Hi Devin, Cross-compiling and developing for other operating systems is a highly complex subject. There are a lot of difficulties in choosing the right language, right APIs, and even then there are differences between the operating systems that makes it impossible to come up with a so-called one size fits all solution.
For example, I have a game engine written in C++ that does run on Windows, Linux, and Mac. However, the problem is that I have to have a machine here running all of those operating systems to cross-compile the games, and I'm not exactly happy with all the APIs available for the engine. Right now my cross-platform version of the engine is using SDL 1.2.13 for handling a basic window manager, handling game input, and for audio. Its okay, but Microsoft's DirectX technology is a superior game API and it isn't available for non-Windows platforms. That puts me in between a rock and a hard place in terms of writing games. If I use the cross-platform version of the engine Windows users will be without advanced features such as force feedback for joysticks or without the ability to have advanced audio because SDL just doesn't offer it. Therefore the quality of my games would suffer not because of anything I did, but because I chose to use a inferior API for the engine in order to maintain cross-platform capabilities. If I use the Windows version of the engine based on DirectX I have access to all the advanced features, but can't just take it over to a Mac or Linux PC and cross-compile it without a major rewrite. What I've discovered in researching the problem I can get some decent solutions for two platforms but not for three platforms. Maybe there is one that works fine for Windows and Mac, Windows and Linux, but none that works for Windows, Mac, and Linux that are of the quality and standards I'm looking for and are affordable. Yes, I know Draconis has there engine for Mac and Windows, but it took a lot of time and work to do so. As I understand it they basically had to write their own game development APIs from scratch rather than use SDL or something like that. Even so at this point it only supports Windows, Mac OS, and iOS but not Linux. So its not exactly all inclusive either. So anyone even thinking cross-platform development has a rough road to travel. Cheers! On 3/24/13, Devin Prater <[email protected]> wrote: > Yes, from what I've seen, they aren't. Now if only we had a game engine for > everyone that was inclusive of other operating systems? Would one have to > own a mac to even code/compile for it? Wait, Java works on everything right? > But then, most audio games use TTS that other systems don't have, so java > wouldn't work well with audio games on my mac. I gave my pc to my sister, so > I'll have to find a VM. Anyways, perhaps BGT could do it, but I doubt Philip > would want to expand into mac stuff, since everyone seems to think that > windows is all there is. I know Draconis has made an engine that is > inclusive, but that is only available for them. > Devin Prater > [email protected] > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. 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/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
