What's New (in version 0.7.9922-Beta)
- When a puzzle loads it will auto-size itself to fit the screen.
- Pinch-to-zoom limits so the puzzle won't get too large or too small now that it knows the screen size and can do that.
- The previous/next buttons to move between words are now bigger and easier to tap.
- The verse text while working on a word shouldn't get as small anymore.
- Lots of small tweaks to the User Interface (UI) as the first baby-steps toward an entire UI rebuild.
Android 5.1 and higher
- Devices running these versions of android should receive this app update as soon as it is approved for release in the Play Store and begins a rollout to all devices.
Android 4.4 to Android 5.0
- Devices running these versions of android will not receive this or future updates. To upgrade to a newer version of the app you will first need to update the version of android running on your device. This is a limitation imposed by Unity (the software used to develop the app), as they no longer support older versions of android. For the time being, an old version of the app (version 0.7.8130-Beta) will be in the Play Store and will be available to those older devices. As of today 98.4% of all active android devices in the world run versions newer than this. As for this app specifically only 1 current user will remain with this version of the app.
Android versions 4.3 and lower
- Devices running these versions of android will not see an available version of the app in the Play Store. If they already have an older version of the app installed it will remain playable but if uninstalled the app may be lost until a newer version of android is used. Both Unity and the Play Store are constantly requiring newer and newer versions of android and as such older versions are no longer supported. Upgrade your version of android to get access to this app. As of today 99.7% of all active android devices in the world run versions newer than this. As for this app specifically all current users are running newer versions of android than this.
In the works...
The plan now is to continue work on the UI. I hope to use more graphics to make the edges of panels look nicer and redesign the entire area that holds the verse text.
Road Map
These are the things I hope to build into the app someday. These may or may not happen but they are what I am planning to work on behind the scenes.
- Making Verses Easier To Read:
Idea: Right now it pops between two views of the verse. One shows the whole verse large and the other shows it tiny with one word focused and with a keyboard. Instead I would like to always show the larger full verse, though it would be in a scroll box so that the keyboard would still fit. Also instead featuring the current word so large in the middle, it would visually stand out somehow but remain mixed within the rest of the verse. Completing the idea below about popping into a closer 2D view on the puzzle itself would be where the current word is more focused.
Status: Currently working on it. - Puzzle Cubes - Pop Between 3D to 2D Views:
Idea: So now I'm thinking it would be cool to have the puzzle in 3D a lot of time but when you tap to work on a specific word it could snap to a 2D view. That view would basically be zooming in to a view of the 3D puzzle that only showed a slice of the puzzle at the layer which the word happens to be on. That layer would look more like a traditional 2D crossword puzzle. Then after completing the word, or when you want to, it could pop back to the full 3D view.
Status: Haven't started yet. - Play Packs:
Idea: Groups of verses ("Play Packs") instead of randomly selected verses.
Status: Haven't started. - Custom Play Packs:
Idea: User generated puzzles saved into play packs.
Status: Built a puzzle generator. Needs a user interface and is waiting on main menu with play packs to be completed first. - Power-ups:
Idea: Currently only have hints showing up but I want to add more types of these. Such as solving the first letter of the word, or solving all of one letter across the whole puzzle.
Status: Haven't started. - Sounds:
Idea: Default to off but allow to be toggled on
Status: Haven't started. - Better Graphics/Animation:
Idea: After core functionality is built in I hope to start working on the graphics, animation, and general "gamification" of the app.
Status: Added in some playful animations but they caused lots of issues and had to remove them. Need to start over with these.
