Android KSP Constructor App

[Zimplizity]

Hey threre,

I love playing KSP but unfortunately I'm not home that much, which means that I can't play KSP then. For me it would be awesome to play KSP even if I'm not home. Since KSP wouldn't run on a mobile device my idea is an APP for mobile devices which is basically the Ship constructor of KSP. That way we could realize our ship ideas on the go.

Since I don't know anything about Android/iOS App coding this thread is more of a request if someone could do that. I would help this person in any way possible (creating buttons, UI etc.). I also want to hear what you guys think about such an App and if it would be possible to do.

Greetings

Zimplizity

[timsfitz]

I've thought about this as well. Even if just the VAB is put in Android that would be great. I would pay 5 bucks for that.

Theres a game called simple rockets which is a 2 dimensional KSP but it's very limited.

[xcorps]

Hmm.

I think the theory of using an Android App is sound, but I have the feeling that the execution would be flawed.

I'd expect to be able to assemble parts in 2D with data readouts for Dv, TWR, Mass, Electric, and RCS fuel.

I'd expect to be able to export the file to KSP PC and have it show up in the VAB without doing anything else.

If an app were written that accomplished that, I'd pay 10 bucks for it.

[SpaceXray]

iOS love anyone? We make nearly 50% of the market ya know!

[Tw1]

Alternate approach. KSP on a powerful laptop. Make sure you charge your batteries.

[WooDzor]

I'd be happy with flight info and maybe some stage and abort buttons on my phone and just for laughs control planes by moving it around.

Simple Rockets is fun on the toilet for a week.

Edited June 27, 2014 by WooDzor

[Dodgey]

iOS love anyone? We make nearly 50% of the market ya know!

Yea but the screen is tiny. Not the best for navigating the VAB.

[Red Iron Crown]

I came into this thread hoping that it was about a release. I am disappoint.

I would love to be able to mess around in the VAB/SPH while on the go (or concurrently with flying a mission in the game). Wouldn't even have to implement every feature of the construction process, just the core of building spacecraft. Anyone who gets this working on Android will get my money (insert the Shut-Up-and-Take-My-Money Fry image here).

[karolus10]

Alternate approach. KSP on a powerful laptop. Make sure you charge your batteries.

Actually KSP dosen't need powerful laptop to run, especially with VAB... Personally I don't see much sense of having limited (you can't do a lot on slow tablet without keyboard and mouse) editor app on your phone or tablet and if you had no free time with computer you can use your imagination and good old paper .

If anyone think that using calculator aren't bad-ass enough you can get sliderule... or modern replacement.

[timsfitz]

The point would be to build craft, not just design them. They could be sent to your home computer ready to test fly when you get home from work/school.

I play xcom enemy unknown on my phone and it runs very smoothly. The VAB would have to be slightly simplified, but I don't think this idea is unrealistic. Unfortunately for mod users though it might be hard to get those parts into the app. We would probably be stuck with vanilla.

[Zimplizity]

Thanks for the discussion/opinions about this topic. Seems like I'm not the only one who wants to have the VAB on their mobile, great !

Next step now (for me) is, that I'm going to check out some coding tutorials about Unity because as far as I know it supports Android and iOS + most/some parts of KSP can be opened and shown with it. You, all the Kerbal Kerman fans, could write down some suggestions in terms of function, UI, etc. that the App should include. Again if someone wants to help coding just tell me. I have to warn you guys though that I can't assure a final app yet because I still know next to nothing about Unity coding for Android and iOS.

[Vindelle_Sunveam]

I do not know about programming, but I think this little UI mockup I did could be convincing to those thinking such an app would be limited to 2d designs.

http://imgur.com/4HmLKHH

I'm on my phone righ now, so, sorry for the lack of paragraph laying out.

[KvickFlygarn87]

I don't think neither performance nor design will be an issue - what about mods?

[Zimplizity]

If I can get Unity to load up the .mu files of the parts properly then mods should be no problem because then you should be able to just copy them to a folder. But like I said I still need to learn a lot about Unity to manage that stuff.

[xcorps]

I do not know about programming, but I think this little UI mockup I did could be convincing to those thinking such an app would be limited to 2d designs.

http://imgur.com/4HmLKHH

I'm on my phone righ now, so, sorry for the lack of paragraph laying out.

It's more about performance and overhead than UI.

[MKI]

I feel like this would be awesome to have. The biggest problems to overcome would be handling the controls, the size of the UI and performance.

Handling different controls would be a project on itself.

Handling the size of the UI would also present problems, i see the game UI either being to small or to difficult to navigate.

And finally performance would be a big issue wihout a powerful android platform. These are mobile devices, and my laptop still feels minor lag in VAB.

[karolus10]

They could be sent to your home computer ready to test fly when you get home from work/school.

Maybe it's just me but that feels redundant to me as I can use computer to play KSP whenever I want to play the game in home and I guess that work and school aren't really about playing games (it sucks, I know). Also I can agree that synchronizing mod parts may be an issue.

[Krepidus]

That would be great:

using a quiet moment at work to assemble a ship that you've been thinking about for the last hour or two (is it just me that does that at work). Once complete you save your design and its ready to fly when you finally get home to KSP.

i'd pay $10 for that in a heartbeat!

[Vindelle_Sunveam]

MK1 :

Can you explain what overhead means in that context ? Is it like a "performance thresholds" thing ? (None of the translations I found made sense once fitted in your sentence, sorry.

Also, the userbase for such an app would likely be restricted to people with quite wide screens (maybe to a minimun of 4"). Under that, I agree that UI design would be a journey and a half

And for the school/work argument, I agree with Karolus. Portability isn't a matter of procrastination, we already have the forum for that

Edited June 30, 2014 by Vindelle_Sunveam
redundant smileys

[Broax]

I would pay €10 in a heartbeat for a VAB/SPH in android... If it could load mod parts from an SD Card I'd pay an extra €5!

IMHO this would be a quick and easy way for squad to get some extra cash from its customer base...

And considering unity exports to android/ios I don't think it would be that hard... Some tweaking of the controls and a bit of optimization an the money would just fall on their laps! :-p