terça-feira, 30 de outubro de 2012

AROS and GAMES - experience has been enhanced






Guess what?! AROS games list has been growing fast for the last couple of months!
Only this year more than 24 games were ported to AROS (most of them listed on AROS Playground), and while some are simple games (yet addictive) others are pretty complex affairs!

One example is FreeCiv, the well known open-source remake of Sid Meyer's strategy Classic Civilization with lot of options and full network support.


But one of the genres where AROS is seriously lacking is 3D racing games, that apart from SuperTuxKart (and not update version must I add), we have nothing more!
TORCS is on Bszili's list! And while not yet fully working it's showing remarkable progress from the screenshot below!


Naturally the credits go the developers behind these ports, and the developers behind AROS.
Thanks to all of them!

sexta-feira, 31 de agosto de 2012

I promised there would be more Kitty!...


Like  I said before - Heeeereee's Kitty!...

Again Magnus Ahlvik delivers a top notch work! On it's own style, it even surpasses original Eric Schwartz work (I know it's debatable - but it's my opinion anyway)!
This is the Lara Croft meets James Bond cartoon equivalent. The appropriate character for AROS...
With artists like this AROS and Kitty have a lot to offer!

And this is part of the the new AROS Playground Wallpapers labeled "9 lives left". So be sure to check it out and download (Also available on AROS-ARCHIVES)

Thanks MANU, for this and all the work done so far! You're one of my AROS heroes!...

terça-feira, 12 de junho de 2012

AROS Playground - A new project...

It's always great when a plan comes into play and exceeds our expectations.
AROS Playground is that project - It's the first site dedicated to everything that involves gaming on AROS - AROS Research Operating System.
It's goal is to offer an important database on every recent game available to AROS and some info regarding several aspects of the software and hardware needed.
Simple link: http://arosgamer.blogspot.pt/

"The beginning is a very delicate time..."
It's a project kickstarted by the wishes of Nikolaos, which in response me, Magnus, Tom and Alain have get together and put the site into gear.

We kept this a secret for a while, so we could follow the AROS motto, "no schedule and rocking"! That way things get done when they're ready...
Lots of email exchange, lots of ideas, themes, gfx, names... But we got there!

And we launch with a boom - 29 major games in the article database (much more on the screenshots page), plus Alain Thellier Neko Kitty in Wallpaper, and Mazze's interview!


How was the reaction?

Well so far it seems to be generally positive, and if all goes well, we might get more interest on AROS altogether! Good PR if I ever saw one!...


But I have access to the statistics of the site and what do they say?

  • First of all - There are a lot of Polish Amiga users! The statistics don't lie! (Do they?!)
  • Second of all - Over 2400 views of the site since yesterday! That's impressive, never in my wildest dreams I would reckon to get this high!
  • Third... Well it seems to have tickled the right (or wrong) spots, 'cos it just got into Moo Bunny!... OMG...


Any Plans from now on?
Well... we'll take it slowly, and we'll see what we are heading into!
But stay assured - THERE WILL BE MORE KITTY! ;)  - topic for another time!...

Thanks to all involved in the project - And thanks to all that contribute to AROS and Amiga (whatever camp) in general!...

segunda-feira, 11 de junho de 2012

Freedom of Choices: AROS!


I really like Demether's work on printed add that will be shown up on Amiga Future magazine, it's simple but effective.

It doesn't cover all the bases, but it really summarizes it beautifully.

AROS has come a long way from early PR summits such as AROS in scale 2009 - by Simmone Bernachia, which used my AROS PP presentation as an template.



If you look at the presentation back in late 2009, you'll see how far AROS has reached!
It definitely needs a new Presentation!

Soon you'll know a new project that me and a bunch of AROS guys are involved! For now it's a secret - it won't be long though...

sexta-feira, 20 de abril de 2012

AROS Kitty from Sami Ryhänen

I've already been told to change the Blog or create another exclusively for Kitty. Well I might consider that in the future... But right now I'll keep sharing Images that several artists have produced regarding the Kitty Character. You can send directly to my email - just like the next one.


This one is from Sami Ryhänen (Thanks a lot Sami):




And she's a real fox! I really like the what the artist done with the hair and subtly worked around the feline pose. Besides I'm a real sucker for purple/magenta in the background!...
So here's one more Kitty - keep it coming.


Also I've added the Mascot reference to Wikipedia to AROS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AROS_Research_Operating_System


I've also tried to add AROS Kitty as an entry to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Articles_for_creation/AROS_Kitty), but unfortunately it got halted, with the comment that "The mascot doesn't appear to be independently notable of the OS". 

