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!
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
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.