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myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
sordina · 3 years ago
Thanks for responding! So if there was a quality OSS level pack that could be bundled then that would overcome the only obstacle?
myownclone · 3 years ago
Good question. In theory - yes. The code is GPLv2 based, redistributing binaries (originals from Id) with my own changes while I also release the source code is compatible with the GPLv2 license, so I think license-wise, it could work. The question is what would Apple say in the app submission review...
myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
theunamedguy · 3 years ago
Finally, something that I can speak to!

I once ported Quake 1 to the Rockbox operating system for MP3 players, which enabled it to run on the Apple iPod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6V-4AZ7pkA

The whole world of software ports basically boils down to "anything is possible, given enough memory, pixels, and time". The actual process of porting anything is sometimes incredibly tedious (e.g. "scour the entire source code for unaligned memory accesses, and manually rewrite all of them"), but also gives a chance to do some very clever things (like, "use the piezo speaker to beep out the address of a fault, because nothing else works on the device after a crash").

What made me do it was 1) the satisfaction I got from seeing my work produce something which, at first glance, shouldn't exist (Quake... on an MP3 player?), all while 2) learning deeply about software close to the bare metal, which is fairly hard to do early in one's career. There's of course also the factor of having lots of free time - I did my port when I was still a student with not very many responsibilities, so I could afford to spend entire evenings and weekends poring through mountains of C code. Nowadays, not so much...

myownclone · 3 years ago
Huge respect! I think that porting Quake like you did is much more impressive feat than my port to the Watch!

Totally agreed with the reasons for doing ports, huge satisfaction and learning experience; which applies to all of the programming OFC, but here, you also learn from the original codebase (which is in case of Quake phenomenal).

myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
eru · 3 years ago
I wonder why the binaries can not go on the app store? Is it because of the assets?
myownclone · 3 years ago
Exactly. Code is OSS, but assets are still copyrighted.
myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
fsiefken · 3 years ago
I wonder if you could mount the apple watch to your left eye and play quake with gyro (in a dark room for immersive effect). Perhaps you could map an audio stop start controller as gun. I once used a 640x480 monocular micro-display (with lensing to around 1x1cm)
myownclone · 3 years ago
Wow, that is interesting idea, thanks! But as someone else already said, I think the nausea would be too strong.
myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
mrweasel · 3 years ago
Seems inconvenient in terms of navigation. The 60fps is pretty impressive, that and the fact that it actually fit on the watch at all.
myownclone · 3 years ago
Thank you! And yes, controls are not convenient.
myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
destraynor · 3 years ago
I absolutely love it, well done!
myownclone · 3 years ago
Thanks a lot!
myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
effdee · 3 years ago
Can't wait for the speedruns.
myownclone · 3 years ago
LOL!
myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
sordina · 3 years ago
Is there a technical reason why this couldn't be put on the app store? I've seen reference to Apple not allowing certain OSS code but never seen that confirmed so I'm curious!
myownclone · 3 years ago
I did not even think about putting it there, and reason is not Apple (although maybe there would be a problem too), but simply the fact that Quake assets are still copyrighted, as opposed to the code. So I would have to replace the whole game asset package with something with friendly license...which would not be ... the original Quake.
myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
kaba0 · 3 years ago
I guess with the same limitations as on the iphone - with a developer account for 7 days before you have to relicense it.
myownclone · 3 years ago
Yes, I think you are right.
myownclone commented on Show HN: Quake 1 ported to the Apple Watch   github.com/MyOwnClone/qua... · Posted by u/myownclone
pgt · 3 years ago
How about using the digital crown to move forward/backward and then three buttons: [Left] [Fire] [Right] so you can play with three fingers on your Watch?
myownclone · 3 years ago
I have tried digital crown for this, but it was not too good to use. But thanks for suggestion!

u/myownclone

KarmaCake day421September 7, 2022View Original