What to do when your Android is dated

Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
phpbb forum styles
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

The reason that retrogaming is popular is emulation allowed all these old games like GalCiv2 and they are NOT vapid button mashers aps made for Millennials and GenZ.

So they will play the same games that Boomers and GenXers played if they go to the trouble to look them up.

But ExaGear went defunct in 2019. Wine likely works, but is not straight forward, but made for nerdish hobbyist tinkerers.

So if BotE for Android did a few things, like a ship designer, campaign editor, map editor, multiplayer, maybe an extraterrestrial designer for major and minor races, then it could appeal to all four groups...as nothing really exists like GalCiv2 except for BotE that will work across so many platforms.

Young games would get absolutely excited by a techtree editor that was point and click and altered the buildings.data file, and turned on new tech they created that boosted firepower by many methods. You do the same thing with ships and troop editors. It then alters the text files and reload and now these young people quickly modded BotE.

These are unlikely to happen as the developers are busy. Anyone has to make money for putting so much effort in a game. To me, the most likely way is advertisement based and making it so BotE is on every Android made so millions of devices. It should be common as an app, not downloaded.

But BotE is open source. So one way would be a DLC that adds on to the basic BotE for Android as an inexpensive package app. You could have mod packs, ship packs, extraterrestrial packs, story packs,etc. Maybe you buy all for $10. That is very inexpensive and not BotE but an add on to enhance the game.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

There are a handful of youtube videos on BotE, when the most common way now to learn about gameplay is not reading a web article, but a youtube video. It's not 1995 anymore. A high number will watch a trailer and gameplay video, but never would read an article. An article is not compelling. It's that generational aspect of marketing I discussed. They have different motivations.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

As the Total War franchise grew older, modding declined as companies realized they could make more content as DLC so pad their profits. It's the McDonald's gimmick, "You want fries with that? You want to supersize it?"

Now you can give away the game, and hook the player, and sell them DLC and make 3x what just the game might sell for if complete. No game is complete because modding proved creativity means new aliens,new random events, new anomalies,new planet classes, etc.

I think it's better to pay $40 and have a complete game and I did that since the TRS-80. Money is tight now, so companies give away the game, and send a message in the game based on scores like, "Here is $10 credit as a thank you." So the player gets a mod pack and is hooked.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

If planning on using ExaGear, realize that it does not work on an x86. It's optimized for ARM, and only supports 32 bit Windows applications. It is presumed it does not support Android 10 (which is yet to be given a nickname unlike previous versions like Pie 9.0)

The Vankyo S8 actual stats which often are not fully listed in sales literature.
Operation system: Android 9.0 (Pie)
Processor Quad Core , Spreadtrum SC7731 ARM Cortex-A7 at 1.3 GHz
Graphic: ARM Mali-400 MP2, Cores: 2 at MHz
RAM: 2 GB
Storage: 32 GB Expandable by SD to 128 GB
Wine for Android supports both x86 and ARM.
https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/android/
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

What it appears you do is the following.
1. Load Exagear.
2. Load Linux.
3. Load Windows XP.

Now you could run either the BotE for Android (Windows XP) or BotE for Android (Linux) versions so it is extremely useful for modders who need to beta test their mods under the correct OS.

Then you could load games you have in your collection like GalCiv2 or get a GOG membership. Then you could load all kinds of retro gaming on an Android tablet. Pretty amazing to be honest far more than I ever expected.

Wine maintains a list of programs that work under its software coupled often with Linux. At least a couple of editions of Rome Total War and Medieval 2 work, but the Android I am using only has 2 gb, so I doubt it operates. Probably crashes. If it works, I'm probaby going to spend a whole weekend playing. It's too ambtious as my old laptop had 4 gb of memory to run those.

You start loading all these to your hard drive, you're going to fill it up fast.Get a microSD card and save yourself the hassle. I'm going to do that and use a USB drive too for mp3s. 'No sense putting that on the sd card. Keep it pristine for apps.

Old software like Homeworld 1 and 2 work for many folks. That stuff had low demands.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

If you do all that, remember you will need several drivers too and Java. The subject is too involved to explain it all. The information is out there though. Look on youtube as many have fiddled with ExaGear on Android tablets. Chances are if it's old software from Windows 95 and Vista days, there is a workaround for many. Do a search on the name of the game and "wine". That will give a report on if anyone had success and which Android wine version based on your Android tablet processor.

Some don't use Exagear but end up using Wine and Linux and installing Windows XP which is archived now. I think Vista is too. So that era of game software, even Photoshop might work?

I don't know, maybe newer Androids run Gimp just fine. My old tablet won't load it. A modder needs tools for reskinning BotE ship files and editing troops or buildings too.

I don't know what Android users use for editing sound files. Audacity? A modder might change the .ogg files.

A better Android tablet as long as it's no later that 9.0 OS Pie should work. It won't be easy though.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9pc0e7yhFY
GIMP works under ExaGear on Android.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kLOtTB7nDfs
Audacity will run under ExaGear for Android too! This is very good news.

