Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Thomas, actually that was Josh with that note, but I'm actually in full agreement with him. :) So there ya go!… Smiles, Cara :) --- View my Online Portfolio at: http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ModelCara On Apr 22, 2013, at 9:44 AM, Thomas Ward wrote: Hi Cara, Thanks for that thoughtful post, and it certainly makes a lot of sense. Its something I've more or less discovered the hard way over the last couple of years in developing my Evolution Engine, and developing specifically for a certain platform or OS is something I'm coming to respect. For example, about four years ago I tried all the so-called write once run anywhere type languages and found inevitably they all had issues that made them unsuitable for what I wanted to do. C# .NET is a good programming language, especially if writing for Windows, but the minute you port a game to Mac handy Windows Forms which are so handy on Windows is completely inaccessible using VoiceOver because Mono doesn't provide the necessary bindings to Cocoa we need for access. Java has a similar problem. Its a great language, but if you try and write a GUI using Swing all hell breaks loose with screen readers since Jaws has problems with Swing on 64-bit versions of Windows, Window-Eyes 7.5.x and earlier have problems with Swing based Java apps, and I don't think Supernova supports Java period. With Python its easy to support Cocoa, GTK+, etc using the available modules, but Python programs are Python interpreter specific. If you compile a Python program for say 2.7.3 then your intended platform better have Python 2.7.3 on it because having a version of Python too new or too old will result in your program not running. So its not exactly all that portable either. Like you said a developer is going to spend more time with hacks trying to get the OS or runtime to conform to his or her individual comfort zone when they could save themselves a lot of headaches in the long run just by writing platform specific code to begin with. On Linux, for example, using C++ and SDL is by and large the best option for a game developer. If he or she needs an accessible GUI then using GTK+ 3 is the way to go. For Windows DirectX and the standard Windows API is the way to go. for Mac using Cocoa for a GUI, OpenAL for audio, etc is the way to go. Instead of forcing the platform to conform to some standard a developer needs to conform to the platform be it Mac, iOS, Windows, Linux, whatever. I guess a lot of the reason why people try to use hacks is because they simply don't want to invest the time or the money in directly supporting the OS or technology in question. I don't own an iOS device, and I don't own a Mac. Yet I am getting requests to support one or both of those operating systems. I was hoping there was a cheaper way of doing it than paying $1200 for a new Macbook etc and getting all the software and development kits required, but through my own investigations plus your excellent post I know there isn't any other way to do it. Want to support a Mac you have to own a Mac and write software for a Mac. That's all there is to it. Cheers! On 4/22/13, Draconis wrote: > Hi Tom, > > Technically, you may be able to do some development on Windows, but > ultimately, you'd still need a Mac and Xcode for the final compilation and > submission to the App Store. > > I also have some doubts on the accessibility of apps developed with Mono, > but that is merely speculation on my part. Just about all of these > third-party development tools…really for most platforms…end up making > inaccessible software. > > Speaking from experience, you're going to end up with more headaches trying > to make a platform conform to your habits, than to adapt your habits to the > platforms you're developing for…and that goes for development in either > direction. .net isn't designed for Mac, any more than Cocoa is designed for > Windows. It's best to learn and work within the differences of various > platforms, IMO. You'll spend less time in the long run learning each > platform's differences, than trying to get, what are essentially hacks, > working the way you want. > > Marco Arment, an iOS developer for whom I have the utmost respect, talked > about this a few months ago in terms of web site development. (Marco was the > main developer for Tumblr in its first several years). He spoke about how so > many people will spend days, weeks, even months, trying to install themes > and plugins for WordPress or Drupal or some of these other CMS packages out > there, spend time hacking the code or writing their own plugins, etc > etc…just because it is their comfort zone. That doesn't count time that will > be lost when, inevitably, plugins or themes they are using break when the > cores of those packages are updated. In reality, they could've made their > own custom CMS that was exactly tailored to their needs and fully under > their control in far less tim
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Charles, Right. I guess I should have specified that any work on rewriting the BSC games would obviously have to come later. Its not like I'd drop everything and rewrite them right now. However, people being people they might jump to that conclusion which was not my intent. My intent was merely to find out if people would like to see this happen eventually. Cheers! On 4/22/13, Charles Rivard wrote: > I think the message has been to take them on, but not until projects that > have been uncompleted have been finished. Don't have gamers wait for > projects that we have been waiting on. Game production is slow. Don't slow > > it down more by taking on more work. > > --- > Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
I think the message has been to take them on, but not until projects that have been uncompleted have been finished. Don't have gamers wait for projects that we have been waiting on. Game production is slow. Don't slow it down more by taking on more work. --- Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. - Original Message - From: "Thomas Ward" To: "Gamers Discussion list" Sent: Monday, April 22, 2013 11:58 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi Ron, Thanks. However, don't get your hopes up. Right now I am thinking out loud as it were and seeing where the communities feelings are on the matter. By and large the general consensus seems to be forget about the BSC Games, do your own thing, and don't worry about trying to rewrite these games. At least that is the message I am getting. Michael Feir's heartfelt message the other day is a case in point. He is right. I have a lot of work to do on my own projects without taking on any more work right now, and something like Mysteries of the Ancients is probably going to be a far better game than say Hunter for a number of reasons such as it takes advantage of a full 2d environment, has multiple weapons with ranged attacks, uses analog jumps, is written in pure C++, and is being developed for a modern operating system to begin with. His point was that taking on the BSC games would only become a distraction and I can probably do better by doing my own thing. For all those reasons I probably won't be rewriting the BSC Games myself. As someone said with a lot of new up and coming developers using BGT someone is bound to write another Space Invader clone like Troopanum or an arcade game like Hunter eventually. Those games are fairly simplistic from a programming point of view and therefore I could leave it to new developers to try their hand at it if they wish. :D Cheers! On 4/22/13, Ron Kolesar wrote: Hi to you tom. If you're going to need a beta tester please look this way. The only thing that I am worried about right now is that when this pc goes I'll like most would have to jump to win 8. I like most have down loaded my bsc games and threw them on the external drive for future storage. Since getting hooked on the flight simulator I haven't been playing to many of the hand to ear games. I never could get trhough level nine but I like most about BSC's games was the accuracy and the speed while under pressure. I wish who ever takes on the classic game to up grade them the best of luck. Now go blind friendly games. Ron and current Leader Dog boz who states "that a service dog beats a cane paws down any day of the week." --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Dark, Well, installing the VB 6 libraries is only half the problem. Yes, a person can do so and the games will run on Windows 7, but there are still compatibility issues that can and do effect the operation of your games. For example, on Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 when User Account Control is enabled programs can not save data files to c:\Program Files and c:\Program Files X86. Those are considered restricted areas of the OS and this makes sense considering that is where the majority of where your programs are stored and viruses and other malware will infect your system. However, because the BSC games etc were written for Windows 98, Millennium, XP they have the nasty habit of saving data files to c:\Program Files which is an absolute no-no on newer Windows operating systems. Installing VB 6 libraries will not correct this problem. The other issue is that I have read there are some Windows 8 users that can not get games like Troopanum 2.0 to run on Windows 8. They have all the dependencies and it still will not run. It gives an error, and I don't know what the problem is. However, these and other problems are going to continue to be a problem for those of us who do choose to upgrade. So, no, just installing the VB 6 libraries are not going to be a one size fits all solution unfortunately. As for the fact that GMA Games, Jim Kitchen, Jeremy Kaldobsky, etc will probably continue using VB 6 for a long time you are probably right. I don't doubt that. However, what we have here is a conflict of interests, and one with technical consequences attached. What I mean by that is there is a big difference here between an average computer user such as yourself and a programmer and technical support specialist like myself. You only use your computer for average day to day tasks like reading email, browsing the internet, listening to music, playing games, and obviously XP is fine in that capacity. You are free to upgrade or not upgrade per your choice. I make money by offering home technical support in my area, and I also make money by developing software on the side. So it behooves me to A, keep my skills up to date, and B, to install and use the same software my clients and customers will be using. I may not particularly like Windows 8 personally compared to Windows 7, but professionally it is not a choice of upgrade or not. If I don't I might as well look for a different line of work, because every single laptop and desktop at my local Walmart has Windows 8 on it and my clients and potential clients will be buying one sooner or later. What I am saying is while you personally might not have any reason to upgrade to Windows 8 any time soon some of us may have to upgrade or use it in a professional capacity. While it is certainly possible to keep an older PC around for playing games or perhaps run XP in a virtual machine that's hardly a perfect solution. If I happen to bring my laptop along and it is running Windows 8 I don't want to boot up a virtual machine that runs slower than a turtle with three broken legs just to play a game because that eats a lot of memory and CPU power unnecessarily. Likewise if I am somewhere and the computer with all my games on it is at home it isn't exactly going to do me a lot of good. So the ideal solution is these games should be upgraded to support the newer operating systems while remaining backwards compatible for XP users. Cheers! --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
HI Dark, Well, it would be nice if someone could maintain the dependencies, but that of course will never happen. Microsoft hasn't released the source code for the Visual Basic Runtime libraries and nor are they ever likely to. Writing a new VB 6 runtime would be a huge undertaking which wouldn't really address all the problems with the software anyway. For example, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 all use a security feature called User Account Control, (UAC,) which these games do not support. Unless the developers are willing to rewrite their code and make it UAC compatible it won't matter weather you use the original VB 6 Runtime libraries or write them holy from scratch as the problem is in the programs themselves. As for rewriting the games I am probably not going to do it. I was merely seeing where the communities feelings were, and see how many people were seriously interested in seeing these games continued being supported past May 15. Cheers! On 4/22/13, dark wrote: > Hi tom. > > the problem I can see with a rewrite, is that of time. It is still possible > > to run the old games on newer versions of windows by installing the > dependencies, and as has been pointed out, you do have other projects in the > > works, and a complete rewrite of these games, (especially with cross > platform compatibility), would take considderable time. > myself, i'd prefer to just see all the libraries and dependencies looked > after, rather than the major task of updating everything. > > Beware the grue! > > Dark. > > > --- > 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi James, That is true, but since Microsoft is a huge money making corporation naturally they are going to do whatever possible to continue selling you their software and services. They've already made all or most of the money they are going to ever make off of XP so have to sell you Windows 7, Windows 8, and so on to continue making money for themselves. As long as money is the primary goal of such companies they are going to continue pushing their products on people weather they really want them or not. Cheers! On 4/22/13, James Bartlett wrote: > Hello Dark > > Very well put. I hate how windows pushes there producks on people > when ever they come out with a new oprating system. I have 3 computers with > win xp, win 7 and win 8 and I still perfur to use my computer with xp then > the other 2, and with all the people that still perfur xp over any other oS > I think it will still be a minit be for anything realy changes. Well I at > leas hope so grin. > > Bfn > James > --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Ron, Thanks. However, don't get your hopes up. Right now I am thinking out loud as it were and seeing where the communities feelings are on the matter. By and large the general consensus seems to be forget about the BSC Games, do your own thing, and don't worry about trying to rewrite these games. At least that is the message I am getting. Michael Feir's heartfelt message the other day is a case in point. He is right. I have a lot of work to do on my own projects without taking on any more work right now, and something like Mysteries of the Ancients is probably going to be a far better game than say Hunter for a number of reasons such as it takes advantage of a full 2d environment, has multiple weapons with ranged attacks, uses analog jumps, is written in pure C++, and is being developed for a modern operating system to begin with. His point was that taking on the BSC games would only become a distraction and I can probably do better by doing my own thing. For all those reasons I probably won't be rewriting the BSC Games myself. As someone said with a lot of new up and coming developers using BGT someone is bound to write another Space Invader clone like Troopanum or an arcade game like Hunter eventually. Those games are fairly simplistic from a programming point of view and therefore I could leave it to new developers to try their hand at it if they wish. :D Cheers! On 4/22/13, Ron Kolesar wrote: > Hi to you tom. > If you're going to need a beta tester please look this way. > The only thing that I am worried about right now is that when this pc goes > I'll like most would have to jump to win 8. > I like most have down loaded my bsc games and threw them on the external > drive for future storage. > Since getting hooked on the flight simulator I haven't been playing to many > > of the hand to ear games. > I never could get trhough level nine but I like most about BSC's games was > the accuracy and the speed while under pressure. > I wish who ever takes on the classic game to up grade them the best of > luck. > Now go blind friendly games. > > > > Ron and current Leader Dog boz who states > "that a service dog beats a cane paws down any day of the week." --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Cara, Thanks for that thoughtful post, and it certainly makes a lot of sense. Its something I've more or less discovered the hard way over the last couple of years in developing my Evolution Engine, and developing specifically for a certain platform or OS is something I'm coming to respect. For example, about four years ago I tried all the so-called write once run anywhere type languages and found inevitably they all had issues that made them unsuitable for what I wanted to do. C# .NET is a good programming language, especially if writing for Windows, but the minute you port a game to Mac handy Windows Forms which are so handy on Windows is completely inaccessible using VoiceOver because Mono doesn't provide the necessary bindings to Cocoa we need for access. Java has a similar problem. Its a great language, but if you