darkSpyro

This topic is for anyone who want to specifically discuss about what they think about the tablet starter pack this year.

I think it's interesting they opted to make another one and I think it's very telling that they're branding it as an iOS starter pack instead of a Tablet starter this year. I guess very few Android tablet owners bought the tablet pack last year.

I'm really interested in knowing how much the push for a tablet pack was based on the actual sales of last year's tablet pack (which, by all accounts, wasn't good) vs Activision trying really hard to make the tablet pack a "thing".

It really makes sense for on the go portal masters. I found it interesting too about iOS. Wondering if there were too many support issues with Android as well since technology wise there's not much difference between them.

I'd guess that combined with the number of folks who downloaded TT on Android and unlocked the full version with the portal. The cost/benefit for supporting Android likely just isn't there. Heck, I can't even get them to support a simple Bluetooth portal in the Android Apps that are already out there. :(

Have the specifically said they aren't doing android this time around? I understand they're specifically calling out iOS, but that doesn't mean android isn't there. I got the android version last year, but we honestly didn't get much use out of it.

Haven't said one way or another other than SPECIFICALLY CALLING out iOS instead of saying TABLET.

I really hope they make some improvements to the portal. It will stay Bluetooth obviously but what I didn't like about the Bluetooth portal for trap team was how fast it ate through batteries. Hopefully this new will be rechargeable.

Because it seems that every discussion about the tablet version gets closed, I'm bumping this. I can't find any discussion about this on the forums. The only thing I've seen about it is the facebook announcement. Even one person posted a thread to ask a question that I was curious about. It sort of got answered then closed, although I had other thoughts I wanted to discuss about it. The question was regarding the portal compatibility. Someone answered that it should be compatible, but is it really? With Trap Team, you downloaded the game then activated the full version by connecting the portal. If the portals were exactly the same, could we just get the Superchargers game, then activate the full version with our Trap Team portal? Thus keeping from having to buy the starter at all? Or will the Superchargers portal send a different communication than the Trap Team portal, so the game knows it's the correct portal to activate the game? Or will they go the way they did with Battlegrounds and just include a code in the starter pack? The latter could be why they went iOS only (just like Battlegrounds). I haven't found any information on it, so I was curious.

Superchargers will be available on iPad, and compatible with the new Apple TV.
The existing portal and controller will be compatible too so you can simply buy the app (not sure if it's a free download with in app packs again or not ) and play with your existing portal from Trap Team.

I WILL be getting the tablet version (app only) an I WILL be getting an Apple TV. Of course I will probably buy the WiiU version too.

The Trap Team version of the tablet version had all of it''s levels unlocked for download if you connected a portal with it ONCE.
That meant that by borrowing a portal from a friend you could play through the whole game for free (albeit with only 2 Skylanders). Just thought to put that in there. I wonder if the Supercharger's version will be the same?

I imagine it will be different if you can use the portal from the old game. It will be interesting to find out exactly how they do it this time. I wasn't keen on the digital packs from Trap Team.
Of course I bought the portal so it wasn't an issue, but before I did it irritated me.

Well i played the tablet version on the go, thou the batteries went fast, would have liked a plug in option for the car or something. Sadly i have an android tab so if no android i guess ill skip this version

Quote: Pyrofer

Superchargers will be available on iPad, and compatible with the new Apple TV.
The existing portal and controller will be compatible too so you can simply buy the app (not sure if it's a free download with in app packs again or not ) and play with your existing portal from Trap Team.

I WILL be getting the tablet version (app only) an I WILL be getting an Apple TV. Of course I will probably buy the WiiU version too.

So there's not going to be an Apple TV version? They're just saying that the tablet version can be played on the Apple TV? So saying it's "coming to the Apple TV" just means you can airplay it? You could do that with Trap Team, too. I would assume that saying it's "coming to Apple TV" means there's going to be its own app.

Quote: obidawsn

So there's not going to be an Apple TV version? They're just saying that the tablet version can be played on the Apple TV? So saying it's "coming to the Apple TV" just means you can airplay it? You could do that with Trap Team, too. I would assume that saying it's "coming to Apple TV" means there's going to be its own app.

There's not going to be a "tablet" version. There's an "iOS" version, hence its compatibility with the iPhone, iPad and AppleTV. It's the same coding/app, just compatible across multiple Apple devices running comparable versions of iOS on similar hardware. The brand new AppleTV that was shown will have its own app store, so Airplay shouldn't be required. You might be able to stream the actual video from a compatible device to an older model AppleTV to see it on your TV, but you wouldn't be able to use anything other than the newest generation AppleTV to actually run the game.

-Doug

Last year the IPad 4 had everything available for the game. This year a few things have been taken off for Supercharger's on it. If they keep reducing things, then next year maybe it won't be able to play the game. Which comes to this:No one, or at least not many people buy a new tablet every two years. So many Skylander fans won't even be able to play for a while without spending MORE money. Well, at least theoretically.

Yes, it will run natively on the AppleTV.

Apps have to be specifically compiled for this to work, other features like continuing play from tablet on the AppleTV too.

You buy it in the App store and get both iPad and AppleTV versions.

Sorry I am confused what you are on about? Got a link to the information you are referring to?

I plan on getting the tablet version...eventually.

I'm sorry, I feel no remorse for them selling poorly, someone made a BONE HEADED MOVE.

Most people who buy the tablet version most likely are also getting it for a home console. So WHY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD ARE THEY STILL PACKAGING THE SAME CHARACTERS. At LEAST make them variants, if not package some wave 3 or wave 4 characters, but why am I going to buy multiple copies of the SAME figure? I can understand doubling up on some characters, but not starter characters, and not out the gate.

They need to understand that the tablet version is an ACCESSORY more so than a stand alone game.
- Unreall

Quote: darkchylde28

Quote: obidawsn

So there's not going to be an Apple TV version? They're just saying that the tablet version can be played on the Apple TV? So saying it's "coming to the Apple TV" just means you can airplay it? You could do that with Trap Team, too. I would assume that saying it's "coming to Apple TV" means there's going to be its own app.

There's not going to be a "tablet" version. There's an "iOS" version, hence its compatibility with the iPhone, iPad and AppleTV. It's the same coding/app, just compatible across multiple Apple devices running comparable versions of iOS on similar hardware. The brand new AppleTV that was shown will have its own app store, so Airplay shouldn't be required. You might be able to stream the actual video from a compatible device to an older model AppleTV to see it on your TV, but you wouldn't be able to use anything other than the newest generation AppleTV to actually run the game.

-Doug

Well, by "tablet" version, I just meant the iOS version. But iOS devices are not the same as Apple TV. Apple TV has it's own OS and it's own app store. It may use some of the same coding, but you can't just get the iOS version and expect it to be on the Apple TV. It has to be its own separately developed app. Now, maybe, they have it set up so that if you have the iOS version, it unlocks the Apple TV version as well. We'll just have to wait and see. But if they did like last year, then it's possible that you still have to "purchase" it on both (as in get the free demo) but unlock it with the same portal that comes with the iOS starter pack. That would assume that the portal and controller work with Apple TV. More than likely, that's the case, and looks to be. But here are the questions I have:

-- Will it be a free app that you just unlock with the portal (ala Trap Team) or will the starter pack have a code (ala Battlegrounds)? That goes for the iOS and the Apple TV version. And if it does just unlock with the portal, would the Trap Team portal unlock it? If not, then that means you'd still have to buy the starter pack with the new portal. If it has a code, then that may explain, even more, why they went with just an iOS version.

-- Could the Apple TV version have two players? The iOS version probably won't, but they could have that possibility with the Apple TV version.

-- How are they getting around the 200MB limit? I am pretty sure this game would be above 200MB. Even if they go the route of downloading a "demo" that you can unlock and download the rest of the content, it would still be over 200MB.

Quote: obidawsn

Well, by "tablet" version, I just meant the iOS version. But iOS devices are not the same as Apple TV. Apple TV has it's own OS and it's own app store. It may use some of the same coding, but you can't just get the iOS version and expect it to be on the Apple TV.

Actually, yes you can. Because you're having to go to the app store on whatever respective device in order to get the application and will end up with whatever version is correct for that device. There isn't a disc or flash drive in the package with any coding on it, so since Activision stated very publicly that the iOS version works for certain on the newest AppleTV, you can be guaranteed that if you pick up the iOS starter it will work with the new AppleTV.

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It has to be its own separately developed app. Now, maybe, they have it set up so that if you have the iOS version, it unlocks the Apple TV version as well. We'll just have to wait and see.

iOS is iOS dude. Technically every version of the iPhone (5, 5S, 6, 6S, etc.) and all other iDevices have their own, individual versions of iOS for them, making them specific to their hardware. But the apps that are built for universal access will work on any of them without you having to fiddle with anything. You just go to the app store on that device, download the app you're looking for and boom, you're good to go. Now, if you've jailbroken your device and are trying to sideload a copy that you've downloaded somewhere, yeah, you'd really have to make sure you've gotten the right one. But as far as doing everything legit and just going to the app store? Easy-peasy.

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But if they did like last year, then it's possible that you still have to "purchase" it on both (as in get the free demo) but unlock it with the same portal that comes with the iOS starter pack. That would assume that the portal and controller work with Apple TV.

You'll have to "purchase" the free app or download the one that you unlock to your account with a code that could be included (like Battlegrounds could be) on every device that you want to play it on. Period. I'm not sure why this is even being brought up, because that's how smartphones, tablets, etc. work. Apple's devices tend to play nice with one another, so you don't have to worry about choosing a version for the device you're on, but you still have to actually go get it on each one that you want to use it on.

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More than likely, that's the case, and looks to be. But here are the questions I have:

-- Will it be a free app that you just unlock with the portal (ala Trap Team) or will the starter pack have a code (ala Battlegrounds)? That goes for the iOS and the Apple TV version. And if it does just unlock with the portal, would the Trap Team portal unlock it? If not, then that means you'd still have to buy the starter pack with the new portal. If it has a code, then that may explain, even more, why they went with just an iOS version.

It would be interesting to know, and I'm hoping that they go the code route to spurn potential pirates since there is that "hack" that can be done with a single portal and the free version of Trap Team.

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-- Could the Apple TV version have two players? The iOS version probably won't, but they could have that possibility with the Apple TV version.

I'm pretty sure both would be capable, as you can always pick up another starter to get a second controller (most expensive option) or, like in the past, have player 1 or 2 use the iPhone/iPod/iPad and the other use the physical controller. You'd have to have two controllers to run on the AppleTV, but it's possible that they'll allow you to use an iPhone/iPod/iPad as a touchscreen controller via Bluetooth.

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-- How are they getting around the 200MB limit? I am pretty sure this game would be above 200MB. Even if they go the route of downloading a "demo" that you can unlock and download the rest of the content, it would still be over 200MB.

What 200MB limit? Are you talking about the limitation of app size when trying to download over cellular data? I'm thinking you must be, as I've got a ton of apps on my iPhone that are larger than 200MB that I downloaded from the app store via wifi without a single issue. I downloaded the gig or two of the Trap Team tablet edition via wifi to my iPad last year without issue.

Based on some of your speculation, and I'm honestly curious and don't mean this in any negative or condescending way, but... Do you have an iDevice to worry about putting either of these onto? You've got most of your facts and figures right, but not completely. Yes, all AppleTV's have their own OS...but they're still a branch of iOS and always have been; they're listed with the version of the device OS and then whichever current version of iOS that they're equivalent to/branched from. You assume that the "iOS" (iPhone, etc.) version won't have 2 player enabled, when Trap Team did exactly that; the phones, etc. that the new version requires all have the equivalent or higher of the iPad Air CPU in them, so they shouldn't have any issues whatsoever. You worry about a 200MB limit for the app, but there is no app size limitation save for downloading OTA via cellular data. Again, seriously curious, as you were really close on these points, but not quite right.

-Doug

Quote: darkchylde28

iOS is iOS dude. Technically every version of the iPhone (5, 5S, 6, 6S, etc.) and all other iDevices have their own, individual versions of iOS for them, making them specific to their hardware. But the apps that are built for universal access will work on any of them without you having to fiddle with anything. You just go to the app store on that device, download the app you're looking for and boom, you're good to go. Now, if you've jailbroken your device and are trying to sideload a copy that you've downloaded somewhere, yeah, you'd really have to make sure you've gotten the right one. But as far as doing everything legit and just going to the app store? Easy-peasy.

You are correct that "purchasing" on one iDevice allows you to download it to any iDevice attached to that Apple ID, but you're wrong in saying that the new Apple TV is iOS. They announced that it has it's own OS called TVOS. It may be based on iOS, but it is its own operating system. However, after doing some research, Apple does say that developers can enable universal purchasing, so that if they have an app on both iOS and tvOS, it will unlock both. But they aren't the same app.

Quote: darkchylde28

You'll have to "purchase" the free app or download the one that you unlock to your account with a code that could be included (like Battlegrounds could be) on every device that you want to play it on. Period. I'm not sure why this is even being brought up, because that's how smartphones, tablets, etc. work. Apple's devices tend to play nice with one another, so you don't have to worry about choosing a version for the device you're on, but you still have to actually go get it on each one that you want to use it on.

The reason I brought it up is for the reasons above. Apple TV is not the same as iDevices. They are separate operating systems and separate app stores. Although, now I realize that developers can enable universal purchasing to unlock both.

Quote: darkchylde28

I'm pretty sure both would be capable, as you can always pick up another starter to get a second controller (most expensive option) or, like in the past, have player 1 or 2 use the iPhone/iPod/iPad and the other use the physical controller. You'd have to have two controllers to run on the AppleTV, but it's possible that they'll allow you to use an iPhone/iPod/iPad as a touchscreen controller via Bluetooth.

I didn't know that Trap Team had two players. I bought it and put it on my son's Kindle, but we never tried playing two players. That's why I ask about two players. Even then, were you able to use two controllers or did one person have to use the controls on the tablet? Does the Apple TV allow for two controllers? Or would someone have to use a iDevice as a controller?

Quote: darkchylde28

What 200MB limit? Are you talking about the limitation of app size when trying to download over cellular data? I'm thinking you must be, as I've got a ton of apps on my iPhone that are larger than 200MB that I downloaded from the app store via wifi without a single issue. I downloaded the gig or two of the Trap Team tablet edition via wifi to my iPad last year without issue.

The new Apple TV has an app size limit of 200MB. All other content has to obtained through on-demand resources, meaning it's downloaded as you need it (i.e. levels, characters, etc.).

You can find out more, here: https://developer.apple.com/li...ual/AppleTV_PG/


Quote: darkchylde28

Based on some of your speculation, and I'm honestly curious and don't mean this in any negative or condescending way, but... Do you have an iDevice to worry about putting either of these onto? You've got most of your facts and figures right, but not completely. Yes, all AppleTV's have their own OS...but they're still a branch of iOS and always have been; they're listed with the version of the device OS and then whichever current version of iOS that they're equivalent to/branched from. You assume that the "iOS" (iPhone, etc.) version won't have 2 player enabled, when Trap Team did exactly that; the phones, etc. that the new version requires all have the equivalent or higher of the iPad Air CPU in them, so they shouldn't have any issues whatsoever. You worry about a 200MB limit for the app, but there is no app size limitation save for downloading OTA via cellular data. Again, seriously curious, as you were really close on these points, but not quite right.

I don't have an iPad, but I do have an iPhone. I doubt I'll put this on it, though. But I have been interested in the new Apple TV if I ever get around to affording to buy one. I didn't know that Trap Team didn't have 2 players, but even still, it's good to ask. As for me getting my information "not quite right", you're the one that's misinformed. I'm not meaning that in a negative tone. I'm just saying that you obviously don't know the details about the new Apple TV, which is what I'm talking about. Activision made a vague post about it being on Apple TV on their facebook page, but then no other information or answers. There hasn't been any information on how they're handling the activation of the iOS (and thus the Apple TV) version...whether by code or portal activation. Now that I know that they can enable universal purchasing, I assume they will have that enabled. We also know that it will connect to iCloud so you can play on Apple TV then continue that same game on your iDevice (which is a huge plus).

Quote: Titancrasher01

I really hope they make some improvements to the portal. It will stay Bluetooth obviously but what I didn't like about the Bluetooth portal for trap team was how fast it ate through batteries. Hopefully this new will be rechargeable.

This is why I invested $45 in rechargeable AAA batteries as well as a charger.

Quote: obidawsn

You are correct that "purchasing" on one iDevice allows you to download it to any iDevice attached to that Apple ID, but you're wrong in saying that the new Apple TV is iOS. They announced that it has it's own OS called TVOS. It may be based on iOS, but it is its own operating system. However, after doing some research, Apple does say that developers can enable universal purchasing, so that if they have an app on both iOS and tvOS, it will unlock both. But they aren't the same app.

I didn't get hyped about anything Apple put out this year, so I didn't watch the press conference. I didn't realize that they'd actually formally started calling the TV OS something else, so I apologize. "TVOS" is seriously stupid, though, and I have a feeling that it will still just be a branch of "standard" iOS and still have bits in the release notes which point it out as equivalent to "iOS x.xx" as previous AppleTV's software updates did. Time will tell, though.

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The reason I brought it up is for the reasons above. Apple TV is not the same as iDevices. They are separate operating systems and separate app stores. Although, now I realize that developers can enable universal purchasing to unlock both.

Even though they renamed the AppleTV OS this year, technically every device has its own separate operating system due to the hardware differences between devices. iOS normally has all of the "drivers" written into it to cover all of the bases, but you still end up needing to get the specific version for your device. I still don't think this will be any different from in the past, I think Apple just talked up the OS for the new AppleTV to generate hype and not because it really is totally different. I think that it will still be a branch from "standard" iOS that includes enough bits and pieces to run the parts and functions of the AppleTV that are different correctly and that's about it. If it's truly a different OS, developers are going to be screaming very shortly (if they aren't already) because they'll have to develop two totally different apps versus coding one app and then letting the developer's tools take care of tweaking it for different devices on the back end. If the developer's tools will still take a single bit of code and branch it appropriately for all devices, iOS and TVOS aren't nearly as different as Apple is claiming.

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I didn't know that Trap Team had two players. I bought it and put it on my son's Kindle, but we never tried playing two players. That's why I ask about two players. Even then, were you able to use two controllers or did one person have to use the controls on the tablet? Does the Apple TV allow for two controllers? Or would someone have to use a iDevice as a controller?

The Trap Team tablet edition is/was capable of local two player (at least on iOS) and, out of a single box, allowed one player to use the iDevice's touchscreen as controls and the other player to use the included Bluetooth controller. However, you could pick up a second starter and link a second controller to the original portal, allowing both players to play without having to hold the iDevice. I'm not sure if the Android tablets that were supported had the horsepower to pull that off or not, but I know the iPad Air and Air 2 did.

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The new Apple TV has an app size limit of 200MB. All other content has to obtained through on-demand resources, meaning it's downloaded as you need it (i.e. levels, characters, etc.).

That's my bad, as I didn't watch the Apple product announcements this year, so I didn't catch this when skimming highlights. Unless the AppleTV has a TON of RAM, I'm thinking that it may be that the initial app size is limited to 200MB and then the app can download additional content that it can keep locally, as I have a ton of apps that do precisely that on my phone, iPad, etc. Not sure if that's the case here, but it would make a lot more sense than keeping games such as SuperChargers unnecessarily tethered to an internet connection for full functionality.

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I don't have an iPad, but I do have an iPhone. I doubt I'll put this on it, though. But I have been interested in the new Apple TV if I ever get around to affording to buy one. I didn't know that Trap Team didn't have 2 players, but even still, it's good to ask. As for me getting my information "not quite right", you're the one that's misinformed. I'm not meaning that in a negative tone. I'm just saying that you obviously don't know the details about the new Apple TV, which is what I'm talking about.

Yep, that was on me, assuming that Apple didn't try to razzle dazzle everyone with the back end details of the new device and being wrong. I still think that it's actually going to be iOS branched slightly and wrapped up in another name, but we won't know that until the device actually gets out in the wild and people (developers, hackers) get their hands on it.

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Activision made a vague post about it being on Apple TV on their facebook page, but then no other information or answers. There hasn't been any information on how they're handling the activation of the iOS (and thus the Apple TV) version...whether by code or portal activation. Now that I know that they can enable universal purchasing, I assume they will have that enabled. We also know that it will connect to iCloud so you can play on Apple TV then continue that same game on your iDevice (which is a huge plus).

I honestly hadn't thought about that in terms of the new AppleTV. They most likely will be forced to make you "buy" the app and then download it only onto devices which are tied to your account, otherwise you can probably get what is essentially a full console version for free if the app operates like the Trap Team one did. While I'm glad that I won't get stuck with an extra code for Battlegrounds (as I bought the game then ended up with a starter later on), I don't much care for the thought of there basically being a portal, controller, starter figures and a wink and promise inside the box.

Quote: ninja9351

This is why I invested $45 in rechargeable AAA batteries as well as a charger.

That's great advice for anybody who's considering any of the tablet/iOS versions. I recommend picking up an Eneloop charger and the appropriate mix of Eneloop batteries for the portal and controller to ensure that you're not constantly throwing money away on "disposable" batteries.

-Doug

on trap team iOS 2 player was possible. you had to connect two controllers, which could only be done in the portal screens.

I'm considering upgrading to an iPhone 6S early next year (I switched from my old iPhone 4S to a Samsung Galaxy S4 last year, which in hindsight was a total mistake on my part), so I might pick this up as a third Starter Pack option. It's kind of perfect, actually, as I had no idea how I was going to be able to get Spitfire and Hot Streak other than buying a Starter Pack for a console I don't currently own, and this solves the problem in an elegant way.