Now if I can find a good Java editor. You can use AIDE-IDE which is free (in the GooglePlaystore), but then you have to buy packages like SDK and libdex. It's better to find an program where you buy it outright instead nickle and diming the user. Some developers say to use Eclipse (Ha! They were joking! Eclipse starts at $19,000)!
https://ncube.com/blog/android-ides-for-developers

I'm not reinventing the wheel, just making possible minor source code editing (famous last words...to the wife, "No worries, this is a short project that will take a month at most.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

As you hunt through and locate the actual processor for some device and find it is a MTK6580. Then look up MTK6580 specs, it then reveals actual data: Quad-Core 1.3GHz ARM Cortex-A7. You need that information if using Wine and or ExaGear.

ExaGear has to use an ARM. Wine has different kinds of apk based on the processor type and certain Linux runs better with certain processor apks. Then you load Windows XP or Vista packages (in the public domain now). Unless you follow the protocol, it probaby won't work or causes errors/glitches. This is why so few even attempt it as the process is not clearly written out in a manner to facilitate common usage.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

High Performance 2 in 1 Tablets, 10 inch Tablet PC, with Keyboard Mouse, Google GMS Certified, 3GB RAM 64GB Storage, 4G WiFi, Android 9.0 Quad-Core Processor, 8000 mAh, FM, GPS, Bluetooth, OTG (Black)
$92 + 7 shipping. Sounds pretty good BUT the shipping date is as late as the first week of November due to supply chain issues. Kind of risky if you ask me versus $20 more for a Vankyo S20 in stock and in your hands in 4 business days.

With a coupon code at Amazon, the Vankyo S20 is $114.74 but 32gb storage so you would put a microsd card in so be $120. Don't forget the otg cable because you will want one for many devices.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

A standard otg cable is so you can connect many usb devices to your microUSB port on your Android tablet, but they also sell ones with a tv adapter out port, so now you could play BotE on a big screen....hmmm that sounds appealing with inputing from the touchpad surface. No more little screen. You do know that people boot a game on their pc and stream it to their Android tablet and use bluetooth to send the commands from the tablet, right? That is very cool.

And they also have a microSD card slot so you can write to one or read from one like your digital camera. Or plug an old usb drive into it that has a video or image or mp3 you want.

All otg cables are not the same. Sometimes they come in 3 packs so you could get one and share the cost or have them for all your family members. "Dad, I need an otg cable. Can I borrow yours?" And then it ends up disappearing because your daughter lend it to her friend.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

There are also microUSB to LAN.

There are microUSB to HDMI.

You might connect a keyboard and mouse. Don't laugh. I once used a small keyboard with a similar device as I was doing extensive writing which would be cumbersome on a Android tablet.

Prime Day is October 13-14, so you might save$10 and get a micro card or peipheral or cable free plus there may be reduced prices.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

2019 VANKYO MatrixPad Z10 Android Tablet 10.1-inch, 1920×1200 IPS FHD Display, Android 9.0 Pie, 3GB RAM, 32GB Storage, 13MP Rear Camera, Quad-Core Processor, 5G WiFi, HDMI, GPS, GMS Certified, Gray

It would be hard to find a Z10 as it's a 2019 model and every year they come out with a new one, which in this case is a 2020 Vankyo S20. It's all identical.So with a coupon that goes for $125.

So the asking price for a discontinued 2019 should about $100. It would be a bargain clearance item. There would be nothing wrong with it and the least expensive Android tablet with 3 gb ram.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

VANKYO MatrixPad S8 8" Android Tablet IPS HD Display 32 GB + 32GB & Stylus Pen
The bargain right now is the S8 plus a 32 gb microSD and pen going for $70 on Ebay shipped in the USA. That means the SD card and stylus are free. I don't think you can beat that price as even with a coupon, it's not that inexpensive on Amazon. That is the buy it now price,but severely limited in number as it retails at a much higher price.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

Ebay is also more competitive with the Vankyo S20 as you get that and again they throw in a 32gb microSD card and stylus for $120 (including free shipping in the USA)...which would cost you $10 more at Amazon...even more at Walmart.

There isn't a less expensive price. Hopefully this helps others in time for Christmas.

Even if you were luxky and found a 2019 Vankyo Z10 at $100, it would cost you $10 for the extra 32gb and stylus, so probabky not worth it.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Benutzeravatar
UesugiKenshin
Admiral
Admiral
Beiträge: 3561
Registriert: Dienstag 31. März 2020, 03:51

Re: What to do when your Android is dated

Beitrag von UesugiKenshin »

Even though you can run GalCiv2 through Exagear on the Android, the largest map is 22x22 sectors. And you would have to create a map by hand to maximize stars. That's probably only 5 planets per star as I recall when using the map editor many years ago.
484 sectors x 5 planets equals 2420 planets.

BotE has 40x40 but never does the maximum so 1450 stars x 4 habitable planets (on average as you have no control of planets, but can do 9 including gas giants) so an average maximum of 5800 planets.

BotE for Android consistently outperfoms the competition.
Minor Race Database http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... r_(Minors)
Minor Race Ships http://birth-of-the-empires.de/wiki/ind ... nen_Völker
Chrome and Opera autotranslates German.
Antworten

Zurück zu „BotE Android - Questions and Answers“