[Zacam]

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/374397522/apngasm-foss-animated-png-tools-and-apng-standardi

I'm seriously going to throw into backing this, but if we collectively could hit that $2,500 scrape together, we'd have it already ported for us and have our own Open Source License to put it under as well.

Even if that is not feasible, I -HIGHLY- encourage anybody and everybody to put whatever they comfortably can into this, as it is a seriously needed task to have done. GIF is extremely limited and in terms of FSO specifically: having a fixed, documented and specification adhering manner for aspiring mod makers to be able to leverage the power of PNG in an animated fashion SOOO much easier that it would be nearly criminal to pass up on making this happen.

I know the idea of being able to collectively back such a large investment seems nerve wracking for some people. The largest bounty we've seen so far was to enable PCS to handle DAE support, and I'm thoroughly convinced that we completely underpaid on that front.

This sort of project though would impact the -world- and for the better, so lets see about talking about it.

[Zacam]

Also, to note: The reason we don't currently have any Animated PNG support in FSO right now? Because there is no singular multi-platform solution that provides consistent results under the base libPNG libraries we already have in the engine because not a one of them ever manages to do it the same way, much less every time.

[Black Wolf]

So, to ensure clarity here, the big advantage to FSO would be... EFF equivalent in a container format?

[The E]

Pretty much.

We've been looking for a replacement for ANI for some time, and APNG is one of the few formats that meets our requirements at least somewhat (Our preferred solution, MNG, has similar issues regarding software support, we'd basically have to write our own libraries for reading and tools for creating these files).

[niffiwan]

I recall reading through the MNG threads.  Will APNG meet the requirements we had for MNG? 

(is this a good summary of said requirements? http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=75188.msg1488795#msg1488795)

[MatthTheGeek]

I'm ready to throw money at this.

How do we organize making a collective pledge ? Because if we want that 2.5k thing we need to make it in one single pledge.

[mjn.mixael]

Um... Yes. Please.

[karajorma]

It would be great advertising for the SCP if we actually raised all the cash ourselves.

[FreeSpaceFreak]

How do we organize making a collective pledge ? Because if we want that 2.5k thing we need to make it in one single pledge.

Kickstarter?

[MatthTheGeek]

Yo dawg.

[X3N0-Life-Form]

How do we organize making a collective pledge ? Because if we want that 2.5k thing we need to make it in one single pledge.

Kickstarter?

I didn't dare mentionning it
In any case, I'd be ready to throw money at this as well. This really sounds like a great opportunity.

[niffiwan]

OK, I'm happy to throw money at this as well. 

As for aggregating the cash, could we use HLP's donate option?  The obvious downside is that Paypal will eat part of the money, and we'll have to let Sandwich know which money is for apngasm vs hosting.  But I can't think of any other good options at the moment.  What was done for PCS/DAE, or the Vasudan cutscene model?

[Zacam]

Both bounties (afaik) were paid out from the HLP Paypal, so me and Sandwich would co-ordinate that.

As for hosting, I've already paid up HLP's hosting to MP through to the end of the year.

[kkmic]

That project needs only $93 to reach it's $5,000 goal.

With 25 days to go, I'd say that it won't be that hard.

But the $2,500 backer reward would be nice to have indeed....

[z64555]

It's that backer reward that is what we're shooting for, since FSO's license doesn't play particularly well with GNU. There was perhaps no doubt that this project would've gotten the base funding within a week.

[CommanderDJ]

I'm prepared to chip in for this!

[Black Wolf]

Do what was done for the Vasudan. Make a poll allowing people to state how much they're willing to contribute. If the total is more than 2500, collect the money. If not, then we don't have enough and there's no point people throwing money at it anyway.

[docfu]

If you raise that $5,000 pledge, stop in and visit me on your way to Nagoya...

[Lorric]

I see this has raised exactly $5,000 right now...

[docfu]

I meant if HLP raises $5000 for that mark.