Demo of the app on YouTube

v2 released (Android), iPhone app in the works

After quite a bit of work on totally revamping how the app looks and feels, we are proud to announce the release of Halo Reach MLG Timer v2 for Android!

With this update comes:
- a brand new UI tailored to look and feel much more like Halo Reach,
- a new "About" screen for easier access to our website and contact information,
- a help page to ensure that you are using the app correctly,
- bars turn red when they are approaching their spawn time
- and an all new feature, Team Slayer Mode! (donate version only)

Below are several screen shots of the new UI featuring both MLG and Slayer Mode. But before that, a quick word on the iPhone version of the app. My father, who is an iPhone developer, is currently actively working on porting the app over to the iPhone, but it is taking some time. I don't have a current estimate as to when it will be released, but it should be in the near future. While you're waiting, check out his euchre score app! And if you haven't heard of the card game euchre, I suggest you learn how to play immediately!

Team Slayer Mode (new!)

Revamped look of MLG Mode!

MLG playlist release date still unknown

From this weeks Bungie.net weekly update: http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=29120

"In addition to general housekeeping and improvements, many of you are also eager to know more about plans for an official MLG playlist and/or a Grifball playlist. Right now I can tell you that we’re in contact with each of those groups and once they’ve got maps and gametypes baked and ready for deployment we’ll be working with them to get them into matchmaking. At this rate it doesn’t seem like it will happen for November but it’s something we all hope to have implemented before the holiday break. That said, you can’t rush greatness and ultimately it’s up to the MLG and Grifball organizations to iterate and perfect their own content before we can add it to matchmaking. It’ll happen, just give it a bit more time."

Week 1 download count

A la Bungie, I'd like to share the download stats of Halo MLG Timer after one week on the Android Market. We were surprised by first day numbers alone. I called Frank around midnight when the count was updated and made him guess how many we'd got. He said "20-something" and that's what I expected also. So 277 was a huge surprise to us. Thanks to everyone who has checked it out. If you uninstalled it, we'd appreciate your feedback.

Total downloads: 899
Average daily downloads: 128

v1.1 update

We have released a minor update which adds an "About" dialog to the menu and makes the timers begin and end one second later. For example, the sniper bar previously showed 1:58 when it was in it's initial rest state and it played a sound and reset at 0:01 back to 1:58. This is a fully accurate interval of time for the sniper to spawn (we've tested it in games), but it tricks you into thinking a second is lost at the end. So we decided beginning at 1:57 and ending at 0:00 is more visually satisfying. Thanks to Alex for his comment on the Android Market which drew our attention to this. We read your comments -- probably excessively because we're so stoked with the success of our first app thus far. Thanks to everyone who has checked out the app. Hang in there until Bungie adds the MLG playlist to matchmaking!

We're on the market!

Our app has officially been published on the Market!

If you are on a mobile device check it out here, or do a search for Halo Reach MLG Timer.

I've uploaded the two screenshots that we used to showcase the app in the market to our site as well if you're not on a mobile device. As always feel free to leave some comments as to what you do and don't like. We're accepting all feedback and will be updating the app regularly with our ideas as well as some of your own.

Progress update

Settings release date rumors
I've heard two rumors regarding the release date of the MLG Reach settings v1. The first suggested the settings would be released October 7th-ish (one week before the MLG Combine event) and the other claimed tomorrow. October 7th would give us plenty of time to finish up the app and have it ready to release the day of. But we are not ready for a release tomorrow. If the settings do happen to come out tomorrow, no big deal. We will have this baby ready for release very shortly thereafter.

A more complete screenshot

If our screenshot snippets of the individual bar views we posted yesterday didn't satisfy you, then maybe seeing them all on the screen at once with the progress bar overlay will. Or maybe you're still unsatisfied because the top half of the screen is black and rockets are listed twice. Truth be told: we do know what is going at the top of the screen, but we're programmers not graphic designers and are still trying to learn how to use MS Paint (jokes). Rockets are listed twice because we're not 100% sure what to expect from the MLG settings so we don't know what third item will be worth tracking. We are very open to suggestions before and after the settings release. Tell us what weapon/power up/whatever you'd like to see a bar and get notifications for.

TL;DR
Short and sweet points worth mentioning about this app:

• It will be released as soon as the MLG settings are released (or shortly thereafter [like within a day]).
• It will be constantly updated and improved with your suggestions/ideas.
• It will be customizable and visually pretty, but the main goal is for it to not distract you while playing. So start it and forget it until you hear the audio notifications.
• It will be free (and ad-free because we hate ads in apps we use).
• We are college students, therefore we will gladly accept PayPal donations if you enjoy our app (we may spend it on beer).

First (real) post

Hey guys,

Just a post saying that we've added some screenshots and project info. Check them out in the links above. Feel free to leave any comments about the project here.

A quick word about the release date of the app. We are currently on schedule to release concurrently with the Halo Reach MLG rules (if the rumors are to be trusted), so go ahead and start your unofficial countdown to our timer app!

-Frank

HELLO WORLD

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {

  printf("HELLO WORLD!\n");

  return 0;

}