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jlr1001 · Decorated Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 210

What OS's Are ARG Players Running?

**Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:57 am

colin

I think your suffering from jump in technology. Flash 8 has several new features which have been eagerly used by developers, this has probably lead to rapid upgrading within the industry. (I'd give examples of what flash 8 can do, but you couldn't see them anyway Razz

) (ok I can explain some in words; it's allowing transition effects like you see in movies to be produced real time. It's also allowing images transformations [think photoshop type filters] to be dymanically applied very fast [implementing with older versions yields a frame rate of 1-2fps, with flash 8 you get 25fps])

My guess is that this community will have the normal distribution of operating systems, 90% windows.

I'm using windows.

**Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:58 am

Phaedra

Windows (on my desktop) and OS X Tiger (laptop).

I am not 1337 enough for Linux. Wink

**Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:40 am

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SirQuady · Unfettered Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 576

I'm running windows, have been since ever.

Though with the rumors of a Google OS in the next decade, i might be switching!

Oh, and a friend of mine is gonna be introducing me to linux (Fedora Core 5) sooon.

**Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:47 am

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catherwood

At the office, they've given me Windows XP with all the latest bells and whistles, and I have Flash 8, and a fast processor and internet connection. Things like The Hanso Foundation website perform flawlessly.

At home, I inherited an old office computer with Windows NT 4.0 (and some fancy graphics software that would cost me a ton of money to own and install if I ever upgraded.) The processor is older, the connection is DSL, and Flash is still at version 6. I cannot view most of flash sites in The Lost Experience at all. I was able to load the EDOC laundry game site a year ago, but it was horribly sluggish; I haven't tried it lately.

Yes, I understand the need to stay current with technology, but I also understand the pain and cost and reluctance for many people to do so. Some games just wouldn't be the same if programmers had to hold back for the sake of a dwindling minority. (Heck, I'm probably not even the target demographic for some of those websites anymore.)

**Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:14 pm

jlr1001 · Decorated Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 210

**Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 1:40 pm

Giskard

**Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 4:33 pm

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jlr1001 · Decorated Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 210

CreativeEmbassy

WinXP Pro, though I hear service pack 2 levels things out a bit between home and pro users... and don't lose hope, rumor has it that adobe/macromedia is working on a flash 9 for linux. Wink

**Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:13 pm

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Giskard

**Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:25 pm

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MageSteff

I'm running windows. But I think we have a far percentage of *nix users as well. I think puppetmasters should test puzzles/flash presentations in as many different browsers/OS as possible to make certain that a majority of players can view it and participate directly. If your PM team can't handle making things user friendly, then ask around a bit - we have enough people with the mad skills that can help fix any issues you may have.

**Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:32 pm

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Rolerbe

As a professional software developer who has had to develop web based interfaces to be compatible with both IE/Netscape/Firefox and Windows/Unix/Mac (before unix on Mac), i have to say its not as easy as it seems.

There are some very large and infuriating differences that can wreak havoc to anything that is not LCD (least common denominator -- also known as PUI -- Pathetic User Interface).

I'm not surprised if an ARG effort limits itself to Windows/IE which has the widest base.

**Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:38 pm

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SirQuady · Unfettered Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 576

Interesting. My tech problem with certain games and websites is that i have dial-up, so loading large files or very Flash-y websites is well nigh impossible, unfortunatley.

**Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:27 pm

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There once was a [person] from [place]
Whose [body part] was [special case].
When [event] would occur,
It would cause [him or her]
To violate [law of time/space].

colin

**Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:05 pm

Mikeyj

I sympathise with your linux troubles...I'm Debian at work (mmm Bio-linux and have just learnt to accept the occasional troubles (in exchange for something far more wonderful!), but what really bugs me are Firefox unfriendly sites.

I think I remember Guin (or MJ?) reporting back on the systems running the 13th labour client, that a far larger number where running firefox compared to the norm (40-50 % I think, as opposed to ~25 %). So I reckon it's definitely worth making sure you support both Firefox and *spits* IE.

**Posted:** Sun Jun 25, 2006 12:43 pm

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