BlitzNews Letter?

Miscellaneous Forums/General Discussion/BlitzNews Letter?

Will we be seeing a Newsletter next month?

I'm also dying to ask this.

Can we have a rough estimate, ie. next week or next month, on when the GUI module will be released?

Will the module be a download from shareit or will there be a private area where you can download if you have a BUID for it?

Will there be 3 simultaneous releases for all platforms or will we see one platform release first?

Wouldn't it be better to allow people to prepay and test a beta to find bugs?

Is the demo close to release?

How will the demo function?

Will you be selling the GUI mod dirt cheap like BlitzMax?

Speculation is of course welcome.

There will be 3 simulataneous releases, none of the rest I could answer for sure... and of course it will be dirt cheap like every other BRL product... way below what they should be charging ;]

Oh and the newsletter hope is just silly =]

Can we have a rough estimate, ie. next week or next month, on when the GUI module will be released?

Speculation : BRL would love to be able to say a week, but in reality it will probably be next year ;] Or Xmas/early Decemeber...

It could be with us inside the next eleven years, or so I have heard.

Id be happy with a simple newsletter thats just some questions answered my Mark.

your mark?
can he come out and play?

I haven't seen a newsletter in a few months... Perhaps one of us should stop whining about it and make one to offer the folks round here!!!???!!! Hmmm I have a full time job but does anyone else wish to volenteer?

Way back in the mid 80's I published one of the first electronic newsletters called Rook Zimbabwe Photo News. It was a kind of a blog and a rant and a report sheet about camreas and photography (and prices) of the day. I did it all myself and it lasted about 6 issues (1 year) and was difficult but since I was fresh out of college and unemployed and could not afford the camera equipment I wanted I wrote about that instead.

Mark is running a business and programming. He would have to hire someone (for real money) to write the newsletter each month. That adds to his overhead.

In short... I don't think you will be seeing a newsletter until someone volunters and makes one.

RZ

.

About once every 4 days. Time's up! When's MaxGUI due? See sig for more rambling, etc. I'm tired.

Someone should maintain a sig that tracks the last time each product/module was inquired about.

It'd change sub-daily. Seriously.

I guess its taking such a long time because I dont think a GUI is as easy to make as it sounds, especially since its multiple-platform they have to handle events, use the systems own GUI stuff (QT, WX, Windows, etc) So I guess all of that makes it a much more meanial task than your average slap together GUI module for a single platform. Yeah it would be nice to get frequent progress updates, have Mark hang around the forum more...

For Gods sake, everyone who keeps moaning should just shut up, get a life, do some programming and stop being such big nob cheeses. :)

.

I want to know when Mark is going to release the Cheese module!!!


Obviously when He finishes fixing bugs in the Celery module. Would you just bloody wait, the cheese module will be out in due time!

.

Did someone say Nob Cheese?

I think the biscuit module is more fundamentally needed than a cheese module.

This is someone who likes cheese but goes crackers if there are no biscuits ;P

wow.. threads are rapidly speeding off-topic nowadays.. LOL

off-topic is like the evolution of life... 'it will find a way'.. :P

meh

Did someone say Cheesey biscuts???

i don't understand why Mark don't post any news and answers. In my mind, sincerely, this is not the best blitz days ! No Max3d, no MaxGUI, no MaxNews !!!

.

sorry.... no MaxCheese ;-)

now cmon guys... i just had a thread locked trying to push the powers that be to allow free and open discussion regarding some of the legitimate frustrations that some of the membership is experiencing here...

... but in all honesty, and although i don't agree with censorship in this form... some of you are making it pretty hard for me to have a leg to stand on, constantly badgering Mark about not having a newsletter... not delivering on this module... not delivering on that module...

sure things are a lil behind schedule... i more than anyone (except mabey ENAY) would definitely like to have the 3D module, the Gui module, and yes, even the Cheesey module completed and available...

