My team and I are writing a full style 3D RPG-like game, So that means I need to write the Engine. It will be for Win, Mac, and *nix. I'm using Opengl for video and Openal for sound. My question is, what's the best way to handle input (keyboard, mouse, joystick) for all these systems? I figure I use DirectInput in Win and X in *nix and Mac, but I was wondering if there was a more universal way to do it.

I don't think there can be unless directx somehow starts working on *nix systems. I think your stuck with that unless your puting it as an online game. Then you could use Java with Swing.

No, no Java for me. Well, I'll look around...

You could also get it to run on CygWin(X for windows. Similar to Wine).

I could, only I'd rather not make anyone who buys the game install Cygwin. I'll just use two different code bits, it shouldn't be a big issue after I do the graphics and physics parts, god that'll be fun.

Yeah, using two programs isn't abnormal but I'm just pointing out the ways you could make it use only one interface system, as per the thread seed.

Whereas you're going way off topic with the three brain seed ("Here's a hint: It doesn't." three times in a row).
I'm not berating you for answering, I'm just planning my moves out loud.

Have you looked into using SDL?

I'm not too sure on the specifics but I know it is cross platform and it can handle input and everything else you need.

That's called doulble posting and it is one of the blunders of connections dropping.

@bob
I realized that, I was just commenting on how hypocritical you were being.

@apc
WOW . Uh, thanks, but I suppose I'm about two hours ahead of you there, It's working great by the way, damn that was wierd...

I'm staying on this topic. No hypocracy.

You were going off the other topic was my point, and no you're not staying on this topic because it's over. I'm using SDL.

No, I never brought up the other topic. You did. I was talking about the question you used for this thread's seed. Anyway, SDL would be a good choice.

Well that was, uh, fun.

So I'm getting ticked off at trying to write a physics/dynamics engine for implementation in the game engine (now officially named 'Whitefox'). I think Bullet sounds good, but I haven't researched it much. Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanx much.

I haven't used any physics engine's so I'm unqualified to give suggestions.

Well in that case I suppose I should be happy that this is a public forum.

Of course.

Well, now I'm trying to decide between Bullet, ODE, and Havok. Still waiting for someone with some idea of what I'm talking about...

You may be waiting for a while.

Never mind, I'm using Havok. It supports built in IK solving. I couldn't write my own solver for my life, at least not right now.