Okay, don't tell anyone you heard it from me, but Loki's porting Descent 3 to Linux. Just thought I'd let you know about it because you're my favorite Slashdot reader. Don't get me in trouble!
115 comments
What about ports to other unices?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
apologies if this has been mentioned before but has loki released anything to get their games running under other unices? or would it be a simple modefication? or is linux the only unix (like) os sophisticated enough to handle these games? They wouldn't have to be entire other cd's..but maybe something like a patch kit., if that's possible.
Re:What about ports to other unices?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Or perhaps the fact that there are exponentially more Linux users than, say, OpenBSD and FreeBSD put together... not to start a flame fest or anything.
Re:What about ports to other unices?
by
Brian+Feldman
·
· Score: 1
Please note for future trolling efforts that there's absolutely no point in comparing two numbers with "exponentially". Think about it.
--
-- Brian Fundakowski Feldman
Re:What about ports to other unices?
by
Fizgig
·
· Score: 1
SDL hasn't been ported to FreeBSD yet, but I think they said they had something working under the emulation. And more interesting (though less useful), they said someone had tried and succeeded in running some of their games under Solaris x86!
Re:What about ports to other unices?
by
j0no
·
· Score: 1
Most other unices or at least the BSDs emulate Linux binaries very well on the i386 platform. Linux programs run just as fast as a native binary. (Anyone know if other plaforms supported by Linux, or other Unix-like OSes also work?) In fact I run OpenBSD but run many Linux programs including games such as Quake. Other unices (the BSDs) run just as well or, better as Linux. I don't really want to start a flame war, but I think that the only reason that all these games are getting ported to Linux but not other unix-like OSes is hype and all the resent coverage in the news.
--- Having problems with a Un*x-like OS? As root type "rm -rf/*"
question?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Why do you bash Slashdot and then have sponsored by VA Linux prominently displayed on your web page? Just wondering...
Re:question?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Because he's a jew, obviously. Yeah, probably a jew. Uhuh.
Re:That
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
I thought you could leave the tunnels in Decent 3...
Thanks!
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Man, you guys rock. I request this post to get moderated down and it does! LOKI FOREVER!
LinDVD
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
It's interesting how/. announce about d3 with only a tiny amount of info and yet I've provided more info on LinDVD, the forthcoming software DVD player for Linux from Intervideo - being released later this year and they still won't post it. -- jonathan-[spam]@easypenguin.co.uk
Re:LinDVD
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Oh come on, you know why they won't post it: they're too proud of the DeCSS crap.;-)
Although I must say that DeCSS is verrrry useful. My DVD-ROM came with the standard commercial software that won't let you take screenshots if the DVD disc says not to, but if I copy the movie file to disk with DeCSS and play it from there, it all works fine.
That's why I support DeCSS, because it allows me to take screenshots, which I use as wallpaper. The fact that DVD manufacters are trying to stop people from taking screenshots is absurd; as long as a device has an output, there'll be a way to copy it. Stupidity like that is what has gotten them into their present DeCSS problem: if they had provided standard software interfaces that Average Joe Developer could use in the first place, there would have been no need to reverse engineer the encryption.
Bless those hackers that DeCSSed the DVDs. You give me hope for the future.
Re:LinDVD
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Yes, that's right, Intervideo are porting WinDVD over to Linux as "LinDVD" and it will be released later this year.
=== BEGIN QUOTE ===
Dear Jonathan--
Thank you for your e-mail. LinDVD is under consideration here, but at present time, we offer no further information, other than the fact its going to be released sometime later this year.
Regards,
Kelly Hsiao Technical Support InterVideo Inc.
=== END QUOTE ===
I think that qualifies as enough information to announce the story on/. and yet they still haven't done it. Why I ask?
I've posted anonymously because some dimwit moderator will moderate this comment down as OT, although it concerns ports to Linux and is more relevent than the "First Posts", "Hot Grits" or "Natalie Portman" posts. My details are below.
Jonathan. -- Jonathan C. Masters PGP&GeekCode available on request jonathan-spam@easypenguin.co.uk
Re:Turnaround time?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Ruen around times should drop dramaticaly as... A) They find the round bumbs in porting... Where are the porblems usualy? Having this little bit in their brain helps a lot I'm sure... B) They make their own libs to assist in porting. I'm sure by now they have the linux sound system down really well... they also have X down really well...
Re:original games
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
i received my quake 3 for linux cd in mid-december after ordering it from loki's website
you must be talking about another quake 3
Swell, but
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Swell, but I'm already bored of the game. I've been playing it for months already. Linux needs *first release* games, not 2 month old reruns.
Re:Turnaround time?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
by including the Devil's Letter
I hope tey keep
Re:Psst
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Psst, you're a MORON. Lets think to the Past. There already has been a story once about a Descent 3 Linux port, as posted by one of the original Outrage developers on a Descent 3 Ultimate BB.
It's no more a rumor then that one that's floating around about this supposed '2.4' kernel that's coming out sooner or later. But then again, that one probably won't happen.
Re:Great game, but...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
by including the Devil's Letter
it still great that
I'm just waiting for Alpha Centauri, personally... or wait until Wine works with it..)
Re:Excuse Me, But...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
better, but the same old mistake pops up...
by including the Devil's Letter
Re:Great game, but...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
What a bunch of whiney brats with 10 second attention spans!
Ballblazer is an old game. Populous is an old game. Master of Orion is an old game.
Descent 3 is NOT an old game.
Linux port infirior ?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Will there be any force-feedback under linux ? Will they use the new 3d-audio library from creative ?
Half-Life mod
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
For your info. The Half-Life mod Counter Strike is by far the most played "game" on the net right now. More than Q3 and UT together.
Re:everybody SPAM SIGNAL 11!!!!!
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Ehm... how did you manage to put a bunch of random spaces in that heap of text??? Did you actually type it in by hand??? In that case... christ!!!
Already a port?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Isn't their already a port to Linux? I seem to remember hearing about that.. and even seeing a download link to it.
The dedicated server has been ported and available for a long time. And actually the client has been ported for a long time as well (coding done by Outrage, not Loki for the most part -- in a mostly done state). I'm sure Loki will clean it up and write an installer though.
Re:Psst
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
I think he is smart enough to know not to post it unless he heard it from someone involved:P
psst go away and stop posting
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
now.
Re:Excuse Me, But...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Dear sir, madam, or Anonymous Coward,
You ave violated Yu Suzuki's Golden Rule by including the Devil's Letter (also known as 'H') in your post. Please refrain from using tis vile letter in future posts and repent so tat Yu Suzuki may save your sinful soul. For your convenience, a corrected version of your post appears below.
is tere a law tat says original games can't be developed for Linux ? Descent may or may not be a great game (never played it) but I'm getting sick and tired of feeling like I aveto jump up and down because Linux users will ave te pleasure of playing years old games. Wat is going on in te industry in terms of putting out original games on Linux? Does anyone know?