... but lets be realistic.

1- this is not a large scale production... Blitz is coded by a small core of people... we're just gonna have to wait

2- i have every confidence that in a few months, all of the complainers (and they have every right to do so in an open community) will be happily coding their tails away with the 'Max gui and 3d and whatever modules... and this will be a forgotten issue... so can't we sorta try to show a lil patience... and maybe just a lil restraint...
the guy has come through for us before...

3- send your qualifications up to Mark, and offer a hand... if you are a capable coder, then help out with sections of the code... if your expertise lies in artwork or doc writing... then help out there... if you can do serious beta, then help out there...
i see this as being more productive than simply complaining...

besides... it'll keep me from harrassing James about the ills of censorship... and possibly getting my arse banned around here too :)



--Mike

Are they looking for volunteers to do the newsletter?

Or is it only official brl peeps that are expected to put this together?

Man, why you gotta be a killjoy? This thread was proceeding nicely toward "complete silliness."

i dunno... ask em... (about the newsletter)

the reply to jH's 'killjoy' post is below...

--Mike

If it continues to progress to complete silliness, it will get locked!

well jH... that's my job... they pay me well to locate, and put a damper on any signs of fun and glee that might pop up around here...

... i do it with great pride.

besides... the issue of the Cheese Module was about to come to a head... i could see it now...

the Cheedar fanboys on one side, starting a flame war with the Cobly Jack fanboys... with the Edam lot caught in the middle...

the casualties would've been unimaginable... for the sake of all mankind, i had to step in and intervene...

--Mike

Right, like moaning for updates isn't already destined for lockage.

all moaning should be subject to lockage... only screaming and writhing in pain should be allowed... and actively encouraged...

--Mike

Damn cross-posting, those last several posts are bizarre to read.

yeah... like the ones directly above weren't bizarre enough :)

--Mike

Ok seriously are we going to get newsletters again?

The Game Creators have newsletters every month! C'mon dont slip folks! Where's your spirit?

.

Seriously The Game Creators are making BRL look bad. Its bad enough that you go to the BLitz Website and see that same yellow ball, same issue for the last 8 months! Turn around and see a new issue from the Game Creators every month!!

What's worse is that when people bring this up the topics get locked!

Furthermore, will you guys STOP posting spam on this thread and get serious for once? If you post a joke or spam I'm just going to repost my point, because my message should get across to BRL and I think there are plenty of people that are upset that no more issues are being made.

You just said that two posts above.

Well I was re-iterating it because more jokes, all I see is jokes.. and I fear this topic will get locked. But if you lock this topic there will not be a resolve and people will still want to know when the next issue will be out wont they? There will still be new buyers of blitz and ask the same question so why not answer it?

will you guys STOP posting spam on this thread and get serious for once?

No. *sticks out tongue*

the Game Creators!!!!!!

funny you should mention that lot... allow me to quote you a part of the proceedings from that zoo counselor...


Duffer
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User


Joined: Sun Feb 9th 2003
Location: chair Posted: 2nd Nov 2005 09:27

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to be fair, the latest newsletter was excellent in other regards but it told us everything and it told us nothing.... as a community we would be wondering:-

a. what about this new physics expansion pack. how does it fit in with ode which is already there? when is it due? should I wait for the expansion pack? why should I wait for the expansion pack over ode?

b. when will current totality of commands be documented in help?

c. what are the two or three next upgrades envisaged? what will u.5.10 be seeking to do / resolve in broadbrush terms, and what about upgrade 6?

any clarification possible (by TGC) at this point?


a long time dabbler with DBC and DBPro with no actual talent but lots of enthusiasm...
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Richard Davey
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TGC Admin


Joined: Tue Apr 30th 2002
Location: Another World Posted: 2nd Nov 2005 09:49

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It's The Game Creators newsletter, not the "DBPro Newsletter". There is more to what we do than DBPro.

