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WAN CHIU
United States
SUNNYVALE
94089
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Do you think an Ipad running VASSEL would be fun for gamers on the go? Thanks!
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Steve Wessels
United States
Omaha
Nebraska
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Vassal is a Java VM based program. I'm not aware of any Java app support for the iPhone/iPad.
Perhaps an iPhone developer could confirm this. But I think that, unless Vassal gets ported, it's not compatible with the iPad today.
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The Galaxy is Just Packed!
United States
Madison
Wisconsin
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The iPad will not run Java, and according to this JavaWorld op/ed, neither will much else in the future. A bit stark, bit a very sound and calm observation.
http://www.javaworld.com/community/node/3996
So, no, Vassal probably won't work on the iPad unless it is retooled.
That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if some enterprising young BGG'er with a keen handle on Objective C has a Vassal killer in mind.
And to him I say, "Good luck, dude!"
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Joe S
United States
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
Don't touch me there.
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Not only won't it run Java but I believe it can only run one non-Apple program at a time (like the iphone) so you can't flip back and forth to your pdf rulebook.
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WAN CHIU
United States
SUNNYVALE
94089
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Well so much for the IPAD then. What are my alternatives? Any pointers?
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Any of the netbooks with a full OS will run Java, and that should be quite sufficient to run VASSAL. You won't have the touch-screen (much less the multi-touch) of an iPad, and the screen size might be an issue on large maps.
However, that'd probably be the case on an iPad too. The main advantage would that they're small, and they have wireless to swap logfiles with opponents.
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I like the Nokia N900, and it might be able to run Vassal without big re-writes (Though it also has the screen size problem of the iPhone), and if the iPad sells well enough, they'll probably come out with something similar in that format within a year or so.
And you don't have to buy into their entire product family just so they deign to allow you to write applications for one of their shitty toys.
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Scott Hall
United States
Florence
Kentucky
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Vassal as we know it? No. That doesn't mean that someone won't come along and write a Vassal killer for the iPad. If you look at how popular Vassal is, with it's admittedly clunky interface, the market is ripe for someone to make something sexy for the iPad to replace it. I know I'd drop $10 in a heartbeat for it.
As for your question about it being satisfying, yes, I'd think it would be.
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This is a very open device that could actually do it:
http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/touchbook/
Tablet-only device goes for 300$. Add a detachable keyboard with extra battery to the order for another 100$.
It doesn't have 3G, but you can use a USB stick for that. And then hide it in one of the internal USB ports (unless that messes with the antenna)
It supports multiple operating systems. You can probably get VASSAL and a number of PDF viewers running using Ubuntu ARM. But maybe someone will port VASSAL to Android even?
BTW it uses the same processor as the iPhone (probably iPad too).
To answer your original question: Sure sounds like fun. I don't have experience with VASSAL, but would surely enjoy a tablet device for playing BSW.
EDIT: resolution is 1024x600, sounds like enough.
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An interesting comment from the article Bryan posted on the iPad and Java
Quote: As the article suggested, it IS possible to write Java applications to run on the iPhone. iSpectrum by FlexyCore is a solution to develop Java apps using Eclipse. It is then compiled to native code so it can be installed on the device. It is also linked with XCode so as to use the simulator. When the portability of Java meets the efficiency of native code  . More info at : http://www.flexycore.com
so... it may be possible...
Vassal combined with a multi-touch screen could even be used to play games using one device, as long as there's no hidden information. I think it could be interesting...
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Another issue, as other posters have suggested, is size. I do play some Vassal on a 15" laptop but I'm finding it less and less comfortable to do, particularly with games that have large and complicated maps and mutiple additional onscreen elements like card windows. For me at least, having to constantly zoom in and out, open and close windows and just missing a good overall view of a tactical or stratgeic game really diminishes my enjoyment and if at all possible I prefer to play on a larger, high resolution screen (at this stage a 24" iMac). I certainly couldn't imagine playing on a smart phone.
Brent.
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V L
United States
Virginia
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ravager wrote: Not only won't it run Java but I believe it can only run one non-Apple program at a time (like the iphone) so you can't flip back and forth to your pdf rulebook.
If you design an app properly, it can load back right from where you left off last time, so it wouldn't matter that you had to "close" the app go to the pdf and come back. If both apps were pretty good about coming back to where you were, then it wouldn't matter.
Or you could even give the main app the capability to view the pdf.
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