GLBasic forum

Main forum => Announcements => Topic started by: Wampus on 2012-Mar-26

Title: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Wampus on 2012-Mar-26
I've been feeling something for a time and thought I should bring it up. In my opinion, for what it is and what it can do, GLBasic isn't well known enough.

Just prior to posting I was looking at a Wikipedia page about mobile application development (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_application_development). I noticed there was a list of development kits that support one or more platforms and GLBasic wasn't on the list, despite the very wide platform support it offers.

The above strikes me as crazy. I've tried a lot of the dev kits listed and GLBasic is one of the most flexible I've seen. Its not just what it can do but the price, speed of development time and ease of use that, on balance, make it stand out.

I'd like to propose a group project: We could collectively promote GLBasic on the web - make people aware it exists and what it can do.

Even as an experiment it would be interesting to see what we'd be capable of and what impact it had if a lot of us put in an effort. Whether its people working alone or collaborating in a targeted and coordinated way, we'd all benefit somehow.

What do you think? Any ideas? And would you want to be in on such a thing?
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: MrTAToad on 2012-Mar-26
I've added GLBasic to one Wikipedia list (can't remember which though :) )

However, I have updated the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_programming_languages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_programming_languages) entry - change anything if I have the details wrong...

There are various other ways too - I have the GLBasic logo in the initial logo display routine.  I should also mention it in the description for Android too - do need to update it at some point.

Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: bigsofty on 2012-Mar-26
I think this is a good idea. A simple way to promote the language is to add a link on your sig on any forums that you frequent. All your posts become mini ads.

Also, I think a "Powered by GLBasic", similar to Unity, would be a good idea. That is, a logo that is designed specifically for inclusion within apps.



Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: MrTAToad on 2012-Mar-26
I use Erico's GLBasic graphic which I "borrowed" from his website, and modified slightly...

He's a very talented artist
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Ruidesco on 2012-Mar-26
A GLBasic splash screen is one of the easiest publicity methods. There goes a proposal using Erico's logo.

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Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: fuzzy70 on 2012-Mar-26
I have never been to keen on the "Powered By" type of splash screens unless it relates to hardware, "Created With" sounds more apt to me with regards to software. But that's just me  :D

Lee
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Wampus on 2012-Mar-26
Signatures for dev forums is good, where possible. Created/powered with GLBasic is also good.

I wonder if a 2 min video featuring outwardly exciting looking apps/games/tools made with GLBasic and text explaining what its capable of would get some attention. My video editing skills are currently terrible (working on it) but maybe someone could put something together if we/I record some decent video footage?

I'm trying to think of ways to get through to people starting out with game development. I see a lot of people choose tools that are well marketed but too restrictive and better for dreaming than building something quick and learning ecessary long term skills.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: spacefractal on 2012-Mar-27
just to mention as those splash screen might annoying users instead, specific if they are not skipable (in some commercial games there is 4-5 of them and its very annoying and even worse when doing on mobile games). So been careful here. People normaly dont care which language its made on.

Howover its would been pretty  to do that on credits as well on attract screen. That kind of screens is not splash and still nice to promote GlBasic without annoying.

In Greedy Mouse I might not even do any logo or splash screen (other than the loading one), so I relay on the credits screen as well on tips. I not want to wait more than necessity to play my game.....

PS. Yes "Powered By" should have been "created in". Its sound some hardware thing, which GlBasic is not. But that text can just removed and only show "GlBasic", and that it.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: hardyx on 2012-Mar-27
You can make a splash screen wich you can pass touching the screen, or an little icon in the title screen. You can put a mini banner in your web page/blog near the "Available in Appstore" or "Available in Android Market" icon.
Title: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Kitty Hello on 2012-Mar-27
A video showing all good GLBasic games in 2 mins would be awesome.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: MrTAToad on 2012-Mar-27
If someone could provide some Youtube links (or even provide AVI files), that'll be easy enough to do...
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Minion on 2012-Mar-27

