Re: PBM deposits & value for money

From: MindShift Design LLC <jasonm@mindshiftdesign.com>

Date: Wed, 08 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000

tenchi@iinet.net.au (James Gwinnett) wrote:

> I could probably seriously increase signups by not telling PC users
> the game is java, and setting up an InstallShield installer.  Chances
> are they wouldn't notice they were being duped into being platform
> independant :)

It doesn't matter anyway - just don't use the java interpretere but
compile a native Win32 executable based on your Java code. This will
make it run faster on a PC. You can also then create optomized versions
for each platform rather than just a straight binary. The problem your
going to have is that Java is great cross-platform but it sucks at
running fast as interpreted binary unless your run a fast machine.
Chances are the people you will have using your game won't be running
PIIIs.  Besides which if you ran it as a binary on the PC, you'd have
to do checks to make sure they had the java machine installed and what
version thay had - MS have just released a new version as well in the
light of the Sun/MS case. So you've have to check to see if they had
it, see which one they had, and install one if they didn't have it -
all in one easy installation. So your installed would be around 6Mb+
possibly - which is pretty large for downloading off the net on a
normal 33/56k dialup.

Best not to dupe, but to allow them option of using both.

> My moderator is written in C, and currently runs on my trusty Amiga
> 1200.  In a couple of months when my new job provides the money I'm
> going to move the moderator to a Linux box, as all my game tools
> should be pretty easy to replicate there.  I've considered a couple of
> times moving to my Windoze PC, but it would just be too horrible to
> contemplate.  You can't be without a good Command Line Interface for
> these things if you ask me :)

So why not creae the program to use both the GUI and also have command
line driven options. You're using Borland tools, so use C++ Builder to
do it.

> I think I'd pick up many more players if the game was immediate start,
> rather than wait for a full game.  Once I work up the enthusiasm for a
> big project again, I'm going to write a Quest style party PBeM with
> immediate start and free (limited) play.  The way I originally got
> into these sorts of games was through Quest.  Although it became dull
> after a while, I enjoyed the concept and signed up for Medokh when I
> heard about it.  There are many people out there that would enjoy
> PBeM's if only we could gain their initial attention :)

Have to disagree there... there are many more people who would wnjoy
PBMs if they could fit them into their lifestyle. One thing that
determines what people do for relaxation is how much relaxation time
they can actually get. Me personally I have a wife and daughter and I'm
currently doing 110 hours a week as we ramp a major non-PBM related
product. So my time for playing ANY games is limited. And what I love
about PBM is that it's really immersive, but at the moment I can't
afford to spend 2-3 hours a week looking over turn results and putting
my turn results in for a game. Hell the only game I get to play at the
moment is "chase the baby round the room" <g>.

> In previous years, 99% of computer problems were caused by the user.
> Microsoft has managed to bring this figure down to around 50%.

Heh. Although they're claiming 100% <g>.

--
Jason Paul McCartan - CEO@mindshiftdesign.com
CEO
MindShift Design LLC Website - http://www.mindshiftdesign.com
	"Altering Perceptions, Creating Worlds"

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References

PBM deposits & value for money
ColinForbes <timewyrm@suilven.demon.co.uk>
Sun, 05 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: PBM deposits & value for money
tenchi@iinet.net.au (James Gwinnett)
Tue, 07 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: PBM deposits & value for money
nospam@here.please (Evilb)
Tue, 07 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: PBM deposits & value for money
tenchi@iinet.net.au (James Gwinnett)
Wed, 08 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

PBM deposits & value for money
ColinForbes <timewyrm@suilven.demon.co.uk>
Sun, 05 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: PBM deposits & value for money
tenchi@iinet.net.au (James Gwinnett)
Tue, 07 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: PBM deposits & value for money
nospam@here.please (Evilb)
Tue, 07 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: PBM deposits & value for money
tenchi@iinet.net.au (James Gwinnett)
Wed, 08 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000