Construct 2 - platform poll

Multiplatform support is one of the most popular requests for Construct 2. I'm running this poll to see what the most wanted platforms are, but in as general sense as possible, without delving in to technology choices too much. There are often multiple technology choices for each platform with advantages and disadvantages, so I'd rather first identify the necessary platforms rather than the specific technologies. (Java and Flash are technology choices, for example, so don't come in to play at this stage.)

Bear in mind this refers to the runtime only. There are currently no plans to port the editor to any non-Windows platforms, just the ability to export games to new platforms.

Windows desktop is probably a given, so assume that is already done and you're choosing one other choice. As I said in the feature poll we probably won't have time to do more than one other platform for the forseeable future, so you can only choose one from the list. Choose carefully!

I voted Android, because I have one myself, but I think if you can abstract out the runtime and renderer components, turn it in to a sort of virtual machine that plays construct files, you can make it so C2 can export to all sorts of platforms. Obviously, PC is going to be the number one, but my vote goes to Android as first alternative.

I don't own any other platform besides a PC, so I voted for web browser, I wonder how will Construct do Flash tough, if that's what you meant with web browser. (what else would it mean?)

Besides that, seriously with web browser you mean Construct will compile an actual .swf file or that it will be similar to Game Maker as in an .exe file that can be played online trough a special website built for Construct online support? (like yoyogames to gamemaker)

cause if it's .swf it would make Construct even better already since it will be the only program that will build flash games without having to understand AS/Scripting and able to submit to websites like Newgrounds and Miniclip, I'l stop typing for now.

Unsurprisingly browsers seem to be in the lead, but I wonder if all that voted for it realize there probably wont be hardware acceleration for that.

Mobile devices like the Android (or even iphone) are good ways for the users to sell their work. If the web runtime is anything but flash, nobody will download the plug-in. Remember that web plug-in from that other program? only the developers of those games downloaded and played each others games. It's like gaming incest!

Very true.

People won't be able to sell their work if it's exported as Flash.

True, most people won't want to sell their work, but we're talking about a Commercial version of Construct here, so it should be taken into consideration.

The Mac market is obviously a lot smaller than the PC market, but it's a market none-the-less, and some might like to sell to it.

The Android platform already has a good following, and from various articles I've read over the past couple of months, it's current momentum has exceeded even Google's expectations (and who wouldn't put a few quid on Google to make it a success).

So I'm sure it's going to be just as big a player as the iPhone.

No need to say anything about the iPhone's share of the market, but as with anything Apple, you'll need to make sure you don't sell your soul when you decide to publish on the App Store.

So, for me, they are the important ones, and in the following order:

:: Android

:: iPhone/iPod/iPad

:: Mac

For me, Flash wouldn't be an incentive to buy Construct 2 (but then, I'm currently beta testing Stencyl )

Krush.

I voted for more desktop (Mac,Linux and maybe Amiga/Freebsd) Because there is a major player in the other platform wich is important to have a huge public, but i think it is also important to have the online support with the Html 5 and WebGL, instead of using Flash/silverlight/Java. It will be better if the player don't have to install any plug-in to their own navigator (Firefox or IE).

PS: I think you should also think about Iphone and Android for you futur buisness (Construct 2) and have a deal with apple/google. But i believe it is impossible for Psp or NDS, there is some hope for psp since yoyogames recently port the game (they might a deal with sony), watch their Glog about the export. THanks again for the hard work Ashley!

Argh, don't wanna choose only one. My second choice would be web browser. Out of curiosity, you said fully supporting all the plugins on tons of platforms is unrealistic - what about partially supporting some? Like having only the rendering engine, sprites, sound and a few behaviors (and array and hash, I guess)?

Also, I'm sure you've already thought of it, but what about using something like allegro or SDL to make it easier to make both a mac and linux runtime instead of having to choose one?

Unsurprisingly browsers seem to be in the lead, but I wonder if all that voted for it realize there probably wont be hardware acceleration for that.

I realized that but I think it's still nice to have flash export imo.

Is a web browser A platform? I mean, there are many web browsers, and those browsers in many OSs. So you need make plugin compatible with different browser/os combination?

Mac/linux/windows all I care about, the greatest hardware for gaming is obviously the computer.

Have to go with web for the sole reason that it can potentially be played on virtually any platform with a capable browser.

how is web browser not completely running away with the vote is beyond me. It may be tougher to implement than some of the other choices, but I took this poll more as a wish list than vote for which you want the most whilst bearing in mind which is the most plausible.

Messaging somebody online with "Hey wanna check out my new game, *link to game playable in browser*" how could anybody not find that completely awesome. In this modern age, less and less people are likely to download and install a lesser known indie game.

how is web browser not completely running away with the vote is beyond me. It may be tougher to implement than some of the other choices, but I took this poll more as a wish list than vote for which you want the most whilst bearing in mind which is the most plausible.

Messaging somebody online with "Hey wanna check out my new game, *link to game playable in browser*" how could anybody not find that completely awesome. In this modern age, less and less people are likely to download and install a lesser known indie game.

1. There's no way to make it compliant for every browser.

2. Probably no hardware acceleration.

3. Multi-player is impractical.

4. Not everybody wants to make "casual" games. In other words you cant just message somebody online with "Hey wanna check out my new game, *link to game playable in browser*", btw that will be fitty bucks.

5. Java, need I say more?

I hope it would be flash but I doubt it would be.

So next I hope it's java.