Deus Ex Alpha

So I'm planning on making my first official alpha release, but I need opinions from you guys.

I'm planning to make a program that lists info for servers (ping, map, gametype, players and their names, etc) just like DX does. However, it's going to be completely independent from the game, so you don't have to start up DX to see who's online and playing. This saves time if there's nowhere you want to play. Think the Steam "Servers" window.

So anyways, my question is, do you guys want this tool? It requires that I do a fair amount of reverse-engineering (definitely doable but tedious) to be able to call the functions for validation of the DX server info handshake.

Well, it's an idea where you have a slight bit of competition(Yahoo:A.S.E.), however a free DX specialized one will definately be a plus =D

If it loads quickly (say, as quick as MS Paint for example) then yeah, because if it takes more than a few seconds then you might aswell load up DX...

...I just said that the whole point of the program was that it would be faster than DX.

[A]kBo wrote:...I just said that the whole point of the program was that it would be faster than DX.

Yeah I know, I was just trying to be more specific - I mean if there's not much difference in speed then there's not much point.

(I voted yes anyway )

yesss , would be great

[A]kBo wrote:So I'm planning on making my first official alpha release, but I need opinions from you guys.

I'm planning to make a program that lists info for servers (ping, map, gametype, players and their names, etc) just like DX does. However, it's going to be completely independent from the game, so you don't have to start up DX to see who's online and playing. This saves time if there's nowhere you want to play. Think the Steam "Servers" window.

So anyways, my question is, do you guys want this tool? It requires that I do a fair amount of reverse-engineering (definitely doable but tedious) to be able to call the functions for validation of the DX server info handshake.

I have some insight I wish to share...

1. You live in USA, iirc, where it is illegal to decompile any of DX if the user agreement denies it. (Check the user agreement. Blizzard has already proven this in court.)

2. Even if it was permitted by the user agreement, you would only be entitled to decompile to if no other viable option is open to you. Has the unreal team made public the network protocol? (Or at least the parts you need?)

3. If you're sure you have all the legal bases covered, and you start work on this, I ask you to use GTK, or at least ceperate the GUI so that a person (like my self perhaps) could later rewrite it for GTK. (If you're like me, and prefer C++ to C, GTK--(gtkmm) does the trick.)

4. What further development do you see for this project?

I'm all for it btw. =]

They have something similar on Gamespy, however 'tis mighty slow...

I'm all for it if it's fast!

It better be CLI kenny

Yeah the "All seeing eye sucks..." This would help me alot, instead of loading DX and finding the only server with people is GODZServer or some other shitty server then i would of wasted my time loading.

DarkKnight wrote:

[A]kBo wrote:So I'm planning on making my first official alpha release, but I need opinions from you guys.

I'm planning to make a program that lists info for servers (ping, map, gametype, players and their names, etc) just like DX does. However, it's going to be completely independent from the game, so you don't have to start up DX to see who's online and playing. This saves time if there's nowhere you want to play. Think the Steam "Servers" window.

So anyways, my question is, do you guys want this tool? It requires that I do a fair amount of reverse-engineering (definitely doable but tedious) to be able to call the functions for validation of the DX server info handshake.

I have some insight I wish to share...

1. You live in USA, iirc, where it is illegal to decompile any of DX if the user agreement denies it. (Check the user agreement. Blizzard has already proven this in court.)

2. Even if it was permitted by the user agreement, you would only be entitled to decompile to if no other viable option is open to you. Has the unreal team made public the network protocol? (Or at least the parts you need?)

3. If you're sure you have all the legal bases covered, and you start work on this, I ask you to use GTK, or at least ceperate the GUI so that a person (like my self perhaps) could later rewrite it for GTK. (If you're like me, and prefer C++ to C, GTK--(gtkmm) does the trick.)

4. What further development do you see for this project?

I'm all for it btw. =]

Actually, I found the headers on TheSheep's website, so no reversing is required. As for the GUI vs. CLI issue, I'll definitely publish the base code as CLI under a GNU liscence or something of the sort and publish the GUI code seperately.

Some programs like Anjuta allow the program to be auto-built with GNU licence or whatever you want to use.

[A]kBo wrote:Actually, I found the headers on TheSheep's website, so no reversing is required. As for the GUI vs. CLI issue, I'll definitely publish the base code as CLI under a GNU liscence or something of the sort and publish the GUI code seperately.

Could you PM me them?

Edit: If you could also PM me the source when you finish it, I'd be more then happy to make a basic GUI in GTK.

sound terrible unless u make it as msn addon beside's who do ever look at this kind of programs if no one is ever playing in them ?

Awww I was thinking of making one for firefox.

smookie wrote:sound terrible unless u make it as msn addon beside's who do ever look at this kind of programs if no one is ever playing in them ?

You have a small mind.

DarkKnight wrote:

smookie wrote:sound terrible unless u make it as msn addon beside's who do ever look at this kind of programs if no one is ever playing in them ?

You have a small mind.

And horrible grammers to boot.

Ask Darren for the link to the headers, I forget where they were.

Ever heard of Xfire?

Vince wrote:Ever heard of Xfire?

Ever heard of a big cup of STFU?

I hear it's really popular now.

I see you have, reaper

[A] LoL cLyZm wrote:

Vince wrote:Ever heard of Xfire?

Ever heard of a big cup of STFU?

I hear it's really popular now.

ACTUALLY, I HAVE.



And number B) Since when has legal stopped the internet?

Prodigy, seriously, stop with the pics.

ICE wrote:Awww I was thinking of making one for firefox.

Ice, you can't make one for firefox... :-/

Mainly because you know only of flash....

Topic locked.