Look I get that apple may seem to be the best way going forward I just feel that it shuts out a huge group of gamers. Many people don't have a Mac or can't afford one. The Iphone yes a bunch of us might have but still there are those that don't have one. I guess you could maybe go for the IPad in that case. This is just one of those things that I am hoping a huge group of gamers don't get shut out of.
On 5/16/23, Cara Quinn <caraqu...@caraquinn.com> wrote: > HI Michael and All, > > Michael, thanks for your note. > > As an XBox owner myself, while it would certainly be great to have more > accessible titles on the platform, I’m just not sure I may be explaining the > situation as clearly as I can, and I’m sorry for that. > > When I say we do not have the resources for cross-platform development, it’s > not as if we do not have access to actual machines if we needed them. > > What I mean is that in regard to our development time, we would not be able > to manage all of the hours that would need to go into this work. > > this isn’t even getting into payment for our time. > > So regarding porting titles to XBox when we would already not be able to > continue Windows development is just not in the cards as things stand right > now. > > I’ve been on this list a while, as you all have, and I can’t help but note > that this type of discussion seems to come up again and again over the > years, and I have to wonder why this is? > > anyone developing games for this community, whether they be an individual or > a company, seems to run into the same questions / concerns. Why is this? > > Draconis is an ongoing endeavor which we would love to have as a main source > of support for us and our families in our day-to-day work. We simply cannot > make that happen if we’re constantly asked to basically give up everything > that we have and all past efforts as a donation. > > Yes, there are some circumstances that would absolutely warrant this. If we > were no longer supporting these games at all, for example, but this is not > the case. We are simply porting these titles from Microsoft to Apple. > > If we gave away everything that the company has, then how would we be able > to do anything for the community at all? -let alone attempt to sustain the > company? > > In all seriousness, short of finding an angel investor, there is usually no > way to develop for the blind community in any kind of a sustainable way. > > If you or anyone else has leads on funding that could assist us, I would > absolutely be open to suggestions. > > Again, this is absolutely a serious question. We would certainly be open to > real avenues that would sustain the company for growth and further > development efforts. > > I hope this offers a bit more clarity and discourse on this. > > thanks again for your suggestions and please feel free to continue the great > discussion. > > Cheers! > > Cara > > > > > >> On May 16, 2023, at 2:09 PM, Michael barnes <c...@samobile.net> wrote: >> >> I would like to make another suggestion. Port your titles to the xBox >> since there are a lot of blind people on that platform. >> Do think about releasing the Windows version of the games free since >> Windows version of the games are not going to be supported. >> >> >>> On May 15, 2023, at 6:34 PM, Cara Quinn <caraqu...@caraquinn.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> First off, let me thank you for all of the support we’ve gotten in regard >>> to our announcement today. >>> >>> It really means a lot to us and really is an inspiration as we move >>> forward. >>> >>> We also want to extend our understanding and apologies to all of you who >>> feel excluded or left out. This is absolutely not our intention, and I >>> hope that is obvious. :) We would never dream of making members of our >>> own community feel that way. >>> >>> Our decision really has to come down to what we can and can’t provide. As >>> we mentioned, we are a small company and we want to do the best we can to >>> continue to provide the highest-quality products that we can produce, so >>> that we can offer the rich gaming experience that you’ve come to expect >>> from us, and that we hold ourselves to offering. >>> >>> Regarding the platforms that we will be available on; We are not limiting >>> ourselves to any one of the Apple platforms. For now, change Reaction and >>> Silver Dollar are available on the Mac because of their older code-base. >>> We are planning to update these to bring them to all apple platforms. >>> Going forward, we are planning on all titles being available on all Apple >>> platforms. The only exception to this might be the Apple Watch as some >>> games may not be appropriate for the small format. So I hope this clears >>> this up. >>> >>> Again, our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. We sure hope >>> that you choose to come along for the ride with us. As I said, your >>> support and excitement really go a long way to keeping us doing what we >>> do. >>> >>> We hope you’ll be with us on this journey. >>> >>> Cheers! >>> >>> Cara >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> On May 15, 2023, at 10:51 AM, Cara Quinn <caraqu...