Head over to the design3 blog post to read more more about it! design3 is one of the leading game development portals in the industry. You can find hundreds of hours of video tutorials on game engine, 3D tools, 2D tools, and much more on their website. For more information about Xperia™ PLAY game development, check out our game development section.

Scott Tsumura.

How did you get started as a game developer?

In 1976, I started as a developer for arcade games and helped to bring several notable products to market, such as Moon Patrol and Kung-Fu Master. I also was responsible for bringing Japanese titles to the U.S. and conversely, introducing U.S.-made computer games to Japan, including Lode Runner. I attribute Lode Runner, a game that I encountered while temporarily working in the U.S., as the catalyst for moving here and driving my passion for gaming.

What first got you interested in mobile gaming, and what do you think the future of mobile gaming is?

Travelling back and forth from Japan for business, I was constantly carrying mobile phones, which at the time were very bulky and heavy and had no display for games. As mobile phones got smaller and cheaper, their popularity grew and mobile gaming began.  Today, smartphones have the screen resolution and processing power to play console games.  So, I believe the future of mobile gaming will be based on strong multiplayer experiences.

Can you tell us about your history with Lode Runner?

The original game, called Kong, was invented as a PC game by Doug Smith in 1982, and became published under the title Lode Runner. I was responsible for gathering a team of developers, and worked directly with Doug to publish several versions for Japan. In 1984, I helped developed the arcade version and numerous sequels, which marked the first-ever PC game to launch as an arcade version. At Tozai Games, I have continued to oversee the development of Lode Runner versions to other platforms. Now, I’m excited to be working closely with Southend Interactive to develop Lode Runner X for the Xperia™ PLAY.

How was the game ported from console to Android™ mobile?

We are working with Southend Interactive to build Lode Runner X. They used their own in-house game engine called the PBX. The engine provides support for a diversity of platforms including native Android, XBOX 360 and PS3. Utilizing this compatibility, they are able to transfer the gameplay logic without rewriting anything. Rendering, controls, sound playback and menus needed to be adapted for the PBX Android interfaces to complete the port. All assets needed to be updated as well. Texture resolutions and the level of detail of models needed to be decreased slightly, as well as changing texture and sound compression.

Are there any special features or new levels planned for Lode Runner X?

Lode Runner X for the Xperia™ PLAY will have the full journey mode and all the single player puzzles of the console version, including all of the environments and special features. But, the puzzles were so well received that we are considering adding some brand new puzzles to this version.

New level on Lode Runner X.

Do you have any final comments about developing Lode Runner X for the Xperia™ PLAY?

Developing to the Xperia™ PLAY doesn’t differ from developing to any other Android device. Sony Ericsson provides libraries and source code for utilizing the Xperia™ PLAY controller as well as how to display an Xperia™ PLAY compatible game in the Xperia™ PLAY Game Launcher. As the Xperia™ PLAY device is Android 2.3 enabled you also have the possibility to utilize the “Native Activity” library. This renders all Java code obsolete, making the games pure C++ code, which increases performance and simplifies the work flow.

We (at Tozai Games) are really pleased to be working with Sony Ericsson to bring Lode Runner X to this newest platform. The playability of the game on a mobile device with dedicated controls will be really exciting for a wide range of gamers. It’s a great opportunity to bring the most enjoyable gaming experience from console to mobile.

Thanks so much, Scott-san! Developer World appreciates your time.

And if there are other classic arcade games (Moon Patrol, R-Type or Kung Fu Master perhaps?) that you’d like to see for Xperia™ PLAY, let us know!

More information

• Read the official Lode Runner press release.
• Learn more about Tozai Games.
• Get more information about Southend Interactive.
• Download the Xperia PLAY white paper for the technical specs.
• Read our Xperia PLAY developer tips, tutorial and recommendations on Sony Ericsson Developer World.

Magnus Ekenheim

What does Sony Ericsson have planned at VDC?

We will be having a booth on in the Developer Lounge of the main floor, fully staffed by various Sony Ericsson departments, including the Developer Program team. You’ll also be able to try out the newest games available on the Xperia™ PLAY on our two giant screens. On both days, we’ll be giving away three Verizon Xperia™ PLAYs to the players with the three highest score on Asphalt 6: Adrenaline.

