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Work in Progress / game manager (almost like steam)

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Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 13:31 Edited at: 28th Sep 2006 15:38
Download:
version 0.1: http://lukasw.com/downloads/gameManager/gm_v0.1.zip - 693kb


version 0.2: http://lukasw.com/downloads/gameManager/gm_v0.2.zip - 701kb


version 0.3: http://lukasw.com/downloads/gameManager/gm_v0.3.zip - 753kb


version 0.4: http://lukasw.com/?page=downloads&id=gamemanager - 2mb


Hello there. i was thinking that it would be fun to try and write a game manager, like the way steam works. so i am going to do that with the games i have created (it is quite a lot).

it's functionality is automatic, and i can add any games to the list, including yours however that is not a requirement, or an option at the moment. (and you would have to contact me with game info so i could manually add it).

anyway, i have been working on it for about an hour, and here is the result so far:




i am using my gui system for the looks.

in the future i hope to be able to get the "installed" and "ready to play" stuff, where you just press the "launch" button and it will launch the game automatically and stuff. but at the moment i have no clue how to do that. i guess if i wrote .zip and .rar extracter that sends data back to the program or a .ini file where the game/application was extracted. i don't want to add anything to the registry as i wouldn't like that myself, and think that most people agree with that.

anyway, what do you think of this idea?

Kentaree
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 14:10
Steam has a game database in which it stores installation data and general game data, so maybe you could use the SqlLite plugin floating around on the forum for that.
Nice idea, you doing any validation (ie, user logins to check whether they own the game for commercial games)?

Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 14:17 Edited at: 22nd Sep 2006 14:19
good idea Kentaree. i will look into that and check stuff out.

no, this game is free, and any games that you can download/play using this application will also be free, so no registration required.
but if i am going to use a database to store this, then the users will have to register to setup their database. hmm..

here is the application in all its glory:
http://lukasw.com/other/gamemanager.zip (it is 700kb)

this is the version that the screenshots are taken of.
but i updated the game list database (or text file) with all the games available on my website.

Bizar Guy
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 16:13
Ohh!!! I'll check this out when I'm on a pc.

Looks like something that could be used for more than just your games, but for a bunch of db free games. I'd love to have somethng like this to ogranize all the db games I've downloaded, and to make it easy to pick up new ones and even demos as soon as they come out. It would give people an incetive to look at emos for games they might want to buy. Just an idea, but it would certainly help people see and play tons of great db games.

It would also make it really worth it to download your program, as I wouldn't just be getting rid of it after played all your games.

This has tons of potential, depending on what you want to do with it. In fact, you could even use it to advertise for upcomming games the way steam does... Heh, now I know why Valve came up with it... it's way more than just an easys way to distribute games.

Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 17:37 Edited at: 22nd Sep 2006 17:43


as you can see, the download is working now (not available in the exe i attached to my above post).

i have no idea how i could get it to download in the background, so it looks like the application has freezed.
i guess if i played a little animation while downloading the user will know it hasn't freezed.

next up is to "install" the games. as in extract the files.
i think i will do it the easy way (for me) and let the user press "install" the selected file executes, and he unzip it somewhere on his computer. when the unzipping is done, the application asks for the directory of where he unzipped to program, and lets him select the *.exe file. (that means i have to finish the file browser AWWW)

Bizar,
yea that would be awesome
i think i will add a function for the user to manually add stuff to the application, and so when another user open the program, or press "Check for New Games" the recently addde file will be in the list

edit,
but that will have to wait until this has been tested, and it is stable.
hmm, a user might add a virus to the list and pretend it is a game :/, so i guess to add stuff to the server, you would need to register.

edit2,
just noticed that games with similar url's as this: http://www.lukasw.com/?page=downloads&id=zombiehunter17 will not download at all.

Gil Galvanti
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 17:46
Cool! Looks very good . Surprised you came up with something like this so fast . Looks like it's already done, lol.

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Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 18:03
it is done in the sense that it can download games
but i want more! i want to install (extract) them and launch them from inside the application.

Gil Galvanti
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 18:08
cool, good ideas. So does it actually download games off of the internet? Or the computer?

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Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 18:28
it downloads via http.

Gil Galvanti
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 19:16
cool, so how do you get a list of downloads? Is it in the code, or can the player actually choose the http?

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Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 19:43
the list of games is located on my server.
downloaded via http. and in that file is the list.
every time you open the application or press the "update list" button the list re-downloads.

Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 20:00


You can now "install" games.

how it works:
1a) Select the downloaded game that you wish to install.
1b) Press "install" button.
1c) the file opens, and you can install/extract it like how you would normally do.
2) after the installation is done, my application asks for the path and name of the .exe file of the game.
3) you will have to manually enter this, letter by letter. or use CTRL+V to copy from the clipboard (however there is a bug where it places a black box inside the path, that you cannot remove unless you do it in "installed.log" file.
4) the game is installed.

now i need to do the Launch/Play Button, and then release the application

cool, it only took me a day to write this. (if i finish it today that is)

Diggsey
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 21:04 Edited at: 22nd Sep 2006 21:11
Can't you use execute file with a commandline to extract it. I don't know what it is, but it's probably something like this: /e C:program filesdownloaded games

That way, it would tell winzip/winrar to extract to a custom folder. (You could store them all in the same place, and would know where they are

edit:
Also, you could categarise the games into FPS, RPG, Multiplayer, Puzzle games, 2D games, 3D games etc. where a game could be under more than one category. Also, add an option for the user to add categories and be able to choose which games go into that category.

You could then find all FPS games by clicking FPS.

Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 21:37
good ideas!

i will try to send a command line to winzip/winrar and see how things turns out.
I was originally going to post the application now, but let me see if i can get this to work before i post it.

thanks for the tip

Bizar Guy
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 21:57
Hey, once this program is downloaded, can you update it, like If you ever want to make it look fancy or add a new feature? Like, will that update effect everyones version of the program?

Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 22:11 Edited at: 22nd Sep 2006 22:22
Diggsey,
i have tried to add the auto extracter. but i am not sure how it works. i write this:

it tells me there is no zip file. :/

[edit]
nevermind. i figured it out
Quote: " The command format is:
winzip32 -e [options] filename[.zip] folder

where -e is required.

options
-o and -j stand for "Overwrite existing files without prompting" and "Junk pathnames", respectively. Unless -j is specified, folder information is used. Use -sPassword to specify a case-sensitive password. The password can be enclosed in quotes, for example, -s"Secret Password".

filename.zip
Specifies the name of the Zip file involved. Be sure to specify the full filename (including the folder).

folder
Is the name of the folder to which the files are extracted. If the folder does not exist it is created."

oh, and it cannot be spaces in the folders.

this means that you MUST place the application in a path without spaces!
[end edit]

Bizar,
no, the only thing i can update for everybody to see is the game list.
for bug fixes and stuff, you would have to download a new version of the .exe.

however now that we are on the topic of updating. i think i will add automatic updating. where you press a button, and it checks to see if it is the latest version or not.

i think that i will implement a Settings button. in the setting you would then be able to:

* check for program updates
* register/login (free)
* add games you have created to the game list
* set path for winzip/winrar (because i am using a norwegian OS and my windows installation is on my F: drive. so that would confuse the program when sombody is using an english version of windows, and probably windows installed on C

Lukas W
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2006 23:05 Edited at: 22nd Sep 2006 23:06
Hi Again.

I finally got the application tested and it works how i wanted it to work. damn i'm good

you can download it here:
version 0.1: http://lukasw.com/downloads/GameManagerV0.1.zip - 693kb

tomorrow, or some other day, i will start working on the "settings" i was talking about.

Enjoy!

[edit] NOTE:
you MUST put the file in a path where there are NO spaces.
for example: C:/GameManager

Diggsey
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2006 00:53
Isn't there a character to use instead of space, like % ?
Because you can extract to any folder from any other application
Or maybe you can use the DOS names?

Good idea to do this

Freddy 007
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2006 12:36
It doesn't work for me. :S
First of all, Zombie Hunter 2 cannot be downloaded. And when I have downloaded a game, update the list, and click 'Install Game', and then the program crashes, telling me that the path couldn't be found at line 527. But I can find the games in the download folder and install them manually.

But I think this is a good idea, and it might turn out useful.


Lukas W
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2006 16:48
as i allready said, some games use a url in the lines of this: ?page=downloads&id=zombiehunter17

which means that my application cannot grab the file. why i don't know, because it should redirect to the download. i think :/

oh and zombie hunter 2 isn't uploaded. (my website was down, and then everything was deleted when i got it back. i'm too lazy to upload a 33mb file again :/)

i have tested the application and everything works.

did you really put it in a file path with NO spaces?