@caraquinn.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> It's been a long while, but it's finally time to announce the start of a >>>> new chapter for Draconis Entertainment, LLC. The dragon is awakening yet >>>> again! >>>> >>>> This new incarnation of the company brings big and exciting changes. We >>>> will explain those and some of our plans for the future here, but know >>>> that we aren't spilling all the beans quite yet. What fun would that >>>> be! >>>> >>>> The world has moved on! >>>> >>>> Our first announcement is that we are bringing new and enhanced versions >>>> of our classic games, along with brand-new titles, into the modern age >>>> and on to Apple platforms, with an emphasis on iPhone! Thanks to >>>> VoiceOver, the overwhelming majority of the visually impaired community >>>> has access to at least one of Apple's operating systems, and this will >>>> make our games available to the widest possible audience. It's hard to >>>> believe sometimes, but that little rectangle of glass we all carry in >>>> our pockets has infinitely more power than any of the PCs or Macs that >>>> our legacy titles were developed on, and with the tight integration of >>>> Apple's operating systems, we will be able to easily make new releases >>>> available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, or AppleTV going forward. This approach >>>> means that we can integrate newer technologies like full 3D spatial >>>> audio, touch and accelerometer interaction, and support for console game >>>> controllers and advanced haptics. >>>> >>>> What does this mean for our Windows products? >>>> >>>> We know how beloved these games have been over the years—we love them >>>> too—and we want to bring all of them, with expansions and new features, >>>> into the twenty-first century, so they can be enjoyed by new and old >>>> generations of gamers alike. The support cost for the original Windows >>>> games, some of which were new when Nintendo 64 was the hot ticket and >>>> Xbox didn't yet exist, is simply too high to manage for a small company >>>> like us, while also investing in the future. >>>> >>>> We will be bringing our Windows development to a close and giving these >>>> games new life on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AppleTV. That said, for the >>>> time being, we will continue to offer downloads of the installation >>>> packages for our legacy catalog on our site, and customers who purchased >>>> them may request replacement keys within reason. (For more details, see >>>> the Legacy section of our new website at https://draconis.llc.) >>>> >>>> Back in March, the legacy Draconis Score Server (DSS) and Draconis >>>> Online License Factory (DOLF) for the Windows versions of ChangeReaction >>>> 2 and SilverDollar, migrated to a new host and received some >>>> modernization. As you've already seen, this brought much needed >>>> stability to both of those services. >>>> >>>> So what’s up first? >>>> >>>> With all of that in mind, we're pleased to introduce major updates to >>>> the Mac versions of ChangeReaction and SilverDollar. Freed from the >>>> cross-platform constraints of developing for both macOS and Windows, we >>>> have been able to add some new features to these titles. The most >>>> exciting of which is full-support for any of the console game >>>> controllers supported by Apple platforms. These include the PlayStation >>>> DualShock 4 or DualSense 5, the Xbox X / S controllers, the Nintendo >>>> Switch JoyCons, any MFI controller, and others. SilverDollar now >>>> includes a great deal of new and remastered audio, support for Apple >>>> Silicon, and countless bug fixes and tweaks. >>>> >>>> These upgraded titles will be available as free updates to anyone who >>>> purchased them previously from the Mac App Store. SilverDollar 2.0 is >>>> out now and is available for free. ChangeReaction 3.0 will have its >>>> price reduced to $4.99 in the US when it is reintroduced in the coming >>>> weeks. (Prices will vary based on exchange rates.) >>>> >>>> Looking forward, the development to bring a mix of new and familiar >>>> titles to life is well-underway, and we can’t wait to show you what >>>> we’ve been working on! The future is bright. >>>> >>>> We know the dragon has been sleeping for a very long time. We appreciate >>>> your patience and support more than we can say. Thank you for the last >>>> twenty years. We hope you'll join us as the dragon is reborn. >>>> >>>> >>>> Cheers! >>>> >>>> Cara >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> > > > > > > > -- Lenron Brown Skype: ron.brown762 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#126260): https://groups.io/g/blind-gamers/message/126260 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/98907957/21656 Group Owner: blind-gamers+ow...@groups.io Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/blind-gamers/leave/607459/21656/1071380848/xyzzy [arch...@mail-archive.com] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
