Why don't game companies develop for Linux? - Page 3

**Pokerface** · 01-30-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisted_Firestarter

We are talking about game-specific development tools. These have typically been developed in-house by the game companies. Notepad++ and Python aren't dev tools for games.

Come now, Firestarter... what do you think drives everything outside of the BF2 engine?

Acreo Aeneas · 01-30-2007, 06:38 PM

There used to be 3 major game companies dedicated solely to Linux. Unfortunately, due to lack of new funds and a small community popular base, the last one closed its doors in late 2005. There were quite a few popular shooters and such from before Windows XP that have been ported over to Linux as well as several other games developed solely for Linux. Linux games mostly now reside in Open-Source projects.

**CingularDuality** · 01-30-2007, 09:53 PM

You guys are crushing my dreams with reality.

**Twisted_Firestarter** · 01-30-2007, 11:20 PM

If it makes you feel any better Cing, Apple users aren't in any better state as you can see from these commercial spoofs.

Acreo Aeneas · 01-30-2007, 11:33 PM

Well if that new Linux interface GUI (remenscent of Aero) comes to fruitation this year, then we might see several very nice commercial quality games bloom up in the next year or so. I hoping it does come to fruitation...which means games comparable to that for Windows (might be even better).

**gunjunkie** · 01-31-2007, 01:18 AM

For what its worth, the ONLY thing I actually use windows for, either professionally or at home, is gaming. Everything else is Mac or Linux.

You are probably already aware, but http://www.transgaming.com offer some options for gaming on Linux. Some companies (CCP, f.ex. the Eve guys) work closely with Transgaming to ensure a solid experience. Sadly, these enlightened companies are few and far between.

Acreo Aeneas · 01-31-2007, 01:19 AM

I'm mainly dependent on Windows. Simply because Linux has hardware support issues, and Mac has next to nothing which entices me (beyond some digital multimedia software).

**RGM-79N_GM_CUstom** · 01-31-2007, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acreo Aeneas

I'm mainly dependent on Windows. Simply because Linux has hardware support issues, and Mac has next to nothing which entices me (beyond some digital multimedia software).

Same. I also love building/tweaking computers and that is very anti-apple.

**Twisted_Firestarter** · 01-31-2007, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acreo Aeneas

Well if that new Linux interface GUI (remenscent of Aero) comes to fruitation this year, then we might see several very nice commercial quality games bloom up in the next year or so. I hoping it does come to fruitation...which means games comparable to that for Windows (might be even better).

The OS GUI has nothing to do with games development on the OS. We will never see any major support of games under Linux. Be reasonable, Linux has a 3.3% market share.

**CingularDuality** · 01-31-2007, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisted_Firestarter

We will never see any major support of games under Linux. Be reasonable, Linux has a 3.3% market share.

It's a vicious little circle. Most folks won't use linux because it's not user/dev friendly (no games!). It won't become user/dev friendly (no games!) because most folks don't use it.

That blows.

**gunjunkie** · 01-31-2007, 03:34 AM

Well, I'm the first person to evangelize Linux, but the reality is that MS have done a good job of making their platform friendly to game devs. The install base is the biggest factor in this, bar none. The factor of DirectX vs. OpenGL/OpenAL is another one. If more game devs cared about writing to those vs. DirectX, ports would be almost trivial.

Sadly, as we've determined, this is not a major factor in most development planning sessions, due to the above mentioned market share factor. Blizzard do it, because they have always been mac fans. They could port to Linux with ease probably, but won't due to costs. MS bought the other major mac based developer (Bungie), so, who is left?

Well, the future is a little brighter in my view, than maybe Twisted's

Key point about Linux is its uptake in the developing world. At some point, once all those masses are counted, it will more than likely surpass the windows install base. This will take time, and these are not the people who can afford to buy games, but eventually, I believe that the MS business model can not really stay ahead with the global perspective taken into account. At some point in this, an enterprising game developer will build the right game, at the right price, and attract the masses in India, China and Africa. Once one does it, they all will.

This won't happen soon, nor will it be easy, but you better believe that the largest game publishers are aware of this market. I also think, for what its worth, that there are several distros that are making Linux the right way (for joe_average_user) and these are getting better and more "plug and play" by the day.

At some point, I think the market share (which is counted in a very questionable way, imho) will eventually fail Microsoft, specifically as they are now protecting their IP with things like WGA and Vista, which in turn, probably invalidates more than 50% of their market share. I think its going to be an interesting, say, 5 years with regards to how many people around the world use Windows, now that its supposedly impossible to pirate.

flux · 01-31-2007, 12:43 PM

Just saw this post on Joystiq talking about running WoW and some Steam games on linux.

flux · 01-31-2007, 01:33 PM

All kinds of recent linux stuff popping up lately. Just saw a link on slashdot to a blog post by one of the linux kernel devs offering free driver development to any hardware companies.

Now the question is will these companies bother getting in touch with the kernel devs to have them write drivers? Anyway, looks like this might be a good step forward in getting games on linux.

Quote:

Yes, that's right, the Linux kernel community is offering all companies free Linux driver development. No longer do you have to suffer through all of the different examples in the Linux Device Driver Kit, or pick through the thousands of example drivers in the Linux kernel source tree trying to determine which one is the closest to what you need to do.

All that is needed is some kind of specification that describes how your device works, or the email address of an engineer that is willing to answer questions every once in a while. A few sample devices might be good to have so that debugging doesn't have to be done by email, but if necessary, that can be done.

