I have started looking at the EL code to see how you did the multi os support and keyboard/mouse input. I noticed that it uses SDL for event handling. There are lots of files I had some trouble at first finding what I was looking for heh.

SDL does a great job at helping with 'multiplatformness'. So does OpenGL :)

Yeah, take it from me too: SDL is the shit for cross-platform. If you're writing a cross platform game you should be using SDL, no questions asked.

Of course, you will also have to refrain from OS specific function calls (or if you do that, at least use #defines and provide alternative code paths for other OSes as well).
And you will also have to use other multiplatform libs, you can't just use SDL for everything and DirectSound for sound.

Well I figured if I'm going to help at some point with any project I should learn them, but you had also mentioned that this x-com type game will also be using the EL code at points so I'm just checking it out to see how it works and the coding style in general. But yes things like openAL help a lot as well.

I've never written my own multiplatform program but I have worked on projects that were multiplatform, never too late to learn :).

It's a good idea to take a look at the EL code, let me know later on if you plan to join the effort :)

Sure will I actually just started taking some time at work making a flowchart for my project so I can at least get it started a bit...not sure how far it will go but atleast its a start. I was looking into making a simple rpg engine nothing spectacular no online code even, but its very confusing starting your own project with nothing to really base it from I'm sure you can tell me all about that hehe. I've started about 4 times and ended up with simple moveable camera's and an object representing the player but nothing more then that, I've also messed with lighting and alpha's but no texturing so far since I haven't gotten around to making a bmp/jpg loader.

But my design was all out of whack because I haven't coded in c/c++ for a little while so I needed to get back into the flow but its all starting to come back, coding in other languages tends to get you thrown off track especially when some of the syntax is similar and my job doesn't really require clean/organized code so I have a tendency to just write without planning...something a bigger project can't really handle.

You might want to consider an already existing engine..

Was looking at Ogre but then I saw you used SDL, the only thing is I don't want to work on something then have to give out source for it later because of the licensing...I'm sure its not all that bad but sometimes I'm picky about my code. I don't care if people can see it its just the fact that I want the choice of allowing or not allowing people to see it.

I'm very bad about making decisions on my own heh. A friend from Germany also said to use an existing engine and I agreed with him but also wanted to just learn a few things on my own before running in to use something someone else had created.

I think Ogre3d is LGPL so you don't have to give your source code away..

oh and so is SDL? or is it something else

Yes, so is SDL.

Ok so I think I'll start working with SDL since that is what your already using this way I will get an understanding of SDL API which I already understand somewhat...was looking at how some of the functions worked last night.

I just read your post about the Vista stuff that pisses me off just a bit. I might have to sell my laptop and get a mac instead heh...already have 2 macs here but they arn't mine, I like BSD and the os seems to have a lot of the same things just less games and I think your right indies have a way better chance in the mac market.