Re:Great game, but...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Dear sir, madam, or Anonymous Coward,
You ave violated Yu Suzuki's Golden Rule by including the Devil's Letter (also known as 'H') in your post. Please refrain from using tis vile letter in future posts and repent so tat Yu Suzuki may save your sinful soul. For your convenience, a corrected version of your post appears below.
Problem I'm seeing is tat te games coming out for Linux are old games... sure, Descent 3 is great, but I'm personally too bored of it to want it.. anyway, my point is, if Linux wants to get popular wit te gaming crowd, it (Loki) needs to get some newer ones... A well, it still great that I don't always ave to always boot into Windows to play games I like...
(I'm just waiting for Alpha Centauri, personally... or wait until Wine works with it..)
Re:Turnaround time?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Dear sir, madam, or Anonymous Coward,
You ave violated Yu Suzuki's Golden Rule by including the Devil's Letter (also known as 'H') in your post. Please refrain from using tis vile letter in future posts and repent so tat Yu Suzuki may save your sinful soul. For your convenience, a corrected version of your post appears below.
It seems like te announcements from Loki are coming faster and faster. I know tey ave probably ired more people since tey started but I was wondering on te turnaround time on porting one of tese games. I hope tey keep up te great work!
6. Contact nVidia and tell them exactly what you did and why.
7. Recieve response from nVidia saying they're grateful for the feedback, but that they don't really give a rats ass what you do with the card as long as you paid for it.
Re:The Hilarious Antics of JeremyF (tm)
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
hey who is chanserv
heh...
Re:Psst
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Hey there... I posted a story about Daikatana yesterday, too. I suppose that means that John Romero's gonna be showing up here any day with my DeLorean. I think Loki is a really cool company, and I think they're doing great work. I also think Descent 3 rocks. So. I posted it because I thought people might find it as interesting as I did. Please don't imply I'm being 'bought' by Loki, troll.
Emmett (posting as AC)
NO! NO! NO!
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
"I wouldn't be surprised," replied the old man. "One's in your coffee and the other one's in your oatmeal."
Haven't you learned anything from Slashdot? It should be "One's in your coffee and the other one's in your bowl of hot grits."
non-x86 Architectures
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Man, I would really like to see some games for non-x86 architectures. I'd buy most of these games if there was a port to Alpha/Linux. I know that loki ported Civ-CTP to Alpha but you can't find any information on their site about that. It's almost as if they are ashamed of it or something.
Re:motion
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
I prefer Marizine - no drowsiness and the hallucinations are much more realistic and intense than dramamine after eating a dosage of 12 pills ( one package ).
Re:Great game, but...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
It's really simple. Run the following at a prompt:
sed "s/h//gi"
When this is ran, it will wait for your input. Paste the comment into the terminal, and hit enter. Use that text. Hit control-d when done. It's not that hard. This will catch all the evil "H" letters in the comment automatically.
This comment liberal in its usage of the letter "H"
Psst yerself
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
That attempt at humor was lame enough the first time when emmett did it. Don't you people learn?
It's about time
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
It's about time for a Linux version. I have a chat log from the preview where they said there'd be a Linux client that shipped on the CD. So much for that.... Still, the Descent series is one of the best action game series I've ever played, and now it'll be complete. --Aaron Plattner
yeeeeeeeah!
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
We are the victims, but Mickeysoft will not keep us down! President John F. Kennedy will lead us to victory!
Amen, brother.
'Ey, Troll-Breat'!
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
You missed a few:
(I'm just waiting for Alp
ha Centauri, personally... or wait until Wine works with it..)
What about
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
... Quake 3 ? Companys like ID have the right idea. I am wondering if half-life 2 will have a Linux port. I will be really pissed of if it doesn't. Half-life is a great game. But, Valve Software screawed it up. How many mods are for Quake, and how many mods are for half-life ? Get the idea. I wonder if there is a port for Decent Free Space. I played it a few times, now it just sits in my dresser.
In case you haven't noticed, Linux is a sucky OS and nobody uses it besides readers of this website.. the day a commercial game is released for Linux is the day Jesus comes back from the dead and sends all sinners to hell where they belong
- Jeremy Fuller
Re:Turnaround time?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 1
there was an informative review with scott draeker (the prez of loki) on here on slashdot a few weeks ago, and that was mentioned, let me dig up the url... here we go
Re:original games
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 1
Did I travel back in time or something? There's been a linux version of the full Quake3 since shortly after the windows version came out. I know. I was playing it, like, two days ago. If you have the windows version, look around whatever mirror site you usually use for the quake3 directory. There should be a 1.16 point release for linux. Install it, and the baseq3 directory from your q3a cd somewhere in your linux fs. It works quite well. There's also a boxed release, sold in very few shops, because most distributors are too timid to take a risk on an unknown OS. (Games Distributor: "Linux? What the hell is that? Some kind of web-browser? Nah...Stick with what we know, I say.")
I think this is great, I have it on windows now and have been wanting to play it across a network with my brothers, so I'll just have to give them my windows version and buy the Linux version so we can all play together. The more games that Loki ports and sells, the more likely many other vendors will do the same. I can't wait to see the day when I can walk into CompUSA or Best Buy and see just as many programs on the shelf for linux as there are for windows. Even if it's just games, I'll settle for that.
Hrmm... Software Etc has Quake 3 for linux in the collectors edition box, and they had Civilization call to power for linux, too. Don't see Jesus walking around, and I'm not getting sent to hell. You seem to be wrong.
The Hilarious Antics of JeremyF (tm)
by
drwiii
·
· Score: 1
I haven't played Descent3 yet ...
by
DrSpoo
·
· Score: 1
I loved Descent 1 and 2, but never got a chance to play 3 because... you guessed it... I run Linux exclusively at home. So while porting somewhat older games (~6 months to 1 year) to Linux may be old hat for some Windows users, its _brand_ new for me!
Every time I walk into Best Buy I always see Descent3 on the shelf and wish I could play it. Personally I couldn't be happier about this news:)
-- Sig (appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars)
Actually, if you want the best ROI, you develop the game simultaneously for as many platforms as it'll run on and have more than three users. Simultaneous development is THE WAY to go, as it adds very little cost above the simple act of writing the game, and can help to catch bugs and things like that. Unfortunately, most game makers haven't caught on yet. It's rare enough to find games that are simultaneous for PC and Mac, and ones that are simultaneously released for PC and Linux (and maybe the Mac too) are even more rare.
-- Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
Loki is doing the Linux community a lot of good. Without efforts like this, very few if any games would ever have a Linux port. Companies like Westwood and Maxis aren't going to bother risking capital on anything if they can't be reassured that it's worth they're efforts. (Like they're going to even care if they can just break even.) Instead, companies like Loki take the risk for them.
But hey, you have it all figured out, right? You go ahead and convince Maxis to port The Sims to Linux.
This is excellent news! I've been waiting for this ever since Descent III was released.. at about the same time I decided to give up Windows forever.
d1x has made it possible for me to be happy with gaming under Linux. I will be first in line to buy DIII for Linux.
