There have been lots of messages from certain developers commenting that people with windows do not have the latest versions, that they can't support this that and the other, that such and such a component is old, etc etc.
? Okay, I offer this as a direct challenge to developers. There are three reasons I principley stick with xp: 1: compatibility with dos applications. As a huge fan of text rpgs, I play not a few games with dos such as fallthru, and age of legends, yet thanks to microsoft that would not be possible on a 64 bit machine. For sighted users this isn't a problem since they can use the dosbox emulator, and indeed newer dos, or dos style applications are still being developed using it, noteably Eamon deluxe (and since there are over 270 Eamon games that is quite a lot just on it's own). If a developer created a screen reader friendly version of dosbox or a similar way to run 16 bit console window applications, it would mean that older games, which have been playable for the past 30 years would continue to be so for the blind community. This is something I know the developer of Eamon deluxe has been looking into and discussing with the dosbox dev team, but perhaps some assistance from a programmer with more knolidge of screen readers' interaction with windows would be of help, that is unless someone cannot create say a small application that outputs dos text to sapi or similar. ? Of course virtual xp is always an option, but neither a simple nor straight forward one, nor one which works successfully for many people. ? 2: audio games created using vb6 and direct x. Microsoft have, as we've been told dropped vb6 support and messed about with many of their direct x components. with the number of accessible games being so small, it is a real shame when they cannot be run on newer machines due to lack of support for the components. Again, since windows xp existed as a viable os for close to 10 years and is still largely in use today, we're talking about a long period of time and not a few games, indeed a post last year on audiogames.net was from a 64 bit windows user who complained that the upgrade actually lost! them more than it gained. If I could be certain the dependencies to run games like classic pipe were still available in some sense for post xp windows, I'd be less concerned about upgrading my os. ? While I know vb6 is likely to continue as a viable option provided dependencies are installed, which is why developers like Jim and Aprone can still write games in it, I'm less certain regarding other components, especially with what I've heard of other games not working under later windows versions. ? 3: interface. ? There is no denying that microsoft have by their nature created an interface which is more graphical, less logical and less customizable, a trend continued in windows 8. It is not for instance possible to have listed menues or coherent folder structures, not to mention the los of simpler, but more user friendly things like outlook express (a program I'd really! miss). This is frankly a pain in the arse, but is something I, ---- and likely others would be willing to suffer if it were for an over all bennifit, however that bennifit has not materialized. In general, for myself at least, the things I use a computer for would be far more harmed than bennifited from upgrading, since I'd have less access to software and games, a harder to use interface, and nothing I've seen related to the other things I use a computer for, ---- music, dvds, writing, using e mail that would particularly be of help, even in terms of net brousing, this business of mp3 playback is the first thing I've heard of that ie9 does which would actually be of help to me. All that aside, if the compatibility issues were solved, if there was a screen reader friendly dosbox and stored components for runing older games I think people might be a little more willing to upgrade, --- I know I would, especially if as draconis has indicated more games that do not support xp are likely in the future. ? Yes, there is an arguement that if Draconis or other developers create games as good as the older ones, running the older ones becomes superfluous, but while this may be true of something like chillingham or troopanum (indeed from what I've heard The inquisitor is a good arguement regarding Chillingham), it would be less easy with something like shades or terraformers due to their extra complexity, setting, unique story, good design etc, particularly since while the older arcade style games are easier to replicate, even in a good design (alien outback vs troopanum for instance), the same is not true of first person adventure or action games which took considderably more work and complexity but which are not being maintained, terraformers being a primary example, and since such games are obviously harder to make due to their complexity, making comparable alternatives is less likely. ? While I know there are those who appreciate having the latest os because! it is the latest, for many people including myself computers have only instrumental value, ie, they are only valuable for what they do. Given this fact, and given the fact that microsoft have not particularly helped access in later versions of windows anyway, it is perfectly logical why people stick with more useable systems and with those that allow more access to games and software. ? While the former is not something that has an easy answer, the latter is something which people could! do something about, since the less painless a transition and the more freedom a person has to access what they can already, the more likely they will be to try something new since the less harm it will do them ultimately, and it would be nice if developers and other knolidgeable persons could help this transition. ? ? Frankly as it stands now, if my xp desktop broke tomorrow, I'd buy another xp desktop (I know where to get a good reconditioned one), and I'd be sorry if I could not, but I am not aversed to the idea of upgrading generally provided that it will actually be of some bennifit and that I can continue to have reasonable access to what I can already. ? 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.
