Platform Dependency

Platform Dependency

A Games platform can be either dependent or independent. The dependency refers to whether the software is locked to running in only one operating environment.

•  Platform dependent

A platform dependent piece of software can only be run on specific computers/consoles. A good example of this is Mac applications, which are proprietary to Mac systems, meaning that you can not run them on Windows or Linux PCs. As an example of dependent console platforms, it is the same thing as not being able to run PS4 games on an Xbox One.

• Platform Independent 

Platform independence is the contrary to platform dependency, as in the applications can run in any environment - for example, programs written in a universally recognised 

language, such as Java or HTML, which can be run in multiple different systems.

• Cross-Platform Games

When a game is cross-platform, it is released on multiple different systems, for example, when a game such as Call of Duty is released on both Xbox and Playstation, and even on PC.

Cross-platform games even spill out to other platforms, such as handheld revisions, and even to mobile phones. A good example of a game that is on a diverse range of platforms is Minecraft. Minecraft started out as a single platform game, on PC, but has now seen console revisions, such as that on Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One and PS4 systems, It also has a pocket edition for mobile phones, and even a lightweight version written specifically for Raspberry Pi systems.

That is all on Platform Dependency for now, stay tuned for more on this subject, to be continued with operating systems!

Matt :D