Other platforms

Just wanted to know if TellTale is thinking of making their games for other platforms as well? Linux and Mac OS (X) for example? I can tell you a few good reasons why that would be a good idea, but first I'd just like to know if TT is even interested in something in this direction. (that, and the fact that I have to study for my next exam!)

linux would be nice,so all Linux geeks buy the game B-)

Yea, I'm pretty sure a lot of oldskool adventure and RPG gamers have switched to Linux "lately" (including me) - since there was no reason to stay with Windows.

I'm willing to claim that I fit into the adventure-gamers' generation (being born in 1983) and from what I can see, quite a number of this generation started looking at Linux as a great alternative to Windows. I, for instance, use Linux since 1996 and the only reason that brought be back to Windows (as dual-boot!) could be a good game that didn't have a Linux port. That happened only twice in that period - once it was because of NWN, when it wasn't ported yet.

But since in my eyes - and I guess we're all here on the TellTale forums for the same reason - there hasn't been a good enough Windows-only game in the past decade, I don't plan on having (and buying!) an expensive OS clogging my disk to just sit there waiting for the good times to return. I'm more then willing to pay a fair price for a good game - that has nothing to do with the fact that (almost) all software I use, including games and the OS itself are free. But I'm not willing to buy a whole OS (and another disk!) to just play a game - that's one (or two) expenses too much!

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

On a side note: if you'd stick with open-standards, you could save some money on the creation of the games - let's say you use ogg/vorbis instead of mp3, because you don't need to pay for the usage (like you do with mp3!). Also you might take some open-source tools (or even engines) to lighten your bills.

I know this post isn't the most coherent in forum-history, but I've got waaaaay too much things on my mind to clean it up. ...sorry

P.S. Words can't describe the happiness I felt when I first read about TT's start and plans! I hope you can repeat that feeling with making games that I can actually play!

dont think they release a linux port (i hope it for you)
but i dont think they will Support Comunism

dont think they release a linux port (i hope it for you)
but i dont think they will Support Comunism

Didn't know that using free and open source software [FOSS] says anything about the ideological or to which pollitical line you count yourself.
While we're at it ...I didn't even know I was communist! In all these years! Who would have though?!? *gasp* I guess I have to call to the Voting commision and tell them that I voted oposite of my nature!!

Oh, and in case you didn't know - you're just "supporting communism" as much as I do and TellTales did it even a bit more with putting up this forum. mvnForum is FOSS, as you can clearly guess from the GPL license stated on their download page.

You'd be surprised how much of your so called "communist" software and technology you use [>-]

Didn't know that using free and open source software [FOSS] says anything about the ideological or to which pollitical line you count yourself.
While we're at it ...I didn't even know I was communist! In all these years! Who would have though?!? *gasp* I guess I have to call to the Voting commision and tell them that I voted oposite of my nature!!

Oh, and in case you didn't know - you're just "supporting communism" as much as I do and TellTales did it even a bit more with putting up this forum. mvnForum is FOSS, as you can clearly guess from the GPL license stated on their download page.

You'd be surprised how much of your so called "communist" software and technology you use [>-]

i was just joking

i was just joking

I know ...I didn't take your "teasing" really seriously as you can see. But I did use it to try to avoid flames from someone who didn't understand your joke.

Trust me ...when you've been using GNU/Linux for such a long time, you've gone through a lot of very harsh abuse by M$ die-hards (and some wierd anti-communism wierdos O_o*) ...It takes quite a bit more to make me mad wink

* those can be wierd - never experienced communism or even socialism, never even learned anything about it. maybe "had a grandpa who fought in the war against commies" and then they presume you're a "communist pig", because you use FOSS. *shivers while remembering an incident with such a freak*

I'm very happy that the good old adventures run flawlessly on my debian box (using scummvm ) - Hopefully this will be the case for future telltale games too

I'm very happy that the good old adventures run flawlessly on my debian box (using scummvm ) - Hopefully this will be the case for future telltale games too

That would be awesome, but somehow I seriously doubt that 3d games work on ScummVM. So I guess we either have to convience TellTale to make a port, or hope it plays under Wine (god, please, not Transgaming!)

MI 4 And Grim fandago worked file with me in ScummVM

EMI and GF both use the GRIME engine, don't they? So how could they work with ScummVM? (I wish they did, though--then I could play EMI with OS X.)

Anyway, back on topic...speaking as a Mac user who only owns one PC that's old enough to qualify for retirement benefits...including a Mac port or making the game Mac/PC hybrid would just about make my millenium. I would love you forever.

