Question for programmers *willing* to help Amiga OS...

[guest3110]

Under a different situation, the Topic would read more like "Undisclosed Widely-Known Company willing to port *very well-known* products to Amiga OS...if there are any volunteers", or if there was monetary incentive, it might even publicly include the name of both the company and products. But...(read on)
 
*Currently* (and this might change, not sure), there truly is a widely-known company who is offering the sources of at least two different very well-known software titles for those willing to port to Amiga OS. Despite them being a big company, they apparently have no money earmarked for these ports. So I thought I would float this question to programmers who like doing ports...if anyone wanted to volunteer and put together a team (if necessary) and just do it for the sake of Amiga OS.

I told (the person who is in contact with this big company) that I didn't think anybody in their right mind would do this for free, except of course the most dedicated of people who still believes in Amiga OS. If everybody knew the name of this company, and the titles involved, of course that would probably change things. Currently, it can't be said publicly.

So..the question: Would any one of you who programs and still doesn't mind doing so for Amiga/AmigaOS...be interested in such a thing, merely for the sake of Amiga gaining a few big titles from a well-known company who is offering the sources for porting?

[KThunder]

what kind of titles are we talking about here. applications, games, internet?

[Noster]

Hi,

sounds interesting, but there are so many unknown parameters:

- What type of program should be converted?
- In which programming language is the source?
- Is the code already written in a way that makes it easy to convert without completely rewritting?
- What will be done with the resulting port? Would it be freeware or sold comercial? Would the programmer be rewarded afterwards?
- How large is such a project, could it be done by a single person?

Noster

[guest3110]

Some things I can answer right now, but others are still waiting on a go ahead (I have emails I'm waiting to receive, so this may take a little time). Since this is a company, I may be waiting til Monday morning before something definite. I hope not; but I should at least hear from the intermediate contact before then.

At any rate, I can say that neither of the two titles is a game. After the resulting port, the programs will be sold at retail--as they will be this company's 'Amiga version' (which will be quite a sight to see, considering). It will be commercial. I assume there would be no problem at all with the names of those porting them...appearing in the software somewhere (as far as credit); that's probably a given, anyway. IF there is something worked out from Amiga-related sales, I don't know yet. Right now, so far...it's 'here is the source for those willing to port' kind of situation, because they dont' have funds earmarked for a port, but they're interested.

How large is the project? Very. Considerably. One of the titles is bigger than the other (to the tune of 3 CDs or more). The big one will take a team, no doubt. The other one could possibly be done by a single, competent programmer, but I would think still might require a team (just to make things go faster, and with less probs, etc.)

That's all I can say at this time, until I hear word. I have copied all concerns and questions and routed them for answering. This post also appears on AmigaWorld.net (in OS Development area) and ANN.lu (under Forum) under the same title. You can check there for other people's posts and a few more notes.

I can't wait to say who it is and what they are, believe me. That is, if I'm allowed. It's ultra-cool. (I now wish I had slept some last night. ugh. White-knuckled with anticipation and still giddy).  :-D

Slow and easy, though; just to make sure things go right and it's not messed up. One thing at a time. I will return when I have more to comment on, but am still routing concerns from all interested and all posting.

--EyeAm

EyeAm wrote:
Some things I can answer right now, but others are still waiting on a go ahead (I have emails I'm waiting to receive, so this may take a little time). Since this is a company, I may be waiting til Monday morning before something definite. I hope not; but I should at least hear from the intermediate contact before then.

At any rate, I can say that neither of the two titles is a game. After the resulting port, the programs will be sold at retail--as they will be this company's 'Amiga version' (which will be quite a sight to see, considering). It will be commercial. I assume there would be no problem at all with the names of those porting them...appearing in the software somewhere (as far as credit); that's probably a given, anyway. IF there is something worked out from Amiga-related sales, I don't know yet. Right now, so far...it's 'here is the source for those willing to port' kind of situation, because they dont' have funds earmarked for a port, but they're interested.

How large is the project? Very. Considerably. One of the titles is bigger than the other (to the tune of 3 CDs or more). The big one will take a team, no doubt. The other one could possibly be done by a single, competent programmer, but I would think still might require a team (just to make things go faster, and with less probs, etc.)

Hmmm... A company that "Hates" Microsoft you said elsewhere, and one of the titles is 3 CD's.

Only thing I can think of is some form of encyclopedia that has had it's sales slashed by Encarta maybe?

[Framiga]

The only thing that let me think, is WHY the thread has been deleted on ANN.

I haven't followed it. Any idea?

Framiga wrote:
The only thing that let me think, is WHY the thread has been deleted on ANN.

I haven't followed it. Any idea?

People where taking the piss out of EyeAm regarding all the x86-64 Exokernel bobbins he comes out with.

Probably that I would guess.

[guest3110]

Okay, I just hit the reply button, but this is to everyone here...

The full details were posted on AmigaWorld.net just moments ago, but in brief: Toaks (nickname) sort of stepped up to the plate as team leader, and I was given the go-ahead by my contact person to email him with the, well...contact info.

The details cannot be made public, as NDAs apparently are required (thought so). SO Toaks will take it from there, with instructions in his email. He'll be organizing the
team(s) and will be able to give much better technical info to those wishing to be part of the teams. I guess he'll also have the NDAs, etc., to take care of.

Too bad it can't be made public, but it's a good and real company and products.  :-) It's dancin' banana worthy.  :banana:  :banana:

Contact Toaks for further info, if interested, but give him time to get the crash course  :-D

[guest3110]

Oh, the deleted thread... Almost forgot :-) I think it was due to this port project being only for Amiga OS. That would be my guess. I think someone had asked that over there and I responded with that; but heck, they should know it's one thing at a time. I'm sure if the things are ported once, they might be able to be ported again, who knows.