[S-99]

I voted for getting rid of win1/2/3.11/95/98/ME support. There's two reasons why you'd still be running any version of windows that's based off of dos. One is because you're an idiot running it on modern day hardware. Two is the other scenario where you actually need the older version of windows to run on old slow hardware.

In the number two scenario, there is the possibility that there's some old, but not too old of hardware that can play fso with the mediavp's (albeit it doesn't sound like speedy game play, but playable is playable and that's good enough for many people...those on tight budgets or still find their old computer just fine for normal operations and average computer use).

I hope support for any dos based windows gets dropped completely so the coders have a much easier time.

For those who do play fso on a dos based windows installation...don't forget that the scp supports linux also. If support for dos based windows gets dropped and people are two greedy for the windows tax or don't have speedy hardware for anything nt5 on up, then you'll have to take the linux route.

Benefits of the linux route with an scp focus are:
Linux is modern day software
Linux is modern day software that can run on some pretty darn old hardware (check out distributions centered on running on old hardware)
The scp supports linux

I'm mentioning linux not because i think it's better than windows, but because of those not able to get newer hardware able to run nt5 on up, and for those who can't afford, or just don't want to upgrade their dos based windows. In this situation, the only route to go and still be able to play the scp enhanced stuff would be linux.

[Cyker]

I'm sorry, did your argument for removing Win98 support just boil down to you accusing us of being tight-fisted idiots?

Have you not read the rest of the thread?

Even your second argument doesn't apply; Both my old 6600GT and my X850Pro, both of which support Win98, are more than capable of running FS2 SCP with everything on (Well, the X850 doesn't support normal maps, which sucks, so I'm sorely tempted to go back to the GT, which is supposed to be an older slower card! Darn you ATI!!)

Now stop throwing out fallacious arguments (I especially liked the DOS-based Windows dig, and grouping Win 1.0 with Win9x! How very cunning of you!).

There is currently NO technical argument why FS2 SCP will not run in Win98 - It is just as capable of running it a a modern system.

The ONLY good reasons to drop support given so far have been due to insurmountable compiler problems and difficulty in testing.

OpenGL is not an issue as the library is totally dependant on the graphics card drivers, and using any new API's would still need to have a fallbacks anyway since not everybody has a GTX295 or HD5970

Obviously there is no support for DirectX 9 in Win98, but since FS2SCP doesn't use D3D or DirectSound, and DirectInput has basically not changed (In fact they've removed bits of it and DirectSound in DX10!), that is really a non-issue.


Now, as I said, this is really up to the devs and if they feel the compiler and testing problems are painful enough that they really can't get around them then fair enough. (It's not like they get paid to do this after all!). That's fine, I can understand that, but I don't want support being dropped for stupid non-reasons like "FS2 can't possibly run well on a Win98-spec machine" or "All Win98 users are idiots or poor people!"  .

[portej05]

OK, let me put it this way.
One day someone will use an API that doesn't work with Win98.
You'll wake up and FSO will not work.

[Spoon]

If people still want to use Win98 these days and browse the internet with 56k modems then they are free to do so. Just don't expect the rest of the world to stand still in time as well. 

[S-99]

That's fine, I can understand that, but I don't want support being dropped for stupid non-reasons like "FS2 can't possibly run well on a Win98-spec machine" or "All Win98 users are idiots or poor people!"  .

You forgot my 3rd argument which was mentioning those few who just don't want to pay to upgrade to newer windows. I lump you in with this third group. Read my post better and you'll also see i mentioned old computers that can run the scp, as well as people who run 98 on not too old of hardware. Thanks for actively ignoring the third argument, truly your specialty is in trying to one up people.

WhyTF ARE YOU STILL RUNNING 98 FOR? It's not impossible to go find a friend who upgraded to win7 and get their newly unused copy of xp for free (you get the idea, go find a win2k or xp install disc and cd code that's not currently in use for free...or maybe not, you did try to put a fast one on me ). Either use linux if you really don't want to pay money for a new os (or even try to look for a free xp or win2k) and still have support for the scp, or get ready to be left in the dust. My arguments apply.

[General Battuta]

Oh, for God's sake, leave Cyker alone.

I can't believe you'd be so rude as to treat him like this over the issue of what operating system he uses.

His arguments are fine, he's willing to accept dropped 98 support over reasonable issues, it's not like he's doing anything to hurt you. All he's done is respond to some rather nasty generalizations about his personage. Relax.

[S-99]

I tend to get a little touchy after it was pretty obvious he was trying to warp the points and arguments i presented. I'm done touching the nerve of finding out that some people still run 98 for no good reason.