try and write a GUI using Swing all hell breaks loose with screen readers since Jaws has problems with Swing on 64-bit versions of Windows, Window-Eyes 7.5.x and earlier have problems with Swing based Java apps, and I don't think Supernova supports Java period. With Python its easy to support Cocoa, GTK+, etc using the available modules, but Python programs are Python interpreter specific. If you compile a Python program for say 2.7.3 then your intended platform better have Python 2.7.3 on it because having a version of Python too new or too old will result in your program not running. So its not exactly all that portable either. Like you said a developer is going to spend more time with hacks trying to get the OS or runtime to conform to his or her individual comfort zone when they could save themselves a lot of headaches in the long run just by writing platform specific code to begin with. On Linux, for example, using C++ and SDL is by and large the best option for a game developer. If he or she needs an accessible GUI then using GTK+ 3 is the way to go. For Windows DirectX and the standard Windows API is the way to go. for Mac using Cocoa for a GUI, OpenAL for audio, etc is the way to go. Instead of forcing the platform to conform to some standard a developer needs to conform to the platform be it Mac, iOS, Windows, Linux, whatever. I guess a lot of the reason why people try to use hacks is because they simply don't want to invest the time or the money in directly supporting the OS or technology in question. I don't own an iOS device, and I don't own a Mac. Yet I am getting requests to support one or both of those operating systems. I was hoping there was a cheaper way of doing it than paying $1200 for a new Macbook etc and getting all the software and development kits required, but through my own investigations plus your excellent post I know there isn't any other way to do it. Want to support a Mac you have to own a Mac and write software for a Mac. That's all there is to it. Cheers! On 4/22/13, Draconis wrote: > Hi Tom, > > Technically, you may be able to do some development on Windows, but > ultimately, you'd still need a Mac and Xcode for the final compilation and > submission to the App Store. > > I also have some doubts on the accessibility of apps developed with Mono, > but that is merely speculation on my part. Just about all of these > third-party development tools…really for most platforms…end up making > inaccessible software. > > Speaking from experience, you're going to end up with more headaches trying > to make a platform conform to your habits, than to adapt your habits to the > platforms you're developing for…and that goes for development in either > direction. .net isn't designed for Mac, any more than Cocoa is designed for > Windows. It's best to learn and work within the differences of various > platforms, IMO. You'll spend less time in the long run learning each > platform's differences, than trying to get, what are essentially hacks, > working the way you want. > > Marco Arment, an iOS developer for whom I have the utmost respect, talked > about this a few months ago in terms of web site development. (Marco was the > main developer for Tumblr in its first several years). He spoke about how so > many people will spend days, weeks, even months, trying to install themes > and plugins for WordPress or Drupal or some of these other CMS packages out > there, spend time hacking the code or writing their own plugins, etc > etc…just because it is their comfort zone. That doesn't count time that will > be lost when, inevitably, plugins or themes they are using break when the > cores of those packages are updated. In reality, they could've made their > own custom CMS that was exactly tailored to their needs and fully under > their control in far less time. > > This particularly hit home to me recently, when I decided to heed his advice > and built the CMS for the new Draconis site, (whose launch is immanent by > the way), from scratch. It was a daunting idea to start with, but in the > end, didn't take all that long to do…and certainly far less than if I'd > stuck
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi to you tom. If you're going to need a beta tester please look this way. The only thing that I am worried about right now is that when this pc goes I'll like most would have to jump to win 8. I like most have down loaded my bsc games and threw them on the external drive for future storage. Since getting hooked on the flight simulator I haven't been playing to many of the hand to ear games. I never could get trhough level nine but I like most about BSC's games was the accuracy and the speed while under pressure. I wish who ever takes on the classic game to up grade them the best of luck. Now go blind friendly games. Ron and current Leader Dog boz who states "that a service dog beats a cane paws down any day of the week." -Original Message- From: Thomas Ward Sent: Monday, April 22, 2013 12:10 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi Jim, That's actually what I am thinking. Since Justin has made it difficult to get at his sounds and nuked the source code for the games I think I'd be better off just buying the sounds and music necessary and writing my own games with similar themes as the BSC titles. If I created a game called Alien Invaders it would be similar to but not exactly like Troopanum. If I wrote a game called Explorer it might be kind of like Hunter but not exactly like it. Since I would essentially be starting from scratch anyway might as go all the way and start over from a clean slate as they say. Cheers! On 4/22/13, Jim Kitchen wrote: Hi Thomas, If you were going to remake the BSC games but not with the same sounds and not from the original code, why not make the same game only with your title? BFN Jim All computers wait at the same speed. j...@kitchensinc.net http://www.kitchensinc.net (440) 286-6920 Chardon Ohio USA --- 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. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Jim, That's actually what I am thinking. Since Justin has made it difficult to get at his sounds and nuked the source code for the games I think I'd be better off just buying the sounds and music necessary and writing my own games with similar themes as the BSC titles. If I created a game called Alien Invaders it would be similar to but not exactly like Troopanum. If I wrote a game called Explorer it might be kind of like Hunter but not exactly like it. Since I would essentially be starting from scratch anyway might as go all the way and start over from a clean slate as they say. Cheers! On 4/22/13, Jim Kitchen wrote: > Hi Thomas, > > If you were going to remake the BSC games but not with the same sounds and > not from the original code, why not make the same game only with your > title? > > BFN > > Jim > > All computers wait at the same speed. > > j...@kitchensinc.net > http://www.kitchensinc.net > (440) 286-6920 > Chardon Ohio USA > --- > 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Tom, Technically, you may be able to do some development on Windows, but ultimately, you'd still need a Mac and Xcode for the final compilation and submission to the App Store. I also have some doubts on the accessibility of apps developed with Mono, but that is merely speculation on my part. Just about all of these third-party development tools…really for most platforms…end up making inaccessible software. Speaking from experience, you're going to end up with more headaches trying to make a platform conform to your habits, than to adapt your habits to the platforms you're developing for…and that goes for development in either direction. .net isn't designed for Mac, any more than Cocoa is designed for Windows. It's best to learn and work within the differences of various platforms, IMO. You'll spend less time in the long run learning each platform's differences, than trying to get, what are essentially hacks, working the way you want. Marco Arment, an iOS developer for whom I have the utmost respect, talked about this a few months ago in terms of web site development. (Marco was the main developer for Tumblr in its first several years). He spoke about how so many people will spend days, weeks, even months, trying to install themes and plugins for WordPress or Drupal or some of these other CMS packages out there, spend time hacking the code or writing their own plugins, etc etc…just because it is their comfort zone. That doesn't count time that will be lost when, inevitably, plugins or themes they are using break when the cores of those packages are updated. In reality, they could've made their own custom CMS that was exactly tailored to their needs and fully under their control in far less time. This particularly hit home to me recently, when I decided to heed his advice and built the CMS for the new Draconis site, (whose launch is immanent by the way), from scratch. It was a daunting idea to start with, but in the end, didn't take all that long to do…and certainly far less than if I'd stuck with our old WordPress-based system. Just my two cents. On Apr 21, 2013, at 10:53 PM, Thomas Ward wrote: > Hi Cara, > > Right. Yeah, I read some of the SDK documentation for iOS and know I > would have to use some Objective C to access the libraries for the > library, but could use standard C++ for everything else. > > However, I was wondering if you have looked at Mono for iOS. > Apparently there is now a Mono version for iOS, and developers can > write .NET code in C# and run it on iPhones and iPads. However, I > can't get much info on that because the Mono Framework for iOS is > commercial and I don't have an iPhone to test it in any case. So all I > know is its possible for Windows developers to write apps for iOS with > the write tools, but don't know any details of how to do it. > > Cheers! > > --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi tom. as some one who really enjoys audio games I would be willing to support this eather by donation or bying the new games out right if and when they would get made. having said all this though I have not played Troopanum I did play hunter once though. also I am running windows xp and i have a laptop running windows 7. but my main pc runs windows xp. so I am happy to hear that these games would be still able to work on xp pc's. as has all ready been pointed out alot of the comunidey still has xp pc's so the chances of these games not beaing able to be played on these systems is quite small but i am not shure about windows 7 and 8 and future windows systems. so in short I would forshure support this project. well these are my thoughts. from Mich. - Original Message - From: "Thomas Ward" To: "Gamers Discussion list" Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 6:12 PM Subject: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi all, In light of what is happening with Blindsoftware.com, formally BSC Games, I thought I would throw an offer out here that some of you could consider and think about. Perhaps offer up your advice or suggestions regarding this matter. Based on my discussions with Justin via email he does not have the source code for any of his games or software on the Blindsoftware.com site, and all of the sound effects for said games are locked in pack files that are encrypted. This means if a developer, any developer, wanted to update those games he or she would have to start over from scratch. Since all the games were written in Visual Basic 6, a language no longer officially supported on newer Windows platforms all the games would have to be rewritten anyway. However, considering the sounds and music are encrypted and need to be repurchased it could get expensive rewriting these games from scratch. This of course leads to two important questions I have regarding these titles. First, do you really want to see a developer spending time writing a modern remake of these games. After all, there are currently a lot of Space Invader clones out there like Judgment Day, Alien Outback, and of course Troopanum so is it really worth it to rewrite Troopanum to keep that game going? Second, would you, the community, be willing to spend money on a modern remake of Hunter, Pipe, Troopanum, etc if one was made? This might be through donations or actual sales of the software, but is it worth your money to have newer updated versions of these games? Third, seeing that new sounds and music would have to be purchased it wouldn't exactly be like the original. These would be strictly modern remakes of the games with new sounds, new music, and would in their own way be different games. Would you be interested in these games even if they were a bit different from the BSC versions you have now? The reason I am asking these questions is over the years I've seen a lot of audio game developers come and go such as Danz Games, BSC Games, PB Games, Lighttech Interactive, etc. Every time a developer goes they leave behind a number of games people still want to play but the games are no longer being updated or supported. It strikes me what we need is something comparable to the mainstream Retro Remakes site where interested audio game developers take on some of these abandoned projects and either update or rewrite them to keep them available in the community. I'd be willing to do this myself if there is enough interest in the project. In the end I think it comes down to what Cara was asking a few days ago on the Audyssey List. If you, the community, want game developers to continue writing and supporting accessible games you need to make it worth their time. So the big question is are these games worth my time and your money to make sure they work on Windows 8 and beyond as well as bring them to new platforms? --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hello Dark Very well put. I hate how windows pushes there producks on people when ever they come out with a new oprating system. I have 3 computers with win xp, win 7 and win 8 and I still perfur to use my computer with xp then the other 2, and with all the people that still perfur xp over any other oS I think it will still be a minit be for anything realy changes. Well I at leas hope so grin. Bfn James --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi tom. the problem I can see with a rewrite, is that of time. It is still possible to run the old games on newer versions of windows by installing the dependencies, and as has been pointed out, you do have other projects in the works, and a complete rewrite of these games, (especially with cross platform compatibility), would take considderable time. myself, i'd prefer to just see all the libraries and dependencies looked after, rather than the major task of updating everything. Beware the grue! Dark. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi tom. Personally, i don't see what is wrong with just installing vb6 libraries. Aprone, Jim, and lots of other devs, (including several in the indi community), still use vb6, so it'll be around for a good while. I have no intention of buying a newer version of windows until it really serves any practical purpose to do so, and even if microsoft the scummy gits like to kick support to the kirb, that doesn't mean everyone has to follow sute. On that basis, I fully intend to keep on playing vb6 games on future versions of windows even if I need to update the libraries and dependencies myself. on this basis, well why should I wish to pay, or a developer wish to spend his/her time remaking games when you can still run the originals? The reality is what ever microsoft say, vb6 will still be around long in the future, as an example, just look at something like Eamon deluxe. Beware the grue! Dark. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Thomas, If you were going to remake the BSC games but not with the same sounds and not from the original code, why not make the same game only with your title? BFN Jim All computers wait at the same speed. j...@kitchensinc.net http://www.kitchensinc.net (440) 286-6920 Chardon Ohio USA --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Thomas, not sure about Mono but will check it out this week. Smiles, Cara :) --- View my Online Portfolio at: http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ModelCara On Apr 21, 2013, at 7:53 PM, Thomas Ward wrote: Hi Cara, Right. Yeah, I read some of the SDK documentation for iOS and know I would have to use some Objective C to access the libraries for the library, but could use standard C++ for everything else. However, I was wondering if you have looked at Mono for iOS. Apparently there is now a Mono version for iOS, and developers can write .NET code in C# and run it on iPhones and iPads. However, I can't get much info on that because the Mono Framework for iOS is commercial and I don't have an iPhone to test it in any case. So all I know is its possible for Windows developers to write apps for iOS with the write tools, but don't know any details of how to do it. Cheers! On 4/21/13, Cara Quinn wrote: > Ah, quick clarification; in regarding to coding in C++ on iOS, you still > will need to know some Objective C to work with the necessary libraries for > the iOS devices. > > Other than that you can code in C++. > > HTH > > Cara :) > --- > View my Online Portfolio at: > > http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn > > Follow me on Twitter! > > https://twitter.com/ModelCara --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Cara, Right. Yeah, I read some of the SDK documentation for iOS and know I would have to use some Objective C to access the libraries for the library, but could use standard C++ for everything else. However, I was wondering if you have looked at Mono for iOS. Apparently there is now a Mono version for iOS, and developers can write .NET code in C# and run it on iPhones and iPads. However, I can't get much info on that because the Mono Framework for iOS is commercial and I don't have an iPhone to test it in any case. So all I know is its possible for Windows developers to write apps for iOS with the write tools, but don't know any details of how to do it. Cheers! On 4/21/13, Cara Quinn wrote: > Ah, quick clarification; in regarding to coding in C++ on iOS, you still > will need to know some Objective C to work with the necessary libraries for > the iOS devices. > > Other than that you can code in C++. > > HTH > > Cara :) > --- > View my Online Portfolio at: > > http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn > > Follow me on Twitter! > > https://twitter.com/ModelCara --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