Re:D3 = real test of Linux's memory management
by
eh
·
· Score: 1
Too bad Aureal is having severe financial difficulty and might end up closing their doors before any decent 3D audio support is released from them for Linux. For that matter, any decent audio support from them at all; their drivers don't like my SMP system at all
Now, if Aureal is going to shut down, wouldn't it be great if they released all the specs for their cards into the public domain?
My, but don't we sound bitter
by
DragonHawk
·
· Score: 1
See subject line. Did someone from Slashdot or Loki abuse you as a child, or what?
--
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
I wish other ports would get finished someday
by
cybrthng
·
· Score: 1
Its nice to see some new ports coming our way, but how about finishing up some existing ones? I know loki isn't responsible for UT, but come on people! Push out a port that supports sound, has better video support and on par with every other version. One of these days i hope i can once again play UT 405 and higher servers. heh
That's funny, I received my Q3A (Linux!) CD within a few days of the Windows release, and I've been cheerfully fraggin' away (when I could drag myself out of Heroes3, anyways) since.
I also have my nice, shiny tin box, and I've seen it on the shelves in Electronics Boutiques nationwide (both locally, and in the Pittsburgh airport this afternoon -- 2 tins!).
If all you can find is the demo, you aren't looking very hard.
--
This.sig intentionally left blank.
Re:KEEP MODERATING FooGLE DOWN!!
by
Foogle
·
· Score: 1
I aim to please.
-----------
"You can't shake the Devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
It seems like the announcements from Loki are coming faster and faster. I know they have probably hired more people since they started but I was wondering on the turnaround time on porting one of these games. I hope they keep up the great work!
"And generally, are more intellectual games, but that may just be a coincidence."
Well - carefully avoiding the possible backpatting of linux intellect - i'd say Quake and Descent 3 (aka Quakers of the Sky) aren't particularly intellectual.
But then there's the obvious philosophical wank of "Is skill in Quake an intellectual thing anyway. It requires something of a mind and would an efficient killer - no matter how deplorable - use an intellect to be better?"
To which I respond "oh fuck it. i shouldn't have started this post. i'm going to get some tea"
Dude, I was one of the first people to buy Quake 3 for Linux in Australia - tin box & all. That was late last year. Just came back from 2 months in the US to discover some junkie had broken in & stolen it & Quake 2 - plus some home theatre gear, DVDs & CDs. Will have to buy it again.
Yes, I too am angry that we still have crap support, but if you paid close attention to their press releases and announcements, they never said that xfree86 4.0 would include support. They said that shortly after the official release date of XFree86 4.0, they would be releasing a full implimentation. Which means that we should be receiving our driver within 2 weeks, or I follow step 8.
-- linuxisgood:~$ man woman
-- Restating the obvious since nineteen aught five.
With an official port of the newest version, I wonder what this will do to the Descent I and Descent II ports. Its always great to have the cool new stuff, but I honestly liked the first two better than the third.
The programmers have worked hard on these, and I'd hate to see them go to waste.
Problems with Loki ports
by
KillMeBoy
·
· Score: 1
One of the main problems with Loki ports IMHO is that they don't grab much of the market due to redundancy. Not many 'hardcore' gamers want to shell out more cash for a linux port of a game they already own, which works perfectly on their current operating system. The only way the idea of porting games to Linux can be popular to developers is if their market flox to it. Quick remedy: Release the required binaries for free.
That's a moderately valid point, but I forgot to mention hardware acceleration. I think you're right about the implementation, and part of that is hardware acceleration. It's been a while since any game I played was tolerable with software-based rendering, so these APIs have to have hardware accelereation.
--
Barclay family motto:
Aut agere aut mori.
(Either action or death.)
I'm going to program a game for linux, there won't be a windows port unless someone else wants to port it. Unfortunantly, I need to learn graphics programming first, so don't hold your breath.
"huhuhuhh, go away. we're like closed or something"
You may want to check out the Slashdot archives for this interview with Loki's President, Scott Draeker. One answer he gives is particularly germain:
Begin Exerpt
5) Reject ratio (Score:5, Interesting) by FascDot Killed My Pr
I'm assuming that your (current) modus operandi is to call up a company and say "Hey, can we port your game to Linux?" Given that assumption:
1) How many companies have you talked to? 2) What percentage of them rejected the request? 3) Of those that rejected, what were their reasons? (fear of "open source", lack of demand, etc.)
Scott:
I'm going to respond in general terms, as many of your questions apply to ongoing negotiations.
We've spoken to the majority of game companies. When we complete a deal, we turn that into product fairly quickly. Other deal negotiations are ongoing.
The single most important factor for getting a game ported is market size. Everything else is easy to address. If a company feels that they will see sufficient unit sales, then they are quite happy to discuss having a port done.
End Exerpt
Given the company Loki works for has to pay the bill for the port, if they don't believe they can make money at it, it won't happen. In particular, new games draw the highest prices. It is of particular benefit to make sure they rock. So, taking a lesson from the military, it's better to fight on one front at a time. Once they start aging, their prices drop and the Linux port may look viable.
i mean, it's not like slashdot or loki is making you read this story. or for that matter, what did they ever do to you?
i think loki is doing somthing pretty cool, yeah, the games are a little old. but they've mostly been porting ones that are still fun after all the time. like alpha centauri, i get re-addicted to it about once a month or so. its just so damn much fun.
ok, so that is just an opinion. but really, if you don't like loki or slashdot, what are you doing here?
-------
--
-------
"don't smoke, don't drink, don't fuck
at least i can fucking think"
Minor Threat
Loki should make win32->linux upgrade options
by
[TWD]insomnia
·
· Score: 1
Quick remedy: Release the required binaries for free.
Loki has to stay in business too - I'd suggest an 'upgrade' option to attract many more gamers to go to Linux. Ok it may have been debated before, but seriously, I'd be much more tempted to shell out $15 or $20, instead of $40 or $50, to play the same game I played before.
Now I've got an idea: to test the real potential of Linux, and at the same time, to know how many really supports Linux - imagine if Blizzard released StarCraft for Linux for free! I can already see a swarm of people going there - and Blizzard will be remembered forever as the company who brought Linux games to the mass.
Of course they'd do the same if they released WarCraft III for linux at the same time. Hey they did a port for Macs for every game they did, and they'll probably do the same for WC3 - since the game's in 3D, to port it easily for Mac it'll have to use OpenGL. If they use OpenGL, it's trivial to port it for Linux too! They'd have a real winner here, and again they'd be remembered as pioneers.
Why I'm saying Blizzard is the force and not id software? Blizzard's games are far more accessible to the mass and secondly we need another company besides id to tell the world that linux is getting serious on the gaming scene...
This is probably slightly off topic, but what ever happened to quake3 for linux? The linux demo was released at almost the same timeas the mac and win32 demo's. I recall thinking at the time, Yeah, finally some decent games are coming out for linux on time, rather than being ported 3 years laters. I may be mistaken, but 3 months after Q3A was released, all linux users have is that demo, leaving unable to join in the fragging. Whats up with this?
