Warzone 2100 on iPhone and iPod Touch

[Vermithrax]

This is just me thinking out loud.

Before I found this website, and the possibility of running Warzone 2100 on my iMac, I had wondered if anyone would do a version on the iPod Touch.

I'm not really thinking of a port of the PC version, more like the PSX version. The screen resolution is certainly feasible. iPod Touch does 480 x 320, and the PSX game ran at 320 x 240.

iPod Touch certainly has the storage capacity and memory for it. Plus it has 3D capabilities that seem to be just starting to be fully appreciated. I gather OpenGL is available for it.

Certainly sounds feasible. Physical screen size might be a challenge.

Thoughts, anyone?

[Zarel]

We'd have to downsample a lot of the graphics - our code is the PC game, which runs at 640x480.

[Vermithrax]

True.

I see there's already been some discussion of it.

[Zarel]

Heh. There are probably arguments about why it's infeasible right now, but I bet a good developer would be able to do it without too much struggling.

[Vermithrax]

Oh, there's no doubt in my mind it's feasible.

If someone can port Quake III over to the iPhone, then Warzone is within the bounds of possibility.

Also, have you seen PSX4iPhone?

[Craig]

a warzone 2100 port for the 360 and ps3 would be good, id soon download it

[whippersnapper]

.

I think the previous discussions (June 2008-January 2009) on WZ ports to handhelds, consoles or the Iphone really
identified the issue correctly as having to do with FOSS vs Proprietary Models of development and NOT with development
coding skills per se.

Here is the original Iphone discussion (December 2008): viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2440&hilit=iphone

The last handheld discussion (January 2009): viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2611&p=25346&hilit=pandora#p25346

The first handheld discussion last year (June 2008): viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1792&p=16891&hilit=pandora#p16891

I'll summarize: The "Pandora" is the best fit for a handheld (or console) port of WZ 2100 mainly because it is an OSS model vs the proprietary model.of the Iphone, Xbox 360, Playstation, or Nintendo:

Pandora links:

http://openpandora.org/

http://openpandora.wordpress.com/

Regards, whipper
.

[Zarel]

No, I think it was mainly not having enough developers. That's why there's neither a Pandora port nor an iPhone port.

The other issue is that the iPhone's touch interface isn't really suitable for an RTS.

[whippersnapper]

No, I think it was mainly not having enough developers. That's why there's neither a Pandora port nor an iPhone port.

The other issue is that the iPhone's touch interface isn't really suitable for an RTS.

I agree but still think my point subsumes these issues.

Apple store allowing a FOSS game distro is questionable. Maybe there is an example I have not found of
a different policy by Apple. Same applies for the proprietary manufactures of gaming devices other than PCs.

The Iphone touch interface is not really the deal breaker because -

The iPhone can receive input from an Apple Bluetooth keyboard and

Some hackers have already got an IR keyboard working with a non-jailbroken iPhone... cost, $ 20 bucks.

Both are available in portable configs you can easily slip into a jacket pocket for on the go use.

Btw - I've been running a bonafide RTS on my Smart Phone for years. It's called "Warfare Inc" by the developer Spiffcode. Though it's GFX are like SC not like WZ. Frankly I don't really notice because the game play experience
dominates the GFX after but a couple minutes which is a consequence of the embodied brain's extended neurological mapping taking over the device..

Regards, whipper
.

[Zarel]

Apple store allowing a FOSS game distro is questionable. Maybe there is an example I have not found of
a different policy by Apple. Same applies for the proprietary manufactures of gaming devices other than PCs.

That's not really an issue. As long as you pay them, they'll allow anything. I don't think it's too expensive to publish to the App Store...

The Iphone touch interface is not really the deal breaker because -

The iPhone can receive input from an Apple Bluetooth keyboard and

Some hackers have already got an IR keyboard working with a non-jailbroken iPhone... cost, $ 20 bucks.

Both are available in portable configs you can easily slip into a jacket pocket for on the go use.

Meh, no. That still limits the amount of exposure we can get to a ridiculously tiny amount, which makes it pretty not worth it.

[whippersnapper]

Apple store allowing a FOSS game distro is questionable. Maybe there is an example I have not found of
a different policy by Apple. Same applies for the proprietary manufactures of gaming devices other than PCs.

That's not really an issue. As long as you pay them, they'll allow anything. I don't think it's too expensive to publish to the App Store...

Assuming anybody would want to get into into a monetary relationship with Apple vis-a-vis WZ.....

There are many other issues with Apple Policy & Apple Store protocols towards Iphone developers - "draconian" comes to mind.

Like:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/ ... policy.ars

http://blogs.eweek.com/applewatch/conte ... icies.html

The Iphone touch interface is not really the deal breaker because -

The iPhone can receive input from an Apple Bluetooth keyboard and

Some hackers have already got an IR keyboard working with a non-jailbroken iPhone... cost, $ 20 bucks.

Both are available in portable configs you can easily slip into a jacket pocket for on the go use.

Meh, no. That still limits the amount of exposure we can get to a ridiculously tiny amount, which makes it pretty not worth it.

I would contend that RTS fans who wanna play on the Iphone platform are very limited demographic to begin with (read "tiny") and that they would also
tend to be "gizmo" geeks so this would be no biggie.

Still think the "Pandora" is the best "fit" for WZ on a handheld-console.

Regards, whipper
.

[Zarel]

Assuming anybody would want to get into into a monetary relationship with Apple vis-a-vis WZ.....

There are many other issues with Apple Policy & Apple Store protocols towards Iphone developers - "draconian" comes to mind.

Like:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/ ... policy.ars

http://blogs.eweek.com/applewatch/conte ... icies.html

True, but that's still my original point - no developer wants to port it to iPhone. If one did, he wouldn't have much trouble porting most of it over. The App Store policies are weird about some things, but games like Warzone are unaffected.

I would contend that RTS fans who wanna play on the Iphone platform are very limited demographic to begin with (read "tiny") and that they would also
tend to be "gizmo" geeks so this would be no biggie.

But still. I estimate something like 10 players vs 1000 players. Both are limited demographics, but I'd rather do it for the 1000 players.

[whippersnapper]

.

I see your points, Zarel. And valid they are.

Still, I think there's prognostication here on both our parts akin to playing the stock market sans
putting any money on the line, natch.

One thing for sure is that there are indeed developers for the Iphone that are making
money hands over fists and no matter how weird the Apple policies it is a very attractive market
for many coder entrepreneurs. If the Google Phone ever takes off - well that could make the market
dynamics for developers (and end users) even more favorable..

Regards, whipper
.