I could fill the newsletter up with pure guess-work on some of the points raised above, but when the first point still can't be discussed because it's not out of NDA and the others are all speculation even for the developers concerned, what's the point in raising hopes now?


People don't quit playing because they grow old.
They grow old because they quit playing.
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Van B
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Moderator


Joined: Tue Oct 8th 2002
Location: My lair. Posted: 2nd Nov 2005 09:53

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Any member of this community can evesdrop on Lee and Mike's diaries, so really that's the best place to watch for hints about what's happening with DBPro. Not that I've checked them in a while - they could be more focussed on Lee's plight for milk, or just Mikes plight...


Van-B


Red Ocktober
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User


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i'm sorry guys... i gotta agree with Duffer on this one...
i've been lurking around for months now, waiting for a definite direction to emerge... DBPro seems to be lost in a muddled world of FPSC and Star Trek 17, The Search For Kahn's Daddy... have neglected, totally without focus...

i too was sorta hoping that once the FPSC codebase was signed, sealed, and delivered, that some serious news would be forthcoming on the DBasicPro front...

something like a Shader Factory... a unified Shader architecture... a revamp of the language, maybe a streamlining of the myriad commands... a syntax rewrite maybe...

... something.

to tell a guy...
Quote: "It's The Game Creators newsletter, not the "DBPro Newsletter". "
... is verrrry much like telling him that if you don't have bread, then eat cake...

i know that you guys are better than that... maybe it's cause you are wrapped up in work preceding the holidays and all, but surely you can give Duffer... and for that matter, myself, and, i'm sure, a few others out there a lil more than that...


Quote: "what's the point in raising hopes now?"
Rich!!!!


--Mike
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Van B
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Definate Direction?

Do you work in marketing at all Red?

The changes that have hit DBPro with just patch 5.9b3 are huge:

FPSC level loader.
Free built in physics.
Spanking new collision system.

Now shaders are a tiny little ball of fluff compared to the gripes that have been had regarding collision - and TGC are fixing that age old problem in spades. DBPro is a different language now Red, you should play with the new blend modes and the new shadow shading - do that and get upto date on DBPro before passing judgement.


Van-B


David T
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Moderator

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Quote: "should I wait for the expansion pack? why should I wait for the expansion pack over ode?"

Yes.

ODE will never be documented, it was just an unsupported extra. As a separate plugin I assume the Physics pack will come with loads of docs, examples, and support.


"A book. If u know something why cant u make a kool game or prog.
come on now. A book. I hate books. book is stupid. I know that I need codes but I dont know the codes"
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Red Ocktober
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i run my whole lil company here Van... that includes marketing as well as making the coffee...

so, if you expect me to buy into the hype that comes out of a marketing group, then you are talking to the wrong boy... sell that to those paying customers who don't know any better...

and don't center your response on shaders, merely because that happened to be one of the few things that i've mentioned... of course there are a few things that need focused attention... that's exactly my point...

i don't understand your defensive attitude... what do you want me to do... close my eyes and walk around aimlessly with eyes wide shut, carrying my DBPro flag around, not daring to offer a viewpoint from the trenches... which may upset the status quo... while DBPro is seemingly ignored...

there are a few in those trenches... a few programmers who remember when DBasic was the bread and butter, premeire product line around here... and possibly the reason that The Game Creators even exists at all today...


also... you assume that i haven't kept up with the language... then, on top of that, you assume to suggest that DBPro is an entirely new language... do i have to tell you what ASSUME does to the person that ASSumes too much...

what's new... show these coders what's new... has the syntax been streamlined and made uniform... like you mentioned, has any news on the work on collisons been revealed... what about networking... and back to shaders... hey, news flash, this is the eye candy of the new age... it sells... going along with DBASICs mantra of making it easy to make games... where is the ease in this... how has the language changed to make this easier... where are the tools for the DBASIC developer who doesn't know asm, hlsl to make his DB project shine...