What's wrong with OpenGL? Its an excelent and stable graphics API (see Quake 2 / Quake 3). Now I'll admit until NVidia either comes out with their OpenGL driver or I trash my TNT 2, I can't effectively use OpenGL, but that's besides the point. As far as OpenGL not being developed for games in mind, it isn't the API as much as the implementation of it. That's the reason why an OpenGL program (or possibly IrixGL) running on an SGI machine would blow away the same program running on a TNT, Voodoo, or G400, or whatever. But an OpenGL game would probably not play as well on the SGI machine.
Btw the authors of the current slashdot authors: timothy emmett timothy emmett timothy emmett Cliff timothy Hemos timothy Hemos timothy
CmndrTaco Said that they would have editorial independance for the duration of there stay. But it apears that they are not the ones posting storys at the monment. I'd guess that VA/Andover could get these guys to do whatever they want, I mean how hard would it be to fire them?
Well, maybe I'm just being paranoid (probably) but it is interesting.
Amber Yuan 2k A.D
--
"and dear god does this website suck now." -- CmdrTaco
Meanwhile, Consoles try to synchonize their game releases as close as possible. It saves on advertising and distribution. I mean, now they've got to go through their hype process all over again. Its wasteful. Programming for OpenGL allows easy porting into and out of Windoes and onto the *nixes, it shouldn't be a massive programming venture. I mean, its no walk-in-the-park, but its gotta be easier then porting to an N64 (like they did when Podracer came out, simultaneously on PC and N64). The more porting, the better. I still want Armored Core on PC.
Hell no, all us slashdotters are commensalistic hippies. Long live the world-wide commune, the GPL. Free love/information! Make code, not war!
Therefore, the Official Slashdot Narcotics are obviously weed and LSD. The existance of Tux definately proves the presence of hallucinogens (oh, wow, theres like, a penguin on my screen).
Loki have an API available
by
Dhericean
·
· Score: 1
There is an open source API called the Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) that has been developed by Sam Lantinga (lead programmer at Loki). Currently available under GNU LGPL license.
According to the site it is currently running on Linux, Win32, and BeOS. Unofficial ports are reported to be in progress for Solaris, IRIX, FreeBSD, and MacOS.
So if people use it then this could greatly increase the number of games on the Linux and related platforms.
--
Gamma Testing - Where testing is extended to the full user community (AKA Shipping the Program)
Game APIs need more than 3D
by
Dhericean
·
· Score: 1
In order to write a game there is a need for a lot more than a 3D rendering lanuage (and most of it is more important). Direct3D is a very small part of DirectX and with your own 3D engine you could do without it and use DirectDraw instead.
Other important functionality includes 2D drawing (DirectDraw), Sound (DirectSound and DirectMusic), User Input (DirectInput), and Networking (DirectPlay). It is the ability to do all these in a consistant manner that makes it easier now to develop games on Windows.
So while it is nice to have OpenGL and it does make things easier a lot more is required to provide a full game API. However as I said before SDL (the API that Loki uses) is available open source.
--
Gamma Testing - Where testing is extended to the full user community (AKA Shipping the Program)
Link for Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL)
by
Dhericean
·
· Score: 1
SDL is the open source API developed by Sam Lantinga, Lead Programmer for Loki Entertainment Software. There is information about it Here.
--
Gamma Testing - Where testing is extended to the full user community (AKA Shipping the Program)
Descent 3 is an awesome game, but personally, I can't wait for heroin to be ported to Linux! Any news if Loki is trying this next?
Heroin is the only reason I have to keep my Win32 partition.:-( When will Linux users enjoy the same heroin fix that Windows users have enjoyed for years?
Heil JonKatz!
Signed, Anti-JonKatz Troll
--
Heil JonKatz!
Signed,
Anti-JonKatz Troll Fighting Nazis on Slashdot since 1999
I love descent, it's so fast paced. I don't think my keyboard likes descent very much. Nor do my roommates. Vommit and electronics don't go well together. And my roommates have this strange pet peeve about me not cleaning up my vomit (and other body fluids) for a few days. Hey, I just wait until there's enough to make it worth cleaning up.
I have reported you to the proper authorities including your cable modem provider, the president of slashdot.org and the prime minister of the Internet. Have a good day.
But is Descent ready and enough open source for the Linux users? 3d movability is pretty neat, but the idea of running around not in a space maze not being able to head into outer space when it suits me... it just doesn't seem very open source, does it? Not like the real world, anyway.
Boy Loki sure can pick 'em, eh? ----- "It is not enough that I should succeed. Others must fail."
Re:Great game, but...
by
/dev/urandom
·
· Score: 1
Yeah I've noticed that too... Great games or no, it's not very impressive to say that we're just NOW getting games like Alpha Centauri and SC3K. I got all excited about HG2 being ported, and my Windoze-using friends were like, "Huh? That's an OLD game!?"
Anyway, we need Loki working on games before they come out for other platforms. Their work on Civ CTP was pretty good, and they got the timing down good too...
----- "It is not enough that I should succeed. Others must fail."
'Descent', even. Searching for 'Desecnt' probably won't yield anything worthy of note.
Linux ports of Descent 1 and 2 already out there
by
Cardinal
·
· Score: 2
Granted they're not offical, but they do exist.
Search freshmeat.net for 'Desecnt' and see what you get. Beyond that, SourceForge has a Descent 2 X project in their listings, which may or may not be the same as the D 2 X listed on Freshmeat. I can't seem to connect the two.
This seems to be another instance like the Q3A port. It's not done by Loki; it's distributed by them. Of course, I could be misinterpreting.
(S_Draeker) We're doing Descent3... (davace) Descent3! Yea! (dvogel) isn't that already registered? (blayd) S_Dreaker: I thought Outrage was doing that in house (S_Draeker) Yeah. We're going to sell it like we did with Quake...
In the mac community, we've had to deal with this same sort of thing for a long time. And it sucks a lot because unless you buy these older games for your platform, it'll look like there's no market. It doesn't really make any sense to me how the companies can equate a line of old game sales to prospective new game sales, but I guess it all boils down to the numbers of possible consumers, (or lack thereof).
It's kinda rediculous, but if you don't act all excited about these older ported games, it's just assumed you won't get excited about newer stuff, so newer stuff will never show up.
--
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
Re:Gotta start somewhere
by
Andrew+Cady
·
· Score: 2
I wonder how well a starcraft port to Linux could do, considering this. It'd have to be people who didn't own it yet, and how many of those are there left who would want to get it now?
D3 = real test of Linux's memory management
by
[TWD]insomnia
·
· Score: 2
D3 for Windows is a system resource and memory hog, to the point where the game is playable only on a 128MB+ RAM system (especially the later levels, especially level 13). And yes, it's worse than Quake 3.
On my 128MB RAM system, it still swaps every now and then, and I'll be *REALLY* impressed if I don't see a bit of swap in the linux port after going through a whole level.
Since D3 for Windows uses A3D, DirectSound and EAX for its 3D audio support, it's a natural step to see OpenAL implemented into the linux port. It'll be interesting to see how fast the game can run with OpenAL support - it's just way too slow when there's too many sounds coming around, making level 13 run at 1 fps (literraly! - this is with A3D, I haven't tested others).
