One Man Project?

[Hated Moron]

Not too many frequent visitors in this forum or the frequent visitors are not enthusiastic enough.

It doesn't surprise me that not many members actively visit this forum. There's a vicious circle: if there's not much activity, people who visit find there is nothing new to see so they aren't motivated to visit frequently. But if they don't visit frequently those few posts that do appear don't get a timely response.

I have done what I can to try to break this circle. Firstly, everything posted here now automatically gets cross-posted to the Discussion Group, which considerably broadens the readership. Because that is a mailing list as well as a web interface, members get push notifications of new posts (if they have signed up for that).

Secondly, I have on multiple occasions encouraged members to subscribe to email notifications from this forum, so they find out about new posts without actively having to visit. If anybody hasn't yet done that, go to the front page, select each of the main headings in turn (Announcements, BBC BASIC language and so on) scroll down to the very bottom and select Subscribe forum.

Thirdly, this forum has an Atom feed. If you have an Atom or RSS reader (or a browser or email client with that capability), subscribe to https://www.bbcbasic.co.uk/forum/feed and new posts will appear there, again sparing you from actively having to visit the forum from time to time.

Don't do that. It will ruin the image of BBCSDL

You do realise that it was a joke? There was a smiley!

In fact, the speed of the development of QB64 looks quite slow but their forum members look loyal.

I don't think there's any lack of loyalty from BBC BASIC users, but they spend more time using the language than discussing it with others. One factor may be the age profile, which is probably older than that of QB64 users. Attracting young people to BBC BASIC has become more of a challenge since it stopped being taught in UK schools around ten years ago.

As far as I know, registering is free. I believe that uploading a game to Itch is as convenient as uploading a video to Youtube.
https://itch.io/register

OK I've created an account on Itch but I don't really know what to do with it. I've looked at some of the other programming languages featured there (such as RC Basic) but I haven't yet figured out how to create a similar page. Do I have to write an HTML file? If so, I am back to square one in not having the necessary web skills. Help please!

[Hated Moron]

OK I've created an account on Itch but I don't really know what to do with it.

Right, after a bit of a struggle I've created this page. Is that the sort of thing you had in mind? What now?!

[kigohhere]

OK I've created an account on Itch but I don't really know what to do with it.

Right, after a bit of a struggle I've created this page. Is that the sort of thing you had in mind? What now?!

Yes.

The webpage surprises me. It looks really nice. You are a genius.

Both blue background colours form a nice combination. You are a good graphic designer.

If you want, you can also put some information on this page: https://bbcbasic.itch.io/ (Something like that: https://thegamecreators.itch.io/) Moreover, it may be possible to change bbcbasic to BBCBASIC because I see 'TheGameCreators'.

In addition, the message board here: https://bbcbasic.itch.io/bbcsdl. Some people select to use forums. (Example: https://dreamtoaster.itch.io/honk/community ) But it is up to you.

Perhaps you can start to upload interesting BBC games(in the BBCSDL package) to your account. Starting your promotion adventure on itch! An awesome game gallery will finally be completed! Let the whole world know that BBC BASIC has been successfully modernized!

One more thing, some people also upload browser games. (Example: https://virtual-nomad.itch.io/holiday-hussle ) So you can also try try.

If you face problems, you can ask here: https://itch.io/board/10023/questions-support.

Finally, you can use some suitable tags for your page. (Example: https://191brian.itch.io/mini-robots-together, qb64 and basic were used, you can use bbcbasic, bbcsdl, basic, etc.)

(By the way, I am busy recently. I cannot reply to you in this forum every day. But good luck!!)

[Hated Moron]

If you want, you can also put some information on this page: https://bbcbasic.itch.io/

OK, I've done that. I've even risked embedding the presentation I gave a couple of years ago on my extensions to the language. I hope it's not too cringe-making, if you think it's inappropriate I'll take it out.

In addition, the message board here: https://bbcbasic.itch.io/bbcsdl. Some people select to use forums.

I don't know whether yet another forum-like site is really a sensible idea, because of the risk of further dilution of a limited userbase. Anyway, I haven't figured out how to create that yet.

Perhaps you can start to upload interesting BBC games(in the BBCSDL package) to your account.

In principle, yes, but it's not something that could be done very quickly because of the need for screenshots and videos etc. David Williams's games would obviously be a good candidate, but I don't know how to contact him to seek permission (he didn't reply to my most recent emails to his old address, which is one of the reasons I feared the worst).

One more thing, some people also upload browser games. (Example: https://virtual-nomad.itch.io/holiday-hussle )

Yeah, although it talks about providing a 'link to an HTML file' and I need to find out whether it will accept the rather complicated URLs that are needed to run BBC BASIC programs online.

Finally, you can use some suitable tags for your page. (Example: https://191brian.itch.io/mini-robots-together, qb64 and basic were used, you can use bbcbasic, bbcsdl, basic, etc.)

OK. It seemed to be preferring the selection of existing tags from the list rather than creating new ones, and I didn't find anything suitable. But I'll add some custom ones as you suggest.

[Hated Moron]

I need to find out whether it will accept the rather complicated URLs that are needed to run BBC BASIC programs online.