Are there any speaking sessions planned?

Yes! We will be focusing on helping our developers to build better games that will stand out from the crowd by hosting a special speaking session. On Tuesday, September 13, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM, Aaron Duke and Anupam Nath will be leading the session – Stand out from the crowd with Xperia™ PLAY. Aaron, a Sony Ericsson Product Manager, will explain how the Xperia™ PLAY is redefining the world of mobile gaming. He will also go over the “current state of PLAY” as well as identify the benefits of developing for Xperia™ PLAY. Anupam, a Developer Program Engineer, will review the standard Android™ developer tools available to developers, and the additional resources you can find on the Sony Ericsson Developer site. He will also provide an overview of how to access gamepad buttons and the touchpad, along with valuable developer guidelines and recommendations to keep in mind when developing Xperia™ PLAY games.

Aaron Duke

Anupam Nath

What can developers expect to get out of attending VDC?

I think it is a really good opportunity to meet with other developers, learn about the Stand out from the crowd promotional program, and get exposed to other apps, tools and ideas that may enhance your own app. You can also book 1-1s with Sony Ericsson business developers.

Thanks Magnus!

And we hope to see you there!

More information

• Sign up for the speaker session and get general information on the Verizon Developer Conference website
• Get the full VDC 2011 Sony Ericsson session description for Standout from the crowd with Xperia™ PLAY.

Now that the Facebook app is more closely integrated with Xperia™ than ever before, it’s time to step back and take a look at what this also means to Sony Ericsson developers. In particular, the newest feature of Facebook inside Xperia is the ability for social sharing of apps and games. (This feature has just been unveiled this week at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany and is also covered in this blog post by our counterparts on the Sony Ericsson Products blog.) With it, Sony Ericsson smartphone users have the ability to like, share and discover games and apps via Facebook. For example, if an Xperia™ PLAY user with Facebook inside Xperia is seriously loving your game, the user can drag the game icon to the Facebook icon to instantly launch a “Post to Facebook” screen to “Like” and comment on the game.  From any PC, the user’s posting can be viewed and friends can download the game from Android Market™ directly from the posting. The Facebook inside Xperia update also adds a Games & Apps widget to the device’s home screen. From here, users can see the most popular games or latest apps recommended by Facebook friends. You can click on a recommended game and comment on it, as well as see your friends’ likes and comments.

So if your app/game is working really great on Sony Ericsson phones, Facebook inside Xperia makes it easier for consumers to share your app/game, thus resulting in more downloads. And the sharing of your app/game isn’t just limited to Facebook; you can also share via SMS, Bluetooth or email.

More information

• Read the Sony Ericsson Products blog post on discovering games on Xperia™ PLAY.
• Get an overview of Facebook inside Xperia.
• Watch our YouTube clip of Facebook inside Xperia.

Now that Be-Rad’s Lame Castle has been nominated as a standout, the game earns a chance to for a spot in the Game recommender app in Sony Ericsson phones. In addition, Be-Rad Entertainment will be promoted in all of Sony Ericsson’s marketing channels, which includes visibility in our official Facebook page, endorsement in global press releases, and recognition at upcoming gaming events like Gamescom in Germany.

Be-Rad Entertainment is the brainchild of Brad “Be-Rad” Johnson, who started his own company in 2010. After having worked for 5 years as a gameplay scripter and programmer at Crystal Dynamics, Brad was ready to branch out and make mobile games on his own. Brad took some time to talk to us about the work behind his first creation, the “dash and smash” mobile game Lame Castle.

Brad Johnson, Be-Rad Entertainment

What is Lame Castle all about?

- Lame Castle is a “dash and smash” game that guides a knight on his quest to save a kingdom by destroying an evil wizard’s (lame) castle, while rescuing a princess along the way.

How do you play Lame Castle on the Xperia™ PLAY?

- Lame Castle takes advantage of the Xperia™ PLAY’s gamepad buttons and the wonderfully wide screen size. The game only requires 2 buttons, so we alternated between jump and attack for most buttons on the device. As far as the screen goes, it’s a bit wider than a lot of other phones so you can actually see further ahead of you. This gives you a bit more time to see pickups and hazards so you’ll have an advantage when going for a high score.

What tools did you use to develop and optimise your game?

