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!
'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
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· 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
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· 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
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· 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"?
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.
Slashdot Mirror
I talked to Hemos about this..
This issue will not be posted on slashdot until the product will be out (or at least a beta version). So for now - its vaporware..
There is another company who are also writing a software based DVD player - I cannot tell the name unfortunetly...
Hetz (Heunique)
'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
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.