Mech Commander, could it be rebuilt for Windows 8?

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Mech Commander, an interesting idea that I have been carrying around for awhile, unlike the other ideas that I have, would be to rebuild Mech Commander and port it over to Windows 8 and Visual Studio 11.  My main requirements for this exercise is that it requires little work, must be easy to do and I can quit at anytime.  Since this is an exercise in archelogy, it may take sometime to get things working, but there may be some interesting tools, etc. that could be extracted for the Windows 8.  Probably not.  With WinRT and so forth changing things .

To get started you will need a VM, Visual Studio 2005 (Yes, 2005) Professional, Direct X from 2006 and Windows 7

So initially I will implement a VM using Windows XP and Visual Studio 2005 with MSBuild 2.0 and Windows 7, maybe just skip Vista.  Building these VMs shouldn’t be a big problem.

Specifically download the following (URL checked on 5/15/2012):

Microsoft XNA Build March 2006 Community Technology Preview (CTP)

Microsoft MechCommander 2 Shared Source Release

DirectX Full (do not install any other DirectX on this VM):

  • Full SDK:

https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=EDB98FFA-A59C-4C23-9B92-BA304F188314&displaylang=en&displaylang=en

You will also need a copy of (you may be able to use the server versions, but I am using the client O/S):

  • Visual Studio 2005 developer, which if you are a CS/MIS/IS student or professor you can get through your Dreamspark Administrator (which used to be called MSDNAA)
  • Windows 7 (you will use the iso mounted on the host computer’s harddrive)

 

My plan is (just like any CS/IS/CIS student or professor):

Mount the Windows 7 on a bootable USB drive using the Windows 7 32-big iso (you will need to mount this on a DVD for this to work)

You can use this to mount your Windows 7 iso on the host computer: https://static.slysoft.com/SetupVirtualCloneDrive.exe

On the VM, in this order:

  • Install Visual Studio 2005, select just C++ if you are in a hurry, no database or help files are needed
  • Install Visual Studio 2005 SP1
  • Set a “System Restore” point on your VM
  • Install the Direct X SDK
  • Set a “System Restore” point on your VM
  • Install the XNA Build March 2006 CTP
  • Set a “System Restore” point on your VM
  • Follow the instructions to install and build Mech Commander, this will take a bit of time so be patient
  • Once you have built the code you can play the game, and then you will be able to explore the “production” quality C++ Code

image

Not required, but just in case: Redistributable (small version for redistribution only with your code), do NOT install it this is FYI only:

https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=FFF5ED7D-3446-4583-B2C9-8DB1BC10B16E&displaylang=en