Re: [AD] Magic main in Windows

[Chris <kcat@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Daniel Schlyder wrote:
> The macro for single user variable game data should also be defined on Windows:
>
> 2000/XP: C:\Documents and Settings\USER\My Documents\My Games\PROGRAM
>      9x: C:\My Documents\My Games\PROGRAM
>
> (The "My Games" dir was introduced in Windows 2000 or XP, I think, but can be
> created by the function if it doesn't exist.)

I really, really don't like this idea. I prefer all my game data and 
config files to be in the same directory as the game. And since most 
Allegro programs are simply "unzip, (compile}, run", having end users 
have to move data around to simply get the game to run (or forcing the 
programmer to make an installer), is very bad, IMO. As well, it would 
make uninstallation harder since you now have to go hunting around for 
extra datafiles instead of just deleting the directory.

The only reason having config files in ~/.something is acceptable in 
Linux/Unix is that most people using these systems use the command line 
anyway.. so it's the difference of typing 'nano 
<path_to_program>/config.cfg' or 'nano ~/.program/config.cfg'. On 
Windows however, this becomes much more complex since there is no home 
directory shortcut like ~ in Unix, and most users aren't savvy enough to 
know where to look.. plus they rarely use the command line so they'd 
have to stumble around explorer.

Allegro games generally aren't professional level games with installers, 
uninstallers, extensive in-game config systems, etc.. so having it 
available to the normal programmer will just confuse things a lot more 
for both him and the end user. And the games that do reach that level of 
completion can still do it themselves since Allegro doesn't do anything 
to stop it. I just don't think it should be encouraged.

- Kitty Cat