MAMEWorld Forums - EmuChat - Re: No more support for DIRECTINPUT 7?

At least i read a more educated post and i agree with some of your arguments (and even to some degree with the devs).

> Hardware isn't expensive these
> days, and there comes a point when you simply should upgrade. I mean, at least buy a
> new machine every ten years.

Yeah, i do that, but i dont see the point in throwing away (or sell) functional, good but old hardware. I did that in the past and i regret it. I wish i had my Atari 2600, C64, Amiga, Apple etc.
For some of those old hardware, people are spending a lot of money, just to have it back again.

> 1) You never have to upgrade Mame. If you have a version that works for you, then
> keep on using it.

Partially true, but there is just no need for all these "operational" steps lately (ok, maybe for some). So you basically "degrade" people, that want the improved emulation of MESS for example? Or force them to buy newer hardware, for unnecessary steps that are done previously.

> 2) Mame exists to archive/preserve arcade games. It does not exist to
> archive/preserve old PC game controllers, Direct X versions, OS's, drivers for
> peripherals, etc. There is plenty of equipment that does work, so if you need
> something, go get it (or not, your choice).

Wrong, because MAME is not only arcade anymore. Also you simply cant archive peripheral hardware, think of the mechanical games here and there is plenty of equipment that you cant simply replace with something new, cause it doesnt exist at all anymore or at a absurd high cost.

> 3) Not all compatibility issues are controlled by developers. Some are dictated by
> tools and OS's. Ongoing Mame development must keep up with the times, or Mame itself
> becomes obsolete and broken - thereby becoming a victim of what it seeks to solve.

Agree with this, but like i said before, some stuff is simply unnecessary and has nothing to do with keeping up to date.

> 4) It's not clever to have old hardware.

Well not clever, but i am smart

and i am sure there are many people that disagree with you here.

> 5) Maintaining old code takes development cycles away from improvements. As far as I
> know, Mame developers are volunteers. While giving opinions is fine, I do find some
> of the rhetoric a tad aggressive.

Normal wording in the MAME environment, i also wish it would be different. Maintaining old code is subjective, some code isnt touched for years (like previously HLSL for example), but is not a reason to kick it completely. If its avoidable by simple steps, why not keeping it?

> 6) Mame is free. If you choose to not use it because you're holding on to a
> controller that's 10+ years old then you're just hurting yourself. It's your choice.
> As a free bit of development is it really reasonable to expect the devs to maintain
> compatibility to early versions of Windows?
> Just saying.
> And IMO, of course.

I dont expect anything from the devs nor could/would force them to anything. Like they said, its their baby and they can do whatever they want with it. I just have another opinion to some decisions and this is a forum of free speech. Its also the arrogant attitude that makes the tune. Coding skills are great/godlike, but missing social skills on the other side or not just listen to other opinions is bad. To be social is necessary for a healthy, growing department and some people are clearly missing those skills.
I am sure they have their reasons for it (from abstruse stories in the past or whatever), but every human is different and i am sure they missed many opportunities in the past (and probably future), just because of unsocial behaviour.
To consider that informations and know-how, have to be substantiate with coding-skills, is just a bad habit that you will face everyday with the devs.
Or in other words, no coding skill = better not speak, even if the advice would be a "42" like. Only thing i hear is, how bad my english is and rubbish like that, but hey, Dullaron is some awesome native speaker.
I am a Serb and i give a fuck, especially from americans for obvious reasons