Closed Source Ports

[Soulkiller]

In response to the other thread about Independent Game ports, I decided to start a new one that will include all the developers that have been contacted so far, and what their response have been. This list is not restricted to commercial Indie games. Instead, you may post anything that has to do with ANY closed source program, whether it is a game or an application. If you are able to talk to a dev and you get a response from them, please post the response in this thread so it can be put in this first post.

Titles or sorted by color
Red means the developer shows no interest and a port is highly unlikely
Orange means the developer will think about doing a port later on, a port is possible but still unlikely
Blue means the developer shows interest in a port but does not plan on it in the near future or is blocked by some kind of obstacle, a port is possible to come
Green means the developer has shown interest in porting it right now and a port is very likely

Here's what we have so far.

Boingo
http://boingo.se/
Screenshot

I contacted them (E-Mail) and they are are interested in the Pandora. They already thought about a Handheld for Boingo (hopefully I convinced them to choose Pandora rolleyes.gif ). After the first Messages (I explained the Open Source chracter but said at the same time it would be great if some commercials would support the Pandora, they asked more about the project; if it will be rentabel for a little Independet Team, how their game would be sold, how much would a license cost etc.) I wait everyday for news of them.


Briad
http://braid-game.com/
Screenshot

I actually got an email from someone else about Pandora that I put on the list to think about later when I dig myself out of my email backlog. I am actually doing a Linux / OpenGL port of my engine for my next game, and it might not be too hard to backport that stuff to Braid.

Anyway I haven't thought about this too seriously yet but am open to the idea...


Crayon Physics Deluxe
http://www.kloonigames.com/crayon/
Screenshot

Hey Adam,

thanks for contacting and expressing interest. I'm currently really
busy trying to make the PC / Windows version of the game done. After
it's out I'll look into the possibility of porting it to other
devices.

Petri


Cortex Command
http://www.datarealms.com/
Screenshot


Hi Adam,



Thanks for the heads up! I came across the Pandora project only a few weeks ago and we are looking forward to it hitting the market. We were just going to wait and see when we can get an end-user version and play with it, but now that you mention there’s interest in having at-launch games ready, we might look into getting started earlier.



Our porting guy just completed a universal binary Mac port of Cortex Command, so I’m guessing it would be easy enough to get it ported to Pandora as well. At first glance it seems the hardware should be able to handle it.



So, the only question is how and when can we get a devkit in our hands to get started?



- Dan Tabar

Data Realms, LLC



PS, I also sent a notice out to a private mailing list of indie game devs about the project, so many of the developers mentioned in your forum thread now know about you too


Everyday Shooter
http://www.everydayshooter.com/
Screenshot

Thanks for checking out the game, and thanks for the info on Pandora. My game engines always compile on at least OS X, Linux, and Windows so if it resembles those platforms then maybe. The caveat is, for personal reasons, I'm not a big fan of releasing the source code to my work so since I don't have the handheld, I won't be able to compile the game on it.

Sadly, I also don't have much time to look around on how to setup a project to compile on different systems, so even a slight learning curve is too much for me. Even Linux is a bit of a headache for me as it seems there's a million variations of which stdlib to compile into it or (??? I just know that when I compile it on my Linux box, it might not run on someone else's Linux box) which the best way to solve it is by releasing the source code...

And honestly, I'm just really tied up with the new project.

but who knows!

-j


Fez
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=354.0
Screenshot

hey killer,

pandora looks awesome!
while im all for that kind of custom hardware and open source mentality, fact is fez is still in its infancy.
we're not even done with pre-prod yet. while we have plans to port the mother version to a bunch of platforms eventually, right now our only focus is figuring out, and making our game.

but i doubt the main version would run on a portable. the game is a lot more demanding than it looks. at the moment, anyway. so yeah, it's just too early to think about that stuff now.

but thanks a lot for the interest. means a lot.

-----------------------------


hey im not saying it's never gonna happen.
we own our own IP so as far as im concerned i can do whatever the hell i want with it.
and that could include relasing it on an open platform.
but yeah, waaaay too busy right now with actyao making a bunch of games and organizing events.

best of luck with the platform, it looks awesome.


FizzBall, Professor Fizzwizzle, etc
http://grubbygames.com/
Screenshot

I contacted grubby-games, the dev's of prof. fizzwizzle and fizzball. They seem to like the pandora, but argumented that they have a fixed resolution of 800x600 and as they don't use openGL rescaling wasn't possible either.
I thought about it and came up with a possibility to run fizzball at 800x480 without having to rescale anything.
They answered they were to busy and a port to pandora doesn't seem profitable enough at the moment. So - no startup title, but if pandora is succesful enough, they might consider porting it.


Gish
http://www.chroniclogic.com/index.htm?gish.htm
Screenshot

Hello Conso,

Thanks for the information, I will look into Pandora and see if that would be a real possibility.

