Need help with updating Blitz 2D

I've been away (from computers) for over a year and I am a bit confused with all the changes. Whats Blitz Plus. Is this the original Blitz 2D? and if so can Blitz 2D users like me update to it or is it seperate?
I bought Blitz Basic when it first came out for the PC so I have a very early version. I used to run it on WIndows 98, but now I find myself useing Windows NT on a new computer. How do I get it to run on Windows NT? I am a bit worried about installing it in case I mess the computer up - since it isn't mine. Should I get an update first and if so will this make it run with Windows NT?
I have downloaded the most recent update (but not installed it) but I can't see any documentation to download (on the website). Where can I get documentation?
Phew! sorry for all the questions. I hope people can help. Thank you very much.

Blitz Plus is the replacement for Blitz 2D but has a lot more features (winAPI stuff mainly), you cannot unfortunately upgrade to B+ from B2D it's a seperate purchase.

*EDIT*
The last B2D update I think was 1.80 which should still be downloadable in your account details. The docpak for Blitz 3D contains all the B2D commands as well, that is the docs you should download.

Thanks Perturbatio. I'm still finding my way - I actually meant Windows XP not Windows NT.
By the way does anyone know if you can still upgrade form Blitz 2D to Blitz 3D and get a discount because you're upgrading? - can't see anything on the website. I'm based in the UK.
Thanks.

Contact this guy, he should be able to help ya!

sales@...

cheers

>By the way does anyone know if you can still upgrade form
>Blitz 2D to Blitz 3D and get a discount because you're
>upgrading? - can't see anything on the website. I'm based
>in the UK.

The upgrade was only available the first 3 months after the release of B3D.

Andy

And despite buying B3D only a week after its release I never did make the most of that offer... ah well ^_^

I have decided that I will get Blitz 3D. I don't want the doenload version from the website - I like to have the manual and box! The cheapest I can find is at Amazon (UK), howver they list the versions of Windows it works on as: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me. However I am using XP. If I buy this version will it work with XP? is there an downloadable upgrade that will make it XP compatable?
I am a bit ignorant when it comes to compatablilty (as you may have guessed!) Thanks for any help. Rico.

there is a problem with purchasing from anywhere other than here.
the BUID will not be valid.

>I have decided that I will get Blitz 3D. I don't want the >doenload version from the website - I like to have the
>manual and box! The cheapest I can find is at Amazon (UK),
>howver they list the versions of Windows it works on as:
>Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me.

If you buy from Amazon, then you won't be able to get updates for your Blitz3D.

Why would you want to risk that, just to get a box and a manual?

>However I am using XP. If I buy this version will it work
>with XP? is there an downloadable upgrade that will make
>it XP compatable?

If you buy Blitz3D from blitzbasic.com, it will work with XP, depending on your graphics card drivers.

Andy

Surely it doesn't matter who you buy Blitz3D from - the money still goes to the same place. Don't they give you a card in the box with your BUID on? This sounds like a major injustice to me - if it is the case.
Moaning aside, I'm starting to wonder if I should wait for BlitzMax (whatever that is) now, because people are saying that if will be a completely seperate product from Blitz 3D. Hence you have to fork out again for it. I'm a bit miffed at having to fork out full price for Blitz 3D especially since I've already paid for all the 2D programming functions in my purchase of Blitz 2D. I don't want to buy Blitz 3D - only for it to be superceeded, a shortwhile later. (I know I'm still moaning).
I do appreciate everyones help on this matter. I spot a Wargames Reference - Andy. What happened to Matthew Broderick anyway? Didn't they do a TV sequel to Ferris Bueller or something?

Idiotcon is NOT legally selling Blitz. In most states and countries it is illegal to buy pirated software and possess pirated software. Blitz does NOT use BUIDs anymore, that was strictly an Idiotcon policy. Blitz comes with standard reg#s now. Unlike stolen property which is state crimes, software piracy is federal crimes and carries extremely stiff penalties, up to 20 years in the federal prison.

This is like buying a top of the line TV from some guy selling them out of the back of his van. They are obviously stolen and since they were not legally purchased from the legal distributors, you would not be entitled to service, upgrades and support from the manufacturer of the TV as they have received absolutely no $$ for the sale of the stolen TV. In most places, just being in posession of stolen property is likely to land you 3-5 years in prison.

It is a major injustice and it is affecting Blitz Research and the entire community, as it is costing Mark time to deal with the Idiotcon BS, as well as costing him money in all the lost sales, not to mention legal fees.

Still acting and done a few movies, but lately has been doing a ton of broadway and off broadway musicals, and has been quite good in the ones I have seen.

WarGames is one of my fave movies...

>Surely it doesn't matter who you buy Blitz3D from - the
>money still goes to the same place.

If you buy from blitzbasic.com, then Mark Sibly gets the money, and he can continue to update B3D.

If you buy from Amazon, the money goes to Idigicon, the former publisher of Blitz 3D, basically wasting the money.

>Moaning aside, I'm starting to wonder if I should wait for
>BlitzMax (whatever that is) now, because people are saying
>that if will be a completely seperate product from Blitz
>3D.

How long are you prepared to wait? From the worklogs, it seems as if Blitz MAX is not even in Alpha stage yet, which means that you have a long wait ahead of you.

>Hence you have to fork out again for it. I'm a bit
>miffed at having to fork out full price for Blitz 3D
>especially since I've already paid for all the 2D
>programming functions in my purchase of Blitz 2D. I don't
>want to buy Blitz 3D - only for it to be superceeded, a
>shortwhile later.

All I can say is that if you keep waiting for the next big thing, you will propably never buy anything, and you will have missed out on a great experience learning Blitz3D.

>I spot a Wargames Reference - Andy. What happened to
>Matthew Broderick anyway? Didn't they do a TV sequel to
>Ferris Bueller or something?

Don't know! I am into wargames for the peace message, not for the cast... Although Ally Sheedy was nice :)

Andy

Er Yes.. must apologise a bit for the tone of my last message - I was a bit fed up last night. I didn't realise all this about Idigcon. Seems a shame that Blitz can't be available in all outlets - just like all other software. I think I will get Blitz 3D, since even though I'm not writing a 3D game at the moment, it will be good to mess around with it.
Bit of a hassle with these reg numbers though. When I first got Blitz 2D I got a card with a 4 digit number on. Then I spent weeks getting a BUID from Guildhall. Now they've changed it again. Oh well, time to get some programming done........