Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi Shaun, Yes, .NET 1.1 and 2.0 is technically supported on Win 98. However, I am not sure as to how long I will be able to continue support for 98 and 9x since Microsoft is rapidly phasing that stuff out. I think I am beginning to agree with everyone else to stick with .NET, and whoever doesn't have the specifications they'll have to upgrade or find a different machine to play on. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi, I don't know much about Ruby, but IDEs are ok once you figure them out. I am pretty good at getting around the .NET IDES for VB, C#, and C++. SO over all I am quite happy with them. Just for your information there are free command line compilers for all the major .NET languages from Microsoft if you don't mind tinkering around in a dos Windo, and setting a few variables in your Windows environment settings. shaun everiss wrote: after what I have heard about ides and such, I'm seriously thinking about ruby, as long as I can either access dotnet, directx or the win32 apis and directx with it. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
I got rid of most of my stuff too. I'm waiting for audio game maker. Maybe once I master it then I'll try again to learn some programming language. I'm also gunna save up and try and get myself a new computer in the middle of 2008 sometime. Josh - Original Message - From: shaun everiss [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 2:53 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. well for the record I decided to not bother about dotnet stuff mainly because of issues kara raised on here with the ide. I have deleted all my sdks and most programming stuff. At a moment I'm at a lost what sdks I should download and what I should use as a programming language. I have done crash courses in java and pascal, but only javascript and even then I hardly learned much. There is audio game maker coming and for reasons unknown I have kept the adrift language on my system. However I am not sure where to go from here. At 02:22 a.m. 21/01/2007, you wrote: Hi Shaun, Yes, .NET 1.1 and 2.0 is technically supported on Win 98. However, I am not sure as to how long I will be able to continue support for 98 and 9x since Microsoft is rapidly phasing that stuff out. I think I am beginning to agree with everyone else to stick with .NET, and whoever doesn't have the specifications they'll have to upgrade or find a different machine to play on. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi Shaun, Ouch... I wouldn't have done that. If you want to program easily for the Windows platform .NET is hands down the easiest way to do it. Combine that with DirectX, and you have, games like, well, STFC, Railracer, Montezuma's Revenge, and so on. The .NET Framework has proven itself quite effective for audio games. I wouldn't worry so much about the IDE. There are sometimes annoyences like error Windows popping up blowing the focus on the screen reader, but it doesn't happen all the time. It's just something you get use to after a while. If you hate the IDE notepad makes a quick and easy alternative. I use notepad often and paste my code in to the IDE. However, not everyone is a programmer, and for this Audio Games Maker will be the go between. No complex programming, and a ready to create game tool. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Myself once I have fixed this here laptop I plan to spend the necessary cash to upgrade my screenreaders to support vista. At 11:45 a.m. 21/01/2007, you wrote: I got rid of most of my stuff too. I'm waiting for audio game maker. Maybe once I master it then I'll try again to learn some programming language. I'm also gunna save up and try and get myself a new computer in the middle of 2008 sometime. Josh - Original Message - From: shaun everiss [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 2:53 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. well for the record I decided to not bother about dotnet stuff mainly because of issues kara raised on here with the ide. I have deleted all my sdks and most programming stuff. At a moment I'm at a lost what sdks I should download and what I should use as a programming language. I have done crash courses in java and pascal, but only javascript and even then I hardly learned much. There is audio game maker coming and for reasons unknown I have kept the adrift language on my system. However I am not sure where to go from here. At 02:22 a.m. 21/01/2007, you wrote: Hi Shaun, Yes, .NET 1.1 and 2.0 is technically supported on Win 98. However, I am not sure as to how long I will be able to continue support for 98 and 9x since Microsoft is rapidly phasing that stuff out. I think I am beginning to agree with everyone else to stick with .NET, and whoever doesn't have the specifications they'll have to upgrade or find a different machine to play on. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
I'm probably not a programmer for now. NOt to say I'm leaving for good. once I am ready I'll get everything back. I probably will not get the entire visual studio express like I decided to do before since its to much space. maybe vc#, dotnet 2 sdk and directx sdk not sure about the platform sdk maybe that to. I'm going with audiogame maker for now and adrift. At 02:17 p.m. 21/01/2007, you wrote: Hi Shaun, Ouch... I wouldn't have done that. If you want to program easily for the Windows platform .NET is hands down the easiest way to do it. Combine that with DirectX, and you have, games like, well, STFC, Railracer, Montezuma's Revenge, and so on. The .NET Framework has proven itself quite effective for audio games. I wouldn't worry so much about the IDE. There are sometimes annoyences like error Windows popping up blowing the focus on the screen reader, but it doesn't happen all the time. It's just something you get use to after a while. If you hate the IDE notepad makes a quick and easy alternative. I use notepad often and paste my code in to the IDE. However, not everyone is a programmer, and for this Audio Games Maker will be the go between. No complex programming, and a ready to create game tool. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
yes me too. I'm gunna stick with audio game maker for now. Is adrift only for text adventures or can there be audio in it? Can you make rpg games with it? Josh ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi. Adrift is a text adventure program specifically for text adventures. You can however, add audio and pictures to the games. But in the end, they are text games. * Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] [2007-01-20 21:58]: yes me too. I'm gunna stick with audio game maker for now. Is adrift only for text adventures or can there be audio in it? Can you make rpg games with it? -- And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. -- Hosea 7:14 Raul A. Gallegos ... IliwSsmc ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi Tom, If people had not pre-ordered the Monty and Raceway games I would suggest switching to the more powerful language, but I think since this would delay release that you should stay with the dot net language for a while. Once the games are selling, that would be the time to brush up your C and convert the games to it. I would love force feedback in Raceway but I would rather be playing without it than waiting a long time just to get it. smiles, Phil - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 6:29 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hi everyone, As all of you know back in December 2006 USA Games made STFC 1.0 available for public distribution. What we did not anticipate prier to that release is how difficult it would be to get all users up to date running the .NET Framework and the current version of DirectX. For most users we were able to quickly resolve the issues and make STFC operate properly. However, there were a few cases which were without any hope of solving