- Lame Castle was made using the Unity 3D Game Engine and they did a great job of making it easy to integrate the Xperia™ PLAY gamepad controls into an existing project. The only thing I had to add to my project was a small bit of script before the game could recognize Xperia™ PLAY devices. Total development for the game has been roughly 4 months. The game was originally released in November 2010 after about 3 months of development and I’ve spent close to a month doing updates.

What was your inspiration for making Lame Castle?

- Lame Castle was my first mobile game so I wanted to do something that would grab some attention. There was a Sony PSP ad that featured a fake mobile game called Lame Castle. My friend told me about the ad so I jumped on the Lame Castle name and started prototyping a game. The finished product turned into what Lame Castle is today and it went on to get a decent amount of press due to the name of the game. What’s really cool is that the game is now on a Sony (Ericsson) device so the whole thing’s come around full circle.

Do you have any design insights that you’d like to share with other developers?

- I highly recommend using the Unity 3D Game Engine. It’s well suited for making games for the Xperia™ PLAY due to the easy setup of controls, and the Xperia™ PLAY is powerful so you can have a lot going on in your game and still have a great frame rate.

Is there anything in the works for Xperia™ PLAY users, such as updates or new games?

- I’m planning an update to Lame Castle that will add a new gameplay mode and more levels. My next game that’s about to be released is called Serious Sam: Kamikaze Attack! It’s part of the Serious Sam indie series which is 3 separate games made by 3 indie game studios who get to use the Serious Sam license. They’re all being made to help promote the soon to be released Serious Sam 3.

Thanks for talking to us, Brad!

If you’re ready to start building your own Android™ games, check out our Xperia™ PLAY developer page for the latest tips, guidelines, and tutorials from Sony Ericsson. This is a great starting point for developers keen on designing quality apps for the world’s first authentic gaming smartphone. Learn how to best take advantage of Xperia™ PLAY controls in your games, and get guidance and tips from not only the Sony Ericsson Developer team, but from other game developers.

And if you’ve got a great android game ready or in the works, share it with us on the Stand Out from the Crowd site. It’s a superb way to get your game noticed, and if your game becomes a standout, Sony Ericsson is ready to support you to the fullest – we’re talking about press releases, demos of your games at gaming conferences, recognition at company-sponsored events, and the chance for your game to be prominently featured in the Game Recommender app of the Xperia™ PLAY. Are you ready to stand out?

More information:

• Check out a video clip of Be-Rad Entertainment’s Lame Castle gameplay on the Xperia™ PLAY.
• Learn more about the benefits of the Stand Out from the Crowd program.
• Go to the Xperia™ PLAY developer page for the latest Xperia™ gaming tips, guidelines and tutorials.

As a standout, CatfishBlues Games’ Hyperlight earns a chance to win a spot in the Game recommender app in Sony Ericsson phones. Hyperlight will also have visibility in our official Facebook page, promotion in global press activities, and recognition at upcoming gaming events, such as Gamescom in Germany.

Based in Viareggio, Italy, CatfishBlues Games specializes in the development of 2D and 3D mobile games. Sony Ericsson recently synced up with Alessandro Avigni, who runs CatfishBlues Games along with his brother Andrea, to discuss the development for Hyperlight, a super-fast, psychedelic 2.5D arcade action game.

Alessandro Avigni, CatfishBlues Games

How do you play Hyperlight on the Xperia™ PLAY?

- The control system uses the Xperia™ PLAY’s touchpad to move the Hyperlight spaceship in any direction and the X or R button to enter hyperlight mode. We were pleasantly surprised by the remarkable precision of the touchpad that allows the user to perform complex maneuvers very easily.

The Xperia™ PLAY has proven to be very powerful and allowed us to include advanced graphical effects unfeasible on other devices with similar hardware specs. In particular, we have added real-time deformation to the game background grid and we have improved the visual quality of explosions with richer particle effects.

How did you optimise Hyperlight for this platform?

- The optimization process has been very simple and fast, since Hyperlight has been developed using the Unity3D engine that supports all the hardware features of the Xperia PLAY, also providing us a simple plugin system for adding additional functionality. Changes to the original game code have been therefore minimal.

What aspects of the Hyperlight gaming experience will stand out on the device?