But like Alain Thelier wrote me:
Like Tux is not independently notable of the (Linux) OS.
You can make "Tux plush toy" or Tux mug" but it will remain an object with the Linux penguin
Whatever usage (game,object,etc...) you will do with Tux it will remain (in all minds)  the Linux penguin
So Tux dont have independance.

I guess it really sums it up my opinion. But I got to cover my bases well before I attempt to reason with the Wikipedia editor.


More images showing Kitty - Well here's a link to the banner of the natami forum:


Yep... It's Kitty on the Floppy Disk...

And another from Manu that it is in his site (Slipped this one):


quarta-feira, 18 de abril de 2012

The pills are really messed up!

I usually stay far away from the subjects at hand, but I believe that people give too much sentiment (in a loss for a better and no insulting term) to CUSA bussiness.
And that's what we are talking about - Business!...

On a recent Amiga.ORG thread someone gathered a bunch of questions for the CEO of CUSA, and here are the answers.

So here's my (and maybe a whole lot of people) perception of the ongoing projects and companies involved or indirectly contributing to the Amiga... hmmm... thing?!...


Well that might sound biased, but the truth is that people are making assumptions on what is right, or moral or convenient... That's a perception regarding what seems the goals and envolvement of diferent parties (which might be wrong on all accounts). There's no judgement passed here.

Not long ago (maybe 5/6 years ago) AROS was widely recalled as a EVIL or PROFANE piece of software that was hurting the Amiga community and legacy (and all other related terms)... Then it passed as gimmick, a toy and nothing would ever come of it.
Guess what - in 2012, people are starting to say "Well it may just be the future of AmigaOS"...
Some people which would claim a sanity/reality check on people advocating for AROS...
What has changed? Certainly not in financial terms... Things still being done at the expense of the developers good will and some bounties...

So I guess you should look at these image for what it is, and not what is meant to represent. There are some good intentions, but in (again that word) a reality check the words from CEO from CUSA (Barry whatever) sound reasonable to most of us, if we detach ourselves from the Amiga sentiment present in all of us. Liking it is quite a different thing, but does it really needs to be fighted?

I don't see me buying any hardware from CUSA, but hell - if they have the means to do what they want with Amiga name, am I going on terrorist rampage? Hell, no!
People will recognize good value for their money, and that's not Amiga brand that will change that aspect - CUSA will have to prove they have a better product. And for all accounts it might not do Amiga Community after all.

Although I really hoped the Amiga name had something to do with AROS/MorphOS/OS4 (that's just my humble opinion and you know what they say about opinions)....


Loved this passage:
Do you plan to begin some sort of a cooperation with the Amiga
community that has nurtured the legend for so many years?
What I mean is to convince (in a financial way) three Amiga
teams (AmigaOS, MorphOS, AROS) to work on one operational
system dedicated to one machine created by CUSA.
Unfortunately, there appears to be much animosity between the next
gen Amiga OS teams. We’ve made it quite clear that we would like
AmigaOS running on our x86 machines, so in terms of usefulness to
the collaboration, Hyperion could potentially do that with the
assistance of AROS. While it would be wonderful if MorphOS Team
could get involved, I don’t see how it could be directly useful.


Lovely, but truthful or even realistic? More like the intelegent answer!

P.S.: I still vouch for the Volunteers and everyone else helping those guys!...

segunda-feira, 26 de março de 2012

The pills are not working...

I tried hard to ignore all the futile forum wars regarding Real Amiga's, hardware, brands and all related stuff...

I even manage to ignore the CommodoreUSA stuff. I always regarded as business.
Even when they publicly bad-mouthed the AROS and the entire Amiga community (which is strange because they were publicly embracing at first).
In fact, since they were promoting X86 hardware with just know brands was not bad for me. Really what could they do wrong? Slap a linux into a pc with an E-UAE software??
If the Hardware was interesting someone could always stick AROS into it (And that would be as close to a commercial Power Amiga you might get)!

That's what happened... Up to a point...

Introducing Commodore Amiga HW (really??)...
Well first they announced a few Amiga Boxes, which seem to have vaporised (vapourware?) over the time, and now they're presenting the Amiga Mini!








They're cool images (click on them for a bigger picture), and in apple mac-mini rip-off style. But they work (apple designers have been ahead of its time).

The "Amiga Community" seems to have taken this very badly, but in reality it does not add much to what we know from CommodoreUSA.
Even Commodore OS Vision is simply a linux distro - seems well put from the video show on their site, but really it does not add anything else.

So what does it mean for the technological panorama? Another X86-clone with a proprietary linux distro. A conservative yet planned commercial attempt at the general market. General, yes... Because the Amiga spirit is not present on this initiative.

