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Why using GapiDraw ?!

PostPosted: Jun 17, 2003 @ 8:12am
by alophind
Hi there... im a newbi programmer in the ppc CE field (not much a difference then Win32 :) )
but i have a question here , if writing a game , why should i use GapiDraw while the dll is 300k (affect my game size) and not using Gapi alone , only because im able to compile my game to any machine easyly ?! and also ,when you are writing games using GapiDraw , are u writing it directly to ppc or doing the "beta" for the PC (easier to work with , mouse , keyboard...) and if it works changing it to ppc ?!
otherwise , i dont understand why using Gapidraw :?: maybe someone will shed some light here ...
Thx mates...

PostPosted: Jun 17, 2003 @ 8:21am
by DillRye
GapiDraw has a multitude of useful functions that the normal gapi does not have. Normal gapi just gives you direct screen access, and thats it.

You shouldn't need to be sold on adopting Gapidraw, it just makes life easier. check out the documentation section on www.gapidraw.com and you will see the various functions it provides.

PostPosted: Jun 17, 2003 @ 8:40am
by Conan
It's a lot harder to use GAPI directly than you think. For a start you have to deal with different screen ram layouts and you would also have to write all your own game-related functions. Using a toolkit like GapiDraw or PocketFrog saves you months of work so you can just get on with writing the game. In choosing a toolkit you should be aware that GapiDraw is the fastest & only fully supported toolkit though PF does have many good features.

PostPosted: Jun 17, 2003 @ 8:52am
by Johan
alophind: There is a section on the GapiDraw web site labelled "Why should I consider GapiDraw when I can create my own graphics library in a couple of days?"

To find it, go to http://www.gapidraw.com

Click on "Overview" -> "Technical details". You will find the answer to your question there. I made this topic "Sticky" by the way...

Cool , thx for all replies (I made it sticky.. LOL)

PostPosted: Jun 17, 2003 @ 6:52pm
by alophind
But i own the book "PocketPC game programming" and what i saw in it is that it isnt so difficult using gapi (maybe the guidence made it easier ?!)... i find it more difficult to draw the sprites and graphic for my games... LOL ....

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 8:27am
by Johan
alophind: All blit operations in GapiDraw are between 2-5 times faster than any of those presented in the book "Pocket PC Game Programming". On all devices. Creating a slow graphics library is simple.

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 8:31am
by Kzinti
That book is actually what inspired me to write PocketFrog. The author e-mailed me at one point saying how amazed he was at PocketFrog.

His stuff is good to learn, but it ain't the fastest thing around.

Sweet...

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 12:54pm
by alophind
Why did you stop developing pocketFrog (Or you didnt ?! :?: )

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 2:46pm
by Johan

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 3:26pm
by Conan

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 3:33pm
by Johan

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 5:05pm
by Conan

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 5:36pm
by Johan

Sweet...

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 5:38pm
by efortier

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2003 @ 6:14pm
by Kzinti