easily, and at this moment still remain open as unsolved cases of unknown error. Recently, on the Audyssey list I had made a suggestion that as a developer I should design a 3D engine similar to the Quake engine, but with all the access features built in. I'm thinking of starting over with the USA Games engine and instead of basing it on the .NET Framework and switching to C++ with the standard Windows win32 API and MFC which comes installed on every Windows system. Even better I can package MFC updates with my installer to update them were they needed. I see many advantages of this switch such as greater security, better performance of games, a wider availability of security tools to protect USA Games commercial games,and no dependence on the .NET Framework for any games designed under the new engine. The final reason I might consider this route is simply that C++ support for game devices, graphics, and sound is first rate. Since it is widely used by pro game developers there are often more features for DirectX available to a C++ dev than say for VB such as force feedback support for game controllers. The VB support for game controllers doesn't seam to work well with feedback devices as both Che and I found out the hard way. James north had created the initial Raceway engine in VB, and I won't be able to get ff device support using VB or VB.NET. However, in a language like C++ it wouldn't even be an issue. However, using C++ isn't going to be all roses. I've gotten a bit rusty with C++, and would probably take some time brushing up my skills, finding out what changes were made in the SDKs I'd need, and so on. Game production could potentially be slower since C++ isn't the easiest language to work with, and I'll admit can be complex at times. Certainly not a cinch like C#.NET is. Not only that it would take me quite a while to read through my engine code, and begin converting it from C#.NET to C++. On the other hand, I do have a good thing going with C#.NET. Other than the bumps in the road with end users not always having the correct versions of the framework etc games like STFC and Montezuma's Revenge are doing well. On a fairly modern system with all the latest service packs and patches those games should play reasonably well for the audio gamers community. I'd kind to hate to switch just when USA Games is beginning to get this show on the road you might say. There are some reasons about the .NET languages I am beginning to dislike such as having to encrypt my binaries every time I compile them for distribution, end users having mismatched versions of programs which causes conflicts, and a few other miner limitations. Otherwise, like I said, I am ok with what I am doing. What do you all think. Are you happy with the way USA Games is doing things, having to install the .NET Framework, etc, or would rather us move to something more generic like the C++ Win32 API which is pretty standardized across MS Windows platforms. Thanks. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
hi tom and all. i for one would like you to move to the C++ Win32 API many thanks. - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 6:29 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hi everyone, As all of you know back in December 2006 USA Games made STFC 1.0 available for public distribution. What we did not anticipate prier to that release is how difficult it would be to get all users up to date running the .NET Framework and the current version of DirectX. For most users we were able to quickly resolve the issues and make STFC operate properly. However, there were a few cases which were without any hope of solving easily, and at this moment still remain open as unsolved cases of unknown error. Recently, on the Audyssey list I had made a suggestion that as a developer I should design a 3D engine similar to the Quake engine, but with all the access features built in. I'm thinking of starting over with the USA Games engine and instead of basing it on the .NET Framework and switching to C++ with the standard Windows win32 API and MFC which comes installed on every Windows system. Even better I can package MFC updates with my installer to update them were they needed. I see many advantages of this switch such as greater security, better performance of games, a wider availability of security tools to protect USA Games commercial games,and no dependence on the .NET Framework for any games designed under the new engine. The final reason I might consider this route is simply that C++ support for game devices, graphics, and sound is first rate. Since it is widely used by pro game developers there are often more features for DirectX available to a C++ dev than say for VB such as force feedback support for game controllers. The VB support for game controllers doesn't seam to work well with feedback devices as both Che and I found out the hard way. James north had created the initial Raceway engine in VB, and I won't be able to get ff device support using VB or VB.NET. However, in a language like C++ it wouldn't even be an issue. However, using C++ isn't going to be all roses. I've gotten a bit rusty with C++, and would probably take some time brushing up my skills, finding out what changes were made in the SDKs I'd need, and so on. Game production could potentially be slower since C++ isn't the easiest language to work with, and I'll admit can be complex at times. Certainly not a cinch like C#.NET is. Not only that it would take me quite a while to read through my engine code, and begin converting it from C#.NET to C++. On the other hand, I do have a good thing going with C#.NET. Other than the bumps in the road with end users not always having the correct versions of the framework etc games like STFC and Montezuma's Revenge are doing well. On a fairly modern system with all the latest service packs and patches those games should play reasonably well for the audio gamers community. I'd kind to hate to switch just when USA Games is beginning to get this show on the road you might say. There are some reasons about the .NET languages I am beginning to dislike such as having to encrypt my binaries every time I compile them for distribution, end users having mismatched versions of programs which causes conflicts, and a few other miner limitations. Otherwise, like I said, I am ok with what I am doing. What do you all think. Are you happy with the way USA Games is doing things, having to install the .NET Framework, etc, or would rather us move to something more generic like the C++ Win32 API which is pretty standardized across MS Windows platforms. Thanks. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
I for one would like to keep things the way they are now. I make a point to keep my computer updated regularly, and when a new version of .net makes itself available I usually get it. It is the same for directX. Like you said I don't want to see things slow down either. It seams that currently most users of the USAGames had little or no problems running the games. There are always exceptions to the general rule, but I bleieve that developers should consentrate on creating the games, and provides the tools that enable the games to work, rather than make all of the pcs happy. Take care -- Casey Email services by FreedomBox. Surf the Net at the sound of your voice. www.freedombox.info ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