- The availability of physical controls on the device, as you would expect from a real gaming console, is unique benefit. As a longtime player, I find it very restrictive having to play only with touch-controls and a lot of mechanics are simply impossible to realize with these limits. In the case of Hyperlight, the presence of the touchpad allowed us to create an extremely comfortable control mechanism that is both precise and immediate, probably better than the original control system entirely based on the accelerometer.

Can you share some of your developer tips or hints for the developer community?

- The Xperia™ PLAY is able to provide an user experience worthy of a real gaming console, which is why I suggest to fully exploit the opportunities provided by physical buttons and touchpad to design more deep and complex game mechanics. I am really impressed by the processor speed of the device; our test results show it is as powerful as the latest devices in the market.

Thanks for talking to us, Alessandro!

If you’re ready to start building your own Android™ games, check out our Xperia™ PLAY developer page for the latest tips, guidelines, and tutorials from Sony Ericsson. This is a great starting point for developers keen on designing quality apps for the world’s first authentic gaming smartphone. Learn how to best take advantage of Xperia™ PLAY controls in your games, and get guidance and tips from not only the Sony Ericsson Developer team, but from other game developers.

And if you’ve got a great android game ready or in the works, share it with us on the Stand Out from the Crowd site. It’s a superb way to get your game noticed, and if your game becomes a standout, Sony Ericsson is ready to support you to the fullest – we’re talking about press releases, demos of your games at gaming conferences, recognition at company-sponsored events, and the chance for your game to be prominently featured in the Game Recommender app of the Xperia™ PLAY. Are you ready to stand out?

More information:

• Check out a video clip of CatfishBlues Games’ Hyperlight gameplay on the Xperia™ PLAY.
• Learn more about the benefits of the Stand Out from the Crowd program.
• Go to the Xperia™ PLAY developer page for the latest Xperia™ gaming tips, guidelines and tutorials.

Background

When designing the heads-up display (HUD) for the Xperia™ PLAY or other Xperia™ Android™ devices, if you decide to show the on-screen buttons as images in tutorials, it is recommended to use the actual representation of the hardware keys and buttons, and in the correct layout. Using actual key images for the HUD or GUI will make it easier to understand your instructions, tutorials, etc., and thus ensures an optimised experience for the user. Otherwise, if you display keys and buttons that do not correspond to the actual hardware, this will probably confuse the user.

Special considerations

An overview of the Xperia™ PLAY gamepad, as well as a table of the Xperia™ PLAY key codes, key code constants and recommended actions, are described in a previous tutorial – How to develop gaming apps using the Xperia™ PLAY gamepad.

The Xperia™ PLAY game key and button images can be obtained here.

More information about Android key codes in general can be found in the description of the android.view.KeyEvent class at http://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/KeyEvent.html.

Example

For example, if your Xperia™ PLAY game uses the PlayStation® buttons (△/○/×/□) to fire missiles or drop bombs, your on-screen instructions should show the actual PlayStation® buttons:

Your on-screen instructions should NOT show buttons with missile or bomb icons:

Otherwise, you may confuse users by displaying buttons and keys that do not exist on the device.

About the Game developer tips

The Xperia^TM game developer recommendations offers guidance in developing games for Xperia^TM devices such as Xperia^TM PLAY.  The tips in this series provide additional information about some of the significant recommendations in that document.  Each tip provides the following information:

• Background. This is a fuller description of the recommendation. It answers the questions “why should I follow this recommendation?” and “when or where should I follow this recommendation?”.
• Special considerations. This describes any special considerations, such as device-specific considerations or application type-specific considerations that pertain to the recommendation.
• Examples. This shows screen captures or code snippets that further illustrate or explain the recommendation.

More information

• Check out the full list of Xperia™ game developer recommendations.
• Read our second game developer tip on querying hardware capabilities.
• Read our third game developer tip on saving large APK files to the SD card.
• Get additional guidance and tips in building high-quality games on the Xperia™ PLAY developer page.

This article gives an overview of the Adreno™ Profiler for Xperia™ and identifies some of its key features. For simplicity, the tool will be referred to as the Profiler in the remainder of the article.