how has DBPro made it any easier for me to create the next DOOM3 killer game using it.... huh???

in actuallity... to many of us... DBPro is the same, bug ridden, syntax obtuse, dialect of DX empowered BASIC that it was last year this time... with a few more commands added to increase the confusion...

look around... hear the words on the street (on the net)... the last reference i read to 5.9 beta3 was that it presented more problems with its 'fixes' than the old version with its bugs...


before passing judgement you accuse me of doing... what judgement have i passed... i merely am asking the same question that another member of this community is asking... and a valid question at that...

instead of telling this guy that there's more to life than the DBAsic Pro Pyramid... you might try giving him some answers to his questions that reflect a positive, forward moving attitude on the part of the gods up on TGC mountain...

the attitude that you show here sends a bad message out to us who are still hanging around waiting for something to happen...

but hey... i just wanna see good things come from here... i don't have a financial stake in this at all, except maybe for the worth of my time invested in the projects i've worked on using DBPro... that plus the cost of the license, and the time spent here trying to open the eyes of someone who should already have some of this in plain sight... well heck... there's always alternatives...

in the same segment of the tools market that DBPro exists... lets see... there's TrueVision... Torque... Blitz... just to name a few...

so... keep on talking to the people who are on your side like they are idiots... and you'll be standing here alone...




i won't bore you with the entire thread... enough to show that they are indeed getting a newsletter... but as one member correctly points out there... very little of any substance contained in it...

(then, when i try to come to this guys defense and point out that he does have legit concerns... the whole weight of the fanboy mods guild over there is unleashed upon me... thank god that the head guy Rich Davey is a right sorta guy... it's only because of him that i have anything at all to do with DB... he's got vision, and i can garauntee, will give you a decent hearing)...

anyways... me... i'd rather go a few months without a newsletter... and get the modules instead...

but hey, that's just me... i can understand where you're coming from too...


--Mike

Hey, you know what they say - no news is good news!

<ducks for cover>

It was a rhetorical question. Like I really thought anyone would listen. All I'm trying to express is that there is a DEEP concern for the welfare of this program. I know I'm not the only one, but at the same time I still enjoy the community's help with BMax (so it isnt that bad).

I just wish that we would get more newsletters, I think we will in due time honestly. I guess there isnt any more point in me posting here because I'm getting the same response which is:

A) Joke from fellow community member who knows this question is pointless to ask (probably)

B) Lock from moderator who locks because there are "jokes" or just because "this question was already answered"

which leads to C:

The questions aren't really answered they just say "we're too busy right now, we are working on it, oh and the newsletter is resting and will be back up whenever we want it to" and thats about it.

Which means:

"We have no idea when we'll be done with X, we are working on it though.. but we cant make promises we cant keep"

"We have no resources to work on the newsletter, we will not have a newsletter until we have the resources to do work on it"

Someone could do an unofficial newsletter - we can still do what has been done before, even interviews and stuff like that. BRL probably don't have time for a newsletter. However, if the lack of BMax news in the newsletter is irellevent, then I will certainly back someone doing it themselves. No reason why we cannot have a Community newsletter - just like there are separate Blitz sites and chatrooms.

Right, who is going to do the unofficial newsletter?

Volunteers please - or I will just do it myself.

I have no newsletter experience but if you give me something to write about (like a game you choose, or something) to review or something I'll do it!

I feel that BRL has been spread to thin and this problem is growing and it will be interesting to see how things all even out in the end. My hope is that things even out well for BRL and not bad. I just think that BRL should look at the BOTTOM LINE and make some changes in their infrastructure.

1) seeing a newsletter as advertised as "this months" and then reading that its March is very discouraging and says "BUYER BEWARE" all over it.The only reason why I bought BlitzMax is because it was referred to me by developers that have some success in the shareware field.

