Messages

1

Non-Windows Software / Re: Steam: now has working beta of in-home streaming capability for games and apps

« on: February 07, 2014, 09:58 AM »

This does raise an issue that's being discussed in the Linux game dev world: Will Steam's In-home Streaming finally remove any motivation to develop native games for Linux? If you can develop for Windows, with its vastly larger userbase, why spend money porting to Linux at all? Especially now that a nix user can be told: "Just stream it from a Windows box"?

It's an interesting question. And a very real concern since the economics favors not porting. Many nix users who are diehard game fans already (of necessity) keep some flavor of Windows in house purely for gaming purposes. They either have a separate game box, run Windows in a VM, use a copy of CodeWeaver's CrossOver, or can dual boot into it. So the serious (i.e. buying) gaming crowd is already there.

Yep...very interesting question.

-40hz (February 05, 2014, 07:56 AM)

The people who are capable of streaming aren't the target market for porting games to Linux.  If someone has a Windows box to stream off, chances are they'd be willing to use that box for the game anyway.

Porting games to Linux has two major targets:  People who have no Windows machines (Or none that are gaming capable), and the potential market of the SteamOS boxes.  This second one is a huge market by it's very nature [Simplifying PC gaming to a level that Console owners are used to].  The people who buy a SteamOS box are doing so because the Can't/Won't/Don't want to set up a gaming PC.  This means they don't have a machine to stream off, and will be stuck with games that have been ported to Linux.

2

N.A.N.Y. 2014 / Re: NANY RELEASE: [PLUGIN] Growl For Windows Forwarder: Pushover

« on: February 07, 2014, 09:10 AM »

This is great Kahmal, thanks! I'm not a Growl for Windows user yet though but it made me aware of pushover which I didn't know before.

By the way, Growl for Windows seems to be stale (or even plain dead) from what I can see on the website, is this just me?

Cheers  /jerome

-jeromg (February 07, 2014, 07:29 AM)

It's still active, however it's slightly hard to notice from the surface. Most of the new features (Even those from the main developer) are implemented through plugins.
The third party applications page unfortunately doesn't seem to be maintained anymore (Partially due to the sudden influx of cross-platform apps once Growl [for Mac] implemented the GNTP protocol), but honestly as long as developers keep supporting growl, the core app doesn't need to change.

EDIT:

Growl is still being developed. There have not been any updates for quite awhile, but Windows 8 is the next big item on the list. I have a dev version that can show Growl notifications using the built-in toast notifications, but I am working on trying to capture other apps’ notifications to funnel through Growl as well.

So yeah, it's still being worked on.

3

Developer's Corner / Re: How to seamlessly verify a unique identity without requiring username/password?

« on: January 06, 2014, 10:43 PM »

I think that's part of OAuth or OpenID.

-Deozaan (January 06, 2014, 07:24 PM)

You can do it with both.  OAuth would be much more useful for a non-browser app.

However, my solution would be this:

• Each device/profile gets a GUID on first run.
• Player is prompted to link profile to an email address.
• If they do, send a confirmation email, and add the GUID to a database: [Email address]<[GUIDs]
• Merge data from local profile to email address

The profile ID is a unique identifier. This essentially means you don't need a password, because having the device is enough proof.
Linking to an email address should be optional. Only required if a user wishes to merge to GUIDs into a single profile.
Other than a once off association (Which is optional), the user doesn't need to see the login process again.

-kamahl (January 06, 2014, 07:41 PM)

This sounds very much like it could accomplish what I want to do. However, I see two potential problems with it:

1. I'd really prefer not to have any personal information about the players. This includes email addresses. Though I suppose I could store a seeded hash of the email address and compare it, and if it matches then merge accounts or whatever.
2. I hear stories about people changing some of their hardware (often their GPU) and it invalides their DRM-enabled program (usually a game) because they suddenly have a new GUID or something similar. Though I suppose I don't need to access the GUID every time the game runs. Just the first time to link to their online account and then I can simply store a reference to their account number or whatever and not rely on the GUID.

