My chat with Reives

Started by Blizzard, September 18, 2011, 03:55:05 pm

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Blizzard

Guys, we will get some additional support as it seems.

Quote[21:11] <Anon257> Let's talk in private :p
[21:11] <Blizzard> sure thing
[21:11] <Blizzard> even though nobody else is in IRC
[21:11] <Blizzard> xD
[21:12] <Anon257> hahah
[21:12] <Anon257> here's the thing,
[21:12] <Anon257> recently I've been given an opportunity -- it's not certain, but there's a chance,
[21:13] <Anon257> I was contacted by the people from the humble bundle, and they were interested in getting To the Moon onto an upcoming bundle
[21:13] <Blizzard> sounds cool
[21:13] <Anon257> but there is a porting issue with RPG Maker
[21:13] <Anon257> as they're a Mac & Linux compatible distribution thingy
[21:13] <Blizzard> yeah, I noticed that you kept asking about Mac & Linux
[21:13] <Anon257> heheh, yeah
[21:13] <Blizzard> here's the thing
[21:14] <Blizzard> ARC is based on several open source libaries
[21:14] <Blizzard> the same libraries that we developed and use in the company that I work for
[21:14] <Blizzard> all those libraries are already tested on Mac
[21:14] <Blizzard> they compile without problems, they run fine
[21:14] <Anon257> ah
[21:15] <Blizzard> they have yet to be tested and adapted to Linux
[21:15] <Blizzard> but that shouldn't be a big problem as Mac is a Linux based OS
[21:15] <Blizzard> the editor is being made in Python
[21:15] <Anon257> aye, and it'd probably be way less hassle than actually porting RMXP directly, heheh
[21:15] <Blizzard> so "compiling" the editor into a Mac and a Linux executable is not a big problem
[21:15] <Blizzard> as for the engine
[21:15] <Anon257> but? o:
[21:16] <Blizzard> we would have to compile Ruby and a few other things
[21:16] <Blizzard> I am not entirely sure we will go about it
[21:16] <Blizzard> since I am no expert on Mac or Linux
[21:16] <Blizzard> basically
[21:16] <Anon257> hm,
[21:16] <Blizzard> we are not trying to get anybody's hopes up just yet
[21:16] <Anon257> I *might* be able to help with that
[21:17] <Blizzard> but it's very likely that we will have a Mac and Linux executable within 2 more months after the release of the RMXP clone
[21:17] <Anon257> well not me directly, but this guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_C._Gordon
[21:17] <Blizzard> you didn't just read what I said, understood? xD
[21:17] <Blizzard> since it's a bit hard to predict how long it will take
[21:17] <Anon257> semi :p
[21:17] <Anon257> aye
[21:17] <Blizzard> because this is a project that everybody works on in their free time
[21:17] <Blizzard> so we don't want to make promises that we can't keep
[21:18] <Anon257> I understand
[21:18] <Blizzard> again
[21:18] <Anon257> part of the reason I wanted to chat with you about this is
[21:18] <Blizzard> I never said these things to you :V
[21:18] <Anon257> that if the bundle deal pulls through, I'd be able to fund you guys
[21:18] <Anon257> to some degree
[21:18] <Blizzard> that sounds great xD
[21:18] <Blizzard> every donation is welcome
[21:18] <Anon257> I mean, it's either to pay their own porter, or pay you guys
[21:18] <Blizzard> xD
[21:18] <Anon257> and I'd prefer to pay you since you guys have worked so hard on this
[21:19] <Blizzard> well, since ARC itself is closed source
[21:19] <Blizzard> that guy won't be really able to port it
[21:19] <Blizzard> since we're not giving out the source code
[21:19] <Blizzard> but don't worry
[21:19] <Anon257> ah, right
[21:19] <Blizzard> we will port the thing
[21:19] <Anon257> :D
[21:19] <Blizzard> it's one of the major selling points
[21:19] <Anon257> aye
[21:19] <Blizzard> later ports should include iOS and Android platforms
[21:19] <Anon257> that'd be amazing
[21:19] <Blizzard> as a matter of fact
[21:20] <Blizzard> the open source libraries we just mentioned are actually also already running on iOS
[21:20] <Blizzard> and we have released a few games
[21:20] <Blizzard> the thing is just
[21:20] <Blizzard> that there are other problems, such as memory management and loading time
[21:20] <Blizzard> e.g.
[21:20] <Anon257> I see
[21:20] <Blizzard> loading png files on iOS takes a bit of time
[21:21] <Blizzard> while converting to the lossy PVR format is a good choice in that case
[21:21] <Blizzard> some people might not want to convert everything
[21:21] <Anon257> mm
[21:21] <Blizzard> as it's a lossy format after all
[21:21] <Blizzard> as I said, there are specific problems in that area
[21:21] <Anon257> it still supports alpha channel cleanly right?
[21:21] <Blizzard> yup, PVR supprots a lossy alpha channel
[21:21] <Anon257> ah
[21:21] <Blizzard> maybe with the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 the hardware will have an adequeate performance
[21:22] <Blizzard> and we can disregard that issue
[21:22] <Anon257> heheh, yeah
[21:22] <Blizzard> so an iOS port might take some time
[21:22] <Blizzard> Android is a different story, but it has its own problems
[21:22] <Anon257> aye
[21:22] <Anon257> ack, all these different platforms to conform to
[21:22] <Blizzard> since it's based on Java and Google put up a bunch of limitations, there's a whole new set of other problems
[21:22] <Blizzard> nasty problems ._.
[21:22] <Anon257> heheh
[21:23] <Blizzard> in any case
[21:23] <Anon257> you guys have come so far though
[21:23] <Blizzard> Mac and Linux are probably going to be done quickly enough
[21:23] <Anon257> it's really amazing to see what you've done already
[21:23] <Blizzard> if lucky, we might have an RGSS clone beta during November
[21:23] <Anon257> wow, that's pretty soon
[21:23] <Blizzard> I hope we can at least get the beta done this year
[21:23] <Blizzard> yeah, I know ^_^
[21:23] <Blizzard> the engine is over 90% done
[21:23] <Anon257> c:
[21:24] <Blizzard> there are some minor problems to sort out
[21:24] <Blizzard> and some additional features to be implemented
[21:24] <Anon257> very nice
[21:24] <Blizzard> currently the editor is the bottle neck
[21:24] <Blizzard> but the guys are working on it
[21:24] <Anon257> the team's just about 4 people?
[21:24] <Blizzard> I'm not really working on the editor since I am the only real C++ expert so I am working on the engine xD
[21:24] <Blizzard> yeah, just the 4 of us
[21:24] <Anon257> :p
[21:24] <Blizzard> I have done the majority of the C++ code
[21:24] <Anon257> that's insane
[21:25] <Anon257> especially considering it's been done with free time
[21:25] <Blizzard> and Ryex has done the majority of the Python and Ruby code related to the editor
[21:25] <Blizzard> yup
[21:25] <Blizzard> you know, it's funny how it started
[21:25] <Blizzard> Ryex has been working on an improved RMXP editor in Python for half a year
[21:25] <Blizzard> ForeverZer0 has made a post about an improved RGSS engine
[21:26] <Blizzard> basically some optimizations and other minor stuff
[21:26] <Blizzard> and I had been playing in my mind with the idea of a new RM for over a year
[21:26] <Blizzard> so we I saw F0's post
[21:26] <Blizzard> and remembered Ryex
[21:26] <Anon257> o:
[21:26] <Blizzard> and my old idea
[21:26] <Blizzard> bam
[21:26] <Blizzard> that was it
[21:26] <Blizzard> the birth of ARC
[21:26] <Anon257> hahah, it's like the justice league
[21:26] <Blizzard> LMAO
[21:26] <Anon257> totally
[21:27] <Anon257> hm, so for the instance of my porting problem,
[21:27] <Blizzard> I have to quote this xD
[21:27] <Anon257> :P all yours
[21:28] <Anon257> if I sort out the licensing with Enterbrain's default scripts usage in another engine,
[21:28] <Anon257> do you think I'd be able to use the engine to port it to Win/Mac/Linux sometimes early next year?
[21:29] <Blizzard> yeah, that should work out
[21:29] <Anon257> that sounds fantastic
[21:29] <Blizzard> if we have a beta before new year
[21:29] <Anon257> ah
[21:29] <Blizzard> and a port by the end of February
[21:29] <Anon257> very nice
[21:29] <Blizzard> we should also have a fully working engine by then
[21:29] <Blizzard> due to beta being release before that and all the testing
[21:29] <Anon257> I really hope the indie bundle deal pulls through; if so, we'd all benefit so much
[21:29] <Blizzard> that'd be great
[21:29] <Anon257> you guys could get some huge publicity with it too
[21:29] <Blizzard> true xD
[21:29] <Anon257> since the engine used would be labeled
[21:30] <Anon257> just in time for your engine release
[21:30] <Blizzard> I guess I will have to sort out all the legal stuff somewhere soon
[21:30] <Anon257> heheh
[21:30] <Blizzard> you know, possibly founding a company or making a contract with the guys
[21:30] <Anon257> but again, I don't wanna get our hopes up too much either, since the bundle stuff's still all in the air right now
[21:30] <Blizzard> settling everything about taxes, etc.
[21:30] <Blizzard> no problem
[21:30] <Anon257> yeah, eventually that'd be a good idea
[21:30] <Blizzard> the worst thing that probably will happen
[21:31] <Blizzard> is that ARC gets out there
[21:31] <Blizzard> people start using it
[21:31] <Blizzard> it becomes popular
[21:31] <Blizzard> but nobody buys commercial licenses
[21:31] <Anon257> yeah, I was thinking about that
[21:31] <Blizzard> basically the worst thing is a great portfolio only
[21:31] <Blizzard> xD
[21:31] <Anon257> monetary-wise, you guys are doing something odd,
[21:31] <Anon257> well actually not so odd
[21:31] <Blizzard> it's a clever idea
[21:32] <Blizzard> get them hooked first
[21:32] <Blizzard> then charge them
[21:32] <Anon257> aye
[21:32] <Blizzard> like a drug dealer
[21:32] <Blizzard> xD
[21:32] <Anon257> hahah
[21:32] <Anon257> it's hard to predict how it'd go
[21:32] <Anon257> if it's like a similar market as RMXP, there wouldn't really be that many commercial projects out there,
[21:32] <Blizzard> I was aware of that when we started
[21:33] <Anon257> the current RM commercial market's basically just like, 5 people/companies who are serious,
[21:33] <Blizzard> but here's THE difference
[21:33] <Blizzard> RMXP costs money
[21:33] <Blizzard> most people won't pay for it
[21:33] <Blizzard> if we offer a free alternative
[21:33] <Blizzard> people will go for it and leave RMXP
[21:33] <Blizzard> if we additionally allow them to just simply continue their RMXP projects in ARC
[21:33] <Anon257> I think your engine's good enough to stand on its own without that incentive, though
[21:33] <Blizzard> they will switch for sure
[21:33] <Blizzard> it's basically
[21:34] <Anon257> and those who are troubled by money might just torrent the engines either way I think
[21:34] <Blizzard> here's RMXP++, much better than RMXP, compatible with all your RMXP projects FOR FREE
[21:34] <Anon257> mm, true
[21:34] <Blizzard> the ones that are serious would buy RMXP or ARC either way
[21:34] <Blizzard> so I thought
[21:34] <Blizzard> what if somebody makes 10 games?
[21:35] <Blizzard> I want a cut of all of them! >:O
[21:35] <Blizzard> lol
[21:35] <Anon257> :p
[21:35] <Blizzard> so I came up with the license-per-game idea
[21:35] <Blizzard> probably not something that hasn't been done before
[21:35] <Blizzard> in fact, I think most big engines do it
[21:35] <Anon257> yeah, it's reasonable I think
[21:35] <Blizzard> yet, we still maintain free usage of everything for non-commercial projects, over 95% of our target audience
[21:36] <Blizzard> which means
[21:36] <Blizzard> we get famous on top of everything
[21:36] <Blizzard> plus a grand portfolio
[21:36] <Blizzard> great for our future careers
[21:36] <Anon257> might I interject something,
[21:36] <Blizzard> sure
[21:36] <Anon257> I'm not sure if this is relevant, but I'll just throw it out there
[21:37] <Anon257> for the longest time I've always thought one ofthe advantages for keeping my games free was a better reach,
[21:37] <Anon257> because after all, people'd wanna play free games over paid ones right
[21:37] <Anon257> it'd be accessible to everyone legitly
[21:37] <Blizzard> makes sense
[21:37] <Anon257> but over the years, I learned that it's actually the opposite
[21:37] <Anon257> any sort of paid game gets a LOT more attention,
[21:37] <Anon257> even if it's crappy
[21:38] <Anon257> one example is my projects,
[21:38] <Anon257> I've been making games for 5 years and released numerous ones,
[21:38] <Anon257> only the most recent one, To the Moon, is commercial
[21:38] <Anon257> the most attention I've ever gotten for my free projects were quite limited even when I tried,
[21:39] <Anon257> but when I announced To the Moon as a commercial projects, it hit bigger than any of my other projects combined and got like 70k views on youtube
[21:39] <Anon257> looking back,
[21:39] <Anon257> that's cause money is where the media's at
[21:39] <Anon257> press and etc. focus on thing that're commercial,
[21:39] <Anon257> because those are what can gain them/their beneficiaries(sp?) value in the future
[21:40] <Anon257> at the same time, they're one of the big factors that decide what takes off and what doesn't
[21:40] <Anon257> so it's this sad cycle of the cliche'd money-runs-the-world and awesome freebies get ignored
[21:41] <Anon257> but that being said,
[21:41] <Blizzard> it's weird how the world works, isn't it?
[21:41] <Anon257> that's in the games business
[21:41] <Anon257> the engines business *might* have some different influences at play, but I'd imagine there're some similarities
[21:41] <Anon257> it really is :x
[21:41] <Blizzard> whether something is good or not doesn't matter as much as marketing
[21:41] <Blizzard> we learned that ourselves at our company in the past years
[21:41] <Anon257> yeah, sadly that's the way it came down to when the market's over saturated
[21:42] <Blizzard> yeah, that's just the way it is
[21:42] <Anon257> another thing is, that commercial projects have the self-funding to market themselves
[21:42] <Blizzard> well, my main motive was never to make real money with ARC
[21:42] <Blizzard> but to have a massive portfolio
[21:43] <Anon257> aye, I understand
[21:43] <Blizzard> being a "scripting legend" in the community and all is one thing
[21:43] <Blizzard> making a game like LL4 is one thing
[21:43] <Anon257> heheh
[21:43] <Blizzard> but making a community based on your product it a whole other level
[21:43] <Blizzard> is a whole*
[21:43] <Anon257> that I know too well
[21:43] <Anon257> it feels like home on the internet, hah
[21:44] <Blizzard> and leeching off the RMXP community for popularity is just plain evil genius
[21:44] <Anon257> :P
[21:44] <Blizzard> xD
[21:44] <Anon257> they'd all benefit from the awesome features in ARC though, so everybody wins :>
[21:45] <Blizzard> true :)
[21:45] <Blizzard> after all
[21:45] <Blizzard> we are giving the community something good
[21:45] <Blizzard> everybody wins, like you said xD
[21:45] <Anon257> heheh, definitely
[21:46] <Anon257> can't wait to see you guys get it up and running
[21:46] <Anon257> well, thanks a lot for the info Blizz
[21:46] <Anon257> it was nice chatting with you again, reminds me of good ol' times
[21:47] <Blizzard> no problem
[21:47] <Blizzard> I'm glad to have answered your questions
[21:47] <Blizzard> and I thank you for your interest and support :)
[21:47] <Blizzard> we are doing our best
[21:47] <Blizzard> we're putting years of RMXP experience and other experience into this project
[21:48] <Blizzard> unlike Enterbrain, who probably never ever used their own product
[21:48] <Blizzard> we know what the people want and what the people need
[21:48] <Blizzard> so we are basically more qualified to make an RM than they are xD
[21:48] <Blizzard> which is what we are doing xD
[21:48] <Anon257> hahah, indeed
[21:48] <Anon257> power to the people :p
[21:48] <Blizzard> oh, BTW
[21:49] <Blizzard> do you mind if I post this chat log in our private dev subsection for the other 3 developers to see?
[21:49] <Anon257> yeah, that's okay
[21:49] <Anon257> but try to keep it private from anyone else, though
[21:49] <Anon257> not that there's anything top secret or anything, but it's best that the thing with the bundles doesn't get out
[21:50] <Blizzard> it's so private
[21:50] <Anon257> cause it's not certain that it's going to materialize
[21:50] <Blizzard> it's so secret*
[21:50] <Anon257> though *fingers crossed*
[21:50] <Anon257> heheh
[21:50] <Blizzard> wait, wait, wait, I can make this joke work
[21:50] <Blizzard> it's so underground
[21:50] <Blizzard> other people don't even know we have a secret section
[21:50] <Anon257> well done sir
[21:50] <Blizzard> :D
[21:50] <Anon257> :D
[21:50] <Anon257> hahah
[21:51] <Blizzard> alright, I'll get going then
[21:51] <Blizzard> if you have any more questions, just PM me
[21:51] <Anon257> same here, it's 4pm and I still need to get lunch, hahah
[21:51] <Blizzard> lol
[21:51] <Anon257> sure thing, thanks Blizz
[21:51] <Blizzard> almost 10 PM here xD
[21:51] <Anon257> take care
[21:51] <Blizzard> np
[21:51] <Blizzard> cya
[21:51] <Anon257> :p
[21:51] <Anon257> ciao~