tom do what ever you think is best! - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 6:29 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hi everyone, As all of you know back in December 2006 USA Games made STFC 1.0 available for public distribution. What we did not anticipate prier to that release is how difficult it would be to get all users up to date running the .NET Framework and the current version of DirectX. For most users we were able to quickly resolve the issues and make STFC operate properly. However, there were a few cases which were without any hope of solving easily, and at this moment still remain open as unsolved cases of unknown error. Recently, on the Audyssey list I had made a suggestion that as a developer I should design a 3D engine similar to the Quake engine, but with all the access features built in. I'm thinking of starting over with the USA Games engine and instead of basing it on the .NET Framework and switching to C++ with the standard Windows win32 API and MFC which comes installed on every Windows system. Even better I can package MFC updates with my installer to update them were they needed. I see many advantages of this switch such as greater security, better performance of games, a wider availability of security tools to protect USA Games commercial games,and no dependence on the .NET Framework for any games designed under the new engine. The final reason I might consider this route is simply that C++ support for game devices, graphics, and sound is first rate. Since it is widely used by pro game developers there are often more features for DirectX available to a C++ dev than say for VB such as force feedback support for game controllers. The VB support for game controllers doesn't seam to work well with feedback devices as both Che and I found out the hard way. James north had created the initial Raceway engine in VB, and I won't be able to get ff device support using VB or VB.NET. However, in a language like C++ it wouldn't even be an issue. However, using C++ isn't going to be all roses. I've gotten a bit rusty with C++, and would probably take some time brushing up my skills, finding out what changes were made in the SDKs I'd need, and so on. Game production could potentially be slower since C++ isn't the easiest language to work with, and I'll admit can be complex at times. Certainly not a cinch like C#.NET is. Not only that it would take me quite a while to read through my engine code, and begin converting it from C#.NET to C++. On the other hand, I do have a good thing going with C#.NET. Other than the bumps in the road with end users not always having the correct versions of the framework etc games like STFC and Montezuma's Revenge are doing well. On a fairly modern system with all the latest service packs and patches those games should play reasonably well for the audio gamers community. I'd kind to hate to switch just when USA Games is beginning to get this show on the road you might say. There are some reasons about the .NET languages I am beginning to dislike such as having to encrypt my binaries every time I compile them for distribution, end users having mismatched versions of programs which causes conflicts, and a few other miner limitations. Otherwise, like I said, I am ok with what I am doing. What do you all think. Are you happy with the way USA Games is doing things, having to install the .NET Framework, etc, or would rather us move to something more generic like the C++ Win32 API which is pretty standardized across MS Windows platforms. Thanks. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi thom. Having had the trouble with net framework 1, (admittedly a solvable problem, but I spent almost a year not knowing that), I'm certainly synpathetic to people's inability to run games. However, as there are so few people devoting time and resources to creating audio games, and given the time it usually takes for dev's despite their best efforts, to bring out new titles, i think speed of developement is a real concern. As you said, in theory update patches should take care of the incompatibility problems with direct X and net framework on most modern pc's. do the problems only occur with older machines or versions of windows? If the games are only incompatible with a few systems over about 6 years old, then maybe just pushing forward would be a good idea, after all, as far as computers go six years is a long time. If on the other hand you can have a comparatively new machine and stil have trouble running net framework etc, then perhaps it's worth considdering the changes. Phil's suggestion seems like a nice balance. On the one hand you don't want to alienate people who just happen not to have the most modern ultra uptodate equipment, but on the other it'd be a waste of time making audio games compatible with every kind of computing device from abacus onwards, simply because there's someone who thinks everything that happened to computing after the death of Pythagoras was generally bad. I might be exadgerating just a litle tiny bit here Grin. Beware the Grue! Dark. From: Thomas Ward tw ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
the problem is not everyone has all the funding to get all the topshot equipment. see there's where the conflict begins. there's advantages and disadvantages to them both. the advantage of switching is that people with older systems who may not have funding to go and buy a computer, such as me, who has a desktop at home still running windows 95 and a laptop provided by the college, still get a go. it's all about accessibility, and that doesn't just mean blindness related issues. but then you got the speed of development to consider. if you have already specified a release date then the best way if you're going to switch is to make this clear on the website that people are having problems and you have decided to switch to another development system for your and your customer's convenience. if you are doing this to solve your customer's problems the customers shouldn't be complaining. hth. regards, damien - Original Message - From: Dark [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 1:22 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hi thom. Having had the trouble with net framework 1, (admittedly a solvable problem, but I spent almost a year not knowing that), I'm certainly synpathetic to people's inability to run games. However, as there are so few people devoting time and resources to creating audio games, and given the time it usually takes for dev's despite their best efforts, to bring out new titles, i think speed of developement is a real concern. As you said, in theory update patches should take care of the incompatibility problems with direct X and net framework on most modern pc's. do the problems only occur with older machines or versions of windows? If the games are only incompatible with a few systems over about 6 years old, then maybe just pushing forward would be a good idea, after all, as far as computers go six years is a long time. If on the other hand you can have a comparatively new machine and stil have trouble running net framework etc, then perhaps it's worth considdering the changes. Phil's suggestion seems like a nice balance. On the one hand you don't want to alienate people who just happen not to have the most modern ultra uptodate equipment, but on the other it'd be a waste of time making audio games compatible with every kind of computing device from abacus onwards, simply because there's someone who thinks everything that happened to computing after the death of Pythagoras was generally bad. I might be exadgerating just a litle tiny bit here Grin. Beware the Grue! Dark. From: Thomas Ward tw ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi Tom, I thought it over again and I think you should stay with the dot NET Framework for some additional reasons. `. Since it is a new and evolving language, the features you miss may be created by someone else and could be used by you. I thought DirectX controls the force feedback to some extent so a search for DirectX FF code could be helpful. One example for not finishing a game is my work with the GMA game engine which I have been using for the past five years. Every few months, David adds new features and capabilities to it. And I have learned to do things better. A few times I have stopped developing Sarah to add these capabilities but although the game is better, this delayed the release of the game by months. I think it is better to stop making changes and say the project is over and go on to a new one. Of course I have been working on Sarah for three years so I should have taken my own advice. An important lesson is to know when a project is finished for you can always tweak it a bit to improve it but at the cost of people not being able to enjoy the game. For example I could wait until book seven comes out and make changes in the castle to match things in that book, but then it would be Christmas 2007 before my Sarah game is finished! Smiles, Phil ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