Are these problems anything I should even be concerned about? If so, do my own suggested solutions seem like they would reliably circumvent the problems? Are there other problems with my ideas that I should be aware of?

-Deozaan (January 06, 2014, 10:08 PM)

I would recommend creating the GUID once, and then storing it, rather than trying to link it to hardware identifiers.
That way, as long as the user doesn't blow away the config files your UID won't change.

The reason I suggested email addresses is that they are something that would be personal enough that people can't impersonate you.  
There would be nothing more irritating than if someone were to get their PC associated with my account, and sell all my items/get me banned from chat/other such effects.
A salted/hashed email is fine.  Just as long as there is a way for the user to be sure nobody else can associate to their account without their knowing.

EDIT: If someone were to clone said config files, and impersonate your GUID, that would still be an issue.  But such things can only really happen with physical access - And when that's true, it's generally easy enough bypass further restrictions anyway.

4

Developer's Corner / Re: How to seamlessly verify a unique identity without requiring username/password?

« on: January 06, 2014, 07:41 PM »

I think that's part of OAuth or OpenID.

-Deozaan (January 06, 2014, 07:24 PM)

You can do it with both.  OAuth would be much more useful for a non-browser app.

However, my solution would be this:

• Each device/profile gets a GUID on first run.
• Player is prompted to link profile to an email address.
• If they do, send a confirmation email, and add the GUID to a database: [Email address]<[GUIDs]
• Merge data from local profile to email address

The profile ID is a unique identifier. This essentially means you don't need a password, because having the device is enough proof.
Linking to an email address should be optional. Only required if a user wishes to merge to GUIDs into a single profile.
Other than a once off association (Which is optional), the user doesn't need to see the login process again.

5

N.A.N.Y. 2014 / Re: NANY RELEASE: [PLUGIN] Growl For Windows Forwarder: Pushover

« on: December 31, 2013, 12:34 AM »

Updated to 1.0, and added support for Notification Priority.

Note that for the moment, the app API Key I'm using has a limit of 7,500 calls per month.  They say they're willing to bump that for Open Source projects, and have done so for the OSX Growl one.  But for the moment, I've got a limit.

I'm a huge fan of Growl for Windows (and have included support for it on a few of my own apps).   

-skwire (December 31, 2013, 12:16 AM)

As am/have I. 

And while existing solution did work for me, I disliked having two notification apps on my phone, one for Growl, one for IFFT. So this happened.  On new years eve; when I realized "Oh hey! I haven't done anything for NANY yet".

6

N.A.N.Y. 2014 / NANY RELEASE: [PLUGIN] Growl For Windows Forwarder: Pushover

« on: December 30, 2013, 11:15 PM »

Application Name	Pushover Forwarder
Version	1.0
Short Description	Forwards Growl for Windows notifications through the Pushover mobile app.
Download link	Direct Install (Manual install)
Supported OS	See Growl for Windows; Pushover requirements.

Yep. Last minute.  
Plugin for Growl for Windows, forwards notifications to Pushover.  
(Existing plugins forward to either Android OR iOS. Pushover is the only service that goes to both my phone, and iPad.   Also IFFT uses it, which is awesome.)

Install here.

7

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY 2011 Release: NetLaunch

« on: October 08, 2012, 04:25 PM »

Yeah, that's what I was thinking

8

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY 2011 Release: NetLaunch

« on: October 08, 2012, 05:14 AM »

What improvements?
Also, I should probably ask about whether you decompiled my executable.

9

General Software Discussion / Windows 98 style File Extension Editor?

« on: January 29, 2012, 06:52 PM »

As a with a lot of things in the newer versions of windows (Looking at the controlless defrag in particular), They have a lot less power than they Windows 98 equivalents, to try to make things easier for normal users.  I'm looking for a program - Other than Regedit - Which will allow me to edit the individual actions in a File Extension.