Now if Aureal could make de(s)cent drivers for Linux..
Loki, I want FreeSpace 2 ported. And if there's ever going to have a FreeSpace 3, then please, Volition Inc., please develop it on linux at the same time. Make it portable. You will get me as your first customer if you ever do..
Re:Great game, but...
by
Bowie+J+Poag
·
· Score: 2
Great, so what else do you want? Super Mario Brothers? Will that be new on Linux, too?
Maybe we can get Hemos to write a story about how much better the Linux version is. And Loki will reap the immense profits that come by paying off certain media sources.
It's all a scam. And guess what? Linux users are the victims.
Bowie J. Poag
-- Bowie J. Poag
Project Founder, PROPAGANDA For Linux (
Game makers aren't ready to commit to Linux as a platform until they see proof that it can be a profitable market.
Loki is porting games that have proven themselves (And generally, are more intellectual games, but that may just be a coincidence) in the Windows market. Eventually game makers will notice Loki's success, and look into releasing a game on Linux at the same time as Windows.
So even if they're old to you, it's a Good Thing. Besides, the less reason I have to reboot to Windows the better. Right now I only reboot for UT. StarCraft runs in Wine, so I'm happy there.
Problem I'm seeing is that the games coming out for Linux are old games... sure, Descent 3 is great, but I'm personally too bored of it to want it.. anyway, my point is, if Linux wants to get popular with the gaming crowd, it (Loki) needs to get some newer ones... Ah well, it still great that I don't always have to always boot into Windows to play games I like...
(I'm just waiting for Alpha Centauri, personally... or wait until Wine works with it..)
Stop whining. Wait, and it will come. To develop any complex software(such as a game), you need a stable API. What is one of the most important things in a "modern" game? Graphics, of course(I personally prefer text-mode NetHack, but hey, that's besides the point). And can you find a stable, and robust graphics API for Linux? I doubt it. At least, I doubt you'll find one developed with games in mind. So, to sum up, stop whining. If you want good, modern games you can either a) write it yourself, or b) buy Loki games, 'cause they'll need the case to develop a good, robust, stable game API. Got it? Good.
Dave
--
Barclay family motto:
Aut agere aut mori.
(Either action or death.)
IRC chat verification...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 4
...this "rumor" about Descent 3 came directly from Scott Draeker during a Loki IRC chat on Wednesday.
The chat log can be found at linux.com, who was responsible for hosting the chat.
is there a law that says original games can't be developed for Linux ? Descent may or may not be a great game (never played it) but I'm getting sick and tired of feeling like I haveto jump up and down because Linux users will have the pleasure of playing years old games. What is going on in the industry in terms of putting out original games on Linux? Does anyone know?
The law you're refering to is the law of economics. Designing and developing a game is an expensive prospect. If a software house going to plunk down the money to create a game, do they choose to release it for the OS that has 5-10% market share or the OS that has upwards of 80% market share? After the game is developed, porting it to another OS is simply a matter of programming.
It's expensive to create original games, and you want the highest return on investment you can get. Release the game running under Windows. Then, if you want a little more market share, start looking at other OS's.
BTW, there are some original games for Linux, but those are being programmed by open source programmers, not the big software houses. I don't want to start a holy war, but you'll find that there's a lot more creative people involved developing (read not programming, but coming up with concepts and stories) closed source games than open. --
-- Why can't I moderate something "Wrong" or at least "Grossly Misinformed"?
Slashdot Mirror
apologies if this has been mentioned before but has loki released anything to get their games running under other unices? or would it be a simple modefication? or is linux the only unix (like) os sophisticated enough to handle these games? They wouldn't have to be entire other cd's..but maybe something like a patch kit., if that's possible.
Why do you bash Slashdot and then have sponsored by VA Linux prominently displayed on your web page? Just wondering...
I thought you could leave the tunnels in Decent 3...
Man, you guys rock. I request this post to get moderated down and it does! LOKI FOREVER!
It's interesting how /. announce about d3 with only a tiny amount of info and yet I've provided more info on LinDVD, the forthcoming software DVD player for Linux from Intervideo - being released later this year and they still won't post it. -- jonathan-[spam]@easypenguin.co.uk
how do you people know of this? he only told me?
i got it free with my TNT2
what a waste of hd space, i got all of about 5 min of play out of it before i was ready to pass out from boredom
4nD d47'z d4 b0770m 11n3, 'kUz d4 4n0nYm0u5 k0w4rD 541d 50!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ruen around times should drop dramaticaly as... A) They find the round bumbs in porting... Where are the porblems usualy? Having this little bit in their brain helps a lot I'm sure... B) They make their own libs to assist in porting. I'm sure by now they have the linux sound system down really well... they also have X down really well...
i received my quake 3 for linux cd in mid-december after ordering it from loki's website
you must be talking about another quake 3
Swell, but I'm already bored of the game. I've been playing it for months already. Linux needs *first release* games, not 2 month old reruns.
by including the Devil's Letter
I hope tey keep
Psst, you're a MORON. Lets think to the Past. There already has been a story once about a Descent 3 Linux port, as posted by one of the original Outrage developers on a Descent 3 Ultimate BB.
It's no more a rumor then that one that's floating around about this supposed '2.4' kernel that's coming out sooner or later. But then again, that one probably won't happen.
by including the Devil's Letter
it still great that
I'm just waiting for Alpha Centauri, personally... or wait until Wine works with it..)
better, but the same old mistake pops up...
by including the Devil's Letter
What a bunch of whiney brats with 10 second attention spans!
Ballblazer is an old game.
Populous is an old game.
Master of Orion is an old game.
Descent 3 is NOT an old game.
Will there be any force-feedback under linux ?
Will they use the new 3d-audio library from creative ?
For your info. The Half-Life mod Counter Strike is by far the most played "game" on the net right now. More than Q3 and UT together.
Ehm... how did you manage to put a bunch of random spaces in that heap of text??? Did you actually type it in by hand??? In that case... christ!!!
Isn't their already a port to Linux? I seem to remember hearing about that.. and even seeing a download link to it.
I think he is smart enough to know not to post it unless he heard it from someone involved :P
now.
You ave violated Yu Suzuki's Golden Rule by including the Devil's Letter (also known as 'H') in your post. Please refrain from using tis vile letter in future posts and repent so tat Yu Suzuki may save your sinful soul. For your convenience, a corrected version of your post appears below.
You ave violated Yu Suzuki's Golden Rule by including the Devil's Letter (also known as 'H') in your post. Please refrain from using tis vile letter in future posts and repent so tat Yu Suzuki may save your sinful soul. For your convenience, a corrected version of your post appears below.
You ave violated Yu Suzuki's Golden Rule by including the Devil's Letter (also known as 'H') in your post. Please refrain from using tis vile letter in future posts and repent so tat Yu Suzuki may save your sinful soul. For your convenience, a corrected version of your post appears below.
7. Recieve response from nVidia saying they're grateful for the feedback, but that they don't really give a rats ass what you do with the card as long as you paid for it.
hey
who is chanserv
heh...