I have to agree with Phil on this one. People have simply waited too long already for Monty and Raceway in particular. It can be a very tempting thing when you see alternative approaches once you've gone a ways down a road as you've done. However, sometimes, it's just better to press on and get the task done. If people have to wait too long for Monty and Raceway, you might very well find yourself in the same situation James North was in. You'll have made the changes and be approaching completion of an absolute masterpiece but people's patience will just fizzle out on you. It was painful enough seeing that happen to James. I wouldn't wish what he went through on my worst enemy. Unless people have walked the walk of a game developer and gotten a visceral grasp on just how much effort it takes to produce a game, their patience is limited. Being somebody who has tried to do this as well as started many other projects, I can truly sympathise with you in your quest to get things absolutely right the first time. Since you took over those two games, you've tried to modify Monty beyond the point where it could still fairly be called that, started work on a free Asteroids game, done who knows how much work on a screenreader, released Final Conflict after losing who knows how much work on a better version, and God know's what else? I can only presume you've found a smidgeon of time for eating, sleeping, breathing, friends and family somewhere along the way. You have to draw the line somewhere and finish what you've started. Otherwise, you'll lose trust in the community and look back on a life of unfinished and therefore unappreciated projects. I can sympathise well with Tom because my own creative road has been a long and tortured one over the past while. I thought I'd be well into actually programming Fearless Flin by now. However, I can't work up the motivation to take the plunge. Dave's engine handles a lot of the physics and such but it's still pretty complicated to explain your game design to. As a result of this as well as a nasty and prolonged creative slump, I started work on a computer guide for novice blind users. I have an ever-present need to feel that I'm doing something to earn my keep and to actually have a meaningful impact on people. Last Summer, I was able to help quite a few of them up at Lake Joseph and received quite a strong mandate from staff and guests there to work on a guide to truly using a computer for personal life. There are entirely too many people out there with expensive machines which due to their ignorance are nothing more than glorified typewriters and book-readers for no good reason at all. If I can write something which can then be freely distributed to new users that explains what rewards are out there and takes them to the point where they can go online, I'll have lessened the colossal waste of good equipment. I'll have a large section on accessible computer games which I hope will stimulate some growth in the blind gaming community and games market. I hope to have this guide finished by this Summer before I go up to Lake Joseph for a week's vacation. There's another project I've been working on with a developer but I'm not ready to divulge any details on that. I've seen what happens when expectations are raised too early. After my vacation, I intend to make one more final attempt to start making real progress on Fearless Flin. Perhaps, things will have changed in my thinking by then. If I still find it impossible to truly motivate myself to work on it, then I'll turn away from full game creation and find other ways of contributing. I have plenty of game ideas for developers who would want to program them. Also, I have a sound effects library and editor which I still hope to become more proficient at using. I've always been willing to betatest for developers and feel that I have a good grasp on what makes a fun game. Also, as always, I'll be an ambassador for accessible games any chance I get. Michael Feir Creator and former Editor of Audyssey Magazine 1996-2004 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: Phil Vlasak [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 6:58 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hi Tom, If people had not pre-ordered the Monty and Raceway games I would suggest switching to the more powerful language, but I think since this would delay release that you should stay with the dot net language for a while. Once the games are selling, that would be the time to brush up your C and convert the games to it. I would love force feedback in Raceway but I would rather be playing without it than waiting a long time just to get it. smiles, Phil ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hello Tom. I would vote for the faster game release. Meaning, I would suggest you stick to what you have already rather than restarting the code. The reason I say this is not to leave out those users who have problems, but rather thinking of those users who have been waiting a while for the games to come out. Perhaps in a later version you could rewrite the games, but I would guess that most users who have been waiting already as it is would rather see the games sooner than later. I realize of course that if you finish the games now that a rewrite for a future version would be a lot more work so of course that is something to consider. Thing is, people who run old computers like win 95/98/me are behind the times. When other companies, and I don't mean accessible ones, make new games, they will be making them for the current operating systems. This is nothing personal, but rather, life. I tell anyone who still uses win 9x that although it might cost some money to upgrade, it's just a fact that their system is old and if he/she wants to play the latest games or run the latest applications, one needs a newer computer and a newer operating system. What I would suggest is to perhaps pick a release date of DirectX and .net and stick with that for the game release. Let's say for example, if a DirectX version comes out February 1 2007 this year, use that and even if the game is not ready until November this year, make it so the game will work with that version and above. This gives people a long time to make sure they have the files they need to run the games. Again, let me be clear to anyone reading this. I'm not saying if you are running an old computer and operating system, that it's just too bad. I'm simply saying that reality here is that Windows 9x is out and windows 2k/xp/vista is in. I would bet that most everyone is running at least 2k or xp. And really, being honest here, an XP operating system has dropped in price over the last year or so, and will continue to drop with Vista coming out. All the best. -- Raul A. Gallegos ... IliwSsmc ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
