After reading Mark's last musings in his worklog, I'm beginning to think that the 3D module for BMax is going to be completely "shader" oriented (he seemes happy to be "bypassing" GL using shaders - but maybe that's just the "high-end" mode or whatever, hard to tell at this point).
It would be unfortunate if the 3D module actually turned out to be something that is aimed at only the high-end, and I can't help but thinking about those three words that eventually turned me to B3D in frustration: Dark Basic Pro.
B3D still has a lot going for it in terms of being compatible with LOTS of systems out there. It's very difficult to be successful producing games for computers (vid cards) that only power-users have... and then only if they can keep their drivers up to date (the big computer-makers fall by the wayside on drivers almost immediately after each system hits the market - so users need to get "reference drivers", if they can).
Already, since BMax is going to be using OpenGL for the "official" 3D module, there will be support issues... given the fact that probably only ATI and nVidia care at all whether their cards support OpenGL (correctly) or not.
I don't know... I'm just throwing out some ideas... ;-)
I'd eventually like to move to BMax, but frankly, I feel kinda let down by the prospect of how I need to pay $80 for BMax "core", without the nice, tried-and-tested B3D command set, and then have to pay more (???) for the new 3D command set, that will potentially be "way cool", but will be much less compatible with Joe User's system. I'd hate to see Blitz go the way of DBPro... sweet eye-candy for the power-gamer with the big-wallet 9800 Pro or 6800 GT, but headache for everyone else... :-(
It would be unfortunate if the 3D module actually turned out to be something that is aimed at only the high-end, and I can't help but thinking about those three words that eventually turned me to B3D in frustration: Dark Basic Pro.
B3D still has a lot going for it in terms of being compatible with LOTS of systems out there. It's very difficult to be successful producing games for computers (vid cards) that only power-users have... and then only if they can keep their drivers up to date (the big computer-makers fall by the wayside on drivers almost immediately after each system hits the market - so users need to get "reference drivers", if they can).
Already, since BMax is going to be using OpenGL for the "official" 3D module, there will be support issues... given the fact that probably only ATI and nVidia care at all whether their cards support OpenGL (correctly) or not.
I don't know... I'm just throwing out some ideas... ;-)
I'd eventually like to move to BMax, but frankly, I feel kinda let down by the prospect of how I need to pay $80 for BMax "core", without the nice, tried-and-tested B3D command set, and then have to pay more (???) for the new 3D command set, that will potentially be "way cool", but will be much less compatible with Joe User's system. I'd hate to see Blitz go the way of DBPro... sweet eye-candy for the power-gamer with the big-wallet 9800 Pro or 6800 GT, but headache for everyone else... :-(