Portation to Pocket PC

The14given · Post by **The14given** » 31 Aug 2004 12:13

Hello everybody,

we are a big community of Pocket PC Users and this is one of our top 10 favourite games, which should be released on Pocket PC. Since it is written in C++ an it is Open Source, are there any possibilities of porting it to Pocket PC. It is also using C++ only in the embedded variant. The SDK for Pocket PCs is for free and can be downloaded at MS.

We would be very pleased, if you can realize this game on Pocket PC. A dream would become reality.

GoneWacko · Post by **GoneWacko** » 31 Aug 2004 13:34

I have no idea if or how it is possible.

Just wanted to correct you: The game is written in C

Mek · Post by **Mek** » 31 Aug 2004 13:52

The14given wrote:We would be very pleased, if you can realize this game on Pocket PC. A dream would become reality.

I guess if you could provide the devs with a Pocket PC they wouldn't have big problems finding someone to try to make this port...

oboka · Post by **oboka** » 31 Aug 2004 14:12

I was planning to do a limited port to PalmOS, but I'm already far to have something useful...

klausbreuer · Post by **klausbreuer** » 31 Aug 2004 20:11

oboka wrote:I was planning to do a limited port to PalmOS, but I'm already far to have something useful...

Aaaaaaargh! My heart! Somebody mentiones a PalmOS port! A dream comes true!

I'd be fascinated. No, I cannot help with this (having no experience with PDA whatsoever, except owning one), but I'd be Most Delighted. And if it didn't require PalmOS v5, it would be even better.
And... seeing that Sony brought out these nice Clié NR-70V out, a high-res version would be great.

(Yes, lots of wishes - but it's a nice dream...)

Doc Oc · Post by **Doc Oc** » 01 Sep 2004 12:01

I think OpenTTD would work really well on a Nintento DS handheld as well.

NCarlson · Post by **NCarlson** » 01 Sep 2004 15:04

Gaa, probably right, but how would we get access? Not many consoles get much fan development, and it always takes around a year before anyone figures out how to do it.

lucaspiller · Post by **lucaspiller** » 01 Sep 2004 19:10

Somebody was working on a Dreamcast port, but they seem to have given up now. I might download the tools over the next few days and see what I can do.....

NCarlson · Post by **NCarlson** » 01 Sep 2004 19:23

That would be cool, DC is the big exception to consoles not having fan games.

The14given · Post by **The14given** » 02 Sep 2004 06:30

The basic thing on PocketPc is that you have not much to change except the API. Basicly you have to recompile it. Since it's written in C you can use the official and free PPC SDK from Microsoft. If I could write programs, I would do it. But I can't. So we depend on your help.

Doc Oc · Post by **Doc Oc** » 02 Sep 2004 11:15

The14given wrote:The basic thing on PocketPc is that you have not much to change except the API. Basicly you have to recompile it. Since it's written in C you can use the official and free PPC SDK from Microsoft. If I could write programs, I would do it. But I can't. So we depend on your help.

Unfortunately it's hardly ever that simple.

Do any of the devs even have a pocket pc?

The14given · Post by **The14given** » 02 Sep 2004 18:23

It's not that hard, because we would have enough beta-testers with ppcs, and there's no ppc needed because the SDK contains an emulator of Windows Mobile, so there' no device needed.

Doc Oc · Post by **Doc Oc** » 03 Sep 2004 10:33

The14given wrote:It's not that hard, because we would have enough beta-testers with ppcs, and there's no ppc needed because the SDK contains an emulator of Windows Mobile, so there' no device needed.

I'm not so much worried about getting it to compile, I'm more worried about getting it to work to some degree of satisfaction. There's bound to be all sorts of ugly little compatibility issues, and once those are out of the way there's the smaller screen and the stylus interface and all the cute little fixes that requires before it's comfy.

I'm certainly not saying it can't be done, quite the contrary. It's just that my (admittedly limited) experience with coding projects with unknowns of any kind suggests that it's never "just a few hours work" or "not that hard" or any such euphemism.

Not trying to be a spoil-sport, just trying to keep expectations down to realistic levels

.

oboka · Post by **oboka** » 03 Sep 2004 14:09

I agree completely with you, Doc Oc. The mobile version should have many modifications... I wonder if we can start a subproject called something like OpenTTD Mobile, a limited and adapted version of OpenTDD for mobile devices?

Maybe some features should be removed, the user interface completely changed, a smaller map?, less vehicles?

But, if I ran the old TTD in my old 4Mb RAM 386, this modern handhelds should be able to run OpenTDD as is?

Anyway, the task shouldn't be easy, it will be a hard port, but ...

Oboka

The14given · Post by **The14given** » 03 Sep 2004 16:10

I don't say it's easy. But there were other games, which survived the portation. You were able to play them with a stylus, it's just another feeling. Sim City 2000 and Age of Empires are these games. I know that it isn't as easy as some people think, but this effort would be worth it. It's not a problem of Performance or the amount of Memory. Actual Pocket PCs have 624MHz, 128MB of RAM and everybody has an additional amount of memory in the format of the SD-Card. About this factors you shouldn't care.

The main problem is the porting to another device.

Just some Screenies of SC2000 and AoE:

P.S.: I've heard that the Linux Version works on Handhelts with Linux like Zaurus or the Linux iPAQ.

Mad Dog McKill · Post by **Mad Dog McKill** » 05 Sep 2004 00:38

As we all know the newest PDAs have VGA screens with 640x480 resolution so there will be no need to cut anything down in terms of graphics. This makes porting even easier.

The14given · Post by **The14given** » 05 Sep 2004 09:57

That's right, but how will the others play, if they have not the lastest PDA and only one with QVGA (240x320) ???

But could you do the portation? We would be ready to pay for it. The main thing is, that it will work on every PPC.

Please.

Darkvater · Post by **Darkvater** » 05 Sep 2004 11:26

The biggest problem is that noone of us have a PocketPC, so we cannot develop to it. Best would be to
1. try to compile the source on your PocketPC, and find out what kind of errors you get.
2. find someone with a PocketPC, who is willing to some development for it

.

It is impossible to develop software for a platform that you know nothing about.

GoneWacko · Post by **GoneWacko** » 05 Sep 2004 12:04

Maybe you can find an emulator

The14given · Post by **The14given** » 05 Sep 2004 13:53

@GoneWacko

I've already said, that the Microsft SDK contains an emulator of PocketPCs. So this problem would be solved.

Her you can download embedded Visual C++ 4.0 (needed to make Software) (230MB):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

Here is the Service Pack 3 for embedded Visual C++ 4.0 (59MB):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... layLang=en

Here you can download the SDK for Windows Mobile 2003 (86MB) and Addon for Second Edition (3MB):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

And here emulator Images for Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition (56MB):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

I hope this helps you. You can test the software without a PocketPc, because the Emulator is in the Package of the SDK.

Maybe this can help you too:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/defau ... ration.asp

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