I had no problem installing the dotNet framework. But if the large majority are having trouble than I say change it. Josh - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 6:29 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hi everyone, As all of you know back in December 2006 USA Games made STFC 1.0 available for public distribution. What we did not anticipate prier to that release is how difficult it would be to get all users up to date running the .NET Framework and the current version of DirectX. For most users we were able to quickly resolve the issues and make STFC operate properly. However, there were a few cases which were without any hope of solving easily, and at this moment still remain open as unsolved cases of unknown error. Recently, on the Audyssey list I had made a suggestion that as a developer I should design a 3D engine similar to the Quake engine, but with all the access features built in. I'm thinking of starting over with the USA Games engine and instead of basing it on the .NET Framework and switching to C++ with the standard Windows win32 API and MFC which comes installed on every Windows system. Even better I can package MFC updates with my installer to update them were they needed. I see many advantages of this switch such as greater security, better performance of games, a wider availability of security tools to protect USA Games commercial games,and no dependence on the .NET Framework for any games designed under the new engine. The final reason I might consider this route is simply that C++ support for game devices, graphics, and sound is first rate. Since it is widely used by pro game developers there are often more features for DirectX available to a C++ dev than say for VB such as force feedback support for game controllers. The VB support for game controllers doesn't seam to work well with feedback devices as both Che and I found out the hard way. James north had created the initial Raceway engine in VB, and I won't be able to get ff device support using VB or VB.NET. However, in a language like C++ it wouldn't even be an issue. However, using C++ isn't going to be all roses. I've gotten a bit rusty with C++, and would probably take some time brushing up my skills, finding out what changes were made in the SDKs I'd need, and so on. Game production could potentially be slower since C++ isn't the easiest language to work with, and I'll admit can be complex at times. Certainly not a cinch like C#.NET is. Not only that it would take me quite a while to read through my engine code, and begin converting it from C#.NET to C++. On the other hand, I do have a good thing going with C#.NET. Other than the bumps in the road with end users not always having the correct versions of the framework etc games like STFC and Montezuma's Revenge are doing well. On a fairly modern system with all the latest service packs and patches those games should play reasonably well for the audio gamers community. I'd kind to hate to switch just when USA Games is beginning to get this show on the road you might say. There are some reasons about the .NET languages I am beginning to dislike such as having to encrypt my binaries every time I compile them for distribution, end users having mismatched versions of programs which causes conflicts, and a few other miner limitations. Otherwise, like I said, I am ok with what I am doing. What do you all think. Are you happy with the way USA Games is doing things, having to install the .NET Framework, etc, or would rather us move to something more generic like the C++ Win32 API which is pretty standardized across MS Windows platforms. Thanks. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Well man, it's up to you, but I say leave things as they are. Starting over from scratch sounds painful. You can always make changes for your upcoming games. - For an amazing video gaming site containing original soundtracks, game art, etc, go here. http://gh.ffshrine.org?r=16426 - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 6:29 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hi everyone, As all of you know back in December 2006 USA Games made STFC 1.0 available for public distribution. What we did not anticipate prier to that release is how difficult it would be to get all users up to date running the .NET Framework and the current version of DirectX. For most users we were able to quickly resolve the issues and make STFC operate properly. However, there were a few cases which were without any hope of solving easily, and at this moment still remain open as unsolved cases of unknown error. Recently, on the Audyssey list I had made a suggestion that as a developer I should design a 3D engine similar to the Quake engine, but with all the access features built in. I'm thinking of starting over with the USA Games engine and instead of basing it on the .NET Framework and switching to C++ with the standard Windows win32 API and MFC which comes installed on every Windows system. Even better I can package MFC updates with my installer to update them were they needed. I see many advantages of this switch such as greater security, better performance of games, a wider availability of security tools to protect USA Games commercial games,and no dependence on the .NET Framework for any games designed under the new engine. The final reason I might consider this route is simply that C++ support for game devices, graphics, and sound is first rate. Since it is widely used by pro game developers there are often more features for DirectX available to a C++ dev than say for VB such as force feedback support for game controllers. The VB support for game controllers doesn't seam to work well with feedback devices as both Che and I found out the hard way. James north had created the initial Raceway engine in VB, and I won't be able to get ff device support using VB or VB.NET. However, in a language like C++ it wouldn't even be an issue. However, using C++ isn't going to be all roses. I've gotten a bit rusty with C++, and would probably take some time brushing up my skills, finding out what changes were made in the SDKs I'd need, and so on. Game production could potentially be slower since C++ isn't the easiest language to work with, and I'll admit can be complex at times. Certainly not a cinch like C#.NET is. Not only that it would take me quite a while to read through my engine code, and begin converting it from C#.NET to C++. On the other hand, I do have a good thing going with C#.NET. Other than the bumps in the road with end users not always having the correct versions of the framework etc games like STFC and Montezuma's Revenge are doing well. On a fairly modern system with all the latest service packs and patches those games should play reasonably well for the audio gamers community. I'd kind to hate to switch just when USA Games is beginning to get this show on the road you might say. There are some reasons about the .NET languages I am beginning to dislike such as having to encrypt my binaries every time I compile them for distribution, end users having mismatched versions of programs which causes conflicts, and a few other miner limitations. Otherwise, like I said, I am ok with what I am doing. What do you all think. Are you happy with the way USA Games is doing things, having to install the .NET Framework, etc, or would rather us move to something more generic like the C++ Win32 API which is pretty standardized across MS Windows platforms. Thanks. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