2)I would not purchase it if I ran into it alone seeing "March" as the latest newsletter - POINT BLANK - it makes it look like an abandoned project.

True, as even if there is a community newsletter done by members of the community it will not be updated on the site.

Let me just end this with saying that I fully volenteer myself in making community enwsletters, I would love to be a part of it! Someone who wants to lead this project just email me and lets get this show on the road! Honestly I think that if we make a good one that BRL will allow it to be on their site :) Its the least they could do ;)

Well, we'll see who volunteers - it will be good to have a few people working on different things. I would like to see:

An interview with a Blitzer - or maybe more than one

I'd welcome a little piece by "Specis" in relation to www.blitzcoder.com - maybe a little history of the site - I know he submitted the closure of the site to BRL but the News Item was not shown.

The usual interesting code archives entries.

Advertising for the various Blitz IRC channels and other sites/forums that are Blitz-related (as there are more than just Coders-workshop).

Basically, more community-type stuff for the community. Plus, the usual stuff in the newsletters. I would not rule out mini-game reviews, etc.

Well I talked to a guy whose a journalist for game tunnel and he said the Editor tells each guy what to review..

So what we need is a team leader who says "ok Matt your job for this month is to interview X, Bill your job for this month is to interview Y, and John your job for this month is to review Z"

If you are willing to lead a team like this puki you will have success.

Well, we'll see who volunteers. Might be a few people interested in doing this. I suggest we wait until Monday evening - see who has shown interest.

The second phase is getting people to volunteer their email addresses - without those, the project is dead.

tonechild2000@...

awaiting further orders, sir!

I would recommend posting a new topic labeled "Volenteers needed for new blitzmax E-Zine"

and then posting an inspirational post along with requesting their email adress and credentials to your email address puki.

Sincerely,

email is already in your profile.

> ... and possibly getting my arse banned around here too :)

Why wait? Mike you should be banned from this forum until you learn how to use a full stop correctly.

WolRon: yeah but we would like to know who actually wants to volenteer

However, I would advise that whoever does this does not leech them from profiles - just in case some people get a bit funny over it. There is loads of time yet.

I reckon wait a bit to see how much interest this thread picks up. I say that as some people will revisit this thread as they have already been posting in it. Can create a new thread tomorrow for official volunteers for the magazine and perhaps even for people who are happy for their email address to be used (either from their profile, or by submitting it).

I reckon, if this goes ahead, then a 1st December target date would be okay - with (based on success) perhaps a Christmas Eve/New Year one. Baring in mind, by then BRL may have their own planned.

Where's this magazine going to live? If you want to take over the official newsletter, hadn't you better ask BRL before trying to recruit staff? Or will you be sending it out via email only?

This will be planned as an unoffical Community newsletter. More of a gap-filler for the official one.

Edit: probably email only - however, hosting it will probably not be a problem - we can technically host it here - I have ways around that.

I think it could take place as the official one, because BRL needs this (they just have too much to do)

Hmm, it would be good to temporarily take over the official newsletter and have it hosted here - if only to get rid of that bloody yellow blob character, on the home page. :)

The only trouble with hosting it here would be that someone from BRL would have to take the time to go over it to check it's OK to publish. If there was anything libelous in it, BRL could be held accountable, I guess.

big10p: They could put a disclaimer at the top saying "Newsletter is written by fans of BlitzBasic and not any official BRL Team members and the material in the newsletter does not reflect the opinion, the blah, and the blah, of the BRL Team" and presto!

I see those on DVD's all the time "The following interviews and blah does not reflect the opinion of..."

Nope, we can technically secrete it into the site (not on the front page, or by hacking it in). However, that probably will not happen.

If it goes ahead, then BRL should see a copy for their own reference. However, there would be very little BRL material in the newsletter - I'd rather have more community/fun stuff - which is why I'd recommend more than one interview with various Blitzers - more features than normally found in the newsletter.