Josiah


Josiah Pisciotta
Chronic Logic LLC
www.chroniclogic.com

-----------------------

At first they wanted to know, how much money we will give them, if they made a port of their games for the Pandora. After I explained that we wouldn`t pay any money for just a port and then buy the game again, they agreed. Edmund said we should contact them if the Pandora is finish, so they will take a look at her by themselves.


Magicka
http://www.magicka.se/
Screenshot

I wrote them (E-Mail) and they are realy interested in the Pandora project (like the Pirate Cat Team/Boingo). Their current main goal is "microsofts "dream build play" competition" in the september. After that, they will use their time to finish Magicka (and make it run on different systems)



Novastrike - Tiki Games in general
http://www.tikigames.net/
Screenshots

Thanks for the email. Realistically speaking it would be difficult to
justify development for a brand new platform that doesn't have a large
install-base of gamers. This isn't remotely an attack on the Pandora - it
looks like a good product and it's certainly powerful enough (from the
specifications) for running high-quality games.

But as an independent developer I need to be really careful as to which
platforms we develop on. We're self-funded, so that means we presently have
to look at platforms that have large existing install-bases of potential
customers versus future platforms.

I'm still very much hoping to finish Galaxy's End someday (a ridiculous
amount of work went into it), but it's likely if we do get the opportunity
to finish the game then Galaxy's End would still be for the PSP.

Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear but I hope you understand. Have a
good week.

Sincerely,
Kevin McCann
President / Tiki Games, Inc.


Runes of Avalon
http://www.runesofavalon.com/
Screenshot

I will digg it [Pandora] but I doubt we will be able to make a realese for this
system.

best greetings
Roman Budzowski
www.ANAWIKI.com


Streammygame
http://www.streammygame.com/smg/index.php
Screenshot

Hi PlopperZ

Well we are looking at an ARM port right now.
It will take some time.
How can we get hold of a couple of Pandoras for testing?

SMG_Core

 

[Hawkey]

I allready wrote (Mail & contact formular) to the guys who developed "Gish" and now "Gish 2". At first they wanted to know, how much money we will give them, if they made a port of their games for the Pandora. After I explained that we wouldn`t pay any money for just a port and then buy the game again, they agreed. Edmund said we should contact them if the Pandora is finish, so they will take a look at her by themselves.

Moreover I allready asked a few Independet Game Developer (before the Thread were opened ), cause I thought most of them would understand us (as a Indipendet Device/Gamehandheld). And as it looks they do:

Boingo
Site: http://boingo.se
Infos: Boingo is the first "big" project of the "Pirate Cats Creation Team", a young swedish game development team. They won with Boingo some awards in the Independent Swedish Game Competetion 2008. This is not just a cool, innovativ (fast in different angles/meanings), high quality project, but more a great work of a great team which will do some awesome things in the future (currently they work on a private project of some kids game).
Status: I contacted them (E-Mail) and they are are interested in the Pandora. They already thought about a Handheld for Boingo (hopefully I convinced them to choose Pandora :rolleyes: ). After the first Messages (I explained the Open Source chracter but said at the same time it would be great if some commercials would support the Pandora, they asked more about the project; if it will be rentabel for a little Independet Team, how their game would be sold, how much would a license cost etc.) I wait everyday for news of them.
=> Positive - still waiting


Magicka
Site: http://www.magicka.se
Infos: What, multiplayer game in which you fight against monsters ? You got nice spells/skills and the chance to collect items for your character ? Then you don't need Diablo 1/2/3 anymore, you got Magicka
This is also a game of a swedish Game Development Team (Arrowhead) which won some awards and so got some public credit.
Status: I wrote them (E-Mail) and they are realy interested in the Pandora project (like the Pirate Cat Team/Boingo). Their current main goal is "microsofts "dream build play" competition" in the september. After that, they will use their time to finish Magicka (and make it run on different systems) :lol:
=> Positive - still waiting


Wind & Water
Site: http://www.wind-water.net
Infos: Who don't know the well know game by Yuan Works ? The Puzzle Game who got a symbol for good commercial games at the GP2X. Nowadays they released a enhanced Dreamcast version of the game with additional stuff. Perhaps they could make a port of this new version for the Pandora too (including a new personal avatar submission)
Status: I contacted them (E-Mail + Formular) but they didn't answered. Hopefully they will find some time or any of you guys know one of them better/has a private adress of them
=> Negativ - still waiting or finding another way for contacting them


Now here a few interesting games, which should be considered (I asked but the Mails turned back, cause their E-Mail adress were old or full):

=> Cannon Battle (*click*)
=> Switching Gears (*click*)



@Soul Killer:

Gratz for finding Jonathans E-Mail Adresse (couldn't find it and my message at his blog was errased after 2 Days), but do you realy think that Petris Message is a "no go" ?
What he wrote is great, it said he cant do it now, cause he is busy right at the moment. So when he got some time he will see if a port of "Cryon Physics Deluxe" (which is't released) would be good for him or not.
you should consider that this is just "another" way for the developers to destribute their games, not "the" one and only or nether the main way.
If you mention that the Pandora will need at least 2-3 months is this statement great (perhaps you should remind him after a release of the game and the pandora) B)


@conso:
It would be great if you could edit the start post and make a actual list with the status (if they are allready contacted by one) of each interesting game/development team :lol:



Just don't know if you look in the old thread

[Edit]
I see now that you quote the E-Mails you received. Do you want them from me too (Gish 2, Boingo, Magicka) ?