hmm tom. I think you have your answer to your question. Looks like I lose the vote again. At 02:51 a.m. 20/01/2007, you wrote: Tom, The point of making programmes accessible is so they can be inclusive and used by as wide a range of people as possible. My advice, for what it's worth, is to dump the .NET stuff and you'll be able to reach more people. You'll also have fewer support issues and be more productive. Steve --- Azabat Software: accessible games for visually impaired beginners Web: www.azabat.co.uk Email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel (UK): 07740 777 364 International: +44 7740 777 364 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.0/639 - Release Date: 18/01/2007 18:47 ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Also tom I don't mind waiting. However once things are settled changing them just to have more waits just for using the programming language is well not really a good thing. You must admit that there is a tonnage of wait time as it is on game projects. True it took a while to get used to dotnet but look now! a load of devs use it and we have learned to take the good with the the ugly. I think things like vb6, and mfc is going to die though. And If I may I think we as a community should make stuff that will last, ie survive to the next version or later of windows. Even though people say vista is probably the last windows ms will create for desktops, who knows. At 03:11 a.m. 20/01/2007, you wrote: I have to agree with Phil on this one. People have simply waited too long already for Monty and Raceway in particular. It can be a very tempting thing when you see alternative approaches once you've gone a ways down a road as you've done. However, sometimes, it's just better to press on and get the task done. If people have to wait too long for Monty and Raceway, you might very well find yourself in the same situation James North was in. You'll have made the changes and be approaching completion of an absolute masterpiece but people's patience will just fizzle out on you. It was painful enough seeing that happen to James. I wouldn't wish what he went through on my worst enemy. Unless people have walked the walk of a game developer and gotten a visceral grasp on just how much effort it takes to produce a game, their patience is limited. Being somebody who has tried to do this as well as started many other projects, I can truly sympathise with you in your quest to get things absolutely right the first time. Since you took over those two games, you've tried to modify Monty beyond the point where it could still fairly be called that, started work on a free Asteroids game, done who knows how much work on a screenreader, released Final Conflict after losing who knows how much work on a better version, and God know's what else? I can only presume you've found a smidgeon of time for eating, sleeping, breathing, friends and family somewhere along the way. You have to draw the line somewhere and finish what you've started. Otherwise, you'll lose trust in the community and look back on a life of unfinished and therefore unappreciated projects. I can sympathise well with Tom because my own creative road has been a long and tortured one over the past while. I thought I'd be well into actually programming Fearless Flin by now. However, I can't work up the motivation to take the plunge. Dave's engine handles a lot of the physics and such but it's still pretty complicated to explain your game design to. As a result of this as well as a nasty and prolonged creative slump, I started work on a computer guide for novice blind users. I have an ever-present need to feel that I'm doing something to earn my keep and to actually have a meaningful impact on people. Last Summer, I was able to help quite a few of them up at Lake Joseph and received quite a strong mandate from staff and guests there to work on a guide to truly using a computer for personal life. There are entirely too many people out there with expensive machines which due to their ignorance are nothing more than glorified typewriters and book-readers for no good reason at all. If I can write something which can then be freely distributed to new users that explains what rewards are out there and takes them to the point where they can go online, I'll have lessened the colossal waste of good equipment. I'll have a large section on accessible computer games which I hope will stimulate some growth in the blind gaming community and games market. I hope to have this guide finished by this Summer before I go up to Lake Joseph for a week's vacation. There's another project I've been working on with a developer but I'm not ready to divulge any details on that. I've seen what happens when expectations are raised too early. After my vacation, I intend to make one more final attempt to start making real progress on Fearless Flin. Perhaps, things will have changed in my thinking by then. If I still find it impossible to truly motivate myself to work on it, then I'll turn away from full game creation and find other ways of contributing. I have plenty of game ideas for developers who would want to program them. Also, I have a sound effects library and editor which I still hope to become more proficient at using. I've always been willing to betatest for developers and feel that I have a good grasp on what makes a fun game. Also, as always, I'll be an ambassador for accessible games any chance I get. Michael Feir Creator and former Editor of Audyssey Magazine 1996-2004 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: Phil Vlasak [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 6:58 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
good point raul. Its been 2 years since we dumped all our old legacy software and systems. However 3 years ago we except for me were still using 1998 windows. last year we were still using office97. And last year through various means I was able to shift us out of that cycle. I also don't want to have what happened to alchemy to you since you really rock. However if switching to another language just to be nice and compatible means more wait time, I would be strongly against it as we have wait time loads of it as it is. I would prefur that the time not be increased. At 03:22 a.m. 20/01/2007, you wrote: Hello Tom. I would vote for the faster game release. Meaning, I would suggest you stick to what you have already rather than restarting the code. The reason I say this is not to leave out those users who have problems, but rather thinking of those users who have been waiting a while for the games to come out. Perhaps in a later version you could rewrite the games, but I would guess that most users who have been waiting already as it is would rather see the games sooner than later. I realize of course that if you finish the games now that a rewrite for a future version would be a lot more work so of course that is something to consider. Thing is, people who run old computers like win 95/98/me are behind the times. When other companies, and I don't mean accessible ones, make new games, they will be making them for the current operating systems. This is nothing personal, but rather, life. I tell anyone who still uses win 9x that although it might cost some money to upgrade, it's just a fact that their system is old and if he/she wants to play the latest games or run the latest applications, one needs a newer computer and a newer operating system. What I would suggest is to perhaps pick a release date of DirectX and .net and stick with that for the game release. Let's say for example, if a DirectX version comes out February 1 2007 this year, use that and even if the game is not ready until November this year, make it so the game will work with that version and above. This gives people a long time to make sure they have the files they need to run the games. Again, let me be clear to anyone reading this. I'm not saying if you are running an old computer and operating system, that it's just too bad. I'm simply saying that reality here is that Windows 9x is out and windows 2k/xp/vista is in. I would bet that most everyone is running at least 2k or xp. And really, being honest here, an XP operating system has dropped in price over the last year or so, and will continue to drop with Vista coming out. All the best. -- Raul A. Gallegos ... IliwSsmc ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
xp may have dropped down in price, but the computer itself, plus legal copies of screenreaders, blah blah blah, you know the trick, you'd be spending more than £2500 over here, which, as an 18-year-old college student in the uk, i don't even get in a year. regards, damien - Original Message - From: Raul A. Gallegos [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gamers@audyssey.org; USA Games List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 2:22 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hello Tom. I would vote for the faster game release. Meaning, I would suggest you stick to what you have already rather than restarting the code. The reason I say this is not to leave out those users who have problems, but rather thinking of those users who have been waiting a while for the games to come out. Perhaps in a later version you could rewrite the games, but I would guess that most users who have been waiting already as it is would rather see the games sooner than later. I realize of course that if you finish the games now that a rewrite for a future version would be a lot more work so of course that is something to consider. Thing is, people who run old computers like win 95/98/me are behind the times. When other companies, and I don't mean accessible ones, make new games, they will be making them for the current operating systems. This is nothing personal, but rather, life. I tell anyone who still uses win 9x that although it might cost some money to upgrade, it's just a fact that their system is old and if he/she wants to play the latest games or run the latest applications, one needs a newer computer and a newer operating system. What I would suggest is to perhaps pick a release date of DirectX and .net and stick with that for the game release. Let's say for example, if a DirectX version comes out February 1 2007 this year, use that and even if the game is not ready until November this year, make it so the game will work with that version and above. This gives people a long time to make sure they have the files they need to run the games. Again, let me be clear to anyone reading this. I'm not saying if you are running an old computer and operating system, that it's just too bad. I'm simply saying that reality here is that Windows 9x is out and windows 2k/xp/vista is in. I would bet that most everyone is running at least 2k or xp. And really, being honest here, an XP operating system has dropped in price over the last year or so, and will continue to drop with Vista coming out. All the best. -- Raul A. Gallegos ... IliwSsmc ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
you don't necessarily need to update the system. windows xp will run on a p733 with 384mb ram fine. A little slower but fine. At 05:26 a.m. 20/01/2007, you wrote: xp may have dropped down in price, but the computer itself, plus legal copies of screenreaders, blah blah blah, you know the trick, you'd be spending more than £2500 over here, which, as an 18-year-old college student in the uk, i don't even get in a year. regards, damien - Original Message - From: Raul A. Gallegos [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gamers@audyssey.org; USA Games List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 2:22 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hello Tom. I would vote for the faster game release. Meaning, I would suggest you stick to what you have already rather than restarting the code. The reason I say this is not to leave out those users who have problems, but rather thinking of those users who have been waiting a while for the games to come out. Perhaps in a later version you could rewrite the games, but I would guess that most users who have been waiting already as it is would rather see the games sooner than later. I realize of course that if you finish the games now that a rewrite for a future version would be a lot more work so of course that is something to consider. Thing is, people who run old computers like win 95/98/me are behind the times. When other companies, and I don't mean accessible ones, make new games, they will be making them for the current operating systems. This is nothing personal, but rather, life. I tell anyone who still uses win 9x that although it might cost some money to upgrade, it's just a fact that their system is old and if he/she wants to play the latest games or run the latest applications, one needs a newer computer and a newer operating system. What I would suggest is to perhaps pick a release date of DirectX and .net and stick with that for the game release. Let's say for example, if a DirectX version comes out February 1 2007 this year, use that and even if the game is not ready until November this year, make it so the game will work with that version and above. This gives people a long time to make sure they have the files they need to run the games. Again, let me be clear to anyone reading this. I'm not saying if you are running an old computer and operating system, that it's just too bad. I'm simply saying that reality here is that Windows 9x is out and windows 2k/xp/vista is in. I would bet that most everyone is running at least 2k or xp. And really, being honest here, an XP operating system has dropped in price over the last year or so, and will continue to drop with Vista coming out. All the best. -- Raul A. Gallegos ... IliwSsmc ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Xp should have 2 more service packs. Unlike other windows, you don't need to update to vista. In fact xp is all good as long as you have the support for vista. At 06:08 a.m. 20/01/2007, you wrote: I hesitate to start a debate on upgrading vs staying still. I realize that this option is not for everyone and I clearly stated that in my original message. I'm just being realistic about technology. This is true for anything really, not just computers. I do not discount what you are saying and in some cases find myself in similar situations. For example, I cannot use a certain type of DVD+r on my Sony DVD player. In order for me to be able to play that certain type I would have to purchase a $200 DVD player which I do not want to do. This means of course that until I do or they come down in price, I am stuck using the single layer DVD+r disks. Upgrading computers and operating systems is the same thing. If people want to use Vista they are recommended to have 1 GB or more of ram. Not everyone has this or cannot afford it. Because Windows 98/2k/xp runs with 256 mb and 512 mb just fine, people may not want to upgrade. Again, this is not about economy or about blind people being able to afford or about the right or wrong of it. This is just about the reality of technology and how it moves. Forgive me for being blunt, but anyone who uses a windows 95 or 98 operating system is sadly behind the times. No more will I say on this. * x-sight interactive [EMAIL PROTECTED] [2007-01-19 09:35]: xp may have dropped down in price, but the computer itself, plus legal copies of screenreaders, blah blah blah, you know the trick, you'd be spending more than £2500 over here, which, as an 18-year-old college student in the uk, i don't even get in a year. -- Raul A. Gallegos ... IliwSsmc ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Is the potential for making patches or new editions of the game that will keep up with changing technology an option? In that way, those who want to make the change and have a game that can do more, or is up-to-date can do so, and those who don't have current technology on their computers can have a game that will work with what they have. After book 7 comes out, an addition to the game could be produced that would include stuff from book 7. Freedom Scientific does this with JAWS. If you currently use JAWS 5.0, and it works fine, you don't have to upgrade to JAWS 8. If you want to, you can do so. As far as the cost to the consumer, that's up to the developer. - Original Message - From: Phil Vlasak [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 7:41 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hi Tom, I thought it over again and I think you should stay with the dot NET Framework for some additional reasons. `. Since it is a new and evolving language, the features you miss may be created by someone else and could be used by you. I thought DirectX controls the force feedback to some extent so a search for DirectX FF code could be helpful. One example for not finishing a game is my work with the GMA game engine which I have been using for the past five years. Every few months, David adds new features and capabilities to it. And I have learned to do things