my mail to Ambrosia

Quote

At <a href="http://support.realsoftware.com/feedback/viewreport.php?reportid=kevrhehr">http://support.realsoftware.com/feedback/viewreport.php?reportid=kevrhehr </a> a similar problem is described and it should be solved in Real Basic 5.1. Only this is in win XP. The funy thing is that on win XP Coldstone works fine.

May I sugest a recompile using Real baisc 5.1? Since you sold me a product that was supposed to be crossplatform AND capable of playing QT movies and MP3 files, this should be priority number one.

I have a deadline set in August which I thought I could make after testing Coldstone on win2k. I hope you realize I have a serious problem.

Regards,

Jeroen Goulooze

Besides I a m looking at all the newwsgroups and help websites ffor a solution. I mailed realbasic and some other people wwith a description of the problem.

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(This message has been edited by jeroen goulooze (edited 06-30-2003).)

I understand your plight, by why are you posting this here if you mailed Ambrosia? There has been nothing done to Coldstone in almost a year. I too would love to see all it's problems fixed, but even I'm starting to lose faith.

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Just pimpin' my (url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/dampeoples/iblog/dampeoples")scandalous stories(/url),(url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/dampeoples/damcam.html")voyeur cam(/url), (url="http://"http://www.dampeoples.com")stuff(/url), (url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/dampeoples/artlinks/stuff.html")art tutorial links(/url), and (url="http://"http://www.thejbfc.com")Fishing!(/url)

I want people to know. This is a serious problem because they did not deliver what was promised us when we payed for the software: cross platform (Mac/Win) and capable of playing movies and music. I am willing to live with workarounds, but not with this. I was planning to create some serious stuff with this, not rpg but different.

If eventually Ambrosia should not deliver as promised we have a case that could be taken to court. My main problem is that I live in the Netherlands, and I would not know how to start legal actions from here. But lets hope it does not have to come to that.

Besidess it is bad for their business: one can not start a commercial production with a crippled engine, so no extra revenue for Ambrosia there. I probably have to abondon my commercial plans, at least the one planned for august. Not a big production but I wanted to send some money to Ambrosia (a local theatre festival for children).

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(This message has been edited by jeroen goulooze (edited 06-30-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by dampeoples:
**I understand your plight, by why are you posting this here if you mailed Ambrosia? There has been nothing done to Coldstone in almost a year. I too would love to see all it's problems fixed, but even I'm starting to lose faith.

**

I assure you that Beenox's programers are doing their best to fix problems with coldstone. Although since coldstone has not sold well, Beenox has little funding to give to the programers fixing the bugs. You are also mistaken, there has been a bug fix with the unregestered version of coldstone message showing up for regestered users released on Febuary 27, 2003.

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Thanks,
GrahamVH
graham@warcraftcentral.com
Coldstone Developer (url="http://"http://www.warcraftcentral.net/legends/main.html")http://www.warcraftc...gends/main.html(/url)

(This message has been edited by GrahamVH (edited 06-30-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by GrahamVH:
**I assure you that Beenox's programers are doing their best to fix problems with coldstone. Although since coldstone has not sold well, Beenox has little funding to give to the programers fixing the bugs. You are also mistaken, there has been a bug fix with the unregestered version of coldstone message showing up for regestered users released on Febuary 27, 2003.

**

Okay, I like to hear that you are working on it. But what is the problem? Is it a quicktime registration problem on win98 because the game acts like there is no quicktime installed on the machine. (I tested on XP machines with and without quicktime. XP Machines without quicktime react the same way as win98 machines with). Could it be solved with for instance running a tiny other program to change a setting in the registry maybe?

Does it have to do with the fact that the existence of quicktime can not be established on win machines using RB (one has to use a workaround for that.)

I tried reinstalling Quicktime using the recomended option since that was mentioned in another context on the RB Dev list at RealBasic.com. But alas.

Is it a Real Basic problem and why could i not find a reference to it on the website? Or is it a Quicktime problem that may or may not be solved in the next release by Apple? Or is it something specific to Coldstone? could it be solved using a newer version of Real Basic?

Too many questions I know. Sorry, but i would like to know. Especially since I would like to make my august deadline. But i have to know if i will make it with or without coldstone.

BTW: is the bug fix version 1.0.1?

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Ambrosia might be ale to get some things moving,
Beenox is the actual developer.

however CGE hasn't been a prority since summer 1997, the first stable usable build.
during its final stages of development, it was delayed for about 8months while they partenered with Pangea to bring about CroMag Rally.

