DirectDraw to d3d help and advice

[Slasher]

Hi

Having been a DirectDraw user since the year dot I am now able to make games with d3d.

Therefore I am a d3d newbie and need some help and advice.

What help I require is the major differences and limitations.

I know, for example in d3d you should never use:

Code: ags

player.IgnoreWalkbehinds=false;

What else should I be made aware of?

Also, if ags 3.3.2.0 is stable enough to begin making games without hassle?

Thank you

[Monsieur OUXX]

The difference between DirectDraw and D3D is 99% about the equipment of players.
- DirectDraw was using 2D drawing procedures that were implemented in ancient dinosaur times and topped with Allegro drawing routines.
- Direct3D uses hardware acceleration, and because of that it makes it more up-to-date because this is the branch that got maintained by Microsoft throughout the years.

The consequence of that history is that DirectDraw was working much better, let's say, until the dawn of netbook times, because even cheap computers with integrated chipsets could support the simple graphical routines of DirectDraw, while they often failed to support the weird screen resolutions and color depths demanded by Direct3D.

But nowadays, it's the exact opposite: There isn't one device (even integrated chipsets) that doesn't implement recent DirectX (hence, direct3D), at least the bit used by AGS. Reversely, DirectDraw is causing more and more unpredictable issues that are almost impossible to debug. If you don't believe me, then believe experts.

As a conclusion: The pros and cons of Direct3D or DirectDraw are not in your AGS script, they're in the hardware of your targetted audience. I didn't even know there were such tricks as "don't use ignorewalkbehinds", but I'd say that's totally secondary. Just don't use DirectDraw, that's almost completely obsolete.

About 3.3.2.0 : No clue. I don't know idf you plan on using a specific feature of 3.3.2.x but 3.3.0 RC1 (the first one of this family) is pretty stable.

[Crimson Wizard]

The latest official release is 3.3.4 and we have not heard a critical error report in a looong time.
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=52398.0

Regarding D3D, from the point of game design it is mostly same as DirectDraw, except -
1. IgnoreWalkbehinds does not work.
2. 8-bit games do not work.

[Monsieur OUXX]

The latest official release is 3.3.4

Yeah sorry I got confused I meant to say that.