Ask Wizards: 02/05/2008 (DDi Tools on Mac/Linux Platforms?)

[PnP News Bot]

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Check out this new article Wizards of the Coast posted recently:

Ask Wizards: 02/05/2008 (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4ask/20080205a)

Are we ever going to see Mac/Linux versions of the D&Di applications?

[Mulsiphix]

The Mac/Linux OS share compared to Windows is pretty slim isn't it? Out of their respective shares, how many are going to be D&D software users/fans? Seems like a small target audience indeed. I look forward to hearing more about this.

[Riftwalker]

If they went with something browser-based, they wouldn't have to worry about cross-platform development at all. (Not sure if that's viable, though--depends on their requirements...)

[Mulsiphix]

Given the massive popularity of the service, which seems an absolute given to me, the bandwidth required for images and maps and things of that nature would probably be in the TB or higher, every single day. Not exactly cost effective. That would be ideal though.

[Riftwalker]

I don't deal with a lot of web-technologies but it seems like you could push that kind of stuff out for clients to cache to reduce bandwidth. It could even use a torrent under the hood.

[Mulsiphix]

That is quite true. They could have some files you download that would great reduce bandwidth and loading times. There are a ton of ways they could do it. However, I fear that the web is just too insecure in the end. The security risk, assuming it is a pay service, is monumental if their systems were ever breached.

[Maelstrom]

I saw the job posting go up for the Lead Software Developer at Wizards and drooled. Too bad I couldn't apply due to real life.

According to what they needed for the job request, it looks like the applications will be pretty cool.

[Riftwalker]

I saw the job posting go up for the Lead Software Developer at Wizards and drooled. Too bad I couldn't apply due to real life.

According to what they needed for the job request, it looks like the applications will be pretty cool.


Link for the lazy? :D

[Farcaster]

Hmm.. I too was under the impression that this was going to be a web-based application utilizing AJAX type technology. Well, that is indeed interesting. I'd love to get a sneak peak of what their design plans are.

[Maelstrom]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20071213a

Not much as far as design insight, but they are using DirectX/C++/C#, which indicates a windows based application intense in graphics rather than a pure online project.

Of course that might be just one part of the application suite. They definitely will have online stuff too. Who knows how it'll turn out.

[Mulsiphix]

DirectX doesn't necessarily mean that it will be graphic intensive. I've played many a crappy and GUI simple game that utilized DirectX. Some memories you wish you could just erase :(

[Maelstrom]

DirectX is a black art that few learn well enough to survive the big leagues. Those that do are hailed as saints in the computer gaming field, and all others fall by the wayside.

Fortunately, XNA is out, capable of writing for XBox360 or PC, pretty well designed in my estimation. Of course if it takes hold Linux/Mac fall further by the wayside.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/xna/default.aspx

[Mulsiphix]

XNA is Microsofts AOL solution to game programming. Programming couldn't be more user friendly for gamers.

[tesral]

Broswer based does not require the web. One can use a web broswer for local files as well.


And as for "falling by the wayside", Linuix has been steadly gaining share. I haven't used Windows for four years. I don't miss it either.

[Mulsiphix]

I remember seeing browser share stats recently but not OS usage. Anybody have any idea what those stats look like?

[Riftwalker]

Broswer based does not require the web. One can use a web broswer for local files as well.

Sure, but the "game table" functionality that's part of DDi seems to imply that players would use it over the internet. That'd be true regardless of the platform (browser-based, native code, Windows, Linux, Mac, etc.)

[Farcaster]

Well, of the people who visited this site in the last three months, I can give you a breakdown by OS:

Windows - 83.8%
Linux - 10.6%
Macintosh - 5.34%
Playstation Portable - 0.05%
iPhone - 0.03%
Nintendo Wii - 0.02%
Danger Hiptop (WTH is that?) - 0.02%
Playstation 3 - 0.01%
PalmOS - 0.01 %
iPod - 0.01%
Unknown - 0.1%

[Mulsiphix]

Not to shabby. Linux is where I expected it to be but the Mac has more of a share than I expected. Maybe this is just because as a Windows user I've been taught the Mac is inferior? Or maybe it is the fact Mac's have always seemed too cute to be taken seriously? They really are adorable :o

[tesral]

Well, of the people who visited this site in the last three months, I can give you a breakdown by OS:

Windows - 83.8%

And certian but unknown nunber of those are not. For the sake of some sites some Linux/Mac users spoof their browers and OS to fool the websites. That number will not be high, but it will be there.

The board averages sound about right.

[Farcaster]

Why in the world would they need to spoof their OS here?

[tesral]

Why in the world would they need to spoof their OS here?

Here you woulden't, but if you have the browser spoofing it is easier to leave it spoofing for everyone than to change it back and forth.

I have done this myself, set Firefox to report itself as IE6 and Linux ot call itself windows. I haven't done it in a while, but my bank finally got smart and stopped requiering IE.

[Mulsiphix]

Browser spoofing in general could be useful for quite a number of applications. A great deal of people on the internet are security freaks or wish to remain anonymous. Many sign up for services or buy software which help maintain your anonymity on the net. Along with using proxies and "cover your tracks, spoofing what information websites do get from you is a very common tactic.