Like. C:/Games/GameManager
and NOT: C:/Games/Game Manager

Diggsey
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2006 17:45
This will let you put spaces in the path:


Change the paths to whatever you want

Also, what about adding an encryption/decryption option, so that games which you have to buy can be downloaded encrypted using this, and then when they buy it they are emailed a password which will decrypt it for them

(You would have to ask the seller to do this, but you would be advertising their product so they would probably agree)

Lukas W
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2006 19:12 Edited at: 23rd Sep 2006 19:13
great, that worked!
no i don't think i will add encryption and decryption stuff. that would be too much work.

here is the latest version
http://www.lukasw.com/downloads/gameManager/gm_v0.2.zip

Updates:


what i would like to accomplish now is:
* install/extract using winrar or winzip. (currently only winzip is supported)
* download games that have similar urls as this: http://domain/downloads?id=teh_game
* install/extract to the correct folder (files that have spaces in them will be extracted to "zombie" instead of "zombie hunter". why i don't know)
* packed files that look like this:

will not be installed properly. instead, packed files must look like this:


The Nerd
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2006 23:11 Edited at: 23rd Sep 2006 23:12
Hi Lukas,

I just tried the new version, and as the last one, I receive an error when trying to install a downloaded game. "Could not find path at line 649".

I don't know if it was supposed to be a fix in this new version though.

Also, a little feature request. When you have downloaded a game and hit the install button, it just says that you haven't downloaded the game. Now this happens because you haven't updated the list. But instead of having to manually update the list after downloading something, why don't you just make it so that the program will update the list itself when it has finished off downloading something?

But good progress so far... It could be a very nifty little application.

Lukas W
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 13:36
Hello again,

Quote: "I just tried the new version, and as the last one, I receive an error when trying to install a downloaded game. "Could not find path at line 649"."

that sounds odd. can you post the content of your "installed.log" file please?

Quote: "instead of having to manually update the list after downloading something, why don't you just make it so that the program will update the list itself when it has finished off downloading something?"

good idea. added in v0.3


New Version: 1.0.3
download here: http://lukasw.com/downloads/gameManager/gm_v0.3.zip - 753kb
OR: go to "check for new updates" if you allready have v1.0.2

Updates:


The Nerd
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 14:30
Hi,

Just tried the new version. I think it works much better now that the list updates itself

Quote: "that sounds odd. can you post the content of your "installed.log" file please?"


The installed.log is attached to this post. I don't know how it's supposed to work, but there isn't much content in it.

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Lukas W
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 14:46
hmm, it looks like the game you installed isn't installed at all.
the installed.log file should look something like this:

(just used zh as an example).

The Nerd
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 15:01 Edited at: 24th Sep 2006 15:01
Quote: "hmm, it looks like the game you installed isn't installed at all."


Well... I can install it manually just by extracting it. But after I download the game and hit the "Install" button I get the crash. But the log sure doesn't look like that.

Lukas W
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 15:43
oh.. hmm, could you post the content of the downloads.log file then?

The Nerd
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 15:47 Edited at: 24th Sep 2006 15:47
Content of the downloads.log:


Lukas W
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 15:51
it appears to be how it should be.

um, what is the error message you recieve, and what line nr was it, in v1.0.3?

The Nerd
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 16:09
Quote: "um, what is the error message you recieve, and what line nr was it, in v1.0.3?"


"Runtime Error 8003 - Could not find path at line 706".

That's the error I receive when trying to install something like zombie Hunter: Classic after downloading it.

Lukas W
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 16:35
ok.

try pressing "start -> run".

write: winzip32 and press enter. does winzip open?

try enter: winrar instead, (if you have winrar installed) does winrar open?

if it does not, that could be the problem.

The Nerd
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 16:37
Okay, I can open winrar, but not winzip32.

Lukas W
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 16:38
ok, have you tried to switch to winrar mode?
in the application, press "settings" and select winrar at the top.

The Nerd
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Posted: 24th Sep 2006 16:43 Edited at: 24th Sep 2006 16:43
Ah! That works. That was pretty easy to fix. All those posts for such a simple problem -_-

Cheers

Gil Galvanti
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Posted: 25th Sep 2006 04:56
Just tried the newest version...very nice, seems to work well .

