Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

UT 2003 Client For Linux?

Posted by Hemos on from the blam-blam-shoot-'em-up dept.

Thomas A. Anderson writes "Although not officially supported, there is a very interesting post here from Mark Rein (VP of Marketing for Epic Games) that says UT 2003 client *already* runs on linux, and that it *might* be released close after the windows client. Let's all support Epic on this... Background: Back in April, on an IRC chat, Mark Rein stated that a linux server will happen, but the chance of linux and mac clients were a qualified "likely". He stated something similar in a chat in August. All the chat logs are interesting reads..."

11 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. Cutting Edge by digitaltroglodyte · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Funny how linux on the desktop was supposed to be a dead horse? Way to go Epic, put me down for a copy of UT2003! Check's on the way.

    Digit

    --
    "Well hello there Charlie Brown, you blockhead." -- Lucy Van Pelt
    1. Re:Cutting Edge by octover · · Score: 3, Informative
      IIRC, back when Quake 3 came out I could only get it to run on my computer in Linux. Because I wanted to best FPS I could get, I started X and had it only run Quake. Today my computer is a lot faster and such, but I would probably still run the UT client the same way. The point I'm trying to make is that a game or a couple of games doesn't make the desktop. The word type applications and such, those are the things that the desktop is made of. Unfortunally after playing with Jaguar (Mac OS X.2) I agree with the Apple kids. Linux can't touch Jaguar when it comes to being my workstation. I got the cool/stable *nix under the hood, but my window manager and all my apps run the same way.


      I'm more interested in seeing the Mac version personally.

  2. why wait? by garcia · · Score: 5, Insightful

    if the Linux client is already working why should the users have to wait for it to be released? Don't they understand that is just an unnecessary hassle for Linux users who want to play their game?

    Release the Windows client on CD, make the Linux client available on the www/FTP, and be done w/it. Most people are going to buy the CD for Windows anyway, the Linux people are quite familiar w/downloading their own clients from the web.

    Just do it.

    1. Re:why wait? by Repugnant_Shit · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'd like a Linux-only CD with the option of downloading a Windows client too. That way I can to go Electronics Boutique and buy Linux software. Wouldn't it be better for it to count as a Linux sale?

      --
      Vote for global prefs bug
    2. Re:why wait? by BMonger · · Score: 3, Interesting

      There are two groups that learn about your OS preference. By purchasing a non-Windows version of a game the publisher realizes that somebody has bought this and is using it. To me, this is something that the publisher could gather when you create and connect to the servers possibly. So the publisher might have this information regardless of the version that you buy.

      The other group that recieves this information is the store you purchase it from. Lets just say you're buying from EB. Initially they order 300 copies of Unreal for Windows and 3 of Unreal for Linux. All the copies for both platforms may very well sell. But they are only going to reorder for the Windows platform most likely. Most of their employees probably won't know that they sell the Linux version either. Then you're stuck buying the Windows version because you yourself might not even know that they sell the Linux version. If you know a Linux version is available you should have them order it for you. The downside to that is that you have to wait but it is one more sale for the Linux version. If they won't order you the Linux version order it online. Don't just settle for the Windows version. Unless it's an emergency LAN party situation. Then you can of course. :)

      At least you have a shelvable version. I went to EB and asked if they had any Mac software and almost got laughed out of the store. Hopefully that will all change in a few years.

  3. This is indeed great news. by cioxx · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because now players won't use the lame excuse when they're losing the deathmatch:

    "Sorry my game froze, I had to reboot"

  4. Now all we need... by dwcasey · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is to make sure we have driver support for our ATI 9700's so that we can actually play it.

  5. 2 bits. Shave and a haircut.... by Rahga · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Well, I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on UT 2k3, if only to see how far I can mod it.... However, I fear that it will be completely overshadowed by Battlefield 1942 sales (which will go hand in hand with sales for new video cards to handle the hardware T&L requirements). Not that it's a bad thing, because Battlefield may wind up being a far superior game in most aspects.

    This news about the Linux client, however, is really surprising. Lately, I've heard much more about centering development around DirectX in order to save on a humongous chunck of development time for the X-Box on the Unreal Engine as a whole. Something along the lines of "Why bother with OpenGL, when DirectX does everything we need and more" seems very familiar to me....

  6. I'm not bitching, just curious: by Ieshan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Will the Linux version cost less because they're not offering tech support with it. or will it just be community-support-based, like every other product? And, if it is going to be community based, are they going to "provide the space"?

    I can understand why no tech support - every user has 1239880198231 different configurations. But it seems that if they're not going to be providing a valuable source of information (just because you're a geek doesn't mean you've never called tech support, everyone has), they ought to do two things: A) Establish a community space for the Linux Gamers on their site to allow questions that pertain to the Linux Version(s) to be answered and/or B) provide source for some pieces of the program.

    Since most people use these types of games to play online anyway, if they have a secure system for validating keys (see battle.net), they shouldn't have to worry about open-sourcing parts of (or the entire) client.

  7. my take on it by Vodak · · Score: 3

    EPIC is going to release a Linux client for the next version of Unreal Tournament, why should we care? It's pointless to get overjoyed by this semi announcement. I mean it's not officially supported. It only works with NVidia cards and it won't show other companies that people want Linux games.

    Linux needs applications that can be purchased directly as Linux apps.

    In order for Linux to goto the next level we need UT2003 to be supported and sold in a Linux version. Just being able to download the Linux binaries will not bring Linux to the next level. Software companies don't care how many times epic had the Linux binaries downloaded they care how many copies Linux UT2003 sold in the market And yes I do understand that when Quake3Arena had a Linux version it wasn't all that successful but that had to do with a couple of reasons. Unless companies see that Linux apps and Linux games sell Linux will just be a webserver or hacker toy.

    I love using Linux, BSD and the like but just being able to download the binaries gets us no where. id has been releasing the quake binaries for a while as was the first version of UT able to be played on Linux. Being happy that a company is releasing semi working Linux binaries for download it nothing to cheer about, you should be pissed that epic doesn't trust the game enough to release it to Linux.

  8. Great . . . by Ezubaric · · Score: 3, Funny

    There goes all hope of saying that converting to Linux will help productivity.

    --

    ----------
    I am an expert in electricity. My father held the chair of applied electricity at the state prision.