Here's the Windows 98 dialogue, in case people need a refresher (It was over a decade ago)

10

DonationCoder.com Newsletters / Re: --> Newsletter for September 24, 2011 - "Fighting for Feathers"

« on: September 24, 2011, 10:04 PM »

You sent out an email with the august newsletter, rather than the september

11

General Software Discussion / Re: Stupid question ... what is the difference between != and <>?

« on: August 22, 2011, 01:23 AM »

There is one potential reason that some languages (C++ springs to mind) would have a difference between !(x==y) and x!=y

When making a class in c++ (And some derived languages), you may overload the == operator.  Doing so allows you to check if two instances are equal, even if they are not references to the same instance.  The thing you have to remember is that the C++ compiler will not automatically overload the != operator for you. As such, if the programmer of a class has forgotten to include something similar to the following,

[Select]

bool MyClass::operator!=(const MyClass &other) const {
    return !(*this == other);
  }

then !(x==y) will use your equality operator, while x!=y will simply check if they are the same instance.

So yes, when dealing with poorly written code, there is a difference between the two, but only in some languages, and only if the class in question wasn't implemented properly. 

12

N.A.N.Y. 2012 / [CANCELED]: Dungeon AI

« on: July 19, 2011, 05:02 AM »

Recently I have been wanting to play more D&D rather than just DMing all the time. Unfortunately nobody I know is willing to step up as a DM at the moment.   As such, I've decided to make my computer do so for me

Basically, DungeonAI is an application that can act as a GameMaster for D&D4E, complete with battlemap and condition/HP tracking.  

I'll probably code it in Java.  More details to come soon.

PS:  I don't actually have an internet connection right now, so I won't respond to this post for a couple days.

13

DcUpdater / Re: DcuHelper.exe v1.08 (3/23/11) - Update checking for your apps (dcupdater compat)

« on: June 25, 2011, 04:01 PM »

Any documentatiuon on how to expose the changelog?

14

Unfinished Requests / Re: IDEA: Send mailto: links to another computer on network

« on: June 13, 2011, 08:49 AM »

I could make this relatively easily. I have two options:

• Have a client-only program that uses PSExec to launch your mail app
• Make both client and serverside applications.

Having a serverside application means several things:

• You don't need to give the software the password for your other computer.
• It knows whether it was successful
• It requires the server app to be running.
• It will be more reliable than PSExec

(I assume that somebody is still interested in this app?)

15

General Software Discussion / Re: 15+ useful Chrome Extensions you might not have heard of

« on: June 13, 2011, 08:30 AM »

TabRocket is a must for anyone who uses more than one computer.  It basically allows you to push a tab from one computer to another.  (Requires that you use chrome's Bookmark Sync)

16

DC Member Programs and Projects / Re: GameShui Launcher

« on: June 07, 2011, 08:01 AM »

I know it's a take it or leave it type of thing, but there will be other tabs on it later.

-wraith808 (June 07, 2011, 07:44 AM)

And that's all I wanted to hear

As far as the external runtimes bit- what do you refer to?  .NET?  That's what my major focus is in for work- and when I do these side projects it's because I'm trying to advance those skills, so that's not going away.  Or were you referring to something else?

One other issue with using a ribbon (Assuming you're using one of the Microsoft-Provided implementations): It puts your minimum requirements at Vista SP2+. (This does vary between implementations, but is there in the Windows Ribbon Framework, which I assume is your ribbon of choice.)

And I guess, to a large extent, I was asking about the available fields- was there anything I missed in terms of important information to be available?

As I mentioned on the other launcher, the ability for a group of extra executables (Level Editor, Mod Manager, Configuration Tool, Safe Mode, Save Game Editor, etc) would be nice. (And I'm talking a List<>, not just one)

17

DC Member Programs and Projects / Re: GameShui Launcher

« on: June 07, 2011, 12:59 AM »

I agree, a ribbon feels like overkill in this application (At least the way it is now)
I'd recommend reading through this MSDN page and re-evaluating the choice and/or implementation of the ribbon.

Other than that, I assume that it automatically updates the PlayCount field?
Can it automatically grab the cover art, or do we need to do that manually?
What about the Publisher Details and Release Date?

What is the Digital checkbox supposed to represent?