In return, you will receive a complete and working Linux driver that is added to the main Linux kernel source tree. The driver will be written by some of the members of the Linux kernel developer community (over 1500 strong and growing). This driver will then be automatically included in all Linux distributions, including the "enterprise" ones. It will be automatically kept up to date and working through all Linux kernel API changes. This driver will work with all of the different CPU types supported by Linux, the largest number of CPU types supported by any operating system ever before in the history of computing.

As for support, the driver will be supported through email by the original developers, when they can help out, and by the "enterprise" Linux distributors as part of their service agreements with their customers.

Acreo Aeneas · 02-01-2007, 02:01 AM

Well the new GUI shows off what is quite possible in Linux. So it might push some people to actually code games for Linux (or at least a dual support release).

01-30-2007, 06:38 PM	#32 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,683	Re: Why don't game companies develop for Linux? There used to be 3 major game companies dedicated solely to Linux. Unfortunately, due to lack of new funds and a small community popular base, the last one closed its doors in late 2005. There were quite a few popular shooters and such from before Windows XP that have been ported over to Linux as well as several other games developed solely for Linux. Linux games mostly now reside in Open-Source projects. __________________ Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs. RSS Feeds: Bamboo

01-30-2007, 09:53 PM	#33 (permalink)
CingularDuality Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas, USA Age: 33 Posts: 17,134	Re: Why don't game companies develop for Linux? You guys are crushing my dreams with reality. __________________ Become a supporting member! Buy a Tactical Duck! Take the world's smallest political quiz! "I was touched by His Noodly Appendage." TacticalGamer TX LAN/BBQ Veteran:

01-30-2007, 11:20 PM	#34 (permalink)
Twisted_Firestarter Join Date: May 2003 Location: 90064 Posts: 935	Re: Why don't game companies develop for Linux? If it makes you feel any better Cing, Apple users aren't in any better state as you can see from these commercial spoofs. __________________ Twisted Firestarter a.k.a \|TG\| Harkonian

01-30-2007, 11:33 PM	#35 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,683	Re: Why don't game companies develop for Linux? Well if that new Linux interface GUI (remenscent of Aero) comes to fruitation this year, then we might see several very nice commercial quality games bloom up in the next year or so. I hoping it does come to fruitation...which means games comparable to that for Windows (might be even better). __________________ Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs. RSS Feeds: Bamboo

01-31-2007, 01:18 AM	#36 (permalink)
gunjunkie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 1,344	Re: Why don't game companies develop for Linux? For what its worth, the ONLY thing I actually use windows for, either professionally or at home, is gaming. Everything else is Mac or Linux. You are probably already aware, but http://www.transgaming.com offer some options for gaming on Linux. Some companies (CCP, f.ex. the Eve guys) work closely with Transgaming to ensure a solid experience. Sadly, these enlightened companies are few and far between. __________________ Do or do not, there is no try.... -- Yoda, Dagobah

01-31-2007, 01:19 AM	#37 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,683	Re: Why don't game companies develop for Linux? I'm mainly dependent on Windows. Simply because Linux has hardware support issues, and Mac has next to nothing which entices me (beyond some digital multimedia software). __________________ Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs. RSS Feeds: Bamboo

01-31-2007, 03:34 AM	#41 (permalink)
gunjunkie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 1,344	Re: Why don't game companies develop for Linux? Well, I'm the first person to evangelize Linux, but the reality is that MS have done a good job of making their platform friendly to game devs. The install base is the biggest factor in this, bar none. The factor of DirectX vs. OpenGL/OpenAL is another one. If more game devs cared about writing to those vs. DirectX, ports would be almost trivial. Sadly, as we've determined, this is not a major factor in most development planning sessions, due to the above mentioned market share factor. Blizzard do it, because they have always been mac fans. They could port to Linux with ease probably, but won't due to costs. MS bought the other major mac based developer (Bungie), so, who is left? Well, the future is a little brighter in my view, than maybe Twisted's Key point about Linux is its uptake in the developing world. At some point, once all those masses are counted, it will more than likely surpass the windows install base. This will take time, and these are not the people who can afford to buy games, but eventually, I believe that the MS business model can not really stay ahead with the global perspective taken into account. At some point in this, an enterprising game developer will build the right game, at the right price, and attract the masses in India, China and Africa. Once one does it, they all will. This won't happen soon, nor will it be easy, but you better believe that the largest game publishers are aware of this market. I also think, for what its worth, that there are several distros that are making Linux the right way (for joe_average_user) and these are getting better and more "plug and play" by the day. At some point, I think the market share (which is counted in a very questionable way, imho) will eventually fail Microsoft, specifically as they are now protecting their IP with things like WGA and Vista, which in turn, probably invalidates more than 50% of their market share. I think its going to be an interesting, say, 5 years with regards to how many people around the world use Windows, now that its supposedly impossible to pirate. __________________ Do or do not, there is no try.... -- Yoda, Dagobah

01-31-2007, 12:43 PM	#42 (permalink)
flux Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC US Age: 36 Posts: 495	Re: Why don't game companies develop for Linux? Just saw this post on Joystiq talking about running WoW and some Steam games on linux. __________________ flux [tg-c1]

02-01-2007, 02:01 AM	#44 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,683	Re: Why don't game companies develop for Linux? Well the new GUI shows off what is quite possible in Linux. So it might push some people to actually code games for Linux (or at least a dual support release). __________________ Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs. RSS Feeds: Bamboo

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