Osmos Android FAQ
General
Where can I buy the Android version of Osmos?
I can’t find Osmos on the Android Market; what gives?
How can I tell which version of Osmos I’m running?
Technical and Preferences
Osmos is crashing when I log into Google+ and/or on startup!
Osmos isn’t running well on my [insert tablet/handset name here]. What to do?
I get a ‘blobiverse desync’ when I try to play multiplayer with an iOS device.
The three-finger tap to pause/exit isn’t working for me.
What kind of “anonymous stats” are you gathering?
Gameplay
Where can I buy the Android version of Osmos?
You can’t buy it, because the build is getting so old we don’t feel comfortable selling it. But if you’d like to download it for free to try it out, use one of the following links: Handset version. Tablet version.
If the game works well for you, please consider buying the Win + Mac + Linux versions of Osmos on our website for $5 as a “donation”. :)
If the game doesn’t work well for you… perhaps the Win + Mac + Linux versions of Osmos might interest you…? ;-)
A few tech details: The game may not run on your device at all, because it’s a 32-bit app, and recently a number of devices/OSs have become 64-bit only. If it does run, the game generally works well, except online multiplayer since matchmaking broke when Google+ was discontinued.
You may be wondering why we don’t just update our build? I’ll start by saying: we’re working on it. We’ve started to work with someone on a new port of Osmos, which we’re hoping to release by the end of 2024. As for why we need a new port… the original port of Osmos to Android had been done with a partner company using a proprietary technology. When that company went out of business, we lost access to that tech and the ability to create new builds. (Lessons learned.)
I can’t find Osmos on the Android Market; what gives?
Please read the full answer to the previous question.
How can I tell which version of Osmos I’m running?
You can see the Osmos version and build number in the lower right-hand corner of the Osmos ‘Credits’ screen (accessed via the “Saturn” icon in the main menu).
Technical and Preferences
Osmos is crashing when I log into Google+ and/or on startup!
Sorry, but Google+ no longer exists, so… don’t tap that button please.
Osmos isn’t running well on my [insert tablet/handset name here]. What to do?
- First of all, please check if your device is 64-bit-only. If so, Osmos simply won’t run on it. (Sorry, but we haven’t been able to update the game in years.)
- Second, you may want to check in on our Android forum, as nothing else can keep up with the speed and helpfulness of an online community. (Though it’s quiet there these days as well.)
- If the forums don’t do the trick, email us at webmaster@hemispheregames.com and we’ll do our best to help you
I get a ‘blobiverse desync’ when I try to play multiplayer with an iOS device.
Unfortunately, cross-play between Android and iOS is unsupported.
For those interested in why: Osmos uses a “lockstep” simulation for multiplayer, which is dependent on floating point calculations being identical across devices. Because the current iOS and Android builds result in slightly different numbers, things drift, and thus the “desync”.
The three-finger tap to pause/exit isn’t working for me.
Some Android devices don’t support “jazzhand!” (i.e. tracking more than two touch points). Instead, simply tap your device’s menu button to bring up the menu.
What kind of “anonymous stats” are you gathering?
Absolutely *nothing* personal. We’re basically gathering win/lose information per level so we can improve the difficulty curve in Osmos and in future games.
Gameplay
Osmos is hard — help!
We’ve done our best to create a smooth difficulty curve in Osmos; however, the last couple of levels of each Arcade mode are intended to be truly hard. For those of you having a difficult time in the Odyssey, check out our video tutorial (it was made right after the iPad release, but it’s 100% applicable to the Android version as well),
Also, you can skip up to three levels in the Odyssey; if you’re stuck, skip a level via the in-game pause menu (three-finger tap).
Happy Osmoting! :)