At the heart of Sony Ericsson’s latest Xperia™ smartphone is Qualcomm’s powerful Snapdragon chipset which incorporates the Scorpion 1 GHz MSM8255 processor and the Adreno™ 205 graphics processor. The Adreno 205 is an embedded graphics processing unit (GPU) that supports a complete range of 2D and 3D graphics, including hardware-level support for OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0, EGL 1.3, and OpenVG™ 1.1. With features such as enhanced shader performance and support for streaming textures, the Adreno 205 enables the kind of sophisticated graphics that gamers enjoy and have come to expect in leading-edge games.

The Adreno™ Profiler for Xperia™
The Profiler is a tool that you as a developer can use to profile and tune a mobile graphics application. The tool tracks the performance of your graphics code as it runs in an Xperia™ device such as the Xperia™ PLAY. It provides in-depth analysis of your code so that you can identify performance bottlenecks and fix them as appropriate.

The Profiler, which runs in a PC under Microsoft® Windows® XP, connects to the Xperia™ PLAY through a USB connection. As your app runs, the Profiler displays performance data captured from the Xperia™ device. The tool offers two display modes: grapher and scrubber. In grapher mode, the Profiler displays graphs of realtime metrics streamed from the device. You can direct the tool to display graphs of specific metrics such as frame rate (FPS), GPU usage, and CPU statistics.

An Adreno™ Profiler for Xperia™ display in grapher mode.

In scrubber mode, you can display a frame captured from the running app as well as a call trace window that shows all the OpenGL ES 1.0/1.1/2.0 render calls (glDraw* and glClear) made by the app during the captured frame. For OpenGL ES 2.0 calls, the call trace window also shows performance metrics for each render call.

A call trace window showing performance metrics.

The horisontal color bars in the window represent the relative performance cost of the render call. Red represents the highest cost, green the lowest. This gives you a way of visualising which render calls are the most expensive.

Some of the other important data that the Profiler displays are:

• Comments that identify potential performance problems.
• Frame statistics such as the number of API calls, redundant calls, and query calls made for the captured frame. Frame statistics that may adversely affect performance are highlighted in red.
• Specific metrics for a render call. You can choose to display a wide variety of granular metrics for a render call, such as the GPU clock cycles elapsed or the average number of transformed vertices for each primitive.
• Shader statistics, such as the number of general purpose registers used and the number of ALU operations executed.

In addition to displaying performance-related data, the Profiler allows you to experiment with various settings. For example, you can override various OpenGL context parameters and view their impact on performance. You can also edit shaders. When you edit a specific shader, it is automatically recompiled and relinked. The Profiler then displays metrics for the updated shader, including predicted cycle counts and GPR requirements.

The Profiler gives you an easy way to profile your graphic applications in Xperia™ devices such as Xperia™ PLAY. Through the in-depth data and visualizations that the Profiler provides, you can determine where the performance bottlenecks are in your graphic application. And because the tool enables you to experiment, you can determine whether a change fixes the problem or whether, in fact, the problem is worth fixing.

More information

• Download the Adreno™ Profiler for Xperia™>>>
• Learn more about Xperia™ PLAY on Sony Ericsson Developer World>>>
• Get guidance and tips on developing Android™ games for Xperia™ devices>>>
• Learn more about Xperia™ arc on Sony Ericsson Developer World>>>
• Learn more about Xperia™ neo on the Sony Ericsson consumer website>>>

On Wednesday, June 1, Sony Ericsson’s Rikko Sakaguchi, Executive Vice President and Chief Creation Officer, will join Qualcomm Chairman and CEO, Dr. Paul Jacobs, on stage as part of his opening keynote speech. Rikko will discuss Sony Ericsson’s vision for mobile and gaming entertainment.

On Thursday, June 2, Sheana Hogan, Head of Partnerships Games & Applications for Sony Ericsson, will be a panelist for the session Monetizing Mobile Games (2:00 PM – 2:50 PM , Manchester G). Sheana will provide valuable insights into how to make money on games for Sony Ericsson’s groundbreaking gaming smartphone.

