Decision for 300, need opinions

[Mitharheru]

I voted "Don't care, will play no matter what" but haven't a clue what it all implies for me. Can someone translate the computer-speak into a direct description of what happens if the new system is implemented, i.e. I'm using ASCII exclusively, on a normal Windows XP platform. What would change for me? How would the screens look? And so on. I will not be switching to graphics tiles until they become cleaner and easier for me to distinguish, so I don't want to use something that complicates or impedes my ability to assimilate what's happening on-screen.

If I understand it correctly, nothing will change for you or anyone else using a graphics-capable operating system and playing directly from an installed ToME version, except for some improvements of the game engine and (perhaps) a slight loss in performance ...

For this reason I voted a definite YESSSSSSS !!!
I like ToME, and I'll probably like a better ToME 3 even better ...
(yup, sorry to those playing via SSH, but ... time moves on (at least I hope it does ...))

[Zizzo]

A couple years back, before I found ToME and was heavily into Angband, my notebook died and I had to send off for a new one. My only option for an Angband fix was to log onto my firewall/webserver computer and play on the Linux console, with no X or other graphics available.

I haven't had to exercise that option yet with ToME, but I don't want to lose it.

[Lord Satri]

Voted yes too. I like ASCII in ToME, but I too believe it would attract other kind of players. It probably would be very good for ToME's future.

btw, Neil's link to sdl screenshots is... *wow*

[Hunter]

Thanks, Mitharheru. Not that I understand any better, but I appreciate the reassurances about being able to retain the playability aspects that I enjoy now.

And somehow I missed Neil's link. Those screenshots are great, and the graphics are an order of magnitude better than the current ones, for me. I think I could find those quite palatable, especially when combined with ASCII windows for more traditional exploration views. So I'd vote "yes"...but only as an option, not as a requirement, since I do sympathize with other posters here who literally would be cut off from newer ToME's if it changed completely. That would be a sin. Perhaps releasing two different versions of ToME simultaneously with each update?

[darkgod]

Two versions is just not possible, too many changes.

And going all SDL doesnt mean to remove ascii mode, mind you without it I woudlnt even consider it

Well seeing the number of people liking or needing ssh ability, I think I'll try to design a groovy abstraction layer that can eitehr feed SDL or a simple text mode. Wont be easy though

[MisiuPysiu]

YES

I dont play over ssh so it doesnt matter to me. But I like the idea that TOME is going to be more and more independent from V. I mean TOME isn't just a V variant...

[Ludvig]

I don't use ssh either and the possibilities of sdl looks good so im in favor of it. (and if it can get us out of the shadow of Z and V all the better)

[vrak]

I voted no to this. Mostly, this is due to the fact that I regularly exercise the use of gcu support over SSH to my home box, and with a precious few exceptions, none of those places allow me to do X Forwarding. Thus this change would pretty much cut me off of playing the same game on the same computer, without sitting in front of it.

I've been playing this game for some years now, and it's come a long way, and the way it's going is only improving upon it, IMHO. However, without the curses/SSH support I wouldn't be able to continue that sorc or weapons-master when I for some reason find myself at my parents place, and that'd suck royally.

However, it's darkgod's variant, and he is entitled to do as he chooses. Ultimately, it's his own decision, and as any other open-source maintainer, he does this because he wants to, not because he's being payed to do it. If he should decide on the SDL solution, I wish him luck.

Oh, and if this happens, anybody else interested in forking and maintaining a version with gcu/SSH capabilities ?

[Canderel]

Yes (very much so!!!)

Thing is, I know that for windows graphical ssh stuff exists (VNC (though I hate VNC)) and I am pretty sure that they exist for linux.

(And DG agreed he'll try to support a text layer)

This will take the game to a new level, not just on portability, but graphical, sound, MULTIPLAYER... (with the TCP/IP things included in SDL)

(I have been unable to log on to a TomeNet server as such, and could not really determine why)

[Canderel]

http://www.linuxgames.co.za/noeGNUd/screenshots.php

This is roughly my vision of the flexibility I want in the SDL ToME.

Ahhh... my beloved South Africa! The screenshots are *really* impressive, and I it starting to get to how I envisioned how a graphical roguelike should look.

I see however that some of the graphics will make the game *much* bigger.

You'll not be using noeGNUd though? Writing your own thing based upon it right?

[iain_mac]

I say yes to the SDL port. Even though I use the ascii charset and not the graphics I still use the multiple windows option and it would be better if I could see the same interface when I am using KDE/GNOME/X/Windows.

[Tirpen]

I don't care about fancy grafics and stuff, but if this will make life easier for DG & co then I say go for it!

However, I do hope that someone will do a text/SSH fork for those here who use it often. I play over SSH from time to time to.

[Neil]

You'll not be using noeGNUd though? Writing your own thing based upon it right?

Undecided.

[Xandor Tik'Roth]

And what will become of us OS 8.6 users? I guess I'm not understanding the full implications of this, and as such, I can't vote yet.

[Neil]

And what will become of us OS 8.6 users? I guess I'm not understanding the full implications of this, and as such, I can't vote yet.

Read http://www.libsdl.org/ for details on portability. An SDL ToME should be more, not less, portable than the current game.