Hack Week: Envisioning ROBLOX on the iPad

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ROBLOX on iPad - In-Game InterfaceDuring this year’s Hack Week, ROBLOX developers shifted gears, working tirelessly to devise and present ideas fueled more by creativity than priority. This week, we’re featuring some of the most innovative ideas to come out of Hack Week. Our third highlighted project is an exploration of how ROBLOX’s in-game, game-browsing and social networking interfaces might look on an iPad. These early-stage mock-ups were conceived and produced by Visual Artist Tara Byars and Visual Designer Miguel Ortiz.

ROBLOX is an expansive platform. So, when it came to mocking up a new ROBLOX interface for a new device, we quickly realized we had to narrow the scope to the stuff users want to do on the go – browse games, play games, network with friends and groups, and buy and sell content.

Remember, these are initial mock-ups, produced outside of Apple’s development API. What you see is not set in stone; rather, we wanted to give give our ideas some tangibility and spark a discussion as to how ROBLOX on the iPad could look and feel. Click each image to view it at full size.

Browse games

ROBLOX on iPad - Browse Games

The iPad equivalent of the Games page should look familiar to any ROBLOX player. It offers three search methods, and a grid display of games, separated into multiple pages.

View and launch a specific game

ROBLOX on iPad - Game Screen

The interface for a specific game takes advantage of a classic iOS design feature: the cover flow. This would allow users to swipe their way through image and videos for a given ROBLOX game. Users would also see the game’s description, statistics and badges, the ability to share a game, and a traditional green Play button.

In-game interface

ROBLOX on iPad - In-Game Interface

We’ve shown ROBLOX running on an iPad, but there was no interface. This project focused on presentation rather than engineering, leading to this potential in-game interface. As you can see, virtual directional pads would drive character movement, while screen touches would allow users to swap equipment, interact with the environment (e.g., shoot a gun), and bring up the Backpack.

While the iPad offers alternative control schemes, such as tilt, virtual D-pads would feel similar to the traditional mouse-and-keyboard setup. They would also help level the playing field across platforms, as mobile and computer users could be in the same game.

User profile and social networking

ROBLOX on iPad - Profile Interface

Mobile social networking is growing fast. According to TechCrunch, monthly time spent on Facebook’s mobile site and apps (441 minutes) is higher than that of its classic website (391 minutes). About 61% of all tweets come from mobile apps. A key part of ROBLOX on the iPad is social networking.

As you can see in the above image, the ROBLOX profile page would include many important social features – a friends/best friends list that indicates who’s online, a listing of groups, and the ability to follow and message a user. It’s comprehensive, given the screen real estate, but also portable, so users would be able to communicate and organize even when they’re away from their computer.

Again, these are initial mock-ups, produced outside of Apple’s development API. We’re already thinking about these mock-ups at the ROBLOX headquarters, but we’re also interested in hearing what you think.

997 thoughts on “Hack Week: Envisioning ROBLOX on the iPad”

  1. Very nice graphics! but make the graphic like the in-game version of ipad because the graphics in PC version sounds sucky.. =(

  4. Hi if you putting Roblox on the iPad than be sure you can only play with wifi cause it will save a lot of memory for the iPad

  6. Personally I think Roblox should slow down on adding stuff to Apple product’s. They should come out with Forum app and Roblox game app for Android. Save the trouble and work with Linux. It’s super easy and even the slower Android are a lot more powerful then all the iphone’s, ipod’s and iPad’s.

  7. Yes to the right side were u see the tweets he’s saying they worked iPod and it was easy so maybe it is coming for iPod

  9. I no it is possible to put it on iPod the screen is just fine I don’t get why your saying screen is to small thats bull we can still control it well just try I hope it comes out for iPod :)

  14. The fact that ROBLOX is a free online game, this game should be free on the iPad, iPhone, and iPad. It would be so misunderstanding to see this game be for 0.99 cents or more…

    • It would be very misunderstanding and would be dissatisfying for roblox players if they didnt have enough for it they would have to wait and play it on the computer

  15. Send me a message at my yahoo email saying u can or u can’t play roblox on iPod I really like roblox and I dont have an iPad to expensive.

    • Its merely impossible for them to be able to put ROBLOX for devices with small screens like the iPod.

    • Yeah it is very expensive i have a ipod touch too i know what it feels like too do that ive been invisioning being able to play roblox on the ipod touch

  16. Plze if anyone of roblox editors see this plze say it’s coming out for iPod cause if it’s not I don’t il just be mad at everyone in roblox I no its possible for iPod I have the 4th gen ipod I know u guys can do it

  17. Great! I Liked It, And There Are Super Graphics, They Are Better Than PC Roblox!

  20. Plz make it for the wii U (if its comming out)
    lucky im the owner of an ipad so i cant wait!

  26. Finally , ROBLOX will make a app for ROBLOX. I have seen minecraft on iPad and it’s really fun. Now on vacations and on the go I can PLAY ROBLOX not just look look at my profile on my iPad . It’s about time now :)

    • Your lucky! If you have updated your iPad lately you are, you need to update your iPad to iOS 5 and your totally compatible. But in several years when new iOS’s come out you won’t get the new updates, because your ipad is already incompatible with iOS 6 witch is coming soon. But in several years you will have a new iPad probably so who cares?

