Universal Windows App

[wizard_wizzle (aka ZeldaHistorian)]

I'm wondering if it would be possible in a future release (1.6?) to enable the Solarus engine as a Universal Windows App (UWA), which should allow games to be run on XBox One as well as Windows 10. It looks like it would require SDL version 2.0.4 (not sure what Solarus is using currently) and development in Visual Studio 2015. I just think it would be really cool to be able to play our games on XBox!

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh875012.aspx

[Zefk]

Xbox is a very popular system. Do you know if this will work for all the Xbox consoles?

Also, I think a major part of what makes games popular is that they can be played on the go. My favorite Gameboy was SP because I liked the flip screen and it could be charged.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_line

Android is very popular for on the go and the DS.

[wizard_wizzle (aka ZeldaHistorian)]

This topic is specific to Solarus on Xbox as a technical capability due to the recent release by Microsoft of the Universal Windows Program, not about what systems it would be cool to have Solarus on. I kindly request that this remain on topic.

[Zefk]

Xbox is a very popular system. Do you know if this will work for all the Xbox consoles?

That sir is on topic, but I guess it will not be for the 360. The 360 has more console units sold. It was one of the best sellers for consoles too. Furthermore, I implied that "on the go" might be more important to get done. I never said anything about, "what would be cool to have Solarus run on."

I am able to give opinions because this is technically a port. Not all Xbox games are compatible with all the newer Xbox consoles and the next Xbox console will be out in a few years. (xbox 360 (7 years) = 2005 - 2013)

If someone or Christopho wishes to do it, then go for it. This goes for all ports.

[wizard_wizzle (aka ZeldaHistorian)]

UWA only works for XBox One. And this would not  be a port, it would be compiling the existing Windows version in such as way that it supports this additional architecture that Microsoft has given us easy access to. It would allow Solarus to work on a console with (hopefully) minimal work on Christopho's part. He's a busy man

[Christopho]

Using SDL 2.0.4 is not a problem. Compiling on Visual Studio has been done before (not by me). I don't have a lot of Windows machines but my wife has a Windows 7 one. Is it possible to install Visual Studio 2015 on Windows 7 (and is there a free version)?

[oclero]

Yes, Visual Studio, in its Community edition, is free. https://www.visualstudio.com/vs-2015-product-editions
If you help me Chris, I can try to build it some day.

[wizard_wizzle (aka ZeldaHistorian)]

It looks like UWP is only for Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile. I have a Windows 10 PC and could probably help with the compilation, but I don't have a lot of experience compiling C++ programs.

[Zefk]

No windows 7 or 8 support? Does this mean Solarus will fail to run on those operating systems? I understand XP (Even though XP is still a great OS.), but windows 7 and 8? How is this universal for windows?

Sources:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn975273.aspx
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/34059267/can-uwp-apps-be-ported-to-windows-7

UWA only works for XBox One. And this would not  be a port, it would be compiling the existing Windows version in such as way that it supports this additional architecture that Microsoft has given us easy access to.

I am sorry, but to me it sounds like a port. Porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed (e.g. different CPU, operating system, or third party library). The term is also used when software/hardware is changed to make them usable in different environments.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porting

[HammyHavoc]

Still interested in this; has anybody made any progress with it? UWPs are interesting, as is Centennial.

[Zefk]

I think this would be an interesting port. They say Xbox One will be compatible with Xbox One X. My stance against it has lessened if that is really true because it has been looking like Microsoft wants to make all past hardware/operating systems obsolete after a new release. My sources above say that Universal Windows Platform (UWP) will not work on operating systems before Windows 10.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/project-scorpio
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one-x

Sources:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn975273.aspx
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/34059267/can-uwp-apps-be-ported-to-windows-7

Edit: Scorpio was changed to Xbox One X + added Sources

[MetalZelda]

Don't know how UWA works but yeah could be interesting

[greentwip]

I've ported Solarus to be used with UWP and Xbox One, take a look:

https://github.com/Greentwip/solarus-xbox-one/

Hope it's useful to you.