IF MrToad = volunteering to make video
   IF You Want videos posted here = TRUE
       http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MIRjpK1THX0
   ELSE
      PRINT "Where ?"
   ENDIF
ELSE
   PRINT "Then who ?"
ENDIF
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Kitty Hello on 2012-Mar-27
MAybe browsing the AppStore thread reveals some candy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTCaBBpIr5Y e.g. Hit the Deck (excellent trailer IMO)
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Wampus on 2012-Mar-27
YouTube videos can be borrowed but better source material would be preferred? I imagine the quality could suffer a lot from re-encoding whereas better original source material to work with would produce a nicer vid.

Quote from: Kitty Hello on 2012-Mar-27
MAybe browsing the AppStore thread reveals some candy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTCaBBpIr5Y e.g. Hit the Deck (excellent trailer IMO)

That is very good, yeh.  =D I wish I could do something like that.

[EDIT] Briefly looking at what's in the show room, what we've seen in the beta testing area and trailers out their on YouTube there is a wealth of awesome looking stuff to borrow from, if people consent to having their stuff featured. :)
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: bigsofty on 2012-Mar-27
On a slight side note, how about producing a demo, like from the demo scene. If each person involved were to supply a function that was a fully enclosed piece of code, render, logic, etc. with an exit timer or key. Then we could all contribute to a GLB Megademo? I think it would be kinda fun!  =D
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: MrTAToad on 2012-Mar-27
I'll see what can be poached from the other areas then :)
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Wampus on 2012-Mar-28
Quote from: bigsofty on 2012-Mar-27
On a slight side note, how about producing a demo, like from the demo scene. If each person involved were to supply a function that was a fully enclosed piece of code, render, logic, etc. with an exit timer or key. Then we could all contribute to a GLB Megademo? I think it would be kinda fun!  =D

Hmm, nice :) I could contribute a fancier version of a polyvector thingy I borrowed from I Love My Brick to create:-



I could add a crazy scroller and 3D stuff or summink.

Quote from: MrTAToad on 2012-Mar-27
I'll see what can be poached from the other areas then :)

Raaaaaaaa! I'm excited.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Leginus on 2012-Mar-29
THis is probably going to sound really bad for which I apologise and I hope this doesnt cause offence as it is not meant to, but if it was called anything else other than GLBasic...even GLB then that would be great, but so many people are funny about the word basic.  I can't imagine a client being confident if I mentioned I was going to write their app in anything ending in Basic.

Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Slydog on 2012-Mar-29
Or 'GLIde'  =D

Ya, I hate how 'basic' has such a negative stigma.

Ha, I rewrote a million dollar program our company paid for, that took 1/2 hour to run one set of results.
It was originally written in 'C', and I rewrote it in Visual Basic 6.  Mine took 5 seconds to run.  And offered more functionality!  (To be fair, theirs was running on common routines they used for most of their clients, while my 'basic' code was written from scratch, so could be stream lined better . . . but still!)

Don't hate the language, hate the programmer!
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Wampus on 2012-Mar-29
Well Leginus / Slydog I'm sorry too but I feel the same way. I hate saying I am using anything-Basic Why? Because of that look and attitude people give me that says, "You're using Basic? Wasn't that 8-bit stuff for kids back in the 80s? You must be a very bad programmer." I hate this stupid prejudice but I also can't ignore it.

I'm frustrated because I get this response from people in the industry including those who use scripting languages for an 'engine' with an overly simplistic IDE. They think they're 1337 and I'm an idiot, just because of what they associate with the word Basic. I'm embarrassed by that, even though I know for a fact that many of the coders I speak to can't program for ****.

The name GLBasic is technically very accurate for what it is - its Basic that uses OpenGL functions (amongst other things). However, because of what people associate with the word the connotations are inaccurate and misleading. It would be more descriptive of what it is to call it something like GLMobile SDK or GLFast SDK.