 

[argor]

Wind & Water
Site: http://www.wind-water.net
Infos: Who don't know the well know game by Yuan Works ? The Puzzle Game who got a symbol for good commercial games at the GP2X. Nowadays they released a enhanced Dreamcast version of the game with additional stuff. Perhaps they could make a port of this new version for the Pandora too (including a new personal avatar submission)
Status: I contacted them (E-Mail + Formular) but they didn't answered. Hopefully they will find some time or any of you guys know one of them better/has a private adress of them
=> Negativ - still waiting or finding another way for contacting them





likely

or perhaps it's Mr. Pandora you have to beat!

 

[conso]

I contacted ED about "cortex command" - waiting for reply

 

[Soulkiller]

I'm not including Wind&Water in the list because the dev did not respond yet

 

[Tensuke]

Is this also just for commercial games?

 

[nightwheel]

Ok, I have emailed Alawar - Dream Dale.

Now I'm waiting for a response back from them.

 

[FranXico_P]

Is this also just for commercial games?

Yes.

Indie commercial games. Quality titles that could prove to be a Pandora system seller.

 

[icurafu]

I would not recommened that devs for commerical games get dev boards. The dev boards are for developing the Pandora system. It would be a lesson in fustration for anyone using it for games.

It's hard enough to even get someone from the Pandora team to recognise you, and if you think you've got an awesome launch title, it can be very insulting. Plus you would have to worry about things changing... OpenGL 2.0 not being available, not FPU yet. Maybe there are still system bugs... Maybe it's best to recommend that they grab one of the first 3000 instead.

 

[plopperz]

What about Streammygame? Definately would be a Pandora seller, but not exactly a game. Anyway, here's the quote, put it up if you want.
QUOTE

Hi PlopperZ

Well we are looking at an ARM port right now.
It will take some time.
How can we get hold of a couple of Pandoras for testing?

SMG_Core



Sounds blue to me

 

[conso]

Please use the other thread for discussion about possible ports as this thread is thought for showing what the dev's said when asking them. @icurafu: I think we should leave this to craig&co. We only ask if there is interest and if there is, we try to establish contact, since we would very much like commercial startup-titles.

 

[Game_over]

This thread should be stickyed if not already. I know there are some lurkers from Engadget, and Insertcredit on here.

I think now is the time to be a little nicer to the new people that may not use the search function, no?

 

[Gilrad]

I seem to recall somebody mentioned that there were a few commercial GP2X-variant commercial games released, with the games actually being manufactured on read-only SD cards.

Anybody know how that worked out? Both in the "sales relative to how popular the system was" sense, and the "practicality of the hardware approach" kind of way?

 

[Soulkiller]

I was intending for all this to be ANYTHING that is closed source, commercial or not. If theirs anything that you think should be ported. I'm contemplating whether that should include applications as well (such as Streammygame)...what do you guys think?

 

[Kyo]

I think anything closed source should be included. It doesn't really make a difference

 

[Soulkiller]

First post modified to include Ploppers Streammygame quote and stated that any closed source program counts.

Also could I get a mod to change the thread title to "Closed Source Ports"

 

[nightwheel]

Ok, Found the email for Dylan at Audio Surf earlier today.

And I just got done sending a email to the guy a few minutes ago. Here's hopping for a response back.

But I left out the part about maybe having it as a launch title. If he replies back with a lot of interest. A give him that little bit of info then.

 

[peca]

QUOTE
At first they wanted to know, how much money we will give them, if they made a port of their games for the Pandora. After I explained that we wouldn`t pay any money for just a port and then buy the game again, they agreed.

There can be done some deal, such as preorder and prepay, if developer guarantee release of port or money back (in some reasonable time).
edit: So we can established poll for some SW and if voting will be promising, than developer can take preorders and start porting.

 

[nightwheel]

Still waiting for the replies to my emails

 

[Julius]

I contacted the makers of this game:

http://www.runesofavalon.com/

Since I had to write a bug report about not beeing able to download from their website with Firefox3 anyways.

Reply:

QUOTE

Hi
Thanks for contacting me. You need to use Opera. I just found about this
issue and it seems that Opera is the only browser that recognizes it (and
Konqueror as you mention now). I don't know why downloads get interrupted,
but can you try to download it from this server:

http://www.innotech.pl/anawiki/download/li...-2-demo-install


> Another topic I would like to mention is the upcoming release of the
> OpenPandora linux based handheld console:

I will digg it but I doubt we will be able to make a realese for this
system.

best greetings
Roman Budzowski
www.ANAWIKI.com


In other words, a port is unlikely