Path: utzoo!yunexus!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!metaphor!dragon!djh From: djh@dragon.metaphor.com (Dallas J. Hodgson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech Subject: Re: Game vs Multitasking Message-ID: <1176@metaphor.Metaphor.COM> Date: 29 May 90 19:14:22 GMT Article-I.D.: metaphor.1176 References: Sender: news@metaphor.Metaphor.COM Reply-To: djh@dragon.metaphor.com (Dallas J. Hodgson) Distribution: comp Organization: Metaphor Computer Systems, Mountain View, CA Lines: 44 Mikko "Assembler rules OK!" Tsokkinen Internet mt87692@tut.fi : UUCP tut!mt87692 : Bitnet mt87692@fintut writes: >1. Should game be HD-installable? Hell yes. If you actually have to ask yourself this question, then you're still developing on floppies. If it's HD-installable, you're making it ultra-convenient for stores to demo your software, besides making life easier on the rest of us. Don't you just LOVE hearing the floppy head grind when you KNOW the game could sit on your HD? FORGET floppy-based copy protection. Use serial numbers or keyword entry systems and COOPERATE with the system! >2. Should game multitask? If at all possible. Again, stores will give your software a lot more demo time if they don't have to reboot to run it. Unprofessional! If you can't, be nice and RESTORE the environment when finished. >3. Should game detect extra memory/diskdrives/processors? If you're using overlays, yes. Load as many overlays as will fit upon startup. Any file requesters must be able to references any valid AmigaDOS pathname. Making use of coprocessor features is not so important for a GAME, unless there's a real performance issue here. Just make sure the thing RUNS on a 68010 and better - and doesn't speed up because of this! >4. Should game be exitable? If at all possible. Cooperate with the system! The hooks are in place in the system to do so. Use them whenever possible. I recognize that most current Amiga games are not "well-behaved applications" - much less than the PC & Mac worlds, where all virtually all quality games are HD-installable and few crash on faster machines. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Dallas J. Hodgson | "This here's the wattle, | | Metaphor Computer Systems | It's the emblem of our land. | | Mountain View, Ca. | You can put it in a bottle, | | USENET : djh@metaphor.com | You can hold it in your hand." | +============================================================================+ | "The views I express are my own, and not necessarily those of my employer" | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+