it has been tried and tested on humans of all sizes and ages.

Submitted to Apple on Monday 12th. This one is in 3D (dimensions, not vision!) and runs universally on iPad and iPhone.

Often the approval process can take anything from 7 to 14 days (or longer in certain cases) – always a nerve-wracking time, and sometimes apps are rejected, then you need to make a change or two and jump in at the back of the queue again. I have everything crossed, down to my eyes.

Without giving too much away, the app is aimed at young kids as a virtual toy.

More info as it happens!

[update]

Obviously, that app was iBath!

Tilterpillar is a Game for the iPhone, taking the old concept of “snake” style games (you might remember from old b&w screen phones) and basing it around a caterpillar who eats leaves.

$0.99 / 69p price range (Tier1)

http://itunes.apple.com/app/tilterpillar/id430785167?ls=1&mt=8

Tilterpillar 1.1

• - Fun “snake” game mechanic.
• - GameCenter integration; Score, Achievements.
• - Retina Display graphics.
• - Non violent, non death game suitable for kids.
• - Superb audio track by Ragething.
• - iPod custom audio support.

Available on the App Store!

If you would like more information or a Promotional Code please write to hello@dadako.com.

This game has a website: http://tilterpillar.com, (also works on mobile), A Facebook fan page and “Carl” the caterpillar also has his own Twitter account at @tilterpillar

A large PSD version of the logo can be downloaded here.

And finally, a video link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GOEikg7qf4

Note to users who downloaded 1.0:
Due to an unfixable technical problem, please delete the app from your iPhone before upgrading to 1.1, apologies for the inconvenience.

Meet Carl.
Carl the Caterpillar. Carl is very hungry, and loves nothing more than a leaf or two. Unfortunately eating too much makes Carl’s body grow longer!

Using your iPhone / iPod touch, tilt Carl around to eat his leaves.

But be careful! As much as Carl likes a leaf or two, striking his own body or the side of the play area will cause Carl to give up his beloved leaves for good.

Watch Carl transform into one of 28 beautiful Butterflies as a reward for beating your last score.

Using your skill, can you collect all 28 butterflies?

Carl certainly hopes so!

Today we received our warp zone combo package from fangamer, which includes a quality mario pipe mug, 4 detailed mario PVC block coasters, a koopa t-shirt (which is tastefully done, rare for a game tee), a very nice poster using mario elements in two tone green (again, tasteful work) and sweet hand written card. (and some other optional stuff)

Mario nuts (like Dadako Studios) can grab the warp zone combo here!

We even have our own bit of Mario “homage” art in the next game after Tilterpillar, more on that – later.

We have a release date, and a name for our next game, that we can now share with you.

The name of our new game is Tilterpillar.
The release date is 1st of September.

Currently in the final rounds of beta testings and preparing a new PR video, it’s a fun time at Dadako Studios, we’ve done apps before but we are sweaty in anticipation of what is our first game on iOS.

[update]

Tilterpillar is here! http://tilterpillar.com

Photo Avatar is a Social Networking app for the iPhone that allows users to add fun items to their photos, turning them into avatars.

$0.99 / 59p price range (Tier1)

http://itunes.apple.com/app/photo-avatar/id427947066?mt=8

Photo Avatar 1.1

• - position, scale and rotate parts.
• - Share on Facebook & Twitter
• - Great selection of features and badges.
• - Superb audio track by Ragething.

Available on the App Store!

Photo Avatar is based on our proprietary vector engine that powers Facemakr and Monstermakr. If you would like more information or a Press Pack, please write to hello@dadako.com for more information.

(this app was formerly known as Picture Club)

Tons of high quality parts: Moustaches, Birthday Messages, Afros, Glasses, Jaws teeth and more – Stick funny stuff on your photos or pictures. Make a Photo become an Avatar.

Load in or take Photos of your friends, family, enemies, colleagues, pets etc. then choose from a wide selection of high quality parts to put on top.

All parts can be scaled, rotated, colored and positioned with finger gestures. Take advantage of the iPhone’s multitouch interface, no silly buttons here!

From there you can save, email, Tweet & Facebook your Photo Avatar creations to your social network and friends.

Features ROCKING soundtrack by Ragething.

(spud by banger1977 CC)