I never could make it through level nine of hunter. But had no problems with any of the other levels. Ron and current Leader Dog boz who states "that a service dog beats a cane paws down any day of the week." -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 9:09 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider they are good games, I like them never got through hunter or pipe2 but the troop games are really good. At 11:41 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Why is there so much focus on the fact that these are old games? The question should be, "Are they good games?" Just because they have been around for a while, does that mean that they should not be updated if someone is willing to take the time and effort? I do think, however, that Ark of Hope and Raceway should be completed before this project is undertaken. The reason is that people have already bought these unfinished titles and have been patiently waiting. This is not an intentional criticism, nor do I expect games immediately. --- Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. - Original Message - From: "Sarah Haake" To: "Gamers Discussion list" Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 6:03 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi, since these games work under Windows 7, and since Windows 7 has a good bit of years ahead of it, I'd say don't invest so much time for rewriting these titles. Everyone who wants to keep playing them can do so for years to come, and after that time I hope we have more things to play than these games. Besides, you have enough of work to do with your own games, which wait for completion for quite a long time now after all. I really don't like the idea of you spending time on these old games, which also would lead to more postponing of your own titles. I'd rather see your own titles finally completed than remakes of BSC titles. And no, I wouldn't spend money for remakes, since I have the current versions and will keep playing them as long as I find I way to get them running. Much more important for me would be to have a possibility for others to get these games after the company closes, which would be enough to keep them alive in my opinion. Best regards Sarah --- 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. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Ah, quick clarification; in regarding to coding in C++ on iOS, you still will need to know some Objective C to work with the necessary libraries for the iOS devices. Other than that you can code in C++. HTH Cara :) --- View my Online Portfolio at: http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ModelCara On Apr 21, 2013, at 7:05 PM, Cara Quinn wrote: Michael, I'm not Thomas but I can say that for iOS, using the accelerometer / gyro / compass in addition to the touch screen to control movements in games is very easily done. Oh, and Thomas, you'd asked me some days ago about porting C++ code to iOS… This is also very easy to do as you can actually code in straight C++ for iOS. YOu can also mix C++ and Objective C pretty much at will, with only a few exceptions. HTH Cara :) --- View my Online Portfolio at: http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ModelCara On Apr 21, 2013, at 3:31 PM, michael barnes wrote: Well, Thomas. I think the games are fine the way they are. However if they could be ported to iOS, and Mac it might be something worth investing into. However I have some questions that I would like to ask you off list concerning the matter of game developement of games. I think it would also be great to be able to not just use the touch screen on these games but to be able to move the phone around and to be more involve then the current versions. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Michael, I'm not Thomas but I can say that for iOS, using the accelerometer / gyro / compass in addition to the touch screen to control movements in games is very easily done. Oh, and Thomas, you'd asked me some days ago about porting C++ code to iOS… This is also very easy to do as you can actually code in straight C++ for iOS. YOu can also mix C++ and Objective C pretty much at will, with only a few exceptions. HTH Cara :) --- View my Online Portfolio at: http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ModelCara On Apr 21, 2013, at 3:31 PM, michael barnes wrote: Well, Thomas. I think the games are fine the way they are. However if they could be ported to iOS, and Mac it might be something worth investing into. However I have some questions that I would like to ask you off list concerning the matter of game developement of games. I think it would also be great to be able to not just use the touch screen on these games but to be able to move the phone around and to be more involve then the current versions. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
That's the one area where Emulators have the original beat. But thou must! -Original Message- From: Thomas Ward Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 7:25 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi Bryan, Lol! Yeah, really. I wouldn't want a game that crashed, restarted, or emulated the NES problems. I had enough issues with the blinking screens and general flakiness with my original unit that I wouldn't want a repeat performance. On 4/21/13, Bryan Peterson wrote: No thanks. But thou must! -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 7:08 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider well a nes remake from the aspect of the nes, in fact I'd like games where you would play from the prospective of a machine, arcade, nes, etc right down to the various issues it had. ocationally you may have to restart it. or kick it. and if you lost or it totally mangled itself, you always had the option of smashing it and then getting another when you restarted the sim --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Air Fortress actually blended a couple different genres. Then of course there was Guardian Legend. But thou must! -Original Message- From: Thomas Ward Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 7:19 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi Shaun, When it comes to the issue of retro remakes in general I totally agree with you. There are a lot of Atari and NES games that haven't been remade into an audio game version like Asteroids, Mousetrap, Centipede, Zaxxon, etc which seems to me to be a better thing to do than rewrite the BSC games just because they have never been tried before, and that is only the tip of the iceberg. The classic NES is really the place where all the great side-scrollers like Megaman, Castlevania, Ninja Turtles, Double Dragon, Legend of Kage, Contra, Air Fortress, etc all got started. Just right there that would be enough to keep me busy for the next ten years, and all of them are better games than the BSC games in my opinion. Cheers! On 4/21/13, shaun everiss wrote: well if troop was going to be made again then 2,1 was ok but it was for completeness. pipe1 was ok, but again pipe2 was the real game, pipe1 was just kept round. as a different style. I myself would like to see some of the arcade games you play on the old big machine units like asteroids etc. I'd also like to see remakes of some of the nes/ gameboy and early games as I never got to play them. I would like to alsosee remakes of some of the interactive fiction titles like cosmoserve and a few other things I guess. Though I think we are seeing the end of an era of gaming, we have always stayed on a simple basis. still. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Bryan, Lol! Yeah, really. I wouldn't want a game that crashed, restarted, or emulated the NES problems. I had enough issues with the blinking screens and general flakiness with my original unit that I wouldn't want a repeat performance. On 4/21/13, Bryan Peterson wrote: > No thanks. > > > > But thou must! > -Original Message- > From: shaun everiss > Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 7:08 PM > To: Gamers Discussion list > Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider > > well a nes remake from the aspect of the nes, in fact I'd like games > where you would play from the prospective of a machine, arcade, nes, > etc right down to the various issues it had. > ocationally you may have to restart it. > or kick it. > and if you lost or it totally mangled itself, you always had the > option of smashing it and then getting another when you restarted the > sim --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Shaun, When it comes to the issue of retro remakes in general I totally agree with you. There are a lot of Atari and NES games that haven't been remade into an audio game version like Asteroids, Mousetrap, Centipede, Zaxxon, etc which seems to me to be a better thing to do than rewrite the BSC games just because they have never been tried before, and that is only the tip of the iceberg. The classic NES is really the place where all the great side-scrollers like Megaman, Castlevania, Ninja Turtles, Double Dragon, Legend of Kage, Contra, Air Fortress, etc all got started. Just right there that would be enough to keep me busy for the next ten years, and all of them are better games than the BSC games in my opinion. Cheers! On 4/21/13, shaun everiss wrote: > well if troop was going to be made again then 2,1 was ok but it was > for completeness. > pipe1 was ok, but again pipe2 was the real game, pipe1 was just kept round. > as a different style. > I myself would like to see some of the arcade games you play on the > old big machine units like asteroids etc. > I'd also like to see remakes of some of the nes/ gameboy and early > games as I never got to play them. > I would like to alsosee remakes of some of the interactive fiction > titles like cosmoserve and a few other things I guess. > Though I think we are seeing the end of an era of gaming, we have > always stayed on a simple basis. > still. > --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
No thanks. But thou must! -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 7:08 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider well a nes remake from the aspect of the nes, in fact I'd like games where you would play from the prospective of a machine, arcade, nes, etc right down to the various issues it had. ocationally you may have to restart it. or kick it. and if you lost or it totally mangled itself, you always had the option of smashing it and then getting another when you restarted the sim At 11:38 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Except nowadays there are NES style controllers that ca conect to a PC. So you can still get that controller feel on an emulator without having to worry about the NES messing up on you, which they do from time to time (the dreaded blinking screen anyone?) But thou must! -Original Message- From: Desiree Oudinot Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 5:04 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi, This is a really tough call. On one hand, I do think that these games will always have their place, even just for nostalgia's sake. But is that enough to update them to run on modern systems? My gut reaction is to say no. I think that part of the nostalgia of these games may be just that--playing them on older systems. For example, although I have a Nintendo emulator on my computer, when I'm in the mood to play Millipede or Duck Hunt or TMNT, I borrow my sister's NES system for a bit and go at it. there's something about the feel of the controller in my hand that pressing buttons on a computer keyboard doesn't give me. It takes me back to when I was a kid and playing those games. Likewise, although this is obviously slightly different, if I ever upgrade to a system that's incompatible with the old titles from BSC, or even older stuff like Grizzly Gulch or even some of the old DOS PCS demos I have lying around, I'm going to keep an older computer around just for this purpose. At the moment, both my desktop and laptop are running Windows 7. I have no plans to upgrade to 8 for a long time to come, and by then I'm sure there will be another version of Windows that's the most modern anyway. Besides, since Windows 7 will be supported for another 10 years at least, I'm not worried that I'll lose my access to these games. I can see myself most definitely retiring one of my machines, putting it in storage, and dusting it off if I want to play some old games. I actually have an old tower that has Windows XP on it, but it needs a new fan. If I really wanted to, I could fix that up and use it for a gaming machine. That, to me, would be the equivalent of what I do now when I occasionally play Nintendo games. there's something exciting about that for me. So, no, I don't think any of these games should be flushed down the toilet and treated with derision, but I don't think it's necessary to get bogged down in specifics, either. The world is always moving forward. Let's try to make our audio games do the same. --- 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. --- 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
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
The thing that disappointed me about Troopanum 2 was the lack of a cool ending theme the way classic Troop had. But thou must! -Original Message- From: Ron Kolesar Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 7:07 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider As a beta tester for pipe version two known as blast chamber. I'll just say this. Blast chamber beats classic pipe hands down and so dose the version two of troopanum. Bot troopanum and alien outback has their good points and their bad points. But the one thing I like about BSC games or blind software's games is that they test your accuracy and your speed under pressure. The faster you are and the more accurate you are the higher points you will ear and can brag to your fellow players. Now if we're going to up grade the games so that they can be played in win eight or what ever comes around, we'll have to figure out a way to keep the online score boards. The only thing with Blast chamber is that we had to keep a few things out of a realistic sewer so not to scare away the younger players. But it still ended up as a cool replayable game to waste one's time away with. Ron and current Leader Dog boz who states "that a service dog beats a cane paws down any day of the week." -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 9:01 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider well if troop was going to be made again then 2,1 was ok but it was for completeness. pipe1 was ok, but again pipe2 was the real game, pipe1 was just kept round. as a different style. I myself would like to see some of the arcade games you play on the old big machine units like asteroids etc. I'd also like to see remakes of some of the nes/ gameboy and early games as I never got to play them. I would like to alsosee remakes of some of the interactive fiction titles like cosmoserve and a few other things I guess. Though I think we are seeing the end of an era of gaming, we have always stayed on a simple basis. still. At 11:11 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Hi Shaun, Well, I don't know that it would take ages to do. Games like Troopanum are actually pretty simple from the perspective of an experienced programmer. I'd say six months tops for a game like that. So time isn't really the issue. It is the issue of having to invest in new sounds and music which people wouldn't want to do since they have the games already. So it seems to me the best thing to do is if I were to create a Space Invaders clone it would have to be an original game. Since it needs new sounds and music I would design it with its own game story, challenges, and could market it as Alien Invasion or whatever I called it. Cheers! On 4/21/13, shaun everiss wrote: > I also aggree however I don't know if I'd actually would shell out > for them again. > the reason I even thought like I did origionally was before I read > the offer email properly. > if these were just straight ports with modification thats fine but > rewrites? > that would take ages to do and new sounds etc. > I'd have to start paying more for games I already had. --- 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. --- 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 ar