It doesn't. Itch will only accept HTML5 or similar games, not the sort of WebAssembly app that requires the engine to be downloaded from a remote site in the way BBC BASIC normally does. One could perhaps bundle the entire BBC BASIC run-time engine with the app into a self-contained Zip, but it would be unwieldy; I might try that sometime.

[Hated Moron]

One could perhaps bundle the entire BBC BASIC run-time engine with the app into a self-contained Zip, but it would be unwieldy; I might try that sometime.

I've successfully created such a standalone web bundle, which doesn't require the run-time-engine from my web site, but it doesn't work in Itch because of the requirement that files be served with the CORP (Cross-Origin-Resource-Policy) header. I wonder if there would be any possibility of Itch reconfiguring their server to add those headers (no, I don't plan to ask them).

[kigohhere]

One could perhaps bundle the entire BBC BASIC run-time engine with the app into a self-contained Zip, but it would be unwieldy; I might try that sometime.

I've successfully created such a standalone web bundle, which doesn't require the run-time-engine from my web site, but it doesn't work in Itch because of the requirement that files be served with the CORP (Cross-Origin-Resource-Policy) header. I wonder if there would be any possibility of Itch reconfiguring their server to add those headers (no, I don't plan to ask them).

Hi, oh...I don't know how to solve this kind of problem. I searched on Google. So many Itch members encountered the above problem as well?
This link

I hope it's not too cringe-making, if you think it's inappropriate I'll take it out.

The presentation is detailed. Actually, it is a good presentation.

In principle, yes, but it's not something that could be done very quickly because of the need for screenshots and videos etc.

Yes. Many nice games are on DW's site. Sure. But very nice games can also be found in BBCSDL package.(For example, Lemmings, etc.) But I think that uploading graphic demos which show good features of BBCSDL is also okay. So many Itch members upload simple games or incomplete games for submitting to game jams or prototypes.

he didn't reply to my most recent emails to his old address,

Maybe DW likes lively forums. If this forum is as active as SyntaxBomb, perhaps DW will come back to join this community and visit this forum every day.

OK. It seemed to be preferring the selection of existing tags from the list rather than creating new ones, and I didn't find anything suitable. But I'll add some custom ones as you suggest.

A suggestion: these three tags may be suitable and useful.
programming
programming language
language

Again...good luck!!!

[Hated Moron]

But very nice games can also be found in BBCSDL package.(For example, Lemmings, etc.)

There are Copyright issues with Lemmings which would probably mean it's unwise to put it on Itch. Also it's a translation of a Liberty BASIC program so perhaps not a good choice for that reason too.

I intend to put Pinball up. Not really a game perhaps (no scoring, although that could be added) but a good example of how the integrated 3D graphics and Box2D physics engine can be combined to good effect.

Maybe DW likes lively forums. If this forum is as active as SyntaxBomb, perhaps DW will come back to join this community and visit this forum every day.

Does SyntaxBomb have private messaging? Could you message DW (BasicBoy) there and ask him on my behalf for permission to put Forces of Darkness and Tyoob (and maybe some of his other games) on Itch?

A suggestion: these three tags may be suitable and useful.

Done.

[kigohhere]

But very nice games can also be found in BBCSDL package.(For example, Lemmings, etc.)

There are Copyright issues with Lemmings which would probably mean it's unwise to put it on Itch. Also it's a translation of a Liberty BASIC program so perhaps not a good choice for that reason too.

You put Lemmings in the BBCSDL package, you were brave.

I intend to put Pinball up. Not really a game perhaps (no scoring, although that could be added) but a good example of how the integrated 3D graphics and Box2D physics engine can be combined to good effect.

I agree with you. Besides, if background music is added, the Box2D demo may make a great impression on downloaders of the demo.

Does SyntaxBomb have private messaging? Could you message DW (BasicBoy) there and ask him on my behalf for permission to put Forces of Darkness and Tyoob (and maybe some of his other games) on Itch?

SyntaxBomb should have. Ok, let me think think.

Sometimes I may understand why DW likes Syntaxbomb. One reason is that Syntaxbomb has a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Finally, I think that a good beginning happened because:

1. A person noticed that BBCSDL is on Itch:
http://basic4all.epizy.com/index.php?topic=352.0

2. A person left a comment on the messageboard: "Excellent software!" ( https://bbcbasic.itch.io/bbcsdl )

3. The account of BBC BASIC has the first follower. ( https://itch.io/profile/bbcbasic )

On the other hand, I read a post and a person might discover a bug in LBB:
http://basic4all.epizy.com/index.php?to ... 20#msg3520

At last, when I searched for "programming language", BBCSDL was not on this page: https://itch.io/search?q=programming+language

I guess that the search system only checks the software titles. For example, D++ - Programming language, RCBasic - BASIC Programming Language for Games, NIL Programming language, etc. No 'programming' or 'language' in "BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0". You can try try "BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0 - Programming Language". I hope that you will succeed. Some people may like to look for "free" and "open-source" tools: "BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0 - Free, Open-Source Programming Language". But it is up to you.

Anyway, good luck!

[Hated Moron]

On 19/01/2023 09:43, R NBW wrote (cross-posted from the Discussion Group):

Re: “On the other hand, I read a post and a person might discover a bug in LBB:
http://basic4all.epizy.com/index.php?to ... 20#msg3520”

I tried out the code in both LBB and Liberty Basic and they both do the same thing.