Can you think of any other game orientated IDE that compiles for so many mobile devices? I can't. GLBasic is King of platform adaption and compatibility. If the name gave a hint of that or just sounded cool it would help its popularity I'm sure.

Quote from: Slydog on 2012-Mar-29
Or 'GLIde'  =D

Hmm, I love the sound of GLIde.  :) I wondered about suggesting FlexGL but GLIde sounds cooler.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: quangdx on 2012-Mar-29
I too have to add that when people ask me what language I'm coding in,
I have to pause a second before saying GLBasic, as they have no idea of the product, the just have preconceived notions of what BASIC is.
Sometimes I say, I'm coding in an language that's like BlitzBasic or DarkBasic, it's a cross platform compiler called GLBasic.
That usually helps them to understand a bit better.

But yeah, renaming the product toe GLB or GLide would be pretty cool, to help take away the stigma.
Although this is Gernot's baby, so he can call it whatever he damn well pleases.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: MrTAToad on 2012-Mar-30
I hope to start something next week or so...
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Kitty Hello on 2012-Mar-30
what's wrong with BASIC? People are so silly. Everything must be programmed in the most complex language to be cool? You can't imagine what shite C++ I discover daily.

I can't think of any other name that would fit this product. GLSDK?
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: spacefractal on 2012-Mar-30
There nothing Wring with basic, it's people that might use it wrong.

For me no need change it (and glfast is bad name as well, dispite glbasic compile slow when compared with example blitzmax ), mightbeen other than glbasic sdk....
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: tatakamucher on 2012-Mar-30
Quote from: Kitty Hello on 2012-Mar-30
what's wrong with BASIC? People are so silly. Everything must be programmed in the most complex language to be cool? You can't imagine what shite C++ I discover daily.

I can't think of any other name that would fit this product. GLSDK?

BASIC in the name is good, i found GLBasic because i search a "basic" language game engine  and found it :good:
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Leginus on 2012-Mar-30
I agree that basic is good on the name for attracting people who are looking for a nice language to use, but you could still have it in the web description for searching.

I am not funny when it comes to coding, but you can't get around the fact that many people (including clients) still are.

Think of it like this.  Do you think unity would be used by as many major studios if it was called 3dbasic? 

It's a shame, but it's still true, people's perception is still not good for basic, regardless of how well written or fast it is.  :(
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: okee on 2012-Mar-30
Yeah I agree the word Basic has a stigma attached to it.
I think it's because if you mention basic to someone it conjures up images of
10 Goto etc whereas the modern basics have evolved a lot since then
Then again I found GLB because I was looking for a Basic language
Could probably use the term "Modern Basic like Syntax"

And the funny thing is all those coders that turn their nose up at Basic
are the ones hailing python as "The Modern Basic"
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Ruidesco on 2012-Mar-30
There is nothing wrong with "basic" being in the name, it's where it comes from and it's how people who want a language with BASIC-like syntax will find it.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: spacefractal on 2012-Mar-30
extracly. Basic must been in. I love basic languages :-D.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: fuzzy70 on 2012-Mar-30
It's a shame that the "B" in basic stands for "Beginners" even though it has moved on considerably from it's original incarnation. While that was fine at the start when programming language options where limited it has proved to be a stigma in some was.

Lee
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Ruidesco on 2012-Mar-30
The B in GLBasic stands for Best. Spread the word. =D
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: ampos on 2012-Mar-30
Yeah, BASIC has a stigma. I avoid using GLBasic. I use GLB or C, as if you are on basic, you are just toying. No one takes you seriously. Once you get more indepth, you can talk about a modern basic.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Sixth Sense on 2012-Mar-30
Even back in the Atari/Amiga days the term 'BASIC' seemed to have a little stigma attached.

On the boxes and manual covers from the Mandarin/Europress products the word 'BASIC' never appeared.