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Narc. There was a cool game. But thou must! -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 7:01 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider well if troop was going to be made again then 2,1 was ok but it was for completeness. pipe1 was ok, but again pipe2 was the real game, pipe1 was just kept round. as a different style. I myself would like to see some of the arcade games you play on the old big machine units like asteroids etc. I'd also like to see remakes of some of the nes/ gameboy and early games as I never got to play them. I would like to alsosee remakes of some of the interactive fiction titles like cosmoserve and a few other things I guess. Though I think we are seeing the end of an era of gaming, we have always stayed on a simple basis. still. At 11:11 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Hi Shaun, Well, I don't know that it would take ages to do. Games like Troopanum are actually pretty simple from the perspective of an experienced programmer. I'd say six months tops for a game like that. So time isn't really the issue. It is the issue of having to invest in new sounds and music which people wouldn't want to do since they have the games already. So it seems to me the best thing to do is if I were to create a Space Invaders clone it would have to be an original game. Since it needs new sounds and music I would design it with its own game story, challenges, and could market it as Alien Invasion or whatever I called it. Cheers! On 4/21/13, shaun everiss wrote: > I also aggree however I don't know if I'd actually would shell out > for them again. > the reason I even thought like I did origionally was before I read > the offer email properly. > if these were just straight ports with modification thats fine but > rewrites? > that would take ages to do and new sounds etc. > I'd have to start paying more for games I already had. --- 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. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
well if you want to make remakes thats fine I just wouldn't rate them high on my list of things to buy. At 11:55 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Well Thomas, what I really want to see from you is the completion of the projects you've already committed to doing. You simply shouldn't take on yet more endless stuff right now. I even question the wisdom of your involvement with whatever will become of Audyssey Magazine. You've come close to complete meltdown a number of times even with what you're already tackling. Even once you've finished James North's stuff, you then need to work on at least a couple of your own projects completely unhindered by any obligations. Once you've been able to do that letting your full creative potential out of the box, I think you'll feel a whole lot less pressured and more stable. The albatross hanging around your neck is quite heavy enough. I very much worry that this community will lose what passes for its patience and that this could cost us your efforts and good will. Too many developers have burned out already. I'd much rather live in a gaming community with you being ultimately successful than with you ending up just another tortured and bitter burn-out. I want you to reach a state where you feel completely free to develop whatever your creative muse suggests to you unhindered by any other obligation. You'll doubtless do splendidly with The Montezuma's Revenge and Raceway replacements. I eagerly await the day when you release those finished creations proving all your doubters dead wrong. I haven't given up on you there. But I'm thinking beyond that. What I really want to know is what precisely is a full-blown genuine Thomas Ward epic game experience? I know the answer to that same question from pretty much every other game developer since 1996 when I started Audyssey. You, however, due to an act of well-intentioned generocity gone wrong, are still a fragile mystery. I don't know you nearly as well as I feel I know other developers despite keeping careful watch on your postings. From what I hear and the betas I've experienced, I think you have the skill to come up with some awesome stuff. I'm expecting something very different and interesting when you at last answer the question of what a full-blown completely finished epic Thomas Ward creation is like. However, I'll only get to find out whether I'm right if you get all the other stuff squared away and done first. Given how things have gone, I think that's going to be a long and uncertain journey. On 4/21/13, Thomas Ward wrote: > Hi Al, > > Yes, the wrestling game started out as a remake of the old Piledriver > game for Dos, and obviously is still in active production. However, > that is a good case in point. > > The reason I began rewriting Piledriver is my new laptop is a 64-bit > machine and Piledriver will not run on it because it is an old 16-bit > Dos application. If there were several accessible wrestling games > around I wouldn't have bothered, but there are just Piledriver and > Wrestling League Manager which won't run on 64-bit Windows. So writing > the wrestling game makes sense. > > With a game like Troopanum I have to ask, "where is the > justification?" There is Alien Outback, Troopanum, Judgment Day, Dark > Destroyer, and so on. Even if we lose Troopanum people can still buy > Alien Outback or download Dark Destroyer from the USA Games site for > free. So it is hard to justify rewriting Troopanum for free let alone > charging for it. > > Cheers! > > On 4/21/13, Allan Thompson wrote: >> Hi Tom, >> For my two cents... >> I would say that many of the old games would not be worth a remake. >> However, why not get a more detailed opinion from the list. I am sure >> when >> people talk about wanting an old game remake, that they are thinking of >> maybe two or three games on average. >> So maybe it would help you better if you set up a top three games list, >> and >> see which three old games out of a list you make of the ones you want >> to >> work on, so that you would get a clear indication of what people might be >> actually talking about in terms of remakes. Like you said, you really >> don't >> want to have to do remakes of space invader like games etc and so forth. >> >> Personally, I am not much for any of the games so far listed, so no, I >> probably wouldn't bother donating or paying attention to the remake of >> such >> things. >> >> The exception for me is the wrestling game you talked about some weeks >> back. >> I would definitely pay to see that game come to life, and it is also a >> remake too, right? >> >> al >> "The truth will set you free" >> Jesus Christ of Nazareth 33A.D. > > --- > 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
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
they are good games, I like them never got through hunter or pipe2 but the troop games are really good. At 11:41 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Why is there so much focus on the fact that these are old games? The question should be, "Are they good games?" Just because they have been around for a while, does that mean that they should not be updated if someone is willing to take the time and effort? I do think, however, that Ark of Hope and Raceway should be completed before this project is undertaken. The reason is that people have already bought these unfinished titles and have been patiently waiting. This is not an intentional criticism, nor do I expect games immediately. --- Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. - Original Message - From: "Sarah Haake" To: "Gamers Discussion list" Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 6:03 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi, since these games work under Windows 7, and since Windows 7 has a good bit of years ahead of it, I'd say don't invest so much time for rewriting these titles. Everyone who wants to keep playing them can do so for years to come, and after that time I hope we have more things to play than these games. Besides, you have enough of work to do with your own games, which wait for completion for quite a long time now after all. I really don't like the idea of you spending time on these old games, which also would lead to more postponing of your own titles. I'd rather see your own titles finally completed than remakes of BSC titles. And no, I wouldn't spend money for remakes, since I have the current versions and will keep playing them as long as I find I way to get them running. Much more important for me would be to have a possibility for others to get these games after the company closes, which would be enough to keep them alive in my opinion. Best regards Sarah --- 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. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
well a nes remake from the aspect of the nes, in fact I'd like games where you would play from the prospective of a machine, arcade, nes, etc right down to the various issues it had. ocationally you may have to restart it. or kick it. and if you lost or it totally mangled itself, you always had the option of smashing it and then getting another when you restarted the sim At 11:38 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Except nowadays there are NES style controllers that ca conect to a PC. So you can still get that controller feel on an emulator without having to worry about the NES messing up on you, which they do from time to time (the dreaded blinking screen anyone?) But thou must! -Original Message- From: Desiree Oudinot Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 5:04 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi, This is a really tough call. On one hand, I do think that these games will always have their place, even just for nostalgia's sake. But is that enough to update them to run on modern systems? My gut reaction is to say no. I think that part of the nostalgia of these games may be just that--playing them on older systems. For example, although I have a Nintendo emulator on my computer, when I'm in the mood to play Millipede or Duck Hunt or TMNT, I borrow my sister's NES system for a bit and go at it. there's something about the feel of the controller in my hand that pressing buttons on a computer keyboard doesn't give me. It takes me back to when I was a kid and playing those games. Likewise, although this is obviously slightly different, if I ever upgrade to a system that's incompatible with the old titles from BSC, or even older stuff like Grizzly Gulch or even some of the old DOS PCS demos I have lying around, I'm going to keep an older computer around just for this purpose. At the moment, both my desktop and laptop are running Windows 7. I have no plans to upgrade to 8 for a long time to come, and by then I'm sure there will be another version of Windows that's the most modern anyway. Besides, since Windows 7 will be supported for another 10 years at least, I'm not worried that I'll lose my access to these games. I can see myself most definitely retiring one of my machines, putting it in storage, and dusting it off if I want to play some old games. I actually have an old tower that has Windows XP on it, but it needs a new fan. If I really wanted to, I could fix that up and use it for a gaming machine. That, to me, would be the equivalent of what I do now when I occasionally play Nintendo games. there's something exciting about that for me. So, no, I don't think any of these games should be flushed down the toilet and treated with derision, but I don't think it's necessary to get bogged down in specifics, either. The world is always moving forward. Let's try to make our audio games do the same. --- 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. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
As a beta tester for pipe version two known as blast chamber. I'll just say this. Blast chamber beats classic pipe hands down and so dose the version two of troopanum. Bot troopanum and alien outback has their good points and their bad points. But the one thing I like about BSC games or blind software's games is that they test your accuracy and your speed under pressure. The faster you are and the more accurate you are the higher points you will ear and can brag to your fellow players. Now if we're going to up grade the games so that they can be played in win eight or what ever comes around, we'll have to figure out a way to keep the online score boards. The only thing with Blast chamber is that we had to keep a few things out of a realistic sewer so not to scare away the younger players. But it still ended up as a cool replayable game to waste one's time away with. Ron and current Leader Dog boz who states "that a service dog beats a cane paws down any day of the week." -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 9:01 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider well if troop was going to be made again then 2,1 was ok but it was for completeness. pipe1 was ok, but again pipe2 was the real game, pipe1 was just kept round. as a different style. I myself would like to see some of the arcade games you play on the old big machine units like asteroids etc. I'd also like to see remakes of some of the nes/ gameboy and early games as I never got to play them. I would like to alsosee remakes of some of the interactive fiction titles like cosmoserve and a few other things I guess. Though I think we are seeing the end of an era of gaming, we have always stayed on a simple basis. still. At 11:11 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Hi Shaun, Well, I don't know that it would take ages to do. Games like Troopanum are actually pretty simple from the perspective of an experienced programmer. I'd say six months tops for a game like that. So time isn't really the issue. It is the issue of having to invest in new sounds and music which people wouldn't want to do since they have the games already. So it seems to me the best thing to do is if I were to create a Space Invaders clone it would have to be an original game. Since it needs new sounds and music I would design it with its own game story, challenges, and could market it as Alien Invasion or whatever I called it. Cheers! On 4/21/13, shaun everiss wrote: > I also aggree however I don't know if I'd actually would shell out > for them again. > the reason I even thought like I did origionally was before I read > the offer email properly. > if these were just straight ports with modification thats fine but > rewrites? > that would take ages to do and new sounds etc. > I'd have to start paying more for games I already had. --- 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. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
true scot, I'd actually like to hear a remake of some old arcade games but not from the aspect of a computer because we have so many, I'd actually like an arcade machine sim with inserting coins, etc, etc, etc. each life was a coin and every so often you would have to load one in. you could run out of cash, or whatever. At 11:21 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Following on from the point Sarah just made, I'd say that if and when these titles become less easy to acquire or less easy to get up and running, there will be some advantages. People who're just starting out and experimenting with development need challenges. At the moment, if someone knocks out a space invaders clone with simple game play that's just intended to kill a spare 10 minutes, there's little appeal to pick that up as there's a bunch of existing titles already nailing it. Then, there's the type of people who'd enjoy hunting down these older titles if and when they become less prevalent for the nostalgia. None of this is intended to be disrespectful, they're all good games in their own right and they've laid foundations, but really, as a player I'm craving deeper mechanics and more exploration, and that's where my money would be going. If it was advice you were looking for Tom, mine would be to use your chops for something that counts, something that'll move the community forward rather than sideways. In time, there'll be budding developers who'll get a kick out of tackling a retro remake style version of these games. Scott On 4/22/13, Sarah Haake wrote: > Hi, > > since these games work under Windows 7, and since Windows 7 has a good bit > of years ahead of it, I'd say don't invest so much time for rewriting these > > titles. Everyone who wants to keep playing them can do so for years to come, > > and after that time I hope we have more things to play than these games. > > Besides, you have enough of work to do with your own games, which wait for > completion for quite a long time now after all. I really don't like the idea > > of you spending time on these old games, which also would lead to more > postponing of your own titles. I'd rather see your own titles finally > completed than remakes of BSC titles. > And no, I wouldn't spend money for remakes, since I have the current > versions and will keep playing them as long as I find I way to get them > running. > > Much more important for me would be to have a possibility for others to get > > these games after the company closes, which would be enough to keep them > alive in my opinion. > Best regards > Sarah --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
well if troop was going to be made again then 2,1 was ok but it was for completeness. pipe1 was ok, but again pipe2 was the real game, pipe1 was just kept round. as a different style. I myself would like to see some of the arcade games you play on the old big machine units like asteroids etc. I'd also like to see remakes of some of the nes/ gameboy and early games as I never got to play them. I would like to alsosee remakes of some of the interactive fiction titles like cosmoserve and a few other things I guess. Though I think we are seeing the end of an era of gaming, we have always stayed on a simple basis. still. At 11:11 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Hi Shaun, Well, I don't know that it would take ages to do. Games like Troopanum are actually pretty simple from the perspective of an experienced programmer. I'd say six months tops for a game like that. So time isn't really the issue. It is the issue of having to invest in new sounds and music which people wouldn't want to do since they have the games already. So it seems to me the best thing to do is if I were to create a Space Invaders clone it would have to be an original game. Since it needs new sounds and music I would design it with its own game story, challenges, and could market it as Alien Invasion or whatever I called it. Cheers! On 4/21/13, shaun everiss wrote: > I also aggree however I don't know if I'd actually would shell out > for them again. > the reason I even thought like I did origionally was before I read > the offer email properly. > if these were just straight ports with modification thats fine but > rewrites? > that would take ages to do and new sounds etc. > I'd have to start paying more for games I already had. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
I would be willing to support you on up grading the games since windows is being up dated to win 8. Tom and for the rest of the game and simulator companies out there. I like something that is as real as possible. When I work on a project with sighted partners I alsays ask them to close their eyes and to see how they could get the same info across to a blind person for the main part sees through their ears. Tom, I'd be willing to help out when and were ever the game designers like yourself and otheres could use me. It would be nice to have force feedback written into the game but just up date the games so when and if we're force to jump to eight we wouldn't have to leave our favorites behind. Hope this makes sense. Ron and current Leader Dog boz who states "that a service dog beats a cane paws down any day of the week." -Original Message- From: Thomas Ward Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 6:12 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi all, In light of what is happening with Blindsoftware.com, formally BSC Games, I thought I would throw an offer out here that some of you could consider and think about. Perhaps offer up your advice or suggestions regarding this matter. Based on my discussions with Justin via email he does not have the source code for any of his games or software on the Blindsoftware.com site, and all of the sound effects for said games are locked in pack files that are encrypted. This means if a developer, any developer, wanted to update those games he or she would have to start over from scratch. Since all the games were written in Visual Basic 6, a language no longer officially supported on newer Windows platforms all the games would have to be rewritten anyway. However, considering the sounds and music are encrypted and need to be repurchased it could get expensive rewriting these games from scratch. This of course leads to two important questions I have regarding these titles. First, do you really want to see a developer spending time writing a modern remake of these games. After all, there are currently a lot of Space Invader clones out there like Judgment Day, Alien Outback, and of course Troopanum so is it really worth it to rewrite Troopanum to keep that game going? Second, would you, the community, be willing to spend money on a modern remake of Hunter, Pipe, Troopanum, etc if one was made? This might be through donations or actual sales of the software, but is it worth your money to have newer updated versions of these games? Third, seeing that new sounds and music would have to be purchased it wouldn't exactly be like the original. These would be strictly modern remakes of the games with new sounds, new music, and would in their own way be different games. Would you be interested in these games even if they were a bit different from the BSC versions you have now? The reason I am asking these questions is over the years I've seen a lot of audio game developers come and go such as Danz Games, BSC Games, PB Games, Lighttech Interactive, etc. Every time a developer goes they leave behind a number of games people still want to play but the games are no longer being updated or supported. It strikes me what we need is something comparable to the mainstream Retro Remakes site where interested audio game developers take on some of these abandoned projects and either update or rewrite them to keep them available in the community. I'd be willing to do this myself if there is enough interest in the project. In the end I think it comes down to what Cara was asking a few days ago on the Audyssey List. If you, the community, want game developers to continue writing and supporting accessible games you need to make it worth their time. So the big question is are these games worth my time and your money to make sure they work on Windows 8 and beyond as well as bring them to new platforms? --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
LOL I know. It's because the connecter inside starts to come loose. There are even systems that can play games from multiple consoles I.E. NES and Super NES together. I own one but it has some quirks that I don't like. For one thing it's extremely hard to remove the games once they're inserted. And in the case of SNES games it can sometimes take several tries to get the game into the slot in suc a way that te system registers it. Moreover it messes up the audio in some NES games. But thou must! -Original Message- From: Desiree Oudinot Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 6:01 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Really? I didn't know that. That's something I'll have to take a look into. Lol, yes, the blinking screen. that and the fact that it usually takes about 8 tries to get any game to work properly. On 4/21/13, Bryan Peterson wrote: Except nowadays there are NES style controllers that ca conect to a PC. So you can still get that controller feel on an emulator without having to worry about the NES messing up on you, which they do from time to time (the dreaded blinking screen anyone?) But thou must! -Original Message- From: Desiree Oudinot Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 5:04 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi, This is a really tough call. On one hand, I do think that these games will always have their place, even just for nostalgia's sake. But is that enough to update them to run on modern systems? My gut reaction is to say no. I think that part of the nostalgia of these games may be just that--playing them on older systems. For example, although I have a Nintendo emulator on my computer, when I'm in the mood to play Millipede or Duck Hunt or TMNT, I borrow my sister's NES system for a bit and go at it. there's something about the feel of the controller in my hand that pressing buttons on a computer keyboard doesn't give me. It takes me back to when I was a kid and playing those games. Likewise, although this is obviously slightly different, if I ever upgrade to a system that's incompatible with the old titles from BSC, or even older stuff like Grizzly Gulch or even some of the old DOS PCS demos I have lying around, I'm going to keep an older computer around just for this purpose. At the moment, both my desktop and laptop are running Windows 7. I have no plans to upgrade to 8 for a long time to come, and by then I'm sure there will be another version of Windows that's the most modern anyway. Besides, since Windows 7 will be supported for another 10 years at least, I'm not worried that I'll lose my access to these games. I can see myself most definitely retiring one of my machines, putting it in storage, and dusting it off if I want to play some old games. I actually have an old tower that has Windows XP on it, but it needs a new fan. If I really wanted to, I could fix that up and use it for a gaming machine. That, to me, would be the equivalent of what I do now when I occasionally play Nintendo games. there's something exciting about that for me. So, no, I don't think any of these games should be flushed down the toilet and treated with derision, but I don't think it's necessary to get bogged down in specifics, either. The world is always moving forward. Let's try to make our audio games do the same. --- 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. --- 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@
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Really? I didn't know that. That's something I'll have to take a look into. Lol, yes, the blinking screen. that and the fact that it usually takes about 8 tries to get any game to work properly. On 4/21/13, Bryan Peterson wrote: > Except nowadays there are NES style controllers that ca conect to a PC. So > you can still get that controller feel on an emulator without having to > worry about the NES messing up on you, which they do from time to time (the > > dreaded blinking screen anyone?) > > > But thou must! > -Original Message- > From: Desiree Oudinot > Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 5:04 PM > To: Gamers Discussion list > Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider > > Hi, > This is a really tough call. On one hand, I do think that these games > will always have their place, even just for nostalgia's sake. But is > that enough to update them to run on modern systems? My gut reaction > is to say no. > I think that part of the nostalgia of these games may be just > that--playing them on older systems. For example, although I have a > Nintendo emulator on my computer, when I'm in the mood to play > Millipede or Duck Hunt or TMNT, I borrow my sister's NES system for a > bit and go at it. there's something about the feel of the controller > in my hand that pressing buttons on a computer keyboard doesn't give > me. It takes me back to when I was a kid and playing those games. > Likewise, although this is obviously slightly different, if I ever > upgrade to a system that's incompatible with the old titles from BSC, > or even older stuff like Grizzly Gulch or even some of the old DOS PCS > demos I have lying around, I'm going to keep an older computer around > just for this purpose. > At the moment, both my desktop and laptop are running Windows 7. I > have no plans to upgrade to 8 for a long time to come, and by then I'm > sure there will be another version of Windows that's the most modern > anyway. Besides, since Windows 7 will be supported for another 10 > years at least, I'm not worried that I'll lose my access to these > games. I can see myself most definitely retiring one of my machines, > putting it in storage, and dusting it off if I want to play some old > games. I actually have an old tower that has Windows XP on it, but it > needs a new fan. If I really wanted to, I could fix that up and use it > for a gaming machine. That, to me, would be the equivalent of what I > do now when I occasionally play Nintendo games. there's something > exciting about that for me. > So, no, I don't think any of these games should be flushed down the > toilet and treated with derision, but I don't think it's necessary to > get bogged down in specifics, either. The world is always moving > forward. Let's try to make our audio games do the same. > > --- > 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. > --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Charles and all, Correct. My current projects such as Raceway would absolutely have to come first. No question about that. At this point I was merely gauging interest in the idea of updating and reselling the BSC games at some unspecified future point in time. As to your question about why people are focused on the fact these games are old it is true. Many people have been playing them for years, and they will still run on systems running Windows 7 for plenty more years to come. I think the general agreement is people would rather see new games than an old game in a new form. Cheers! On 4/21/13, Charles Rivard wrote: > Why is there so much focus on the fact that these are old games? The > question should be, "Are they good games?" Just because they have been > around for a while, does that mean that they should not be updated if > someone is willing to take the time and effort? I do think, however, that > Ark of Hope and Raceway should be completed before this project is > undertaken. The reason is that people have already bought these unfinished > > titles and have been patiently waiting. This is not an intentional > criticism, nor do I expect games immediately. > > --- > Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Well Thomas, what I really want to see from you is the completion of the projects you've already committed to doing. You simply shouldn't take on yet more endless stuff right now. I even question the wisdom of your involvement with whatever will become of Audyssey Magazine. You've come close to complete meltdown a number of times even with what you're already tackling. Even once you've finished James North's stuff, you then need to work on at least a couple of your own projects completely unhindered by any obligations. Once you've been able to do that letting your full creative potential out of the box, I think you'll feel a whole lot less pressured and more stable. The albatross hanging around your neck is quite heavy enough. I very much worry that this community will lose what passes for its patience and that this could cost us your efforts and good will. Too many developers have burned out already. I'd much rather live in a gaming community with you being ultimately successful than with you ending up just another tortured and bitter burn-out. I want you to reach a state where you feel completely free to develop whatever your creative muse suggests to you unhindered by any other obligation. You'll doubtless do splendidly with The Montezuma's Revenge and Raceway replacements. I eagerly await the day when you release those finished creations proving all your doubters dead wrong. I haven't given up on you there. But I'm thinking beyond that. What I really want to know is what precisely is a full-blown genuine Thomas Ward epic game experience? I know the answer to that same question from pretty much every other game developer since 1996 when I started Audyssey. You, however, due to an act of well-intentioned generocity gone wrong, are still a fragile mystery. I don't know you nearly as well as I feel I know other developers despite keeping careful watch on your postings. From what I hear and the betas I've experienced, I think you have the skill to come up with some awesome stuff. I'm expecting something very different and interesting when you at last answer the question of what a full-blown completely finished epic Thomas Ward creation is like. However, I'll only get to find out whether I'm right if you get all the other stuff squared away and done first. Given how things have gone, I think that's going to be a long and uncertain journey. On 4/21/13, Thomas Ward wrote: > Hi Al, > > Yes, the wrestling game started out as a remake of the old Piledriver > game for Dos, and obviously is still in active production. However, > that is a good case in point. > > The reason I began rewriting Piledriver is my new laptop is a 64-bit > machine and Piledriver will not run on it because it is an old 16-bit > Dos application. If there were several accessible wrestling games > around I wouldn't have bothered, but there are just Piledriver and > Wrestling League Manager which won't run on 64-bit Windows. So writing > the wrestling game makes sense. > > With a game like Troopanum I have to ask, "where is the > justification?" There is Alien Outback, Troopanum, Judgment Day, Dark > Destroyer, and so on. Even if we lose Troopanum people can still buy > Alien Outback or download Dark Destroyer from the USA Games site for > free. So it is hard to justify rewriting Troopanum for free let alone > charging for it. > > Cheers! > > On 4/21/13, Allan Thompson wrote: >> Hi Tom, >> For my two cents... >> I would say that many of the old games would not be worth a remake. >> However, why not get a more detailed opinion from the list. I am sure >> when >> people talk about wanting an old game remake, that they are thinking of >> maybe two or three games on average. >> So maybe it would help you better if you set up a top three games list, >> and >> see which three old games out of a list you make of the ones you want >> to >> work on, so that you would get a clear indication of what people might be >> actually talking about in terms of remakes. Like you said, you really >> don't >> want to have to do remakes of space invader like games etc and so forth. >> >> Personally, I am not much for any of the games so far listed, so no, I >> probably wouldn't bother donating or paying attention to the remake of >> such >> things. >> >> The exception for me is the wrestling game you talked about some weeks >> back. >> I would definitely pay to see that game come to life, and it is also a >> remake too, right? >> >> al >> "The truth will set you free" >> Jesus Christ of Nazareth 33A.D. > > --- > 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
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
And I'm sure Thomas wants them off his back as quickly as reasonably possible. LOL. But thou must! -Original Message- From: Charles Rivard Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 5:41 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Why is there so much focus on the fact that these are old games? The question should be, "Are they good games?" Just because they have been around for a while, does that mean that they should not be updated if someone is willing to take the time and effort? I do think, however, that Ark of Hope and Raceway should be completed before this project is undertaken. The reason is that people have already bought these unfinished titles and have been patiently waiting. This is not an intentional criticism, nor do I expect games immediately. --- Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. - Original Message - From: "Sarah Haake" To: "Gamers Discussion list" Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 6:03 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi, since these games work under Windows 7, and since Windows 7 has a good bit of years ahead of it, I'd say don't invest so much time for rewriting these titles. Everyone who wants to keep playing them can do so for years to come, and after that time I hope we have more things to play than these games. Besides, you have enough of work to do with your own games, which wait for completion for quite a long time now after all. I really don't like the idea of you spending time on these old games, which also would lead to more postponing of your own titles. I'd rather see your own titles finally completed than remakes of BSC titles. And no, I wouldn't spend money for remakes, since I have the current versions and will keep playing them as long as I find I way to get them running. Much more important for me would be to have a possibility for others to get these games after the company closes, which would be enough to keep them alive in my opinion. Best regards Sarah --- 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. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Why is there so much focus on the fact that these are old games? The question should be, "Are they good games?" Just because they have been around for a while, does that mean that they should not be updated if someone is willing to take the time and effort? I do think, however, that Ark of Hope and Raceway should be completed before this project is undertaken. The reason is that people have already bought these unfinished titles and have been patiently waiting. This is not an intentional criticism, nor do I expect games immediately. --- Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. - Original Message - From: "Sarah Haake" To: "Gamers Discussion list" Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 6:03 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi, since these games work under Windows 7, and since Windows 7 has a good bit of years ahead of it, I'd say don't invest so much time for rewriting these titles. Everyone who wants to keep playing them can do so for years to come, and after that time I hope we have more things to play than these games. Besides, you have enough of work to do with your own games, which wait for completion for quite a long time now after all. I really don't like the idea of you spending time on these old games, which also would lead to more postponing of your own titles. I'd rather see your own titles finally completed than remakes of BSC titles. And no, I wouldn't spend money for remakes, since I have the current versions and will keep playing them as long as I find I way to get them running. Much more important for me would be to have a possibility for others to get these games after the company closes, which would be enough to keep them alive in my opinion. Best regards Sarah --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Except nowadays there are NES style controllers that ca conect to a PC. So you can still get that controller feel on an emulator without having to worry about the NES messing up on you, which they do from time to time (the dreaded blinking screen anyone?) But thou must! -Original Message- From: Desiree Oudinot Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 5:04 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi, This is a really tough call. On one hand, I do think that these games will always have their place, even just for nostalgia's sake. But is that enough to update them to run on modern systems? My gut reaction is to say no. I think that part of the nostalgia of these games may be just that--playing them on older systems. For example, although I have a Nintendo emulator on my computer, when I'm in the mood to play Millipede or Duck Hunt or TMNT, I borrow my sister's NES system for a bit and go at it. there's something about the feel of the controller in my hand that pressing buttons on a computer keyboard doesn't give me. It takes me back to when I was a kid and playing those games. Likewise, although this is obviously slightly different, if I ever upgrade to a system that's incompatible with the old titles from BSC, or even older stuff like Grizzly Gulch or even some of the old DOS PCS demos I have lying around, I'm going to keep an older computer around just for this purpose. At the moment, both my desktop and laptop are running Windows 7. I have no plans to upgrade to 8 for a long time to come, and by then I'm sure there will be another version of Windows that's the most modern anyway. Besides, since Windows 7 will be supported for another 10 years at least, I'm not worried that I'll lose my access to these games. I can see myself most definitely retiring one of my machines, putting it in storage, and dusting it off if I want to play some old games. I actually have an old tower that has Windows XP on it, but it needs a new fan. If I really wanted to, I could fix that up and use it for a gaming machine. That, to me, would be the equivalent of what I do now when I occasionally play Nintendo games. there's something exciting about that for me. So, no, I don't think any of these games should be flushed down the toilet and treated with derision, but I don't think it's necessary to get bogged down in specifics, either. The world is always moving forward. Let's try to make our audio games do the same. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Well they'd have to be. As Tom said Justin either lost or deleted the source code. And anyway the original language would be incompatible with IOS and, from what I've heard, there are serious compatibility issues with newer versions f WIndows. But thou must! -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:55 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider I also aggree however I don't know if I'd actually would shell out for them again. the reason I even thought like I did origionally was before I read the offer email properly. if these were just straight ports with modification thats fine but rewrites? that would take ages to do and new sounds etc. I'd have to start paying more for games I already had. At 10:49 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Agreed. They were and are good games that shouldn't be allowed to die if that can be prevented. But thou must! -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:43 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider well they are old classics, I say keep the classics alive myself. the rest can come as they do. At 10:27 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Hi Tom, I personally would say scrap those old games, and proceed with your own ideas. I mean as it is, you have a game that is not finished.. I don't know if you're planning to go on with MOTA, or if it's in the trash can, but I was highly interested in that title. We do not have enough adventure type games out there for the blind, and I'd like to see more. Pipe, Troopanum, Hunter, all had there run. They're like from 2001/2003, and they're old news. Make your own games, and bring what you have to the table.. Don't focus on the past. Just my two cents worth. Ryan -- Original Message ------ From: Thomas Ward To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:12:07 -0400 Hi all, In light of what is happening with Blindsoftware.com, formally BSC Games, I thought I would throw an offer out here that some of you could consider and think about. Perhaps offer up your advice or suggestions regarding this matter. Based on my discussions with Justin via email he does not have the source code for any of his games or software on the Blindsoftware.com site, and all of the sound effects for said games are locked in pack files that are encrypted. This means if a developer, any developer, wanted to update those games he or she would have to start over from scratch. Since all the games were written in Visual Basic 6, a language no longer officially supported on newer Windows platforms all the games would have to be rewritten anyway. However, considering the sounds and music are encrypted and need to be repurchased it could get expensive rewriting these games from scratch. This of course leads to two important questions I have regarding these titles. First, do you really want to see a developer spending time writing a modern remake of these games. After all, there are currently a lot of Space Invader clones out there like Judgment Day, Alien Outback, and of course Troopanum so is it really worth it to rewrite Troopanum to keep that game going? Second, would you, the community, be willing to spend money on a modern remake of Hunter, Pipe, Troopanum, etc if one was made? This might be through donations or actual sales of the software, but is it worth your money to have newer updated versions of these games? Third, seeing that new sounds and music would have to be purchased it wouldn't exactly be like the original. These would be strictly modern remakes of the games with new sounds, new music, and would in their own way be different games. Would you be interested in these games even if they were a bit different from the BSC versions you have now? The reason I am asking these questions is over the years I've seen a lot of audio game developers come and go such as Danz Games, BSC Games, PB Games, Lighttech Interactive, etc. Every time a developer goes they leave behind a number of games people still want to play but the games are no longer being updated or supported. It strikes me what we need is something comparable to the mainstream Retro Remakes site where interested audio game developers take on some of these abandoned projects and either update or rewrite them to keep them available in the community. I'd be willing to do this myself if there is enough interest in the project. In the end I think it comes down to what Cara was asking a few days ago on the Audyssey List. If you, the community, want game developers to continue writing and supporting accessible games you need to make it worth their time. So the big question is are these games worth my time and your money to make sure they work on Windows 8 and beyond as well as bring them to new pla
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Scott, All good points. The only reason I was tossing this offer out there was to see how people felt about it. I know there is a lot of anxiety over Justin leaving. People worried if their games are compatible with Windows 8, people wondering what will happen if they can't afford the key generator and their keys run out, and so on. I was merely seeing how many people were interested having those issues solved, or would be willing to just let go and move on. :D On 4/21/13, Scott Chesworth wrote: > Following on from the point Sarah just made, I'd say that if and when > these titles become less easy to acquire or less easy to get up and > running, there will be some advantages. People who're just starting > out and experimenting with development need challenges. At the moment, > if someone knocks out a space invaders clone with simple game play > that's just intended to kill a spare 10 minutes, there's little appeal > to pick that up as there's a bunch of existing titles already nailing > it. Then, there's the type of people who'd enjoy hunting down these > older titles if and when they become less prevalent for the nostalgia. > None of this is intended to be disrespectful, they're all good games > in their own right and they've laid foundations, but really, as a > player I'm craving deeper mechanics and more exploration, and that's > where my money would be going. If it was advice you were looking for > Tom, mine would be to use your chops for something that counts, > something that'll move the community forward rather than sideways. In > time, there'll be budding developers who'll get a kick out of tackling > a retro remake style version of these games. > > Scott --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Al, Yes, the wrestling game started out as a remake of the old Piledriver game for Dos, and obviously is still in active production. However, that is a good case in point. The reason I began rewriting Piledriver is my new laptop is a 64-bit machine and Piledriver will not run on it because it is an old 16-bit Dos application. If there were several accessible wrestling games around I wouldn't have bothered, but there are just Piledriver and Wrestling League Manager which won't run on 64-bit Windows. So writing the wrestling game makes sense. With a game like Troopanum I have to ask, "where is the justification?" There is Alien Outback, Troopanum, Judgment Day, Dark Destroyer, and so on. Even if we lose Troopanum people can still buy Alien Outback or download Dark Destroyer from the USA Games site for free. So it is hard to justify rewriting Troopanum for free let alone charging for it. Cheers! On 4/21/13, Allan Thompson wrote: > Hi Tom, > For my two cents... > I would say that many of the old games would not be worth a remake. > However, why not get a more detailed opinion from the list. I am sure when > people talk about wanting an old game remake, that they are thinking of > maybe two or three games on average. > So maybe it would help you better if you set up a top three games list, and > see which three old games out of a list you make of the ones you want to > work on, so that you would get a clear indication of what people might be > actually talking about in terms of remakes. Like you said, you really don't > want to have to do remakes of space invader like games etc and so forth. > > Personally, I am not much for any of the games so far listed, so no, I > probably wouldn't bother donating or paying attention to the remake of such > things. > > The exception for me is the wrestling game you talked about some weeks back. > I would definitely pay to see that game come to life, and it is also a > remake too, right? > > al > "The truth will set you free" > Jesus Christ of Nazareth 33A.D. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Following on from the point Sarah just made, I'd say that if and when these titles become less easy to acquire or less easy to get up and running, there will be some advantages. People who're just starting out and experimenting with development need challenges. At the moment, if someone knocks out a space invaders clone with simple game play that's just intended to kill a spare 10 minutes, there's little appeal to pick that up as there's a bunch of existing titles already nailing it. Then, there's the type of people who'd enjoy hunting down these older titles if and when they become less prevalent for the nostalgia. None of this is intended to be disrespectful, they're all good games in their own right and they've laid foundations, but really, as a player I'm craving deeper mechanics and more exploration, and that's where my money would be going. If it was advice you were looking for Tom, mine would be to use your chops for something that counts, something that'll move the community forward rather than sideways. In time, there'll be budding developers who'll get a kick out of tackling a retro remake style version of these games. Scott On 4/22/13, Sarah Haake wrote: > Hi, > > since these games work under Windows 7, and since Windows 7 has a good bit > of years ahead of it, I'd say don't invest so much time for rewriting these > > titles. Everyone who wants to keep playing them can do so for years to come, > > and after that time I hope we have more things to play than these games. > > Besides, you have enough of work to do with your own games, which wait for > completion for quite a long time now after all. I really don't like the idea > > of you spending time on these old games, which also would lead to more > postponing of your own titles. I'd rather see your own titles finally > completed than remakes of BSC titles. > And no, I wouldn't spend money for remakes, since I have the current > versions and will keep playing them as long as I find I way to get them > running. > > Much more important for me would be to have a possibility for others to get > > these games after the company closes, which would be enough to keep them > alive in my opinion. > Best regards > Sarah --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Thomas. Can I get a email for you? --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Here's my thoughts: I dont personally feel that I would spend money on these games at the current time, though this may change, especially given how much I'm on muds lately. I would really like to see them stay available in their current form, though. Perhaps a developer could host them on an official website under a subsection? I'm not sure how the sounds and music are licensed, but I couldn't see it taking a huge amount of work to get them (or at least a good portion of them) into a functional form. Again though, that's presuming its legal to do so. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Shaun, Well, I don't know that it would take ages to do. Games like Troopanum are actually pretty simple from the perspective of an experienced programmer. I'd say six months tops for a game like that. So time isn't really the issue. It is the issue of having to invest in new sounds and music which people wouldn't want to do since they have the games already. So it seems to me the best thing to do is if I were to create a Space Invaders clone it would have to be an original game. Since it needs new sounds and music I would design it with its own game story, challenges, and could market it as Alien Invasion or whatever I called it. Cheers! On 4/21/13, shaun everiss wrote: > I also aggree however I don't know if I'd actually would shell out > for them again. > the reason I even thought like I did origionally was before I read > the offer email properly. > if these were just straight ports with modification thats fine but > rewrites? > that would take ages to do and new sounds etc. > I'd have to start paying more for games I already had. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Tom, For my two cents... I would say that many of the old games would not be worth a remake. However, why not get a more detailed opinion from the list. I am sure when people talk about wanting an old game remake, that they are thinking of maybe two or three games on average. So maybe it would help you better if you set up a top three games list, and see which three old games out of a list you make of the ones you want to work on, so that you would get a clear indication of what people might be actually talking about in terms of remakes. Like you said, you really don't want to have to do remakes of space invader like games etc and so forth. Personally, I am not much for any of the games so far listed, so no, I probably wouldn't bother donating or paying attention to the remake of such things. The exception for me is the wrestling game you talked about some weeks back. I would definitely pay to see that game come to life, and it is also a remake too, right? al "The truth will set you free" Jesus Christ of Nazareth 33A.D. - Original Message - From: Thomas Ward To: Gamers Discussion list Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 6:12 PM Subject: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Shaun, Which is why the questions. As far as I am concerned Alien Outback is as good as Troopanum and its always possible Draconis will produce a new version for Windows, Mac, and iOS which would make the time and money spent on a Troopanum remake kind of pointless. Hunter is OK, but I could probably write something better. After all, Hunter doesn't take much advantage of a 2d environment and has been discussed many times on list having more 2d elements like vines, trees, and cliffs to climb is something sorely lacking in audio games and Hunter is pretty old school when it comes to audio games. Perilous Hearts and Mysteries of the Ancients are redefining how people think of side-scrollers and we should keep that trend going. Cheers! On 4/21/13, shaun everiss wrote: > hi tom. > I don't think I'd spend cash on remakes, these games are classics, we > have enough space invadors clones out there for troop 1 2 etc. > alien outback is almost the same format as troop2. > good old games but. > pipe 1 and 2, had their day, sure I'd like to keep them alive for as > long as I can but really I don't want to spend loads and loads of > cash for a remake. > hunter in 3d form would be cool but then its quite old as it is. > the word games maybe but we have hangman from jim kitchen. > I'd like to keep classics going but for entire rewrites um? > its a pitty justin doesn't have a way to decript those files but then. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi, This is a really tough call. On one hand, I do think that these games will always have their place, even just for nostalgia's sake. But is that enough to update them to run on modern systems? My gut reaction is to say no. I think that part of the nostalgia of these games may be just that--playing them on older systems. For example, although I have a Nintendo emulator on my computer, when I'm in the mood to play Millipede or Duck Hunt or TMNT, I borrow my sister's NES system for a bit and go at it. there's something about the feel of the controller in my hand that pressing buttons on a computer keyboard doesn't give me. It takes me back to when I was a kid and playing those games. Likewise, although this is obviously slightly different, if I ever upgrade to a system that's incompatible with the old titles from BSC, or even older stuff like Grizzly Gulch or even some of the old DOS PCS demos I have lying around, I'm going to keep an older computer around just for this purpose. At the moment, both my desktop and laptop are running Windows 7. I have no plans to upgrade to 8 for a long time to come, and by then I'm sure there will be another version of Windows that's the most modern anyway. Besides, since Windows 7 will be supported for another 10 years at least, I'm not worried that I'll lose my access to these games. I can see myself most definitely retiring one of my machines, putting it in storage, and dusting it off if I want to play some old games. I actually have an old tower that has Windows XP on it, but it needs a new fan. If I really wanted to, I could fix that up and use it for a gaming machine. That, to me, would be the equivalent of what I do now when I occasionally play Nintendo games. there's something exciting about that for me. So, no, I don't think any of these games should be flushed down the toilet and treated with derision, but I don't think it's necessary to get bogged down in specifics, either. The world is always moving forward. Let's try to make our audio games do the same. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi, since these games work under Windows 7, and since Windows 7 has a good bit of years ahead of it, I'd say don't invest so much time for rewriting these titles. Everyone who wants to keep playing them can do so for years to come, and after that time I hope we have more things to play than these games. Besides, you have enough of work to do with your own games, which wait for completion for quite a long time now after all. I really don't like the idea of you spending time on these old games, which also would lead to more postponing of your own titles. I'd rather see your own titles finally completed than remakes of BSC titles. And no, I wouldn't spend money for remakes, since I have the current versions and will keep playing them as long as I find I way to get them running. Much more important for me would be to have a possibility for others to get these games after the company closes, which would be enough to keep them alive in my opinion. Best regards Sarah --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
I also aggree however I don't know if I'd actually would shell out for them again. the reason I even thought like I did origionally was before I read the offer email properly. if these were just straight ports with modification thats fine but rewrites? that would take ages to do and new sounds etc. I'd have to start paying more for games I already had. At 10:49 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Agreed. They were and are good games that shouldn't be allowed to die if that can be prevented. But thou must! -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:43 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider well they are old classics, I say keep the classics alive myself. the rest can come as they do. At 10:27 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Hi Tom, I personally would say scrap those old games, and proceed with your own ideas. I mean as it is, you have a game that is not finished.. I don't know if you're planning to go on with MOTA, or if it's in the trash can, but I was highly interested in that title. We do not have enough adventure type games out there for the blind, and I'd like to see more. Pipe, Troopanum, Hunter, all had there run. They're like from 2001/2003, and they're old news. Make your own games, and bring what you have to the table.. Don't focus on the past. Just my two cents worth. Ryan -- Original Message -- From: Thomas Ward To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:12:07 -0400 Hi all, In light of what is happening with Blindsoftware.com, formally BSC Games, I thought I would throw an offer out here that some of you could consider and think about. Perhaps offer up your advice or suggestions regarding this matter. Based on my discussions with Justin via email he does not have the source code for any of his games or software on the Blindsoftware.com site, and all of the sound effects for said games are locked in pack files that are encrypted. This means if a developer, any developer, wanted to update those games he or she would have to start over from scratch. Since all the games were written in Visual Basic 6, a language no longer officially supported on newer Windows platforms all the games would have to be rewritten anyway. However, considering the sounds and music are encrypted and need to be repurchased it could get expensive rewriting these games from scratch. This of course leads to two important questions I have regarding these titles. First, do you really want to see a developer spending time writing a modern remake of these games. After all, there are currently a lot of Space Invader clones out there like Judgment Day, Alien Outback, and of course Troopanum so is it really worth it to rewrite Troopanum to keep that game going? Second, would you, the community, be willing to spend money on a modern remake of Hunter, Pipe, Troopanum, etc if one was made? This might be through donations or actual sales of the software, but is it worth your money to have newer updated versions of these games? Third, seeing that new sounds and music would have to be purchased it wouldn't exactly be like the original. These would be strictly modern remakes of the games with new sounds, new music, and would in their own way be different games. Would you be interested in these games even if they were a bit different from the BSC versions you have now? The reason I am asking these questions is over the years I've seen a lot of audio game developers come and go such as Danz Games, BSC Games, PB Games, Lighttech Interactive, etc. Every time a developer goes they leave behind a number of games people still want to play but the games are no longer being updated or supported. It strikes me what we need is something comparable to the mainstream Retro Remakes site where interested audio game developers take on some of these abandoned projects and either update or rewrite them to keep them available in the community. I'd be willing to do this myself if there is enough interest in the project. In the end I think it comes down to what Cara was asking a few days ago on the Audyssey List. If you, the community, want game developers to continue writing and supporting accessible games you need to make it worth their time. So the big question is are these games worth my time and your money to make sure they work on Windows 8 and beyond as well as bring them to new platforms? --- 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 m
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Agreed. They were and are good games that shouldn't be allowed to die if that can be prevented. But thou must! -Original Message- From: shaun everiss Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:43 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider well they are old classics, I say keep the classics alive myself. the rest can come as they do. At 10:27 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Hi Tom, I personally would say scrap those old games, and proceed with your own ideas. I mean as it is, you have a game that is not finished.. I don't know if you're planning to go on with MOTA, or if it's in the trash can, but I was highly interested in that title. We do not have enough adventure type games out there for the blind, and I'd like to see more. Pipe, Troopanum, Hunter, all had there run. They're like from 2001/2003, and they're old news. Make your own games, and bring what you have to the table.. Don't focus on the past. Just my two cents worth. Ryan -- Original Message -- From: Thomas Ward To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:12:07 -0400 Hi all, In light of what is happening with Blindsoftware.com, formally BSC Games, I thought I would throw an offer out here that some of you could consider and think about. Perhaps offer up your advice or suggestions regarding this matter. Based on my discussions with Justin via email he does not have the source code for any of his games or software on the Blindsoftware.com site, and all of the sound effects for said games are locked in pack files that are encrypted. This means if a developer, any developer, wanted to update those games he or she would have to start over from scratch. Since all the games were written in Visual Basic 6, a language no longer officially supported on newer Windows platforms all the games would have to be rewritten anyway. However, considering the sounds and music are encrypted and need to be repurchased it could get expensive rewriting these games from scratch. This of course leads to two important questions I have regarding these titles. First, do you really want to see a developer spending time writing a modern remake of these games. After all, there are currently a lot of Space Invader clones out there like Judgment Day, Alien Outback, and of course Troopanum so is it really worth it to rewrite Troopanum to keep that game going? Second, would you, the community, be willing to spend money on a modern remake of Hunter, Pipe, Troopanum, etc if one was made? This might be through donations or actual sales of the software, but is it worth your money to have newer updated versions of these games? Third, seeing that new sounds and music would have to be purchased it wouldn't exactly be like the original. These would be strictly modern remakes of the games with new sounds, new music, and would in their own way be different games. Would you be interested in these games even if they were a bit different from the BSC versions you have now? The reason I am asking these questions is over the years I've seen a lot of audio game developers come and go such as Danz Games, BSC Games, PB Games, Lighttech Interactive, etc. Every time a developer goes they leave behind a number of games people still want to play but the games are no longer being updated or supported. It strikes me what we need is something comparable to the mainstream Retro Remakes site where interested audio game developers take on some of these abandoned projects and either update or rewrite them to keep them available in the community. I'd be willing to do this myself if there is enough interest in the project. In the end I think it comes down to what Cara was asking a few days ago on the Audyssey List. If you, the community, want game developers to continue writing and supporting accessible games you need to make it worth their time. So the big question is are these games worth my time and your money to make sure they work on Windows 8 and beyond as well as bring them to new platforms? --- 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. How to Sleep Like a Rock Obey this one natural trick to fall asleep and stay asleep all night. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/517467fe8255f67fe7f49st02vuc --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. Y
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
hi tom. I don't think I'd spend cash on remakes, these games are classics, we have enough space invadors clones out there for troop 1 2 etc. alien outback is almost the same format as troop2. good old games but. pipe 1 and 2, had their day, sure I'd like to keep them alive for as long as I can but really I don't want to spend loads and loads of cash for a remake. hunter in 3d form would be cool but then its quite old as it is. the word games maybe but we have hangman from jim kitchen. I'd like to keep classics going but for entire rewrites um? its a pitty justin doesn't have a way to decript those files but then. At 10:12 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Hi all, In light of what is happening with Blindsoftware.com, formally BSC Games, I thought I would throw an offer out here that some of you could consider and think about. Perhaps offer up your advice or suggestions regarding this matter. Based on my discussions with Justin via email he does not have the source code for any of his games or software on the Blindsoftware.com site, and all of the sound effects for said games are locked in pack files that are encrypted. This means if a developer, any developer, wanted to update those games he or she would have to start over from scratch. Since all the games were written in Visual Basic 6, a language no longer officially supported on newer Windows platforms all the games would have to be rewritten anyway. However, considering the sounds and music are encrypted and need to be repurchased it could get expensive rewriting these games from scratch. This of course leads to two important questions I have regarding these titles. First, do you really want to see a developer spending time writing a modern remake of these games. After all, there are currently a lot of Space Invader clones out there like Judgment Day, Alien Outback, and of course Troopanum so is it really worth it to rewrite Troopanum to keep that game going? Second, would you, the community, be willing to spend money on a modern remake of Hunter, Pipe, Troopanum, etc if one was made? This might be through donations or actual sales of the software, but is it worth your money to have newer updated versions of these games? Third, seeing that new sounds and music would have to be purchased it wouldn't exactly be like the original. These would be strictly modern remakes of the games with new sounds, new music, and would in their own way be different games. Would you be interested in these games even if they were a bit different from the BSC versions you have now? The reason I am asking these questions is over the years I've seen a lot of audio game developers come and go such as Danz Games, BSC Games, PB Games, Lighttech Interactive, etc. Every time a developer goes they leave behind a number of games people still want to play but the games are no longer being updated or supported. It strikes me what we need is something comparable to the mainstream Retro Remakes site where interested audio game developers take on some of these abandoned projects and either update or rewrite them to keep them available in the community. I'd be willing to do this myself if there is enough interest in the project. In the end I think it comes down to what Cara was asking a few days ago on the Audyssey List. If you, the community, want game developers to continue writing and supporting accessible games you need to make it worth their time. So the big question is are these games worth my time and your money to make sure they work on Windows 8 and beyond as well as bring them to new platforms? --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Michael, Which is why they would have to be rewritten from scratch to begin with. The language used for the original versions isn't compatible with iOS or Mac OS. So something like Object C would be needed for versions running on Mac OS and iOS. Anyway, you can certainly write me off list and ask your programming questions. If I know the answer I will do my best to answer it. :D On 4/21/13, michael barnes wrote: > Well, Thomas. > I think the games are fine the way they are. > However if they could be ported to iOS, and Mac it might be something > worth investing into. > However I have some questions that I would like to ask you off list > concerning the matter of game developement of games. > I think it would also be great to be able to not just use the touch > screen on these games but to be able to move the phone around and to be > more involve then the current versions. > > --- > 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
well they are old classics, I say keep the classics alive myself. the rest can come as they do. At 10:27 AM 4/22/2013, you wrote: Hi Tom, I personally would say scrap those old games, and proceed with your own ideas. I mean as it is, you have a game that is not finished.. I don't know if you're planning to go on with MOTA, or if it's in the trash can, but I was highly interested in that title. We do not have enough adventure type games out there for the blind, and I'd like to see more. Pipe, Troopanum, Hunter, all had there run. They're like from 2001/2003, and they're old news. Make your own games, and bring what you have to the table.. Don't focus on the past. Just my two cents worth. Ryan -- Original Message -- From: Thomas Ward To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:12:07 -0400 Hi all, In light of what is happening with Blindsoftware.com, formally BSC Games, I thought I would throw an offer out here that some of you could consider and think about. Perhaps offer up your advice or suggestions regarding this matter. Based on my discussions with Justin via email he does not have the source code for any of his games or software on the Blindsoftware.com site, and all of the sound effects for said games are locked in pack files that are encrypted. This means if a developer, any developer, wanted to update those games he or she would have to start over from scratch. Since all the games were written in Visual Basic 6, a language no longer officially supported on newer Windows platforms all the games would have to be rewritten anyway. However, considering the sounds and music are encrypted and need to be repurchased it could get expensive rewriting these games from scratch. This of course leads to two important questions I have regarding these titles. First, do you really want to see a developer spending time writing a modern remake of these games. After all, there are currently a lot of Space Invader clones out there like Judgment Day, Alien Outback, and of course Troopanum so is it really worth it to rewrite Troopanum to keep that game going? Second, would you, the community, be willing to spend money on a modern remake of Hunter, Pipe, Troopanum, etc if one was made? This might be through donations or actual sales of the software, but is it worth your money to have newer updated versions of these games? Third, seeing that new sounds and music would have to be purchased it wouldn't exactly be like the original. These would be strictly modern remakes of the games with new sounds, new music, and would in their own way be different games. Would you be interested in these games even if they were a bit different from the BSC versions you have now? The reason I am asking these questions is over the years I've seen a lot of audio game developers come and go such as Danz Games, BSC Games, PB Games, Lighttech Interactive, etc. Every time a developer goes they leave behind a number of games people still want to play but the games are no longer being updated or supported. It strikes me what we need is something comparable to the mainstream Retro Remakes site where interested audio game developers take on some of these abandoned projects and either update or rewrite them to keep them available in the community. I'd be willing to do this myself if there is enough interest in the project. In the end I think it comes down to what Cara was asking a few days ago on the Audyssey List. If you, the community, want game developers to continue writing and supporting accessible games you need to make it worth their time. So the big question is are these games worth my time and your money to make sure they work on Windows 8 and beyond as well as bring them to new platforms? --- 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. How to Sleep Like a Rock Obey this one natural trick to fall asleep and stay asleep all night. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/517467fe8255f67fe7f49st02vuc --- 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 manag
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Agreed. I'll certainly donate wheI can. Unlike some I feel games like these are worth saving. But thou must! -Original Message- From: Ian McNamara Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:32 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Hi Tom, I think this is a great idea, there are some good games as you say that have been ether abandoned or just not written due to developers going and other things. Castle quest got abandoned due to justin and bsc games being let down and it sounded like it was going to be a great title. I would be up for this kind of project being done and would definitely buy the games again. Ian McNamara --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Ryan, Agreed. Although, I must say MOTA is not scrapped. Its being updated as we speak, and I am hoping to hear back from my voice actress soon with a batch of voice work for the game. So its not scrapped just a bit different. Cheers! On 4/21/13, Ryan Conroy wrote: > Hi Tom, > > I personally would say scrap those old games, and proceed with your own > ideas. I mean as it is, you have a game that is not finished.. I don't know > if you're planning to go on with MOTA, or if it's in the trash can, but I > was highly interested in that title. We do not have enough adventure type > games out there for the blind, and I'd like to see more. Pipe, Troopanum, > Hunter, all had there run. They're like from 2001/2003, and they're old > news. Make your own games, and bring what you have to the table.. Don't > focus on the past. > Just my two cents worth. > > Ryan > --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Remember, they would have to be rewritten from scratch inorder for that to happen. But thou must! -Original Message- From: michael barnes Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:31 PM To: gamers@audyssey.org Subject: Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Well, Thomas. I think the games are fine the way they are. However if they could be ported to iOS, and Mac it might be something worth investing into. However I have some questions that I would like to ask you off list concerning the matter of game developement of games. I think it would also be great to be able to not just use the touch screen on these games but to be able to move the phone around and to be more involve then the current versions. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Tom, I think this is a great idea, there are some good games as you say that have been ether abandoned or just not written due to developers going and other things. Castle quest got abandoned due to justin and bsc games being let down and it sounded like it was going to be a great title. I would be up for this kind of project being done and would definitely buy the games again. Ian McNamara --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Well, Thomas. I think the games are fine the way they are. However if they could be ported to iOS, and Mac it might be something worth investing into. However I have some questions that I would like to ask you off list concerning the matter of game developement of games. I think it would also be great to be able to not just use the touch screen on these games but to be able to move the phone around and to be more involve then the current versions. --- 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.
Re: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi Tom, I personally would say scrap those old games, and proceed with your own ideas. I mean as it is, you have a game that is not finished.. I don't know if you're planning to go on with MOTA, or if it's in the trash can, but I was highly interested in that title. We do not have enough adventure type games out there for the blind, and I'd like to see more. Pipe, Troopanum, Hunter, all had there run. They're like from 2001/2003, and they're old news. Make your own games, and bring what you have to the table.. Don't focus on the past. Just my two cents worth. Ryan -- Original Message -- From: Thomas Ward To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: [Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:12:07 -0400 Hi all, In light of what is happening with Blindsoftware.com, formally BSC Games, I thought I would throw an offer out here that some of you could consider and think about. Perhaps offer up your advice or suggestions regarding this matter. Based on my discussions with Justin via email he does not have the source code for any of his games or software on the Blindsoftware.com site, and all of the sound effects for said games are locked in pack files that are encrypted. This means if a developer, any developer, wanted to update those games he or she would have to start over from scratch. Since all the games were written in Visual Basic 6, a language no longer officially supported on newer Windows platforms all the games would have to be rewritten anyway. However, considering the sounds and music are encrypted and need to be repurchased it could get expensive rewriting these games from scratch. This of course leads to two important questions I have regarding these titles. First, do you really want to see a developer spending time writing a modern remake of these games. After all, there are currently a lot of Space Invader clones out there like Judgment Day, Alien Outback, and of course Troopanum so is it really worth it to rewrite Troopanum to keep that game going? Second, would you, the community, be willing to spend money on a modern remake of Hunter, Pipe, Troopanum, etc if one was made? This might be through donations or actual sales of the software, but is it worth your money to have newer updated versions of these games? Third, seeing that new sounds and music would have to be purchased it wouldn't exactly be like the original. These would be strictly modern remakes of the games with new sounds, new music, and would in their own way be different games. Would you be interested in these games even if they were a bit different from the BSC versions you have now? The reason I am asking these questions is over the years I've seen a lot of audio game developers come and go such as Danz Games, BSC Games, PB Games, Lighttech Interactive, etc. Every time a developer goes they leave behind a number of games people still want to play but the games are no longer being updated or supported. It strikes me what we need is something comparable to the mainstream Retro Remakes site where interested audio game developers take on some of these abandoned projects and either update or rewrite them to keep them available in the community. I'd be willing to do this myself if there is enough interest in the project. In the end I think it comes down to what Cara was asking a few days ago on the Audyssey List. If you, the community, want game developers to continue writing and supporting accessible games you need to make it worth their time. So the big question is are these games worth my time and your money to make sure they work on Windows 8 and beyond as well as bring them to new platforms? --- 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. How to Sleep Like a Rock Obey this one natural trick to fall asleep and stay asleep all night. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/517467fe8255f67fe7f49st02vuc --- 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.
[Audyssey] A Possible Offer To Consider
Hi all, In light of what is happening with Blindsoftware.com, formally BSC Games, I thought I would throw an offer out here that some of you could consider and think about. Perhaps offer up your advice or suggestions regarding this matter. Based on my discussions with Justin via email he does not have the source code for any of his games or software on the Blindsoftware.com site, and all of the sound effects for said games are locked in pack files that are encrypted. This means if a developer, any developer, wanted to update those games he or she would have to start over from scratch. Since all the games were written in Visual Basic 6, a language no longer officially supported on newer Windows platforms all the games would have to be rewritten anyway. However, considering the sounds and music are encrypted and need to be repurchased it could get expensive rewriting these games from scratch. This of course leads to two important questions I have regarding these titles. First, do you really want to see a developer spending time writing a modern remake of these games. After all, there are currently a lot of Space Invader clones out there like Judgment Day, Alien Outback, and of course Troopanum so is it really worth it to rewrite Troopanum to keep that game going? Second, would you, the community, be willing to spend money on a modern remake of Hunter, Pipe, Troopanum, etc if one was made? This might be through donations or actual sales of the software, but is it worth your money to have newer updated versions of these games? Third, seeing that new sounds and music would have to be purchased it wouldn't exactly be like the original. These would be strictly modern remakes of the games with new sounds, new music, and would in their own way be different games. Would you be interested in these games even if they were a bit different from the BSC versions you have now? The reason I am asking these questions is over the years I've seen a lot of audio game developers come and go such as Danz Games, BSC Games, PB Games, Lighttech Interactive, etc. Every time a developer goes they leave behind a number of games people still want to play but the games are no longer being updated or supported. It strikes me what we need is something comparable to the mainstream Retro Remakes site where interested audio game developers take on some of these abandoned projects and either update or rewrite them to keep them available in the community. I'd be willing to do this myself if there is enough interest in the project. In the end I think it comes down to what Cara was asking a few days ago on the Audyssey List. If you, the community, want game developers to continue writing and supporting accessible games you need to make it worth their time. So the big question is are these games worth my time and your money to make sure they work on Windows 8 and beyond as well as bring them to new platforms? --- 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.