On both Wednesday and Thursday from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Sony Ericsson’s Anupam Nath, Developer Support Software Engineer, will host a hands-on lab session: Android game developer basics for the Xperia™ PLAY. Anupam will focus on the basics of Xperia™ game development, the Xperia™ PLAY mapping keys, and the key areas to consider when developing games for the Xperia™ PLAY. Also on Thursday, Anupam will join Kim Ahlstrom, Senior Software Manager, in a breakout session: Developing Snapdragon-Powered Games for the Xperia™ PLAY (3:00 PM -3:50 PM, Manchester G). This session introduces the Xperia™ PLAY and its use of Qualcomm’s 1 GHz Snapdragon mobile chipset. You’ll also get instructions on how to unlock the boot loader and how to use the Games Recommender widget on the Xperia™ PLAY.

During both days, stop by the Sony Ericsson booth (#108) to get hands-on demos of the Xperia™ PLAY and as well as other smartphones from Xperia™ family of products. Also check out our Game Zone area, where you can play to win an Xperia™ PLAY. Choose one of four exclusive Xperia™ PLAY games to play – Backbreaker, Age of Zombies, Asphalt 6 or Homerun Battle 3D – get the highest score of the day and take home an Xperia™ PLAY.

Stay tuned to Developer World for more exciting coverage, news, and photos from Uplinq 2011.

More information

• Get more information on Uplinq 2011>>>
• Get the full Uplinq session description for Monetizing Mobile Games>>>
• Get the full Uplinq session description for Developing Snapdragon-Powered Games for the Xperia™ PLAY>>>

The Xperia™ game developer recommendations offers guidance in developing games for Xperia™ devices such as Xperia™ PLAY. The tips in this series provide additional information about some of the significant recommendations in that document. Each tip provides the following information:

• Recommendation. This is a brief statement of the recommendation.
• Background. This is a fuller description of the recommendation. It answers the questions “why should I follow this recommendation?” and “when or where should I follow this recommendation?”.
• Special considerations. This describes any special considerations, such as device-specific considerations or application type-specific considerations that pertain to the recommendation.
• Examples. This shows screen captures or code snippets that further illustrate or explain the recommendation.
• More information. This links to additional information that relates to the recommendation.

Recommendation

A download should automatically resume if the connection fails.

Background

If a user is trying to download a game, and the device’s connection fails, the download should resume when the connection is restored. This saves the user from having to repeat the download request.

Special considerations

If your download uses the HTTP protocol, you should take advantage of Android’s Download Manager to automatically retry a download if the connection fails.

The DownloadManager is a system service designed to handle long-running HTTP downloads. It runs the download in the background. If a failure occurs, such as one resulting from a broken connection or a system reboot, the DownloadManager saves the state of the download. After the failure is corrected, for instance, the connection is reestablished, the DownLoadManager attempts to resume the download at the point the download stopped.

In order for the Download Manager to resume the download, the server supplying the download needs to support the HTTP 206 status code and the HTTP ETag response header field. The DownloadManager uses the HTTP 206 status code and the ETag header to manage state for the download. It keeps the ETag and the count of downloaded bytes in a database. This information enables the DownloadManager to determine the point at which to resume the download.

The DownloadManager only supports HTTP downloads. If you use another protocol for the download, such as HTTPS or FTP, you should implement a retry mechanism.

Examples

Here is a code snippet that illustrates how to use the DownLoadManager to manage a download.

//import the Download Manager
import android.app.DownloadManager;

//get instance of the DownloadManager
DownloadManager downloadManager = (DownloadManager)
getSystemService(Context.DOWNLOAD_SERVICE);

//set download URI
Uri downloadUri = Uri.parse(downloadUriString);

//setup download request
DownloadManager.Request downloadRequest = new DownloadManager.Request(downloadUri);
downloadRequest.setDestinationUri(mDestinationUri);

//set allowed network types
downloadRequest.setAllowedNetworkTypes(DownloadManager.Request.NETWORK_WIFI);

//set title for the download to appear in the notification area
downloadRequest.setTitle(mFileName);

//set description for the download to appear in the notification area
downloadRequest.setDescription(getText(R.string.downloadDesc).toString());

//initiate download
mDownloadId = downloadManager.enqueue(downloadRequest);

More information

• Learn more about the Download Manager on the Android developers Reference>>>
• Download a sample program that illustrates the use of the Download Manager>>>
• Learn more about the HTTP 206 status code>>>
• Learn more about the HTTP ETag response header field>>>
• Get additional guidance and tips in building high quality Xperia™ PLAY games>>>
• See all the Xperia™ game developer recommendations>>>