Emmett (posting as AC)
"I wouldn't be surprised," replied the old man. "One's in your coffee and the other one's in your oatmeal."
Haven't you learned anything from Slashdot? It should be "One's in your coffee and the other one's in your bowl of hot grits."
Man, I would really like to see some games for non-x86 architectures. I'd buy most of these games if there was a port to Alpha/Linux. I know that loki ported Civ-CTP to Alpha but you can't find any information on their site about that. It's almost as if they are ashamed of it or something.
I prefer Marizine - no drowsiness and the hallucinations are much more realistic and intense than dramamine after eating a dosage of 12 pills ( one package ).
This comment liberal in its usage of the letter "H"
That attempt at humor was lame enough the first time when emmett did it. Don't you people learn?
It's about time for a Linux version. I have a chat log from the preview where they said there'd be a Linux client that shipped on the CD. So much for that.... Still, the Descent series is one of the best action game series I've ever played, and now it'll be complete. --Aaron Plattner
We are the victims, but Mickeysoft will not keep us down! President John F. Kennedy will lead us to victory!
Amen, brother.
... Quake 3 ? Companys like ID have the right idea. I am wondering if half-life 2 will have a Linux port. I will be really pissed of if it doesn't. Half-life is a great game. But, Valve Software screawed it up. How many mods are for Quake, and how many mods are for half-life ? Get the idea. I wonder if there is a port for Decent Free Space. I played it a few times, now it just sits in my dresser.
There won't be heroin for Linux, as all Linux users are smoking crack.
- Jeremy Fuller
there was an informative review with scott draeker (the prez of loki) on here on slashdot a few weeks ago, and that was mentioned, let me dig up the url... here we go
Did I travel back in time or something? There's been a linux version of the full Quake3 since shortly after the windows version came out. I know. I was playing it, like, two days ago. If you have the windows version, look around whatever mirror site you usually use for the quake3 directory. There should be a 1.16 point release for linux. Install it, and the baseq3 directory from your q3a cd somewhere in your linux fs. It works quite well. There's also a boxed release, sold in very few shops, because most distributors are too timid to take a risk on an unknown OS. (Games Distributor: "Linux? What the hell is that? Some kind of web-browser? Nah...Stick with what we know, I say.")
I think this is great, I have it on windows now and have been wanting to play it across a network with my brothers, so I'll just have to give them my windows version and buy the Linux version so we can all play together.
The more games that Loki ports and sells, the more likely many other vendors will do the same. I can't wait to see the day when I can walk into CompUSA or Best Buy and see just as many programs on the shelf for linux as there are for windows. Even if it's just games, I'll settle for that.
Hrmm... Software Etc has Quake 3 for linux in the collectors edition box, and they had Civilization call to power for linux, too. Don't see Jesus walking around, and I'm not getting sent to hell. You seem to be wrong.
Thank you, and good night.
I loved Descent 1 and 2, but never got a chance to play 3 because ... you guessed it ... I run Linux exclusively at home. So while porting somewhat older games (~6 months to 1 year) to Linux may be old hat for some Windows users, its _brand_ new for me!
:)
Every time I walk into Best Buy I always see Descent3 on the shelf and wish I could play it. Personally I couldn't be happier about this news
Sig (appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars)
Ok. We all know the president of slashdot.org is Rob "Taco" Malda.
But who's the prime minister of the Internet? Al Gore?
Psst, this is a rumor.
Actually, if you want the best ROI, you develop the game simultaneously for as many platforms as it'll run on and have more than three users. Simultaneous development is THE WAY to go, as it adds very little cost above the simple act of writing the game, and can help to catch bugs and things like that. Unfortunately, most game makers haven't caught on yet. It's rare enough to find games that are simultaneous for PC and Mac, and ones that are simultaneously released for PC and Linux (and maybe the Mac too) are even more rare.
Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
Loki is doing the Linux community a lot of good. Without efforts like this, very few if any games would ever have a Linux port. Companies like Westwood and Maxis aren't going to bother risking capital on anything if they can't be reassured that it's worth they're efforts. (Like they're going to even care if they can just break even.) Instead, companies like Loki take the risk for them.
But hey, you have it all figured out, right? You go ahead and convince Maxis to port The Sims to Linux.
d1x has made it possible for me to be happy with gaming under Linux. I will be first in line to buy DIII for Linux.
Now, if Aureal is going to shut down, wouldn't it be great if they released all the specs for their cards into the public domain?
See subject line. Did someone from Slashdot or Loki abuse you as a child, or what?
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
Its nice to see some new ports coming our way, but how about finishing up some existing ones? I know loki isn't responsible for UT, but come on people! Push out a port that supports sound, has better video support and on par with every other version. One of these days i hope i can once again play UT 405 and higher servers. heh
6. Contact nVidia and tell them exactly what you did and why.
GNU/Linux. The Freshmaker.
Well, I'm not buying MS-Windows games, so it will be a new game to me... I wonder how well it will run on a Crusoe tablet...
That's funny, I received my Q3A (Linux!) CD within a few days of the Windows release, and I've been cheerfully fraggin' away (when I could drag myself out of Heroes3, anyways) since.
I also have my nice, shiny tin box, and I've seen it on the shelves in Electronics Boutiques nationwide (both locally, and in the Pittsburgh airport this afternoon -- 2 tins!).
If all you can find is the demo, you aren't looking very hard.
This
-----------
"You can't shake the Devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
It seems like the announcements from Loki are coming faster and faster. I know they have probably hired more people since they started but I was wondering on the turnaround time on porting one of these games. I hope they keep up the great work!
God Fucking Damnit
Well - carefully avoiding the possible backpatting of linux intellect - i'd say Quake and Descent 3 (aka Quakers of the Sky) aren't particularly intellectual.
But then there's the obvious philosophical wank of "Is skill in Quake an intellectual thing anyway. It requires something of a mind and would an efficient killer - no matter how deplorable - use an intellect to be better?"
To which I respond "oh fuck it. i shouldn't have started this post. i'm going to get some tea"
-Docvert converts MSWord to OpenDocument, clean HTML
You can and it makes a nice change. But no, for a cup of Earl Gray. The champion's choice.
-Docvert converts MSWord to OpenDocument, clean HTML
Dude, I was one of the first people to buy Quake 3 for Linux in Australia - tin box & all. That was late last year. Just came back from 2 months in the US to discover some junkie had broken in & stolen it & Quake 2 - plus some home theatre gear, DVDs & CDs. Will have to buy it again.
Yes, I too am angry that we still have crap support, but if you paid close attention to their press releases and announcements, they never said that xfree86 4.0 would include support. They said that shortly after the official release date of XFree86 4.0, they would be releasing a full implimentation. Which means that we should be receiving our driver within 2 weeks, or I follow step 8.
--
linuxisgood:~$ man woman
Restating the obvious since nineteen aught five.
The programmers have worked hard on these, and I'd hate to see them go to waste.