Will be very important to keep it unofficial and community-based so as not to cause any ill-effect to BRL - very important that it is seen as something made by the community for the community and nothing official.

fans - i would say members - sounds more right.

well puki I think thats fair but I still think that sicne BRL has decided to not do newsletters anymore that it should take the place of the OFFICIAL BRL NEWSLETTERS on the front page :) Maybe put the Official ones somewhere on the backburner (where they belong ;)

@Diablo: I concurr :)

Lets take into account that if the Unofficial newsletter is really good and BRL like it - they might ask those people to assist in the future with the offical one in various roles.

Plus, the Unofficial one needs to be succesful - are people really interested in having a newsletter, or are they just after BMax news? People may not want a newsletter as such unless it features BMax.

No I think that its important to intrerview some of the people here.

I'd love our next issue to interview Filax, the guy who made that nifty GUI for Bmax. Also the guy who just finished that 3D Gauntlet needs to be interviewed too ;)

Talking to guys that finish things with blitz and screen shots and all that kewl stuff.. man would that be fun to read or what?

I think it would be LOTS of fun to interview people and to review blitz(anything) games!!! Maybe we can just start something kewl called "blitzworld.com" :) I'm so game for this puki!! Actually I'm very excited about it..

are people really interested in having a newsletter, or are they just after BMax news?
That's a very good question. Maybe you should ask this in a separate thread to see what peoples views are about even having a newsletter. I remember reading posts in the past where people said they didn't even like the official one and thought it was a waste of time.

The scope for this is huge though.

It would be interesting to allow people to email in content - news items, etc. Even if they just want to announce it is their birthday, they are getting married, they just had a baby, etc - basically, stuff that they cannot post on the forums.

Well, honestly guys you're not thinking outside the box.

For One: a succesfull newsletter would have monthly highlights.

like the hottest forum topics for one. Whats a worthwhile read? etc? :)

Another thing would be some kewl tutorials for each month. like "this month we talk to John Programmer Doe about how simple physics can be implimented in your game"

Also progress reports on the latest modules being made by fellow members. Whats the hottest module? Interview? :)

Maybe stuff about physics, and other aspects like 3D, and maybe a monthly poll.. Man there is so much stuff we could put in there that would make it fun to read!

Do you work in marketing at all Red?
No, but someone else surely does when they consider three more or less useless additions as "huge changes". Over at TGC "Huge changes" = "Same @#!*, different day", if you'll pardon the crude language.

I just think that BRL should look at the BOTTOM LINE and make some changes in their infrastructure.
As a professional company, they have no choice. Offices cost money, computer equipment costs money, Internet bandwidth costs money and to add to that wages cost money. Now given that BRL, and not you are the ones with the sales figures, it's them, not you, who are in the best position to judge whether they think a more regularly updated newsletter, will have any boost on sales. Because you'll remember that once BRL has sold you the initial product, that's pretty much what they can expect of income from you. That means that after the initial purchase, every cent they spend on keeping you happy is a financial net loss to them. And someone like me, whose been hanging around freeloading forever probably spent his admission fee years ago.

True, as even if there is a community newsletter done by members of the community it will not be updated on the site.
I think you're wrong there. BRL link to alot of community projects. I don't see why this would be any different.

Where's this magazine going to live? If you want to take over the official newsletter, hadn't you better ask BRL before trying to recruit staff?
I have webspace and a suitable domain (blitzbasic.dk) that I'm not really using for anything. I suppose I could host it there if you guys tell me what you need. I won't be able to help with the content, due to time restrictions, but I can provide the space and domain.

In case you're wondering, I agree with puki (there's something you don't see everyday) on the "officialness" issue. I think it's very important that this is a Blitz User magazine. However I think it goes without saying that anything that could be considered libelous or offensive be removed by the Editor (that's what he's there for).

FlameDuck .. You're right Its them and not me. but still let me re-iterate what I've posted already..

I would have NOT EVER for a second bought BlitzMax if it wasn't for other people swearing up and down by it. I would have ended up with T2D!!

I would have never trusted Blitz because their front page says "Latest Monthly Newsletter!! - MARCH 2005" That's a big red-flag and obviously something in the infrastructure is neglecting First Impressions. It looks like an Abandoned Project, and that's the bottom line.

Trust me, because I ran into blitz before and didnt buy it for that reason, instead I bought DBPro and hated DBPro. I'm actually highly satisfied with BMAX and found it the easiesst programming language ever to use. Its very rewarding and I love it. Still, only reason why I bought it was because people over at Iindiegamer suggested it to me!!! Anthony Flack made Platypus with Blitzbasic and I ws amazed to see shareware games coming from it. Robert Cummings suggested it to me as well. And so many other people over at Indiegamer swore by it so I just had to try it out! But it was by chance that I found BlitzMax the way I did, and there are somany others that are "shoppers" and would be highly skeptic to consider buying something with the last update being from "March" and also being called "monthly"

But it was by chance that I found BlitzMax the way I did, and there are somany others that are "shoppers" and would be highly skeptic to consider buying something with the last update being from "March" and also being called "monthly"
I'm not saying you don't have a point. I'm saying you don't have the numbers to back them up. I'm not at all doubting your storys accuracy, or that others may have come to the same (incorrect) conclusion you did.

What BRL have going for it, more than any other development tool I've ever used (with the possible exception of Java + Eclipse) is two very dedicated programers working on the core product, and the quasi-fanatical users who endorse it, whether you want them to or not.

While it's true that the core product is only worked on by two people they are supported by a team of 16 beta testers (according to the credits - although I could swear they're out of date), and at least as many talented programmers who freely offer module tweaks, fixes and optimizations, on a near-daily basis. Add to that the number of open source projects that have contributed towards BlitzMAX and you begin to understand how a company which "on the surface" might appear small, manages to pull off something as complex as BlitzMAX in as little time as they have.

"Compilers take three times as long to write as applications, and adding more manpower to a late project will only make it even later" - Frederic Brooks (paraphrased) The Mythical Man Month, and other essays.

I would definately agree that BRL is doing a wonderful job on the programming front. I would also agree that it is an incorrect conclusion, but probably common and is harming sales.

I would conclude that BRL is awesome, and I'm not trying to slander BRL by any means. I'm only trying my darndest to express how important it is to keep a newsletter up to date! By Golly it is! That's my story and I'm stickin to it!

Again, BMax was a God Send! I love BMax and I have no problems with it. I'm really enjoying my programming experience. I'd like to thank everyone who is involved with it as well. I love using BLIde too, and so much more about BMax I love I could go on and on.

That's why I would volenteer myself to work on a monthly newsletter that would help show the world that this product is AWESOME :) ... and of course, to help keep the newbies and professionals interested.

An unofficial newsletter gets the thumb up from me. I'd be happy to help out in any way that doesn't actually require me to do anything. Serious. =]

i just had a thread locked trying to push the powers that be to allow free and open discussion regarding some of the legitimate frustrations that some of the membership is experiencing here...

In fairness, this thread was actually started before those -3- others.

in a few months, all of the complainers will be happily coding their tails away with the 'Max gui and 3d and whatever modules

Perhaps MaxGUI in a few months, but there is no way in hell we are seeing Max3D before mid next year. Probably Xmas again. Let alone 'whatever' modules.

this will be a forgotten issue

Yes. People will find other things to complain about in the same manner.

all I see is jokes.. and I fear this topic will get locked

Your other serious thread got locked, so it seems to me you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. We aren't allowed to speak seriously and we get threatened when we have some fun with each other.

The questions aren't really answered they just say "we're too busy right now, we are working on it, oh and the newsletter is resting and will be back up whenever we want it to" and thats about it.

