Bluxu SteepleChase Version 1.0

Hi everyone,

I've just published my first app to the Android Market and wondered what people think of it! The app is available free of charge, and there is a QR code and URL for market page at http://www.bluxu.com. Let me know any suggestions for improvements by replying to this post, or leave me a review on the market! Many thanks!

Description: SteepleChase is a race against the clock which tests your navigation skills to the limit! In this fun and frantic game you must find your way around a randomised course armed with only the most basic tools. Compete with your friends to obtain the highest score on a course of any length you want - from a wander round your neighbourhood to a road trip across America!

Here is a link to the AndroidPIT app database entry for the app. You can see all the same information about the app, but from your PC as well: http://www.androidpit.com/en/android/market/apps/app/bluxu.ratrace/SteepleChase

I'll give it a try later tonight and let you know what I think of it.

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Just gave it a try and couldn't get past the user agreement, as it wouldn't let me click on accept or refuse.

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Thanks for your feedback Douglas - I'll look into that straight away. What phone were you using? Did it lock up on the license agreement or were the buttons just greyed out? I'll email you across a version of the apk without the license agreement as soon as I can so you can try it out. Thanks once again!

I'm using a Nexus S with Android 2.3.

I loaded up the app, the user agreement page popped up, and then the screen immediately darkened a bit and the app just locked up. I downloaded it again to give it a second try, but no luck.

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If you download the latest apk at http://www.bluxu.com that might fix the problem. If that still doesn't work then you could give me your email address and I can send you a version without the license agreement. Many thanks, and apologies for the bug!

I downloaded the .apk from the website and it still had the same problem. I believe it may have something to do with Android Gingerbread.

No need to apologize. I like working with developers to help them fix any problems they have. I've PM'ed you my email which you can contact me at.

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Did you get the relevant apk I emailed across and try it out? If so did this solve the problem?

Many thanks!

I'll give the .apk a try right now.

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Okay, just tried the version with no user agreement. Same problem is that as soon as the app loads up the menu, the screen darkens and nothing can be selected inside the app.

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Thanks for trying that out. I'll have to have another go at trying to fix it. Do you have GPS enabled on your device before loading the game? If not could you try it with GPS enabled first and let me know what you see? Also do you see the Bluxu splash screen before the menu screen? If not that might be what's causing the problem! Seems like it is a Gingerbread issue since haven't heard bug reports from people on older versions of the sdk.

Thanks again for your help!

Yes, I see the Bluxu splash screen beforehand. Turning on the GPS beforehand makes the app work. Normally when something needs GPS, it prompts me. Steeplechase didn't prompt me, so I never thought to turn it on.

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Thanks very much for trying that - I think I've pinned down the problem now. If GPS isn't switched on SteepleChase should prompt you to turn it on, but it seems that displaying this dialog in Gingerbread crashes the app. I'll come up with a fix asap.

Do let me know what you think of the app itself. If anyone else has any feedback I'd be delighted to hear it!

Cheers,

Edward

The app never managed to get a fix on my device, indoors or outdoors. I had half the sky visible to my device when I tried it outdoors. The GPS does work on the device, as I used it quite frequently yesterday. It quit trying to search before it managed to get a fix. Is this meant to be an outside app only? Do you have access to the way that Google determines rough location using Wi-Fi networks?

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Weird that the GPS doesn't seem to work for you. It works fine both inside and outside where I live. How long did you leave the app running before giving up? As soon as it starts running the app looks for GPS and after the Solo screen it gives itself another 10 seconds to look before giving up. I find that sometimes I have to try this twice especially if I am indoors since it takes a while for the GPS to lock on. Do you think functionality would be improved if the app just waited until it got GPS signal rather than giving up after 10 seconds? I'll try and see whether this is a Gingerbread issue too in the next couple of days.

With regards to the rough location stuff I could implement that, but it wouldn't really give me precise enough data to run the app. I'll look into putting it in as a backup on later releases though!

Thanks one again for your feedback and perseverance!

I tried it 4 times yesterday. 3 times outside, once inside. I tried it again today and now it works.

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