One of the main problems with Loki ports IMHO is that they don't grab much of the market due to redundancy. Not many 'hardcore' gamers want to shell out more cash for a linux port of a game they already own, which works perfectly on their current operating system. The only way the idea of porting games to Linux can be popular to developers is if their market flox to it. Quick remedy: Release the required binaries for free.
-KMB
Sorry, hate to self-reply, but I meant that you should buy Loki games because they'll need the cash, not the case ;)
Barclay family motto:
Aut agere aut mori.
(Either action or death.)
That's a moderately valid point, but I forgot to mention hardware acceleration. I think you're right about the implementation, and part of that is hardware acceleration. It's been a while since any game I played was tolerable with software-based rendering, so these APIs have to have hardware accelereation.
Barclay family motto:
Aut agere aut mori.
(Either action or death.)
8. After receiving that information go over to nvidia and beat the shit out of the CEO, making sure to cook his brains with an overclocked Geforce
[disgrunteld Geforce customer who was *expecting* support in XFree86 4.0]
Buying a Dell computer is equivalent to dropping the soap in a prison shower.
I was just wondering how this little tidbit got out... then I noticed the article just before this one.
So that's what MI5's been doing!
-----
Go ahead, blame me... I voted for Nader!
I'm going to program a game for linux, there won't be a windows port unless someone else wants to port it. Unfortunantly, I need to learn graphics programming first, so don't hold your breath.
"huhuhuhh, go away. we're like closed or something"
You may want to check out the Slashdot archives for this interview with Loki's President, Scott Draeker. One answer he gives is particularly germain:
Begin Exerpt
5) Reject ratio (Score:5, Interesting) by FascDot Killed My Pr
I'm assuming that your (current) modus operandi is to call up a company and say "Hey, can we port your game to Linux?" Given that assumption:
1) How many companies have you talked to? 2) What percentage of them rejected the request? 3) Of those that rejected, what were their reasons? (fear of "open source", lack of demand, etc.)
Scott:
I'm going to respond in general terms, as many of your questions apply to ongoing negotiations.
We've spoken to the majority of game companies. When we complete a deal, we turn that into product fairly quickly. Other deal negotiations are ongoing.
The single most important factor for getting a game ported is market size. Everything else is easy to address. If a company feels that they will see sufficient unit sales, then they are quite happy to discuss having a port done.
End Exerpt
Given the company Loki works for has to pay the bill for the port, if they don't believe they can make money at it, it won't happen. In particular, new games draw the highest prices. It is of particular benefit to make sure they rock. So, taking a lesson from the military, it's better to fight on one front at a time. Once they start aging, their prices drop and the Linux port may look viable.
The little guy just ain't getting it, is he?
if you don't like it, stop coming here.
i mean, it's not like slashdot or loki is making you read this story. or for that matter, what did they ever do to you?
i think loki is doing somthing pretty cool, yeah, the games are a little old. but they've mostly been porting ones that are still fun after all the time. like alpha centauri, i get re-addicted to it about once a month or so. its just so damn much fun.
ok, so that is just an opinion. but really, if you don't like loki or slashdot, what are you doing here?
-------
-------
"don't smoke, don't drink, don't fuck
at least i can fucking think"
Minor Threat
Quick remedy: Release the required binaries for free.
Loki has to stay in business too - I'd suggest an 'upgrade' option to attract many more gamers to go to Linux. Ok it may have been debated before, but seriously, I'd be much more tempted to shell out $15 or $20, instead of $40 or $50, to play the same game I played before.
Now I've got an idea: to test the real potential of Linux, and at the same time, to know how many really supports Linux - imagine if Blizzard released StarCraft for Linux for free! I can already see a swarm of people going there - and Blizzard will be remembered forever as the company who brought Linux games to the mass.
Of course they'd do the same if they released WarCraft III for linux at the same time. Hey they did a port for Macs for every game they did, and they'll probably do the same for WC3 - since the game's in 3D, to port it easily for Mac it'll have to use OpenGL. If they use OpenGL, it's trivial to port it for Linux too! They'd have a real winner here, and again they'd be remembered as pioneers.
Why I'm saying Blizzard is the force and not id software? Blizzard's games are far more accessible to the mass and secondly we need another company besides id to tell the world that linux is getting serious on the gaming scene...
This is probably slightly off topic, but what ever happened to quake3 for linux? The linux demo was released at almost the same timeas the mac and win32 demo's. I recall thinking at the time, Yeah, finally some decent games are coming out for linux on time, rather than being ported 3 years laters. I may be mistaken, but 3 months after Q3A was released, all linux users have is that demo, leaving unable to join in the fragging. Whats up with this?
What's wrong with OpenGL? Its an excelent and stable graphics API (see Quake 2 / Quake 3). Now I'll admit until NVidia either comes out with their OpenGL driver or I trash my TNT 2, I can't effectively use OpenGL, but that's besides the point. As far as OpenGL not being developed for games in mind, it isn't the API as much as the implementation of it. That's the reason why an OpenGL program (or possibly IrixGL) running on an SGI machine would blow away the same program running on a TNT, Voodoo, or G400, or whatever. But an OpenGL game would probably not play as well on the SGI machine.
No kidding. I want to see LARA!!!
Emmett, I hade no idea. I am touched. :-P
I always thought that anonymous coward was... *grin*
Eh...
And what's with the 'funny' post anyway?
Btw the authors of the current slashdot authors: timothy
emmett
timothy
emmett
timothy
emmett
Cliff
timothy
Hemos
timothy
Hemos
timothy
CmndrTaco Said that they would have editorial independance for the duration of there stay. But it apears that they are not the ones posting storys at the monment. I'd guess that VA/Andover could get these guys to do whatever they want, I mean how hard would it be to fire them?
Well, maybe I'm just being paranoid (probably) but it is interesting.
Amber Yuan 2k A.D
"and dear god does this website suck now." -- CmdrTaco
Meanwhile, Consoles try to synchonize their game releases as close as possible. It saves on advertising and distribution. I mean, now they've got to go through their hype process all over again. Its wasteful. Programming for OpenGL allows easy porting into and out of Windoes and onto the *nixes, it shouldn't be a massive programming venture. I mean, its no walk-in-the-park, but its gotta be easier then porting to an N64 (like they did when Podracer came out, simultaneously on PC and N64). The more porting, the better. I still want Armored Core on PC.
Hell no, all us slashdotters are commensalistic hippies. Long live the world-wide commune, the GPL. Free love/information! Make code, not war!
Therefore, the Official Slashdot Narcotics are obviously weed and LSD. The existance of Tux definately proves the presence of hallucinogens (oh, wow, theres like, a penguin on my screen).
There is an open source API called the Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) that has been developed by Sam Lantinga (lead programmer at Loki). Currently available under GNU LGPL license.
According to the site it is currently running on Linux, Win32, and BeOS. Unofficial ports are reported to be in progress for Solaris, IRIX, FreeBSD, and MacOS.
So if people use it then this could greatly increase the number of games on the Linux and related platforms.
Gamma Testing - Where testing is extended to the full user community (AKA Shipping the Program)
In order to write a game there is a need for a lot more than a 3D rendering lanuage (and most of it is more important). Direct3D is a very small part of DirectX and with your own 3D engine you could do without it and use DirectDraw instead.