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Wiggett
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Posted: 25th Sep 2006 06:42
hahaha nice idea lukas, now people can hate you like they hate steam

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Lukas W
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Posted: 25th Sep 2006 10:01
oh yes, next i will force the user to check for application updates each time they log on, and if it finds one dont use less than 5 minutes updating it. oh and + make sure the application popups a news box every time it starts up.

The Nerd
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Posted: 25th Sep 2006 17:02 Edited at: 25th Sep 2006 17:05
I also got another feature request that I think would be nice. On the game list, instead of having to click the buttons in the bottom of the window to download, install and run, I think it would be nice if it worked this way:

Like, if the game isn't downloaded and you doubleclick on it, it will download it. When the game is downloaded and you click on it again, it will install. Now, after the game is installed and you click the third time, the game will launch.

Because everytime I start the program, I always want to click on the games. But then I forget that you have to click the buttons Hehe.

Just a small idea, but I think it could work pretty good

[EDIT]

You could eventually make a window that asks if you really want to download, install or run it... So the user can't click on a game and download it with an accident etc.

Lukas W
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Posted: 25th Sep 2006 17:40
good idea. i have thought of it myself, but wanted to wait and see if anyone suggested it. because it means more work :/

anyway, because i have blue gui i think i will rewrite it into that.

the gui i wrote and use in this application is too limited. but it looks good

so expect the program to recieve more functions, like sorting of items (thanks to IanM, Scraggle and BatVink, i understand how it is done ), multiple tabs, like "browse game list", "my games" and "search".

i am also going to add support for brwosing the games in genres, like FPS, RPG, RTS, Multiplayer, Puzzle, etc.

and hopefully, the one i hope to accomplish the most is the ability to download games with similar url as this: http://domain/download?id=the_game

The Nerd
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Posted: 25th Sep 2006 18:35
Quote: "anyway, because i have blue gui i think i will rewrite it into that."


Good idea. BlueGui is awesome

Quote: "so expect the program to recieve more functions, like sorting of items (thanks to IanM, Scraggle and BatVink, i understand how it is done ), multiple tabs, like "browse game list", "my games" and "search". i am also going to add support for brwosing the games in genres, like FPS, RPG, RTS, Multiplayer, Puzzle, etc."


That sounds good! Can't wait to see it.

Diggsey
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Posted: 25th Sep 2006 20:48
What about a summary written by the author of each game, and a rating and a button to rate the game.
You could bring it up by right-clicking and selecting rate/summary/rating etc.

Lukas W
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Posted: 25th Sep 2006 23:41
Quote: "What about a summary written by the author of each game"

allready in the application.

a rating system would be cool.

but for now, i am only going to rewrite what i have into bluegui.
when that is done i will add new features.

Airslide
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Posted: 26th Sep 2006 00:52
Ahh, I liked your GUI...

My Apps:
Decal Maker
Lukas W
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Posted: 26th Sep 2006 12:15 Edited at: 26th Sep 2006 12:15
hello, because i don't have the source to "GM" here at work, i am adding some other features to the application.

the newly added feature is a "system information" window.

i was thinking that maybe i could check to see if users computer match up with the games requirements. if it does not, a warning label appear next to the "ready" label. if you click it, a window pop ups with the message "your computer does not meet this games requirements". but you will still be able to play the game though.



Roxas
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Posted: 26th Sep 2006 12:49 Edited at: 26th Sep 2006 12:51
Hey i reguested the one thing on program anouncemts thread But i think you dind notice it.. So do you have system tray icon for this one? If you dont have or know how to do it.. i could do that for u

Btw nice program.. TGC's steam lol

Oh i see you posted there your message.. Well the cpu can be lowered with gogetax plugin cooldowncpu...

Lukas W
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Posted: 26th Sep 2006 13:08
sweet. could you perhaps give me the link to his dll?
oh and by the way, i don't know why i would need to minimize it to tray. but i'll add it if more people want that feature.

The Nerd
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Posted: 26th Sep 2006 16:21
The new look is really awesome Lukas! Keep up the good work.

Airslide
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Posted: 26th Sep 2006 17:03
Is that BlueGUI?

Mine doesn't look like that!

My Apps:
Decal Maker
Lukas W
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Posted: 26th Sep 2006 17:14
i use the .manifest file on the .exe file so it will use whatever theme you are using on your computer. i also have Windows Media Center Theme installed so it will look like that.

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