GAME PORTING - information wanted about methods and platforms!

[Pin_pal]

I work for a game company. A full Port from the PS2 to Xbox take about 2 weeks when developed side-by-side. I forget who does our ports but I’ll find out the company name for you on Monday. Usually small to medium size companies outsource the porting process. When I worked for Sega, a single (very smart) guy ported Quake III to the Dreamcast. That person was an exception though, as he did it alone in about one month. Amazing really…

[singularity2006]

what exactly is "game porting?"

[Sieb]

Taking a game on one platform and ex"porting" it to another platform.. Say porting GTA3 from PS2 to PC.. Basically modifying the code to work with another system.

[singularity2006]

oooh, gotcha. But does that go against licensing or anything? Something like what Microsoft did w/ Halo, making it XBox only?

[CgFX]

Also, make sure you clearly label the results as being a port from the PS2 so those of us in the money paying customer base can avoid it like the plague.

[3Dfx_Sage]

Originally posted by CgFX
Also, make sure you clearly label the results as being a port from the PS2 so those of us in the money paying customer base can avoid it like the plague. :scream: :applause: :bowdown:
I think that I have finally found something Cg-FX and I can agree upon- PS2 sux0rs! :p

[Sieb]

And the ancient xbox doesn't? :rolleyes:

[spm]

pls stick to the subject...

[3Dfx_Sage]

well, uh, I think that the first step would be to get the developers kit for the platform you are wanting to port to. I assume you have this already?

@sieb:
yeah, of course, all consoled do, but I hate the PS2 with a burning passion

[Sieb]

yea, dev boxes would be good, good luck getting ahold of one of those. And I don't remember what the restrictions are on SDKs, I believe using one to port a game would be considered reverse engineering the code and thus violate the EULA.. Its no easy feat. I think the PS2 is a comepletely different code base than the x86 base used in the xbox.

[3Dfx_Sage]

Originally posted by Sieb
yea, dev boxes would be good, good luck getting ahold of one of those. And I don't remember what the restrictions are on SDKs, I believe using one to port a game would be considered reverse engineering the code and thus violate the EULA.. Its no easy feat. I think the PS2 is a comepletely different code base than the x86 base used in the xbox.
I've been assuming that this is a game that he already has the rights to, and thus the source.... Perhaps I am wrong?

[spm]

its not really hard to get a dev-kit... if you have the money that is :). in my experience the usual procedure is to rent one from the publisher funding your project. im just scanning the terrain for other solutions atm. you never know whats hiding out there :)

we are a group of ppl who are making a game for pitching and we plan to start a company pretty soon.

[3Dfx_Sage]

well, the first thing would be to aquire the SDK, I believe.

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