  29. If you’re putting it on Ipad, please bring this to android tablets that are powerful enough! I have a Transformer Infinity 700 and I would love to play ROBLOX on it!

  30. This should come out (cause when i’m going somewhere: NOT SCHOOL, sometimes i bring the iPad with me :3

  31. I have been waiting FOREVER to get roblox on iPad. And please hurry! Will it be free or not?

  32. yus i’ve been wanting teh ipad version for months just plz make the app free and plz put it in the korea appstore too xD

  33. Guys the I pod touch can’t handle roblox I mean u would have as lack of sight if it did

    • Dude anything compatible with the iPhone 4 is compatible with the iPod Touch 4 because they have the same processor and retina display.

  35. The iPod touch would be interesting to see to I’d enjoy to see that,even though I don’t play roblox games any more

  36. Can’t wait (: soo excited but Plz don’t make the app so expensive on the iPad and seriously nintendo -.-

  38. i wonder when they r gonna realese roblox on ipad and i wonder how roblox did the demonstration on the ipad when its not even out yet

    • It’s a thing called beta, or developer version, they make a usable prototype and show off what it might be like, as you can see, they changed there minds about the looks.

    • Well.. go on the app store, search Roblox, go on iPad apps, and maybe you can get it on iPod… P.S. I’ve tried that a lot on apps..

  40. Ok ok.. Stop with all the funky words and by the way IM TYPIING THIS ON THE IPAD 3. LOL

  41. Woah… cool, if the Apple version is going to be launched, is it possible to make the Android version too?

    • Err, theres a story too this, a short one. See why so many apps are on apple and not andriod? Because it’s easier to script on apple, ROBLOX is already worn out by making the iPad making an andriod is way to hard.

  43. I wonder how this dude got roblox on his iPad on the video if it isn’t out yet on the app store. And they have it already so I wonder how he got it. And please email me when your getting roblox on the app store.And please make as a game on the ps3,wii,iPad,iPhone,iPod,and on the PSP will be a good idea also.so please roblox make theis games for people and people who love roblox.

    • Not everyone has a ps3 but put it on the Nintendo WII it would be the best thing ever playing roblox on the Wii. Also a Nintendo 3DSwould be awesome but roblox is a very expensive platform and they may run out of funding during devolopment in such things such as a roblox thing that makes it more realistic. They might run out of funding money and then maybe it won’t exist until more funding money.

      • uh guys go on your 3ds (if you don’t have one too bad)and go on roblox and it works but I cant play any thing cus on ever pcu or 3ds it wont work

  47. I’ll also say, it should be at least .99$ on iTunes, for a good desined app it should be from the range of .99$ to 6.99$.

      • I would pay 15-30$ for this but they would not do that..I would not see it being anymore than the android/ios Minecraft PE or GTA III. Probably in the 5-7$ range is what I think.

    • GUYS!

      Minecraft is a paid game on the PC also!

      ROBLOX is free on the PC!

      See the difference?

      It’s most likely going to be free, and also if ROBLOX decides they spent a lot of time on it may be 1 or 2 dollars.

      See?

  48. Why don’t you let us the gamers try it out?

    I have an ipad and I would love to help you test, Send me in e-mail if so.

  50. Ummm Let me think about this….

    YES!!!
    With the IOS, Roblox would Run MUCH more Faster then a regular CPU and you don’t need to bring a Giant Laptop Around with you when you can bring a tablet, this make gaming much more easyier

    Make an App.

  53. Sounds intresting. guy stop asking if they can add this or put it on this it isnt announced they said ‘What you see is not set in stone’

  57. ROBLOX for PS Vita anytime soon? It would be awesome to play ROBLOX on the Vita, not to mention super cool!

    • If they would make it for a video game console it would have to be the vita or XBOX, because that seems f=more realistic then that laggy wii.

  67. Will there be forums on the app?

    Foruming on the go. Ah, the good times. :D

    • Hmmm
      Only on the go if you have 3g or 4g LTE, it would be kinda like carrying around a MBA if it just wifi.

  68. When is it going to come out? Also, please make it free! Can you also make a software when we can design clothes? Thanks! P.S. Please add edit mode!

    • I tottaly agree with you about that being it free cause if its paid my chances of getting it is over plus i think this would be on top 25 on app store if you put it free

  69. This would allow me to play ROBLOX wherever I have wifi! Say I’m tired for instance, maybe I still want to play ROBLOX but I also want to lay down. This will allow you to do this (not saying you can’t already with a laptop). It will be an excellent experience to be playing with new controls. Not only that but, if there was a way to build onto one of yours games through the iPad it will be such a good experience! I’m not sure what you guys think about the idea of this possibly becoming reality, but I’m very exited and Intrigued about what this could turn out to be!