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Hi Lars,

Before I ask this question let me state that I fully realize that you are very busy with Defender's Quest 2 so I apologize in advance if I am overstepping my bounds here.

My question is this:

How difficult would it be for you to make a build of the game on Linux without Adobe AIR? Are we talking a total rewrite or is the code somewhat portable to a different engine on Linux?

Thanks for reading and I hope this isn't too dumb of a question :)
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larsiusprime: Hey everyone!

So let me outline some possible thoughts and options.

1) Re-release a Haxe version of DQ1
DQ2 is basically going to be a rewrite of the DQ engine with new content. Theoretically this means we could re-release the original game data set in the new engine. The Haxe engine compiles down to C++ so it won't have a trace of AIR or flash or anything. That said, it will NOT be available anytime soon.

2) Do some browser-based wrapper craziness
What we do here is basically take the browser-based full version (what we've got on kongregate basically) and wrap it in chrome or something, various other devs have done this. It's not ideal, but it doesn't involve installing AIR.

3) Release the air version with the install script (AND the uninstall script) and warn, warn, WARN.
l'm honestly a bit nervous about this, but if I can find an example of someone else in a similar situation who didn't get burned I'll be happy to do it.

4) Optionally release something like the linux version wrapped in a WINE wrapper if possible??

So, Judas, basically 1 & 2 are what "an AIR-less version of DQ1" would look like. Either re-write in a new engine (Haxe), which we have to do for DQ2 anyway, or wrap it in a browser. Wrapping in a browser means we lose some features, such as saving data to actual easy-to-manage files instead of storing in flimsy flash cookies, and losing resolution options, mod support, etc, but it removes the specter of AIR.
I do hope you find a solution that works for you :)

All in all, when the time comes to host the Linux version of DQ1, let us know how we can help on our side :)
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larsiusprime: Judas --

Whatever solution I wind up with, I think I'm going to be delivering one of several options to Linux people. Here's what I would need from GOG to pull this off adequately:

1) Proper messaging on the store page, so Linux users are sufficiently informed before they click "buy" and get surprised

2) Some way to deliver obvious, informed choices in the download/installer. I imagine a little screen that pops up and shows a few icons with explanations of each solution and then lets them pick one and click "next", but I suppose just a .zip or .tar.gz file containing two folders (with an install script in each) and an informative README at the top level (and in each folder) could do just as fine.
Hi Lars,

I can't really comment on number 2 as like I said before, still too early regarding Linux.

As for number 1 I can point you towards Rogue Legacy and its controller notice on the bottom just after the overview of the game. We can put in there something like "Linux notice: Defender's Quest uses Adobe AIR on Linux as of this time." or something to that effect.
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larsiusprime: Okay, here's a quick mockup of the launcher I'm working on for this.

I'm trying to answer as many questions the user might have as I can in a straightforward but easy to understand way without overloading.

1) What's the difference between "fancy" and "simple" ?
2) Do I have to install Adobe AIR to run this game?
3) Is the gameplay content in each version identical?
4) What features are missing from the "simple" version?
5) Are my save files in one automatically carried over to the other?
6) How do I install Adobe AIR? Do I have to do that myself?

Feedback on the image?
How do I uninstall AIR in Linux? :)
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JudasIscariot: How do I uninstall AIR in Linux? :)
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niniendowarrior: Usually: sudo apt-get remove adobeair

:-)
Well, I was asking a bit from a user's perspective and for my own innate curiosity :D