I do have a question!

[Indigo]

No, really! I do!

I'm curious as to what platforms Automation will come out for. I don't presently have a PC, is why I ask this.

Naturally, I don't expect availability for consoles, but will it come out in Universal App (Mac/Linux) form?

[Drake]

Well I can't speak for the devs, but I think it will be PC only.. Mac/Linux are incredibly small gaming markets, so I don't think its worth their time to port it over..

Besides, mac has bootcamp and most people with linux probably have windows installed as a second operating system.. atleast the ones who play games.

[zeussy]

It is for Windows PC only,

but it is not using anything super sophisticated, so I can't see why it would not work under WINE.

It might be worth my time making sure it is wine compatible, but currently it is now worth my time making a full port.

[nortala]

The engine uses Direct X 9, porting to another platform would not be a small task.

Currently it's using the June 2010 release of Direct X, which if I understand correctly may cause issues with WINE due to DLL dependences (going by what I've read, I don't have much experience with WINE).

However, I don't foresee any major issues in releasing a build using DirectX 9.0c (supported natively by WINE).

So basically, WINE is an option worth looking into. Full ports, not going to happen anytime soon.

[Indigo]

Has there been consideration of running through OpenGL or making that an option, at least? I recognize it is at least not as good as DirectX, but porting to other systems or using through something like WINE wouldn't be as much of a pain.

[zeussy]

It is a lot of work at this point to make an OpenGL implementation,

especially with the state OpenGL was and to some extent is still in.

[nortala]

There's also the fact that it's taken me more than 3 years to get the Kee Engine to where it is, and an OpenGL implementation would involve rewriting most of it - and probably take longer, as I'd have to learn how to use it.