better. A few times I have stopped developing Sarah to add these capabilities but although the game is better, this delayed the release of the game by months. I think it is better to stop making changes and say the project is over and go on to a new one. Of course I have been working on Sarah for three years so I should have taken my own advice. An important lesson is to know when a project is finished for you can always tweak it a bit to improve it but at the cost of people not being able to enjoy the game. For example I could wait until book seven comes out and make changes in the castle to match things in that book, but then it would be Christmas 2007 before my Sarah game is finished! Smiles, Phil ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi Dark, Yes, speed of development is a major issue for all involved here. It is a problem for me as I just want the games done in a timely manner. Once a game engine is written, no matter the language, the speed will come. However, I already have some core game classes for Montezuma's Revenge for handling say audio, math calculations, etc that are time tested and can be dropped in to the next game to jump start it. If I pick the C++ engine I am basically back to square 1 redesigning the game core features and back to testing those for reliability and stability. Not only that .NET is meant to be a rapid development system. You are suppose to be able to quickly and rapidly build and deploy applications since it is all object oriented and it makes integrating components from other games in to new ones a snap. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi, Quote the problem is not everyone has all the funding to get all the topshot equipment. see there's where the conflict begins. End quote That isn't the half of it. In order to really go forward with .NET I am likely better off dropping 9x operating systems altogether and supporting 2000, XP, and Vista. However, the problem is that many of the people who are now on pre-order status for Montezuma's Revenge and Raceway had no idea of what the final system requirements would be. Those using 9x would be getting cheated, and I am not in a financial position to offer product refunds. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi Phil, Actually, for the moment I wouldn't be converting Montezuma's Revenge to C++. Just new titles. Once Montezuma's Revenge was selling and I had the new engine in place I could port Montezuma's Revenge to C++. As for Raceway I am still on the fense on changing it's code base anyway just as I am not real happy with coding in VB. The ff support is one reason, but I'm just not plane cut out for VB type languages. I've never liked them all to well. Phil Vlasak wrote: Hi Tom, If people had not pre-ordered the Monty and Raceway games I would suggest switching to the more powerful language, but I think since this would delay release that you should stay with the dot net language for a while. Once the games are selling, that would be the time to brush up your C and convert the games to it. I would love force feedback in Raceway but I would rather be playing without it than waiting a long time just to get it. smiles, Phil ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi Tom. With this getting clear, let me respond with a short and clear answer. 1. I have no problems running your games. 2. I vote to keep the development the way it is, thus yielding a quicker release. If later on in the future you wish to change the programming language, go right ahead. Is that clear and to the point? smile. * Thomas Ward [EMAIL PROTECTED] [2007-01-19 21:37]: Hi Raul and all, I also don't want to start a debate on weather people should or should not upgrade. That was not at all my intent. In fact my actual intent has gotten completely lost here so perhaps I should redirect to the intent behind this question. My actual intention was to first determine how many people are actually having issues with the .NET Framework to justify a switch in programming language. Second, if they felt the features offers more for them by switching to C++ rather than sticking to C#.NET. Cheers. -- Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. -- Daniel 8:3 Raul A. Gallegos ... IliwSsmc ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
well tom dotnet 1.1 is supported on win98 I think 2.0 is to. At 03:57 p.m. 20/01/2007, you wrote: Hi, Quote the problem is not everyone has all the funding to get all the topshot equipment. see there's where the conflict begins. End quote That isn't the half of it. In order to really go forward with .NET I am likely better off dropping 9x operating systems altogether and supporting 2000, XP, and Vista. However, the problem is that many of the people who are now on pre-order status for Montezuma's Revenge and Raceway had no idea of what the final system requirements would be. Those using 9x would be getting cheated, and I am not in a financial position to offer product refunds. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
after what I have heard about ides and such, I'm seriously thinking about ruby, as long as I can either access dotnet, directx or the win32 apis and directx with it. At 03:11 p.m. 20/01/2007, you wrote: Hi Phil, Actually, for the moment I wouldn't be converting Montezuma's Revenge to C++. Just new titles. Once Montezuma's Revenge was selling and I had the new engine in place I could port Montezuma's Revenge to C++. As for Raceway I am still on the fense on changing it's code base anyway just as I am not real happy with coding in VB. The ff support is one reason, but I'm just not plane cut out for VB type languages. I've never liked them all to well. Phil Vlasak wrote: Hi Tom, If people had not pre-ordered the Monty and Raceway games I would suggest switching to the more powerful language, but I think since this would delay release that you should stay with the dot net language for a while. Once the games are selling, that would be the time to brush up your C and convert the games to it. I would love force feedback in Raceway but I would rather be playing without it than waiting a long time just to get it. smiles, Phil ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi Raul, Loud and clear. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
Hi Che, Chuckle... I am glad I won't be changing the Montezuma's Revenge code to C++ as people might just begin tar and feathering me if I don't produce alpha 2. Anyay, I Anyway, I am very thankful you reported your experience with the .NET Framework, and glad your experience is mostly posative. I'm likely going to stick what I have as mostof the people who have repplied were very posative about plunging ahead with the .NET framework design USA Games has been using. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs.
i wasn't saying only make it for windows 9x etc, but make it available for those people as well as the ones using 2000, nt, me, xp, and vista. besides, who's going to start using vista with no accessibility involved, especially when you have to keep the windows cd in the drive all the time? that'll be a bit out of the ordinary ... regards, damien - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 2:57 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Future USA Games product designs. Hi, Quote the problem is not everyone has all the funding to get all the topshot equipment. see there's where the conflict begins. End quote That isn't the half of it. In order to really go forward with .NET I am likely better off dropping 9x operating systems altogether and supporting 2000, XP, and Vista. However, the problem is that many of the people who are now on pre-order status for Montezuma's Revenge and Raceway had no idea of what the final system requirements would be. Those using 9x would be getting cheated, and I am not in a financial position to offer product refunds. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. ___ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
