Hi Michael, Well, that's a difficult question to answer. However, the biggest reason why not all game play elements or features are not supported by every single port of a game comes down to differences in the console or target environment itself. There is no universal software development kits, APIs, that work identically on every single target environment out there. Those that try to implament a one-size fits all solution like SDL, SFML, whatever tend to be nothing more or less than extremely generic support for input, graphics, and audio. Meaning if an OS or game console has some advanced features they most likely won't be supported by your cross-platform API.
For example, let's compare USA Raceway. If I write the game for Windows using Direct Input and XAudio2 I can support a number of input devices like keyboards, mice, and joysticks as well as something like force feedback racing wheels. XAudio2 has the potential of producing true 7.1 surround sound support. All of this is just fantastic, and features that might be selling points for Windows customers. However, suppose I port the game to Linux? Well, first you need to know that SDL's support for keyboards, mice, and joysticks is very generic, and actually uses a different way of handling input than DirectInput so the input might not be as responsive as the Windows port using DirectX. Plus SDL currently does not support force feedback so there goes all of the force feedback game controllers out there. For audio if we want something like XAudio2 we have to use something like OpenAL, because SDL Mixer is ok for stereo panning, but doesn't have 7.1 surround sound support. So as you can see the APIs for Linux themselves don't have the same features available than something like DirectX making it impossible for a developer such as myself to create an exact port of the game to that platform with features x, y, and z. This problem is a common one when porting a game between gaming consoles. Every game console has its own unique API, software developer kits, and they are not completely identical in features or ability. So the best any game developer can do in that situation is make the games as similar as they can and remove or change whatever doesn't apply to that console. As for Lara Croft Gardian of Light I can't really tell you the diference between ports. The only version I have purchased and have played is the PC version. I have not tried the PS III or XBox ports myself. HTH On 8/10/11, Michael Gauler <michael.gau...@gmx.de> wrote: > I have another Question I forgot to add in my last message. > What about console games like the Darkstalkers series or games like the > Naruto games? I personally don't like it when such games are released for > consoles exclusively, or if there is a content difference. > Do you know the differences between the PC and console versions of Lara > Crofd and the Guardian of light? > If a developer releases a game on multiple platforms which are alike (Play > station instead for example Game Boy), why can't there be all story and > gameplay features be in all ports of the game? > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. > --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