Don't worry about me saying that we will have a Mac and Linux exe by the end of February. The Mac exe shouldn't take more than a day or two (basically making an XCode project and setting everything up). April can run on OpenGL, XAL can run on SDL, so the Linux exe shouldn't be a big problem either, but it will probably take some more time as we at Cateia never compiled and ran our games on Linux, not even for testing purposes. But if they run on Mac (which is a Unix based system as Linux is), we shouldn't have any significant problems with the Linux port of the engine.
Check out Daygames and our games:

King of Booze 2      King of Booze: Never Ever
Drinking Game for Android      Never have I ever for Android
Drinking Game for iOS      Never have I ever for iOS


Quote from: winkioI do not speak to bricks, either as individuals or in wall form.

Quote from: Barney StinsonWhen I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.

ForeverZer0

Absolute worse case scenario, we can simply try to ensure that it compatible with Wine. I realize that's not the goal at all, but if its that or nothing...

Either way, he does pose an interesting viewpoint with being commercial.  I have a little idea, not so much for making money, but for increasing popularity to where ARC is hosted.  It can be host other places and downloaded for a nominal fee (a few dollars), or can be downloaded for free at CP or its own site, but only after registering.
I am done scripting for RMXP. I will likely not offer support for even my own scripts anymore, but feel free to ask on the forum, there are plenty of other talented scripters that can help you.

Blizzard

I don't see a point for people having to register to download.
Check out Daygames and our games:

King of Booze 2      King of Booze: Never Ever
Drinking Game for Android      Never have I ever for Android
Drinking Game for iOS      Never have I ever for iOS


Quote from: winkioI do not speak to bricks, either as individuals or in wall form.

Quote from: Barney StinsonWhen I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.

ForeverZer0

Well, the registration I suppose is moot, but the rest of what I posted.  Its just a idea, I really haven't thought anything through at all.
I am done scripting for RMXP. I will likely not offer support for even my own scripts anymore, but feel free to ask on the forum, there are plenty of other talented scripters that can help you.