They've since ported 2 tonyHawks, 1 kellySlater (all 3 for Aspyr), become a certified xBox developer, created a GOLIATH of an engine which is now awaiting a home (also a game to demonstrate its power,VATZ..I see a pattern), and a new project announced last Thursday codenamed Twister..

Its nice to see them grow, but it appears that coldStone was their way of breaking into the industry.. a stepping stone.

I'd could see CGE 2 contracted to a new developer, built from the original conceptual stage. With new ideas solicited via an CGI/PHP/HTML form eMail asking for input in a structured, clear,succinct, orderly fashion. Such could be distributed to registered users of the existing community.

Many of you who have;
the capability to design in 3D,
OSX.1+
could release a moderate game, establish yourself as a name, and move on to;

(url="http://"http://www.igame3d.com")iGame3D(/url)- cryptic shorthand, similar basic english syntax*. Subject-Predicate, object-indirect Object, adjectives, etc. It took me about an hour to read through the documentation, it has a good basis, the dev. team is very accessible (input form on home page, next day response), (url="http://"http://www.igame3d.com/phpBB2/index.php")And they now have a forum(/url). Quick hint: i call it shorthand because " , "/commas are used in place of prepositions/articles of speech. features 3D sound, GUI, hints at a weaker engine (active 3d model capacity)

(url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/shavendave/Menu3.html")DIM3(/url)- Uses standard JavaScript with added custom commands/functions, which as we all know is a language worth learning especially if you have a website**, learn a markettable life skill. Then use your game to exemplify it. It has a growing community at the (url="http://"http://www.idevgames.com/forum/")iDevGames Forum(/url). Its the more complex of the 2, but its stronger(5000+ vertex models), has a better support base (being that it's JS).

Both have everything you need to create something better than FinalFantasy7 or 8. Oh, very important, i think both support keyframe posing/morphing, meaning that you create a fnishing pose, oh say with the character's hand outstretched (as if shaking), and then create another pose with the character's arms akimbo, and it'll fill in the intermediate positions...as always the more keyframes the better. Both use the (url="http://"http://www.codenautics.com/meshwork/index.html")MeshWork(/url) file format (you can import pricey models).

if you happen to have a 90+ page script lying around cough. Don't want to have to shrink/gut your prerendered sprites cough.
Tired of rendering/ capturing angles.
enjoy the reduced file size of 3D versus renders (30k for one static image, 30k for a infinitely poseable model with 8 textures and any angle without worrying about perspective/shading.

its an option you should know about, especially for projects that fall under improbable in CGE, its time better spent than whittling it into the square peg, and certainly better than throwing away your brain child.

*syn•tax (sžn2taks1) n.
1.a. The study of the rules whereby words or other elements of sentence structure are combined to form grammatical sentences. b. A publication, such as a book, that presents such rules. c. The pattern of formation of sentences or phrases in a language. d. Such a pattern in a particular sentence or discourse.
2. Computer Science. The rules governing construction of a machine language.
3. A systematic, orderly arrangement.

**{ Standing fee for a basic 5 page website with minimal javaScript,build once, custom graphics,no frills, see 'folio, sell for $500. I recieved several emails from web design firms offering to build me a website, i anonymously visited their websites, and asked for a quote describing the bare specs of my old site ( (url="http://"http://ellrx.web1000.com/fleur/index.html")fleur(/url)/(url="http://"http://ellrx.web1000.com/yard/index.html")yard(/url)/(url="http://"http://ellrx.web1000.com/lemon/index.html")lemonODD(/url) ) }

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... paper(draw,conceptualize,finalize)photoshop(texture)-- >3d(model,capture,render,build,optimize,rotate,redesign)-->photoshop(alpha mask, tweak,scale,convert)-->graphicConverter(strip resource fork, color correct(PSv5) optimize)-->finder(naming,organizing)-->engine/coldstone(animate/script animation), do that 349 times fast, nyah nyah, ny-yanh yah, nener nener nener.
{ edit: spontaneous materialization of the iGame3D forum link }

(This message has been edited by ellrx (edited 06-30-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by jeroen goulooze:
**Okay, I like to hear that you are working on it. But what is the problem? Is it a quicktime registration problem on win98 because the game acts like there is no quicktime installed on the machine. (I tested on XP machines with and without quicktime. XP Machines without quicktime react the same way as win98 machines with). Could it be solved with for instance running a tiny other program to change a setting in the registry maybe?

Does it have to do with the fact that the existence of quicktime can not be established on win machines using RB (one has to use a workaround for that.)

I tried reinstalling Quicktime using the recomended option since that was mentioned in another context on the RB Dev list at RealBasic.com. But alas.

