Spiffcode - who are they?

ignatius · Semi-frequent Poster

-How many did it take to develop this?
-How long?
-Did Handmark provide the funding or are they just the publisher/distributor?
-Have you developed any other games?
-I would suspect the developers did PC-based RTS games? Which?
-What's next?

For the best PDA game ever, you guys sure take a low profile.

DBZ-GOKU- · Mega-Poster

[quote="ignatius"]-How many did it take to develop this?
-How long?
-Did Handmark provide the funding or are they just the publisher/distributor?
-Have you developed any other games?
-I would suspect the developers did PC-based RTS games? Which?
-What's next?

For the best PDA game ever, you guys sure take a low profile.[/quote]

How many? I am not sure on the exact number, but ten at the most.
How long? Over two years
I am pretty sure Handmark is the distributer
Spiffcode? I don't think so. Handmark, yes, lots.
None
Good question, what's next?

darrinm · Established Forum User

- Spiffcode is Scott Ludwig and Darrin Massena
- Many other great people helped with the development of WI -- see the credits
- It took 2.5 years
- We funded the project ourselves
- Scott developed the highly acclaimed PocketChess and other games long before that. Darrin's last game was Sidewinder for the Amiga in 1987.
- Neither of us has worked on a PC RTS (hmm... or any other PC game unless I'm forgetting something)
- Multiplayer version!

When we embarked on Warfare Incorporated we set out to have some fun, bring true RTS play to handhelds with as few compromises as possible, and hopefully set some new standards while we were at it.

orol · WI Forum Novice

[quote="darrinm"]- Spiffcode is Scott Ludwig and Darrin Massena
- Many other great people helped with the development of WI -- see the credits
- It took 2.5 years
- We funded the project ourselves
- Scott developed the highly acclaimed PocketChess and other games long before that. Darrin's last game was Sidewinder for the Amiga in 1987.
- Neither of us has worked on a PC RTS (hmm... or any other PC game unless I'm forgetting something)
- Multiplayer version!

When we embarked on Warfare Incorporated we set out to have some fun, bring true RTS play to handhelds with as few compromises as possible, and hopefully set some new standards while we were at it.[/quote]

you guys are awesome! looking forward for the multiplayer! would it be even mutliplatform multiplayer ? that would be actually greates game ever develped regardless of platform

GirlWithGun · WI Forum Novice

I wanted to ask Darrin how much you paid for the KKnD engine you used in this game.

The topdown RTS gameplay is a sure winner as evidenced by all the Total Annihilation clones that came out for PC over the last 6 years.

Its also a great gameplay for limited machines that lack the grunt of hi end PCs.

Cheers.

scottlu · WI Founder

The engine for Warfare Incorporated was created from scratch by Spiffcode.

nmprofessional · WI Forum Novice

You know... Spiffcode should contact Blizzard and if Blizzard would allow them to create "Warcraft-like" or "Diablo-like" series. I mention "like" beacuse I have no idea of how the licensing would develop.

P.S. Has Spiffcode ever thought about selling the PDA Gamimg Engine so others could produce cool games too?

P.S.S. I am also a programmer, and I have to say... Warfare is the most stable game I have ever played on my OS5 device. KUDOS!!!

Dave Lindberg
---
Long time Diablo/Diablo II lover!

claxbane · Site Admin

i think the developers are still trying to make sure that this version of the game is as good as possible before leaping at other ventures. Right now there entire focus is devoted to creating the multiplayer version.

rosskoepke · Semi-frequent Poster

This game definitely raised the bar for Palm games. I had been playing Galactic Realms and Strategic Commander and these were both great games IMO, but were rather lacking in complexity. I went online to find better strategy games, and found a listing that looked something like this among lots of other games (no pics or anything - I had no idea whether this was going to be a good game).

"Warfare, Incorporated - A strategy game set in the future - 4.2MB"

When I unstuffed the package I was blown away at the size of the files, and thought there had to be some mistake. A 4 MB palm game?!? Most are about 400k. When I opened the demo I was blown away by the main menu. The license key area even had a draggable window if you entered the wrong key. I was amazed at the quality of the game before I had even started playing it. I read through the in-game readme before playing it as well, and every page continued to astound me, and there are no words to describe my disbelief at the gameplay of the first level.

You guys did an amazing job with this game. It's easily three times as good as any other Palm OS game I've played, and better than most computer games. In fact, a friend and I even looked around for a desktop version, we were so sure that it must have been a port or something. I only hope that other designers can follow your lead and create new games anywhere near this level. Thank You.

claxbane · Site Admin

I assure you that this game was not a port. I was around to see these developers pounding away each day trying to create a RTS game that played well on old and new handheld devices.

I'm glad you are enjoying it.

Look out for the Multiplayer version

Nullifi3d · WI Forum Novice

[quote="nmprofessional"]You know... Spiffcode should contact Blizzard and if Blizzard would allow them to create "Warcraft-like" or "Diablo-like" series. I mention "like" beacuse I have no idea of how the licensing would develop.
[/quote]

pfff! forget diablo and warcraft... StarCraft!

The top selling strategy game...for what? 2 or 3 years I think?

I've been looking for a StarCraft for pocketpc; can't find it...i want it desperately