What do I mean by Amiga Spirit?
- Do I mean Custom chips?
Custom Chips are a thing of the past, and its philosophy has reached in a distorted way all the hardware available today, so I'm no preaching hardware revolution, although for many people it was that in the beginning.
Besides if you still want the original Custom Chips philosophy, your best option is NATAMI - the Amiga hardware upgraded to the 2000's.

- Do I mean AmigaOS or similar?
Oh well... AmigaOS was revolutionary, and even with its initial flaws it made into the 21st century into 3 NG options: OS4, MorphOS and AROS.
There are also OS who are inspired or taken many approaches similar to AmigaOS.
And I'm not underlining the Exec pre-emptive multitasking type with its memory allocation, interrupt handling and handling of dynamic shared libraries - Other Operating Systems offer similar approaches.
But the all compact, configurable, understandable structure with a feeling of control and fun (and not overly technical complex).
Definitely the Un*x/Linux spirit does not fit into any account.

- Do I mean something more "ethereal"?
But the most underlining spirit is the one of awe, of belonging, of love...
You could feel that the Amiga was communicating with you, it behaved in distinct manner that you felt that was the right thing (at least most of the times). And there was always some form, some solution to problems posed.
It's something it starts on the developers, the engineers, the designers, and its transported to the end-user.
Every AROS, MorphOS and OS4 user seems to have some of that spirit present...

I'm positively sure that's not the case with the Amiga mini. Of course I could be wrong, and time will tell...

In a nutshell regarding Amiga mini:
Do I care about the hardware? Nope... But the engraved box with the blu-ray drive is interesting (still a bit expensive though).

With that in mind, I would take them put my favorite X-86 AROS supported hardware on it as well as AROS. And then I could say Amiga has just reached the mac-mini hype!
Next target is the tablet!... ;)

quinta-feira, 22 de março de 2012

My Theme Prefs in IcAROS

My Theme Prefs with preview window... Ahhh (on of the very few coding piece for AROS from me)...



Actually I made an updated version for IcAROS wich is not shown here, but I'm always glad that an important part of AROS has my contribution...
Still I'm writing this because in a way I wish it became obsolete, that someone would integrate it into AROS Wanderer prefs (not just the theme prefs, but the the all decoration stuff with the possibility of changing while using and not having to reboot every time you wish to change it - Smells like windows (or stinks)!!

Anyway, I'm always here to update it. Hopefully Decoration will be able to be detached or modified on the run...


Don't mind me, I've been messing with too much Geotech maths and it's starting to show.
Where are my pills?...

terça-feira, 20 de março de 2012

And now for something completely diferent...


This is an AROS blog, and I usually don't deviate myself from the subject...
But if there's a game I miss a "proper" remake is Wing Commander. I waited anxiously for its release on the Amiga, and I remember of testing it in every new machine and upgrades I made to my setups.

Well anyway in the CIC forum's (A Web portal dedicated to every scrap of material regarding the Wing Commander franchise) I spotted a few WC1 3D models done in old fashion, and I couldn't resist adding here. You can check the all thread here: CmdBob WC1 models

Hornet

Scimitar

Raptor

Rapier (WC1/WC2 and WC film)


Salthi

Dralthi

Krant

Capital Ship Ralari

I would love some old fashion remake of the game. And I really wished it made it's way onto AROS! These models are definitely part of the equation!...
Did you know the original ships were rendered on an Amiga Ray-tracing program?!

AFAIK there's no freespace or similar engine for AROS. But I would prefer a simple 3D game with no lighting, limited shading, like the WC1. That would be great.
After all IMHO, that was the best game in the all series, from that point on, it became more of story-telling affair than an engaging game.

In fact this would make the best remake on AmigaOS platforms!
By the way here's my Lemon review of the Amiga WC! Good old days...

terça-feira, 13 de março de 2012

Amiga undead by TommyWright



A Wallpaper for AROS:1920x1080 and 1024x600
http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/47646836/1/Aros?h=0aeb52

By Thomas Wright. Enjoy it!...

quinta-feira, 8 de março de 2012

Amiga portuguese portal

I'm happy that someone rekindled an old flame in my country.




Caro compatriota,se leres isto - ajuda a crescer este portal!

domingo, 19 de fevereiro de 2012

More on Kitty - more foxy from MANU

I know I haven't been updating my blog...

To tell the truth I've being having too much of my RL. But thath doesn't mean that I don't follow AROS, but to summarize anything at the moment would be... pressing! Later on maybe...

So for now I'm just going on more artwork from MANU:





And check out his web space it has a lot on AROS!

Just a quick example: