Please include open graphics, sound

[Gremnon]

Licensing permitting then, of course.
That would mean dropping the idea of a snapshot of all of Bananas, and instead having to pick from the list of those allowed to be distributed in that manner.

I admit I hadn't considered the licenses in that, I forgot some don't allow for it. But to be fair, it isn't a bad idea once the problem's been worked around.

[albeva]

What exactly are "bananas" in this context?

Also licencing is double edged sword. It might not allow commercial use of the software itself -but often there are loopholes. People would pay for the DVD disc, delivery, ... not for the software or whatever material is on the disk. Of course as long as you make it available free of charge and put appropriate disclaimers and such in place.

And I am not convinced still. If bandwidth is such an issue -host binaries that include graphics and those that do not. First time users would simply download the all in one bundle. And if you include only gfx then it is not that big. Leave out music and sound if you must. And on download page put in bold red letters about need for additional media packages in order to actually run the game.

[LaSeandre]

Bananas is the online NewGRF/scenario/save game/AI distribution system built into OpenTTD.

[Kogut]

I would replace replace save game by heightmap

[Emperor Jake]

Simple solution:

If the game is started for the first time and doesn't detect any graphics etc, it asks you if you want to download OpenGFX/SFX/MFX from BANANAS instead of just refusing to start without graphics as it does now. This way everybody, even the BSD users, can have a very user-friendly way of instaling the required graphics.

[Eddi]

now to the flaw in your "simple" solution: how do you show a window if you have no graphics (including font)?

[LaSeandre]

Doesn't it ask in the installer (for Windows at least) anyway?

[Eddi]

yes, it does. which is why this topic is so useless, because 99% of all cases are covered by this.

[Emperor Jake]

now to the flaw in your "simple" solution: how do you show a window if you have no graphics (including font)?

Use the operating system's native GUI?

Doesn't it ask in the installer (for Windows at least) anyway?

Yes, but only for stable versions. I thought it would bi implemented in every binary as opposed to a separate installer.