STOS ---the Game Creator
AMOS ---The Creator
AMOS Professional--- The Ultimate Programming Tool
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: tatakamucher on 2012-Apr-01
GLB Game Engine - Change Basic to GLB script :P

I think a redesign of the website can help, some like 2.0 and html5  :booze:
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: erico on 2012-Apr-01
been away a while will try to get back to the lost posts...

about the logo or a powered by image,
I like the neo geo openings, ye 300mega, an skipable 10 sec intro.
Something like that for people to use would be great.
The logo requires some adaptations currently, I have to come up with one with outlines, fix the left shadow and prepare same variations like CMYK for print  or 2 colors b/w one. I will do it soon as time allows. :)

GLBasic is a nice name for me, I can't  bother for the stigma on the 'basic' word as it is, imho, only older coders with some 8-bit experience will remember it. I guess such stigma dosen't exist on these newer generation? Nowadays I also feel some bad stigma for java and flash too, worse then the basic one. But people produce wonders on java and flash and some other script languages too.

A 2 min portfolio video of glbasic games would be really nice. We can count me in for that if needed. :good:
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: MrTAToad on 2012-Apr-01
It turns out my video editors can't unfortunately cut and paste from videos, so I wont be able to do it...

However, don't forget about this :

Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: Wampus on 2012-Apr-02
Nice vid MrTAToad

Its a shame your video editor won't play nice. I could try myself...later. I have a ton of stuff to work through in the next few weeks but I really want to put some clips together. Hopefully my video editing skills will improve in that time since I want to make a few WIP videos for my game Chaos Rematch in that time. What I will find the time to do is try to get the message out about GLBasic in small ways. I need to improve my ability to promote anyway since low visibility is currently a major weakness in my set up.

Erico, I'd like to use your stuff for sure.  :)
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: MrTAToad on 2012-Apr-02
Its annoying, but only noticed when this treat started as I've never needed it before...
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: mentalthink on 2012-Apr-09
Well I´m working in a Magazine about programming and Design 3D whit Glbasic, the Magazine have a Training by numbers... the Magazine it´s about another things  like retrocumputing , Game Reviews and Electronic things...  It can´t see the light after Summer... but I like to put some Advertising for free of the games in the Forum... I only can give a thing, and it´s promoto all you have, your FaceBook Youtube and all you can send me... and well I anyone can colaborate, I transalte to Spaninsh....

I leave the Cover of the Magazine... this will change because, I hope some Monster of Electronic, explain how make an Spectrum 48 K in your home, whit your own hands...



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Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: erico on 2012-Apr-09
What a great idea Mentalthink! Make sure it is online too.
I have never doubted the power of Spanish people´s mind into computing, ever since the 8-bit era and msx days.
Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: mentalthink on 2012-Apr-09
Yes, erico Spain was the second producer in Europe in the called "Edad Dorada del Soft Español" the 80´s , only have 4 important companyes in total (well, four or five friends making games ), too much people don´t know this but the 90% of the airports of the World use soft Spanish, and I´m not very sure about this but I think this soft was made by the Mr. who make "La pulga" the first game in created in Spain, but was sold first in UK...

Spaninsh POWA!!!!  :good:  :booze:

Title: Re: Could we (the community) help collectively promote GLBasic?
Post by: erico on 2012-Apr-09
It sure was and it sure is as today, lot´s of outstanding Spanish indies going around.
If I´m not wrong, the filmation 3d isometric stuff was put up to good use by the Spanish at the very first beginning of it.
Although I´m a high fan of Cadaver by the bitmap brother later on, you guys must stop influencing the world, otherwise I will just have to call Torrente to do you some good! :P

I see a tutorial on glbasic there on the front cover.
I once thought of a plan to bring in GLBasic to the tech 2nd and 3rd degree schools in brasil.
Chance to make it happen still didn´t happen, and sure I must learn a bit more to do so.
Tech schools are in high nowadays here, government is learning from the Germans that tech schools are extremely important to society.

But, at least I manage to put up a few speeches on that and glb and I do my best to promote it to the professionals I know too. :good: