New Version of AGK Out!

Steve Elliott · August 17, 2017, 10:57:07

https://www.appgamekit.com/news

Steve Elliott · August 17, 2017, 19:09:10

I really do not know what Mark Sibly is thinking right now.

He's now abandoned Linux (BlitzMax was broken) mobile support, and the Blitz 3D market with his latest language. Taking down the popular community website that was BlitzBASIC.com, given up on several of his languages, and only had a built-in 3D Engine in one of them.

Great news that AGK is filling the void and supporting systems through BASIC and C++ language options, in the familiar easy to use Blitz3D way - even in C++ it's easy...Oh and actually having a bit of a business brain to survive.

Supporting Windows, Linux, Apple OS, Android phones and tablets, iPhone, iPad, HTML Browers and Raspberry pi!

So far I've only tried 64-bit Windows and Raspberry pi, and it runs very well. The Raspberry pi version is free, and AGK is very swift - even here. In-fact the demos are running in a window on pi, faster than any demo I've seen.

col · August 17, 2017, 20:28:21

Sounds good.

And for the BlitzMax ( and ~~Monkey~~ CerberusX ) fans I imagine it would be easy to create a module to interface with it too - via the c++ route.

ThickO · August 17, 2017, 20:31:41

It's almost like Mark coded monkey-x, freaked out that it wasn't popular

and then doubled down.

Steve Elliott · August 17, 2017, 20:36:36

I like where they're going col. I spotted a bug, and a week later it was fixed - and lots of other bug fixes and enhancements too. Plus, a thank you to people for mentioning these bugs, so we can improve the product! Not a sulky response from Mark!

I'm too early using the product to comment, but C++ is very flexible with interfacing products.

col · August 17, 2017, 20:41:23

I remember when BRL used to support their products like that - but it was only ever during the development phases unfortunately which is obviously not good in the long run!

AGK clearly has better 'after care' support.

Steve Elliott · August 17, 2017, 21:06:54

Yes it was a real shame that Mark has no head for business - or after support!...He gets bored very easily I think. But you are then letting down your customers. You cannot do that.

AGK certainly has - and that is vital. Plus you have support through ready-made packages you can buy - like sprite and sound libraries...Takes me right back to the STOS/AMOS Days, and keeps the money coming in. People will pay for enhancements. A fact lost on Mark.

Rick Nasher · August 18, 2017, 11:19:14

Yep very good indeed. Seems like TGC came just in time to fill the Blitz3D gap Mark left behind and understand very well the different levels(tier1/2) that people want to be using the product.

That's why at BRL I suggested for Mark or someone else to create a Blitz3D-like wrapper for Monkey2+3d module, but no interest. Now appears no need for that anymore as AGK already has that covered. Silly to think so low of your fan base/customers, while covering both markets, in addition to having add-on packages, could have actually brought lots of money to his pockets.

He seems to have missed the boat/point and I fear that if goes on like this in the end he'll be the sole user of Monkey2, and then has to change the name into Monk.

Rick Nasher · August 18, 2017, 11:21:50

Quote from: Steve Elliott on August 17, 2017, 19:09:10
So far I've only tried 64-bit Windows and Raspberry pi, and it runs very well. The Raspberry pi version is free, and AGK is very swift - even here. In-fact the demos are running in a window on pi, faster than any demo I've seen.

Wanna try on the Pi(just got one few days ago)! I've sofar tried Win10 and Android 7, both pretty good.

Steve Elliott · August 18, 2017, 11:42:03

pi 3 Rick? That's the version I tried AGK on.

Naughty Alien · August 18, 2017, 12:22:36

..yes..i can confirm that it works fantastic, especially on old hardware, which i like to see to be covered well..im working on GUI system already and its just wonderful how well it works over different platforms..BRL ? Eaten by black hole of their own ignorance..

Steve Elliott · August 18, 2017, 13:58:24

NA are you using C++ for all platforms or using tier 1 for some platforms?

I've only run the demos using AGK BASIC on Raspberry pi 3 (C++ on Windows).

Naughty Alien · August 18, 2017, 14:57:49

..i have decided to use their IDE for development as it offers headache free way of deploying final application to target..C++ ill be using for Win only, which is related to some non game projects..to be honest, i havent explored how it is to deploy game from C++ to specific target and i may be wrong about impression that some more work is needed to target from C++ compared to their IDE ?

Steve Elliott · August 18, 2017, 15:48:49

Yeah it looks like you need to download SDK's and such.

My idea is to go the other way lol. I'm developing on Windows in C++/AGK, and then will write a program to convert C++ to AGK BASIC when I want to port the game

Naughty Alien · August 19, 2017, 01:10:36

..hmm..thats not bad idea..but it may be more work than actually just writing directly in their IDE..hehe..only thing Im missing in their IDE is folding of If blocks..and I miss Vector container from c++..other than that, its very straightforward..i just wanna write game without thinking, how to do this or that, later..lol