Is it a Real Basic problem and why could i not find a reference to it on the website? Or is it a Quicktime problem that may or may not be solved in the next release by Apple? Or is it something specific to Coldstone? could it be solved using a newer version of Real Basic?

Too many questions I know. Sorry, but i would like to know. Especially since I would like to make my august deadline. But i have to know if i will make it with or without coldstone.

BTW: is the bug fix version 1.0.1?

**

I'm not the one that fixes the bugs for beenox or work for beenox in any way but, I only know this because I helped beenox fix the bug I listed earlier. So I can't say exactly what the problem is. All I can say is that they are still trying to fix bugs for coldstone.

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Thanks,
GrahamVH
graham@warcraftcentral.com
Coldstone Developer (url="http://"http://www.warcraftcentral.net/legends/main.html")http://www.warcraftc...gends/main.html(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by GrahamVH:
**I'm not the one that fixes the bugs for beenox or work for beenox in any way but, I only know this because I helped beenox fix the bug I listed earlier. So I can't say exactly what the problem is. All I can say is that they are still trying to fix bugs for coldstone.

**

Okay.... but do they KNOW about this bug?

And besides: I choose to work in 2D: tried creating a 3d game with a lot of people but it was simply too complex. I want to focus on story, on interacting with an environment, create arty stuff, like being able to visit someones mindscape and view the history of that person by finding movies at the wierdest places or do kids games. Maybe I move on to director later on, but the simplicity is refreshing because it takes my mind of the programing into the creative aspect.

in 2d one can make nicer graphics in shorter time. andd that is what i want. use 3d and 2 d and pictures and scans from paintings

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(This message has been edited by jeroen goulooze (edited 06-30-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by jeroen goulooze:
**Okay.... but do they KNOW about this bug?

And besides: I choose to work in 2D: tried creating a 3d game with a lot of people but it was simply too complex. I want to focus on story, on interacting with an environment, create arty stuff, like being able to visit someones mindscape and view the history of that person by finding movies at the wierdest places or do kids games. Maybe I move on to director later on, but the simplicity is refreshing because it takes my mind of the programing into the creative aspect.

in 2d one can make nicer graphics in shorter time. andd that is what i want. use 3d and 2 d and pictures and scans from paintings

**

I can ask beenox about this bug if you would like, but I believe if you sent it to Ambrosia tech support they will know about it soon if not already.

------------------
Thanks,
GrahamVH
graham@warcraftcentral.com
Coldstone Developer (url="http://"http://www.warcraftcentral.net/legends/main.html")http://www.warcraftc...gends/main.html(/url)

(This message has been edited by GrahamVH (edited 06-30-2003).)

I had contact with David Dunham. He said they are working on it with Real Basic. I asked if there was a timetable. He said no. I asked: can I make my august deadline or should I start working with Director?*

I got no answer.

I want to know!@%^&

And I am willing to help, with testing, finding info, etc. I don't know any RB right now, but eventually I might choose it as a platform.

(*in Director I can only go from room to room, there is no way that I know of to do a scrolling map . Besides I will only have the money for version 7 or 8 from ebay, not for the newest version. And I will have to learn it. Flash is not an option, since one can not save a game in progress. But I know Flash. )

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This is the answer I got from David Dunham:

Quote

The developer of Coldstone is working directly with the engineers at
RealBasic. In trying to recompile on 5.1, realbasic hung and never
recovered. The project files have been sent to RB, and they're working
on an update to RB that fixes the hanging problem. We expect news soon.

I asked if recompiling in the 5.2 version of Real Basic made any difference.

I still think it is funny that there is no mention of this problem in the RB bugs database.

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Quote

Originally posted by jeroen goulooze:
**This is the answer I got from David Dunham:

I asked if recompiling in the 5.2 version of Real Basic made any difference.

I still think it is funny that there is no mention of this problem in the RB bugs database.

**

Most likely it fixes a bug that is tied into the Windows movie code. With the bug this code can't work proporly.

------------------
Thanks,
GrahamVH
graham@warcraftcentral.com
Coldstone Developer (url="http://"http://www.warcraftcentral.net/legends/main.html")http://www.warcraftc...gends/main.html(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by GrahamVH:
**Most likely it fixes a bug that is tied into the Windows movie code. With the bug this code can't work proporly.

**

The game does not crash. It acts as if Quicktime is not installed. I tested that on XP machines with and without Quicktime.

XP without quicktime = Win98/ME with Quicktime <=> movies and mp3's are skipped

XP with Quicktime = OK

I do not know if it only afffects the latest quicktime install.

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