52 replies to this topic

[Nikc-Nack]

Not to be annoying or anything but I was wondering if Yoyogames had put any thought into developing a port for Android. As an android user I am very much wanting them to make this.
And considering that android is growing to be as popular as the iPhone it would be a smooth move for them to make this. People want to make cool games that they can show off to their friends at any time.

Just wondering if this had been given any thought.


-Nikc-Nack

[YellowAfterlife]

Quad-post!!
Well done, Nikc-Nack.
Android port would be nice indeed. But we will never know until they post a video.

[RTII]

Nice trick with the 4

[Nikc-Nack]

I'm very sorry I did that and have already reported myself.

Yeah, suppose you're right about the video

[Revel]

Q-Q-Quad Post!


Anyway, Android would be awesome. I really hope they make a runner for the new Windows Mobile 7 phone.

YYG hasn't really said anything about it except that "The C++ runner opens many possibilities", or something along those lines.

[Shining_Saber]

Anyway, Android would be awesome.
[...]
YYG hasn't really said anything about it except that "The C++ runner opens many possibilities", or something along those lines.

The C++ runner won't help them that much with Android. A lot of the application code in Android has to be in JAVA.

[TheMagicNumber]

Wrong.

[luenardi]

It's runs dalvik "similar to java" BUT.. it can run C code.
So GM 4 Droid would make my day. I would most definitely pay for it.

Damb you magic.. you beat me to it.

Edited by luenardi, 11 October 2010 - 02:53 PM.

[NakedPaulToast]

Related, but Oracle the current owners of Java, have launched a lawsuit against Google for their implementation of Java's copyrights and patents within Dalvik.

Oracle v. Google

This suit is not unlike the successful Sun v. Microsoft over similar Java infringement.

Google is evil. Google, don't be evil.

[chance]

This suit is not unlike the successful Sun v. Microsoft over similar Java infringement.

There are some similarities, but differences too. In the Sun vs. MS, the main complaint was that MS modified Java, but still claimed Windows products to be "Java compliant" and stamped on the Java logo. Sun won that battle.

But Oracle/Sun vs Google is different. Google is using the open-source Apache Harmony version of Java, which Oracle/Sun created specifically for this purpose. And Google is following the license terms.

So I don't see any patent infringement. Google will win this one.

Lesson: When you release an open-source platform for commercial use, you can't change your mind later just because someone uses it to compete with you.

[Shining_Saber]

Wrong.

You going to read the article you posted before calling me wrong?

The NDK does not provide access to platform framework APIs. It's intended to be used alongside Java to code individual parts of programs that require existing C libraries or higher performance.

This basically means the only time C is really meant to be used is for things like intensive mathematical equations like physics.
Now last time I checked, YYG's runner wasn't part JAVA, part C++. As I said before, a full-C++ runner will only help them in the slightest with Android, due to how the APIs are set up.

Edited by Shining_Saber, 11 October 2010 - 05:16 PM.

[TheMagicNumber]

It's only a matter of how much is needed in Java. It wont need to be anything huge, for sure, but it will need design changes. It wont however need an entire port to Java.

[Shining_Saber]

It's only a matter of how much is needed in Java. It wont need to be anything huge, for sure, but it will need design changes. It wont however need an entire port to Java.

It's going to be a major rewrite, considering only mathematical portions of the C++ runner can be used in the Android port (if there are any in GMs code that would benefit from the performance, anyways).
Do you have any idea how much GM interfaces with APIs? You have sound, controls, etc. That's probably the biggest chunk of the runner right there.

[TheMagicNumber]

Okay, so are you saying the only thing they can use is C for math-related code. Think about it. Java can do that, and at the same speed (or slightly slower).

I know what GM interfaces with, that would need to be Java, but the rest can be C/C++. Thats why I said it will need design changes.

[Shining_Saber]

Okay, so are you saying the only thing they can use is C for math-related code. Think about it. Java can do that, and at the same speed (or slightly slower).

I know what GM interfaces with, that would need to be Java, but the rest can be C/C++. Thats why I said it will need design changes.

That's the point I was trying to make in the first place and you called me wrong for - there are going to have to be some major rewrites, hence a native C++ runner won't exactly help them anymore than the Delphi one did when they were converting it to C++.
Also, the point of it is that yes, Java can do it at almost the same speed, but when you have a 3d game with full physics, obviously you're going to want that little boost on every object you're using just to save battery life and as much cpu time as you possibly can.

[luenardi]

1.
SDK = standalone development kit.

2.
Dalvik is much more powerful than standard java.

3.
Ever played NFS Shift HD or N.O.V.A on android? if you said no "then you have no idea of the power in these phones and should STFU"

Edited by luenardi, 11 October 2010 - 05:13 PM.

[Shining_Saber]

1.
SDK = standalone development kit.

2.
Dalvik is much more powerful than standard java.

3.
Ever played NFS Shift HD or N.O.V.A on android? if you said no "then you have no idea of the power in these phones and should STFU"

1. Software Development Kit.
2. Nobody said it wasn't?
3. Once again... nobody said it was slow? I just explained why (limited) C-code support was added to Androids in 09.

Edited by Shining_Saber, 11 October 2010 - 05:19 PM.

[luenardi]

very well, i can accept that but how about working for the cause instead of against it?

[Shining_Saber]

very well, i can accept that but how about working for the cause instead of against it?

I never said I'm working against it - it'd be a fantastic thing to do, especially since the Android Marketplace actually has some really lax rules and I'm pretty sure there are a number of great GM games that could make it onto the Android as best sellers with optimizations here and there. I was just making the point that it'd require an engine rewrite, and that the C++ runner would barely help.

[Phantom107]

I think the priority should be with iPod/iPhone rather than Android. iPod and iPhone have fixed hardware and interface, while Android does not. That makes it a development nightmare. You need to support each and every setup outthere. Even EPIC Games said they aren't going to build Unreal Engine 3 for Android, because it's so hard to develop on efficiently. You can see it as PC vs. console development, where Android is the PC and iPod/iPhone is the console.