Newsflash, those are answers. Just because they're not answers you want to hear, doesn't automatically invalidate them.

Its the least they could do ;)

The least they could do is absolutely nothing ;]

The only trouble with hosting it here would be that someone from BRL would have to take the time to go over it to check it's OK to publish.

'Tis a lot quicker to read something than write it. I shouldn't see that being a huge problem in the scheme of things. They read through countless news posts before any of them reach the main page anyway. Even if they don't want to officially host it here, I don't see them not approving a news post about it.

Nope, we can technically secrete it into the site (not on the front page, or by hacking it in). However, that probably will not happen.

Well, there's absolutely no reason why all the text content couldn't be put into a topic or worklog and images uploaded to the gallery ;]

I ran into blitz before and didnt buy it for that reason, instead I bought DBPro and hated DBPro.

And now you've bought Max and don't hate it at all. Lesson learnt I'd say. Let everyone else out there learn the hard way too! That's what makes life fun. That and bitching at others over an internet forum. =]

the quasi-fanatical users who endorse it, whether you want them to or not.

LOL! <runs around with shirt over head> Yay yay yay! Blitz Blitz Blitz!

team of 16 beta testers (according to the credits - although I could swear they're out of date)

Out of total curiosity, because I'm nosey like that, would you estimate that that is a generous or conservative number, then? ;]

harming sales.

Well, if everyone who is at first put off by the advertising hype on the front page (you know, the lack of) eventually buys it anyway, like you did, then it really doesn't matter when BRL get their money, since you only pay for it once anyway. This is of course providing BRL aren't bankrupt by that time. =]

I love BMax and I have no problems with it.

I do. There's a show stopping problem wherein TileImage doesn't respect the scale setting which has completely halted my project <rolls eyes>

In fairness, this thread was actually started before those -3- others.


your comment is analguous to someone at a book burning in 1933 Berlin's Opernplatz worrying about air pollution...

fairness wasn't really my primary concern ... a larger issue seemed to be of more immediate concern...

Perhaps MaxGUI in a few months, but there is no way in hell we are seeing Max3D before mid next year


you are young... time seems to drag out for you... to you mid next year is a loooong way off.... to me, mid next year still seems like just a few months away...

it'll be here before you know it... and the amazing thing about it, you'll look back, it'll seem to have been no time at all...

Yes. People will find other things to complain about in the same manner.


probably... but that's human nature... we, as developers should know better...


... laff, that was supposed to be a joke.

--Mike



Out of total curiosity, because I'm nosey like that, would you estimate that that is a generous or conservative number, then? ;]
Conservative.

It was a valid point about the outdated newsletter, it's front page slot has now been taken by several featured Blitz games.

I think they looked better when they were in a box.

Also, are the old newsletters going to be available via a link or something at some stage?

It seems a shame for them to disappear completely.

well... they finaly got rid of the newsletter on the home page

i agree with TwoEyedPete about the box ;p

Oo, I really like the redesign. Spiffy!

@simonh: I also didn't realize you're the Gerball guy. Double spiffy! I like the worklog you made about that project.

I really like the front page too. Between the Graphics showcase and the example of blitz being used commercially I think you've got a winner here! I'm sure there are more commercial or shareware games made with blitz and if so it'd be great(although not necessary) to show them there (if the authors allow it)

This definately solves the problem that arised out of Newsletter Neglegance, but I'd still like to be part of a community one if anyone else is game. If anyone wants to be a part of a blitzbasic newsletter please post so :)

EDIT: lol big10p XD

Just FYI Matt, those games on the front page aren't written with BlitzMAX. Three are done in Blitz3D and one in BlitPlus.

Yeah, BUT Platypus was ported to BlitzMAX for the Macintosh edition.. Oh and.. oops, my bad.. (fixed it) :)

Yeah, BUT Platypus was ported to BlitzMAX for the Macintosh edition..
Fair enough - I didn't know that. :)