Other important functionality includes 2D drawing (DirectDraw), Sound (DirectSound and DirectMusic), User Input (DirectInput), and Networking (DirectPlay). It is the ability to do all these in a consistant manner that makes it easier now to develop games on Windows.
So while it is nice to have OpenGL and it does make things easier a lot more is required to provide a full game API. However as I said before SDL (the API that Loki uses) is available open source.
Gamma Testing - Where testing is extended to the full user community (AKA Shipping the Program)
SDL is the open source API developed by Sam Lantinga, Lead Programmer for Loki Entertainment Software. There is information about it Here.
Gamma Testing - Where testing is extended to the full user community (AKA Shipping the Program)
i just hope that someday something will run better than 'painfully slow' on my tnt
Here's a little hardware hack that's a guaranteed fix for those of you angry with your TNT or TNT2's performance under Linux:
------------------------------------------------ -------
Warning! This will void the warranty on the TNT/TNT2!
Tools:
Instructions:
Heil JonKatz!
Signed,
Anti-JonKatz Troll
Heil JonKatz!
Signed,
Anti-JonKatz Troll
Fighting Nazis on Slashdot since 1999
Heroin is the only reason I have to keep my Win32 partition. :-( When will Linux users enjoy the same heroin fix that Windows users have enjoyed for years?
Heil JonKatz!
Signed,
Anti-JonKatz Troll
Heil JonKatz!
Signed,
Anti-JonKatz Troll
Fighting Nazis on Slashdot since 1999
DEVIL'S-LETTER TROLL!
Not go forth and troll, troll, troll!
Heil JonKatz!
Signed,
Anti-JonKatz Troll
Heil JonKatz!
Signed,
Anti-JonKatz Troll
Fighting Nazis on Slashdot since 1999
I love descent, it's so fast paced. I don't think my keyboard likes descent very much. Nor do my roommates. Vommit and electronics don't go well together. And my roommates have this strange pet peeve about me not cleaning up my vomit (and other body fluids) for a few days. Hey, I just wait until there's enough to make it worth cleaning up.
- Jeremy Fuller
But is Descent ready and enough open source for the Linux users? 3d movability is pretty neat, but the idea of running around not in a space maze not being able to head into outer space when it suits me... it just doesn't seem very open source, does it? Not like the real world, anyway.
www.e.magazine.dk
Boy Loki sure can pick 'em, eh?
-----
"It is not enough that I should succeed. Others must fail."
Yeah I've noticed that too... Great games or no, it's not very impressive to say that we're just NOW getting games like Alpha Centauri and SC3K. I got all excited about HG2 being ported, and my Windoze-using friends were like, "Huh? That's an OLD game!?"
Anyway, we need Loki working on games before they come out for other platforms. Their work on Civ CTP was pretty good, and they got the timing down good too...
-----
"It is not enough that I should succeed. Others must fail."
'Descent', even. Searching for 'Desecnt' probably won't yield anything worthy of note.
Granted they're not offical, but they do exist.
Search freshmeat.net for 'Desecnt' and see what you get. Beyond that, SourceForge has a Descent 2 X project in their listings, which may or may not be the same as the D 2 X listed on Freshmeat. I can't seem to connect the two.
This seems to be another instance like the Q3A port. It's not done by Loki; it's distributed by them. Of course, I could be misinterpreting.
(S_Draeker) We're doing Descent3...
(davace) Descent3! Yea!
(dvogel) isn't that already registered?
(blayd) S_Dreaker: I thought Outrage was doing that in house
(S_Draeker) Yeah. We're going to sell it like we did with Quake...
It's kinda rediculous, but if you don't act all excited about these older ported games, it's just assumed you won't get excited about newer stuff, so newer stuff will never show up.
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
D3 for Windows is a system resource and memory hog, to the point where the game is playable only on a 128MB+ RAM system (especially the later levels, especially level 13). And yes, it's worse than Quake 3.
On my 128MB RAM system, it still swaps every now and then, and I'll be *REALLY* impressed if I don't see a bit of swap in the linux port after going through a whole level.
Since D3 for Windows uses A3D, DirectSound and EAX for its 3D audio support, it's a natural step to see OpenAL implemented into the linux port. It'll be interesting to see how fast the game can run with OpenAL support - it's just way too slow when there's too many sounds coming around, making level 13 run at 1 fps (literraly! - this is with A3D, I haven't tested others).
Now if Aureal could make de(s)cent drivers for Linux..
Loki, I want FreeSpace 2 ported. And if there's ever going to have a FreeSpace 3, then please, Volition Inc., please develop it on linux at the same time. Make it portable. You will get me as your first customer if you ever do..
Great, so what else do you want? Super Mario Brothers? Will that be new on Linux, too?
Maybe we can get Hemos to write a story about how much better the Linux version is. And Loki will reap the immense profits that come by paying off certain media sources.
It's all a scam. And guess what? Linux users are the victims.
Bowie J. Poag
Bowie J. Poag
Project Founder, PROPAGANDA For Linux (
Game makers aren't ready to commit to Linux as a platform until they see proof that it can be a profitable market.
Loki is porting games that have proven themselves (And generally, are more intellectual games, but that may just be a coincidence) in the Windows market. Eventually game makers will notice Loki's success, and look into releasing a game on Linux at the same time as Windows.
So even if they're old to you, it's a Good Thing. Besides, the less reason I have to reboot to Windows the better. Right now I only reboot for UT. StarCraft runs in Wine, so I'm happy there.
Problem I'm seeing is that the games coming out for Linux are old games... sure, Descent 3 is great, but I'm personally too bored of it to want it.. anyway, my point is, if Linux wants to get popular with the gaming crowd, it (Loki) needs to get some newer ones... Ah well, it still great that I don't always have to always boot into Windows to play games I like...
(I'm just waiting for Alpha Centauri, personally... or wait until Wine works with it..)
Stop whining. Wait, and it will come. To develop any complex software(such as a game), you need a stable API. What is one of the most important things in a "modern" game? Graphics, of course(I personally prefer text-mode NetHack, but hey, that's besides the point). And can you find a stable, and robust graphics API for Linux? I doubt it. At least, I doubt you'll find one developed with games in mind. So, to sum up, stop whining. If you want good, modern games you can either a) write it yourself, or b) buy Loki games, 'cause they'll need the case to develop a good, robust, stable game API. Got it? Good.
Dave
Barclay family motto:
Aut agere aut mori.
(Either action or death.)
The chat log can be found at linux.com, who was responsible for hosting the chat.
Look a little less than halfway down the log...
with any luck, someone'll port Dramamine soon. :)
-krog
Cretin - a powerful and flexible CD reencoder
is there a law that says original games can't be developed for Linux ? Descent may or may not be a great game (never played it) but I'm getting sick and tired of feeling like I haveto jump up and down because Linux users will have the pleasure of playing years old games. What is going on in the industry in terms of putting out original games on Linux? Does anyone know?
Hates people who have stupid little sigs