Thank you. That is all.

then was i wrong

MI 4 And Grim fandago worked file with me in ScummVM

Really?

Whoops, my bad then ...didn't check which non-SCUMM games play on ScummVM :]
Surprisingly it's not on ScummVM's compatibility list.
*goes double check*
Oh, it's there under Subprojects as "Residual". Heh, my bad. All the more reason that I buy a copy of MI4 and Grim Fadango :]

With this said, yea - I'd be completely fine if TellTale games would work hand-in-hand with ScummVM to make their games work on other platforms.

p.s. thanks for correcting my mistake [:">]

Yeah, the SCUMMVM team were working on something similar to SCUMMVM but for the GRIMe engine. But they decided that SCUMMVM was more important, and the GRIMe engine won't happen for a while. But if it does happen, it should be possible to convert Grim Fandango or EMI to other platforms

EMI and GF both use the GRIME engine, don't they? So how could they work with ScummVM? (I wish they did, though--then I could play EMI with OS X.)

The "Residual" subproject/CVS module (of ScummVM) is intended to play GRIME games. I hope I made your day. ;

Yea, Linux and Mac OS X ports of great games would make make my millenium too. And I guess, since Mac OS X uses a similar kernel as Linux, there shouldn't be too much hussle making both ports work.

The "Residual" subproject/CVS module (of ScummVM) is intended to play GRIME games. I hope I made your day. ;

...Yes, yes you did. Whooooo!

still gota play Grim fandago

games i played

mi1
mi2
mi3
beneath a steel sky
DOTT
Maniac mansion
The Dig (almost finished)
Simon The Sorceror 2
Broken Sword 2 (almost finished,deleted my last save game ( )

Hmm ...don't remember MI3 being on the ScummVM compatibility list (and it isn't SCUMM-based), but ok. You were kinda right with the MI5 and GF.

Anyhoo, I think we're getting "slightly" off topic here. This is not a "what-i've-succeeded-to-run-onScummVM" topic.

It appears that there would be interest for Linux and Mac ports, but there hasn't been a single reply from a TellTale member yet. It'd be great if we got an official "yes" on this matter. ...That'd make my day/millenium

Just had to stop by and say a couple of things here...

Firstly, I welcome the thought of TellTale releasing their games on multiple platforms.

Secondly, in order to maximize the user base and minimize additional development cost for any ports, I submit the following suggestion:

Release the game on one disc, containing the data files and whichever platform engines TellTale wish to make themselves.
Then, release the source code of the engine only (obviously you do NOT want to use the GPL), or even just the bits and pieces required to be different between platforms, and let the fans do ports to whatever operating system they would like to see the game ported to. THEN, gather those engines on the TellTale website and put them up for download, so people who go out and buy the disc can download a suitable engine for whatever platform they currently use.

Of course, this requires that TellTale be utterly devoted to their fans, but in return they will surely gain a huge and completely loyal fanbase (relative to the number of adventure gamers across the world) and can use the ports as the basis of portable engines in the future, thereby cutting development cost on future titles while being able to release multiple engines on one disc.

Another sideeffect of releasing source code and portable engines will of course be that TellTale's games will outlast most every game on the market today, thanks to devoted fans and constantly updated engines and even new ports to as-of-yet non-existant operating systems and consoles.

I also hope TellTale will continue LucasArts' fine tradition of educating users on the importance of always installing and playing off of a backup in order to protect the original from damage. Being a collector who really cares about keeping my originals in mint condition WAY into the future, I owe a lot to LucasArts for showing me how a true collector works to maintain his collection.

In summary, I have high hopes for a bright future as TellTale works to bring adventure gaming back to its roots. LucasArts sure won't.

That is a very good suggestion actually, cappuchok.
I was thinking more in the direction of having a close-source native port (on the same CD) or a cooperation with the ScummVM team. Wasn't thinking of such a bold idea as opening the source, but that actually is a great idea. Of course TellTales would have to be (for their own interest depending on how open they are willing to go) careful of what kind of license they would choose or create.

Just a hint, if you even think of making the games available for more platforms: avoid MS Windows-only libraries like DirectX.
OpenGL and OpenAL and SDL are just as powerful, and they can be used on many many platforms (including some very exotic ones).

So. please, TellTale, don't tell us that we (Mac, Linux, ... users) don't cover enough market potential to be worth the hassle. As you see, we *are* worth it ...come on, at least 3 Linux users and 1 Mac user out of 100 ...and trying to be as helpful as we can.