intfiction.org

Hi,

I wondered if there's a section in the comp under which I can submit my own platform-independent games for my interpreter, so I don't have to include the interpreter each time.

This question is relevant, because the latest version of the Node-X interpreter is not Windows-only anymore. Node-X now also comes with a *nix executable, so Linux users don't have to run my interpreter in Wine or other Win32-emulators. Windows-Users can run the EXE as usual. Both, the Win32 and Linux versions are the same program, but for different systems. You got it.

If I take part in this year's comp, how should I submit my Node-X games?

Possible ways I can think of:

pack the interpreter's Win32 and Linux executables in a zip-file, add the gamefile itself (name.nx1) and submit/upload everything to the "Windows Games" section of the IFComp (could be confusing, because it's not Windows-only)

pack only the gamefile (name.nx1) in a zip, submit it to the IFComp in "other games" or whatever section (which one?) and add a readme-file with info where players/judges can download the interpreter for their individual system (either Win32, Linux or MacOSX executable) to be able to run the gamefile (this way seems reasonable to me)

Which way should it be?

Please note that the Node-X interpreter is a standalone application (such as Z-Code and Glulx interpreters, for example) which will be released before the competition for people to run Node-X gamefiles released by me or other authors in the future. It will not include any new competition games, thus IFComp rule ("submitted entries are not allowed to be released before the comp") is preserved.

Emilian

_________________
"An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define... or destroy you."
INCEPTION Soundtrack - Dream is Collapsing

The comp allows games submitted for any platform. See 2008's entries, for example -- there was even an Alan game that year. If your game isn't Windows-only, don't submit it as a Windows game; submit it as a Node-X game, and make sure people know where they can get a Node-X interpreter (putting that information in the README file is a good idea).

The IFComp administrators also prepare a package of all the necessary interpreters for Windows, as well as a package of all the games plus all the interpreters for Windows. So if you point them at your interpreter I'm sure they'll include it in those packages. And people on non-Windows machines can get the interpreter from wherever it's officially hosted.

_________________
Christopher Armstrong
http://planet-if.com/
http://radix.twistedmatrix.com/

Alright, I will do that. Thanks.

The admins can include the Win32-version of the interpreter in their package and put the game file under a section called "Node-X Games", "Other Games" or even "Platform-independent Games" on their IFComp website, so users know what it is. People on Linux machines will find a seperate download link for the interpreter in my readme file.

_________________
"An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define... or destroy you."
INCEPTION Soundtrack - Dream is Collapsing

Hello world,

since the first generation of Node-X is nearing "gold" status and undergoing final beta-testing
I would like to announce a few changes concerning my game entry to the IFComp 2009:

1. Both, the standalone interpreter and the gamefiles, will be submitted together as a Windows Game.
A readme-file including the download link for the Linux version will be attached.

2. Both, the Win32 and Linux executable of the Interpreter, will be crunched with
the latest version (3.03) of the widely known and used executable packer UPX.
Note: Make sure to turn off heuristic analysis in your anti-virus application to
avoid false virus warnings!

For more info on UPX see: http://upx.sourceforge.net/

----------------------------------------------------

Last but not least, some Q&A/FAQ for those of you who might have some questions:

Q: Why are you using an executable packer such as UPX? What are the advantages of using it?
A: First off, exe packers are useful to lower the size of a software distribution. UPX produces better compression rates on unpacked executables than ZIP. Second, the executable stays packed when unzipped, saving you space on your medium (disk, harddisk, USB drive, etc). Third, the whole package can be downloaded faster from the bandwidth-limited ifarchive.org server, saving you time.

Q: Will you use a Windows installer or stuff like that?
A: No, executable and gamefiles will be zipped (*.zip) and uploaded to the IFComp server, as usual. The entry can be unzipped to wherever you want and the executable can be run instantly.

Q: What are the minimum requirements/specs for the Node-X Win32 executable?
A: Windows 95/98, Intel 80386 or AMD

Q: What OS/Class and processor type Node-X ELF will support?
A: Linux/ELF32, Intel 80386 (minimum specs)

Q: Can I run the Node-X ELF on Solaris or any other OS none of the less?
A: As long as your OS supports ELF32 and UNIX - System V, you should be able to run it on any operating system.

If your question hasn't been answered, feel free to post it in this topic.

_________________
"An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define... or destroy you."
INCEPTION Soundtrack - Dream is Collapsing

So is the upx packer something that requires upx to unpack and run the executable? Because if so, and the unpacked thing is less than half a megabyte, do you really want to require people to download upx?

No, you don't require UPX to unpack and run NXI. A decompression routine of UPX is embedded inside the executable and automatically unpacks the code to memory when you run the executable in your Windows desktop/explorer or Linux terminal. You won't notice the decompression process at all.

This is taken from the UPX site:

_________________
"An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define... or destroy you."
INCEPTION Soundtrack - Dream is Collapsing

Cool, sounds neat!

(see update info below)

_________________
"An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define... or destroy you."
INCEPTION Soundtrack - Dream is Collapsing

Current stage of the Node-X development and beta-test process:

The interpreter has been revised with some latest fixes and last-minute features
and is nearing completion. Both executables for Win32 and Linux have been packed
with upx and then scanned with the newest version and database of Kaspersky
Anti-Virus 2009. No trojan virus has been detected in neither file.

As done before, I post the current sizes (subject to change!) of the packed and
unpacked executables below, just for curiosity. Please note that the final releases
will include a MD5 checksum for each executable (Win32/Linux), so you can verify
file integrity after you downloaded it.

_________________
"An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define... or destroy you."
INCEPTION Soundtrack - Dream is Collapsing

Alright, folks. I've recently uploaded my game entry to the IFComp 2009.
Games are being processed currently on the IFComp site and released very soon...

Before I go silent in public concerning my game entry I finally want to give you
the latest packed sizes of both NXI executables which you'll encounter in my
IFComp entry: (unpacked sizes are listed for curiosity only)



Last but not least, I would like to point you to my new Node-X Forum:
http://devnode.freeforums.org/

Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming tutorials and other things.
Please do not discuss my game there. The forum is intended for
interpreter-related discussion only, at least during the judging period.

Ok, that's it so far.

See you in the IFComp Author's club or in the Node-X forum if you like...

_________________
"An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define... or destroy you."
INCEPTION Soundtrack - Dream is Collapsing