Zodiac Donation


Nah, so far they haven't got any new coders on board that way. A coder will program for the Zodiac if they like it, not because the comminity bribes them to join.
 
Isn't that how Yoyofr started developing for the Z? By someone giving him a console to work from, and so he felt obliged to develope for it? (Even though he enjoys it now). Ok, so his Z came from Gbax, but it's still the same kinda thing - give a gp32 developer a Zodiac, and they'll start devving for it, as it's a nice development platform.

Tapwave (the manufacturer) like to help out too, as developers get discounts on the retail price of the console if they choose to buy one themselves as well as lots of documentation, a developer message board, and other things (I got offered a serial debugging cable when I was talking to them about the possible reasons why my program didn't like the zodiac, but worked on the gp32).

Hmmm, now my posts looks more like an advertisement. It's not meant to be, I'm just impressed with the level of technical support given by the makers to developers who have not bought a license, SDK, or anything apart from a console.
 
Maybe we could all chip in some cash for something, then give the cash to the person who makes the first full speed/as close to GBA emulator.

Or something simular for the Genesis/SNES.
 
Yoyofr started developing for the Zodiac because he won a Zodiac. That is different. I beleieve he knew what the prizes were when he entered his submission.
 
Its true that the Zodiac will always be a developer's console. The regular games playing public won't and probably will never have access to it because of that DAA signing pants - if Yoyo's emulators were ever to be signed by Tapwave, it'll be like they're giving their blessing to it and holding a red flag to the bull of Nintendo.

What happens when Tapwave go bust (they will 2 years down the line from now - its just business :)) Would the Tapwave API become public property? or would some nefarious Mr. Big buy it up and charge extortionate money for it (I'm thinking the "new" Atari here)..

I'm trying to be objective here and not be a "fanboy" or whatver that is.
 
Tapwave are willing to sign Yoyo's work, but Yoyo wants to publish the source code too as his emulators contain GPL'd code. However, he can't as under the Tapwave developer agreement NDA, you can't disclose any source code, regardless of whether you wrote it yourself or not.

There will soon be a GPL exception in the agreement however, which means a signed Yoyo multi-purpose emulator, and automatic signing for homebrew projects such as Yoyo's.

Don't forget however that you can make applications that don't need to be signed - just don't use the enhanced Tapwave API - either use standard PalmOS functions for handling graphics, sound, input, etc or write to the hardware directly like on most GP32 projects. The Tapwave API is only like the GamePark SDK, and can be rewritten without the signing features if someone wishes.
 
oh thats ok then. :) I've read the GPL license and although it sounds hippy at times, it does make sense in this case (e.g. you can sell software with it etc). Makes you wonder why Tapwave didnt use GPL from the beginning.
 
Squidge posted on May 22 2004 at 09:02 PM said:
Tapwave are willing to sign Yoyo's work, but Yoyo wants to publish the source code too as his emulators contain GPL'd code. However, he can't as under the Tapwave developer agreement NDA, you can't disclose any source code, regardless of whether you wrote it yourself or not.
Tapwave's Development Agreement Sucks Donkey Balls :D




so this is what Tapwaev says?? "Hey You've Done all this Hard work coding these emulators but F**k off you not sharing the source code with fellow coders" :D


This is probalbly what makes the GP32 Scene / Community much better... Good Job there isnt a Gamepark Developer Agreement... Sharing the Source code is what makes things better as other coders can fix whats wrong in the code that the others cant spot etc cant they??
 
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Well, that's certainly the impression I got when I was asked to agree to the TDA.

Others problem are like, it's a complete pain in the neck to try and use GCC to compile Zodiac apps, specially ones which try and use the enhanced API for speed. Most of the people give up in disgust as there's nothing really like DevKitAdv for the Zodiac. The only real "semi-easy" way to get developing is to buy CodeWarrior, but then you are talking the price of the Zodiac again in development software. Not many people are going to do it, but a few get it through donations, and others use CW at work anyway.

Personally, I think I'll be moving to the PocketPC platform soon. Hmmm, 400Mhz processor. Yummeee :) Amiga emu here we come :)
 
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