Tutorial Updated (With Images)

Here is an updated theme making tutorial on xda-developers site with screenshots:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=823020

A Very Quick Tutorial

Images will come soon hopefully.

You might find it hard to follow along if you have never done any android programming before.

Step 1 - create a new android project using the following settings:

build target 2.2

create activity: main

min sdk version 4

Step 2 - create a new android xml file in res/values called theme_config.xml

here is what a sample theme_config looks like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
<integer name="red">0</integer>
<integer name="green">186</integer>
<integer name="blue">255</integer>
<integer name="fred">0</integer>
<integer name="fgreen">0</integer>
<integer name="fblue">0</integer>
</resources>

red, blue, and green are for the background color

fred, fgreen, and fblue are for the font color

Step 3 - Edit res/values/strings.xml and add your app name, so it should look something like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<resources>

<string name="app_name">HGTheme: Shark</string>

</resources>

Step 4 - Edit your AndroidManifest.xml file,

add this line to the android:installLocation="internalOnly"

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

package="com.fkarim.hgthemeshark"

android:versionCode="1"

android:versionName="1.0"

android:installLocation="internalOnly">

Step 5 - Edit your AndroidManifest.xml file, add in the following intent filters

<application android:icon="@drawable/icon" android:label="@string/app_name">

<activity android:name=".main"

android:label="@string/app_name">

<intent-filter>

<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

<action android:name="com.fkarim.helicopter.THEMES" />

<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />

</intent-filter>

<intent-filter>

<action android:name="com.fkarim.helicopter.ACTION_PICK_ICON" />

<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />

</intent-filter>

</activity>

</application>

Step 6 - make your images and put them in res/drawable

you need the following images:

cavewalls.png (240 x 240)

copter.png (around 120 x 50)

obstacles.png (50 x 100)

smoke.png (32 x 32)

Step 7 - publish your app

If you need some help for how to publish an app check out this article:

http://www.devx.com/wireless/Article/39972/1954

make sure the name starts with "HGTheme :" so its easy for people to search for it in the market.

Thanks for making a theme for the game!

Make Your Own Themes For Helicopter Game

I have just added a new feature, the ability for anyone to make custom themes, for my first game on android. You can download the game from here if you want to try it out.

Helicopter Game - Android app on AppBrain

I am working on a tutorial with images and possibly video to make it easy for anyone to create a theme for the helicopter game.