Could you change the format for the Release Date to show Date, rather than DateTime?

Overall it looks promising. 

18

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: PC game launcher/organizer/frontend

« on: May 25, 2011, 09:49 AM »

Make the "Other Executables" tab more expansive. (Five or six executables, and let us change the labels).
For example, one game could have:

• Map Editor
• DX9 version
• Safe Mode
• Save Game Editor
• Config

And you should probably add an option to Close/Kill programs before you launch the game.

also, pics of the details view?

19

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: PC game launcher/organizer/frontend

« on: May 07, 2011, 09:23 AM »

Games explorer notices eight of them

-kamahl (May 07, 2011, 06:53 AM)

Problem here is that games have to register with Games Explorer, during install usually, to be noticed by GE, so it's not directly GE's 'fault', IMHO

-Ath (May 07, 2011, 07:23 AM)

Exactly.  And there are ways around that.

-wraith808 (May 07, 2011, 08:23 AM)

Yes, and I have used that to input an additional 5 games - It's just too slow and ugly to use, when doing in a large scale.

20

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: PC game launcher/organizer/frontend

« on: May 07, 2011, 06:53 AM »

Well, I just use Steam as my game launcher. Even for non-Steam games. But that probably won't be useful for games that require DOSBox.

-Deozaan (May 05, 2011, 09:48 PM)

I use XFire for my game launcher, although I'm currently also playing the Raptr, which is quite similar.

-kamahl (May 05, 2011, 10:21 PM)

I didn't suggest that either b/c if he wasn't satisfied with the game explorer, he definitely wouldn't be satisfied with steam or xfire or raptr.  They have even *less* customization options.

-wraith808 (May 06, 2011, 06:06 AM)

I agree, but thought I'd weigh in my opinion regardless - My personal complaint with Games Explorer is that of the 200 games on my computer, Games explorer notices eight of them.

(Also, Both Steam and XFire allow you to put in Command Line Arguments, which was one of the requests above, and also have a per-game screenshot manager)

21

General Software Discussion / Re: DLS: Mozilla publishes name and shame list of slow Firefox add-ons

« on: May 06, 2011, 12:45 AM »

I take the same approach as app103. Sometimes I install but disable extensions for later use.

-housetier (April 04, 2011, 02:30 PM)

I just wish that FF approached extensions in the same way as chrome in regards to restarting the browser.  I would use disable more for extensions that I don't use that much, but I hate restarting the browser to do so.

-wraith808 (April 04, 2011, 04:15 PM)

A shiny new feature in Firefox 4 offers exactly that.  It's just very few developers are yet to convert their addons to use it. Here's a few that do.

22

Post New Requests Here / Re: Windows Shortcut transformation

« on: May 05, 2011, 10:38 PM »

A feature request for you:  Would it be possible to have it convert shortcuts to symlinks?

23

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: PC game launcher/organizer/frontend

« on: May 05, 2011, 10:21 PM »

I use XFire for my game launcher, although I'm currently also playing the Raptr, which is quite similar.

24

Living Room / Re: Too much free time apparently :)

« on: February 09, 2011, 09:35 PM »

Assuming Mouser doesn't post anything for those 2.5 years?

25

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY 2011 Release: NetLaunch

« on: January 23, 2011, 05:43 AM »

Ack, came back to see if you posted a comment about my issues and I missed it.  Found that my post with the full error report never posted! 

So anyway, I will post now with my appologies that I didn't verify I posted them sooner.

Everything else was in one of those reports for Microsoft, but I was unable to copy any of them out of the "view report" except by taking a great many screenshots.  I believe, though, that they really won't help you anyway.  They looked like OS related errors rather than application errors, though they may be related....

-steeladept (January 22, 2011, 12:59 PM)

uhh...  Congratulations? You've got an error I didn't know was possible, let along existent in my code..
Can you upload the Settings.xml located in

• %userprofile%\Appdata\Local\Kamahl (Vista/7)
• %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Kamahl (XP)

And you can fix the bug by renaming the file. (I still want to see it though)