Question about Save gamestate

[Chris1979]

Hey Guys!

this might be a stupid question but I need to ask it anyway

I´ve just used the applicationWillTerminate method to save my gamestate.

Do I need the other methods as well or is it ok to only use the applicationWillTerminate method for this?

thanks in advance!

The code below show how I save the gamestate in the applicationWillTerminate method

//Set up the game state path to the data file that the game state will be saved too
	NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
	NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
	NSString *gameStatePath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent: @"gameState.dat"];
	
	//Set up the encoded and storage for the game state data
	NSMutableData *gameData;
	NSKeyedArchiver *encoder;
	gameData = [NSMutableData data];
	encoder = [[NSKeyedArchiver alloc] initForWritingWithMutableData: gameData];
	
	//Archive our object
	[encoder encodeInteger: [[GameManager sharedGameManager] level]forKey:@"Level"];
	[encoder encodeInteger: [[GameManager sharedGameManager] HScore]forKey:@"HighScore"];
	[encoder encodeInteger: [[GameManager sharedGameManager] PScore]forKey:@"PlayerScore"];
	[encoder encodeInteger: [[GameManager sharedGameManager] currenttime]forKey:@"CurrentTime"];
	[encoder encodeBool: [[GameManager sharedGameManager] isThereASavedGame]forKey:@"isThereASavedGame"];
	[encoder encodeBool: [[GameManager sharedGameManager] isMusicON]forKey:@"isMusicOn"];
	[encoder encodeBool: [[GameManager sharedGameManager] isSoundEffectsON]forKey:@"isSoundEffectsON"];
	
	//Finish encoding and write to the gameState.dat file
	[encoder finishEncoding];
	[gameData writeToFile:gameStatePath atomically:YES];
	[encoder release];

[rocotilos]

in OS4, we have multitasking apps. so, u need to save it when application is moving to the background state as well. (ie, pause the game then save data)

[Chris1979]

Originally Posted by rocotilos

in OS4, we have multitasking apps. so, u need to save it when application is moving to the background state as well. (ie, pause the game then save data)

Hey!

thanks for the reply

I'm guessing that I need to call these

NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
	NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
	NSString *gameStatePath = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent: @"gameState.dat"];
	
	//Set up the encoded and storage for the game state data
	NSMutableData *gameData;
	NSKeyedArchiver *encoder;
	gameData = [NSMutableData data];
	encoder = [[NSKeyedArchiver alloc] initForWritingWithMutableData: gameData];

from somewhere else then

[rocotilos]

The whole saving code must also go into these:

- (void)applicationWillResignActive:(UIApplication *)application {
// called when app is interrupted by phone call, and so on.
}


- (void)applicationDidEnterBackground:(UIApplication *)application {
// when user press Home button.
}

[Chris1979]

Originally Posted by rocotilos

The whole saving code must also go into these:

- (void)applicationWillResignActive:(UIApplication *)application {
// called when app is interrupted by phone call, and so on.
}


- (void)applicationDidEnterBackground:(UIApplication *)application {
// when user press Home button.
}

I see...

so it's only in the applicationWillTerminate, applicationWillResignActive and the applicationDidEnterBackground methods that I need to put the code?

[Velazquez]

it is a stupid question

[Chris1979]

Originally Posted by Velazquez

it is a stupid question

maybe for those who already know this stuff.

[fiftysixty]

Originally Posted by Chris1979

I see...

so it's only in the applicationWillTerminate, applicationWillResignActive and the applicationDidEnterBackground methods that I need to put the code?

I believe that technically you shouldn't need to do any state saving at applicationWillResignActive since from that point on you either return to your app and continue as it was, or transition into another app in which case either your app will terminate or move to the background. You should make sure your app is paused at applicationWillResignActive.

Also, a point to remember: do your loading in the right method, which is applicationDidFinishLaunching:withOptions. Some app templates still use the old applicationDidFinishLaunching without the options, and that can lead to problems in some situations. Also remember that if your loading takes a lot of time, do it asynchronously because applicationDidFinishLaunching:withOptions is expected to return in about 5 seconds. After that, the system will kill your app as unresponsive.