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Quake Live Dev Says Mac and Linux Are "Top Priority"
AlexMax2742 writes "id's Marty Stratton notes the following in his Quake Live developer blog on the subject of the Mac and Linux port of Quake Live: 'These have proved more difficult than expected, but we're getting close. We expect to also be testing Mac and Linux versions of Quake Live internally this month and then making those publicly available just as soon as we feel they are ready. This work is being done by a separate programmer in parallel with the other work that we're doing, and is his only priority — point being, that this is a top priority for us and not being delayed because of other work.' In my humble opinion, it's awesome to see that kind of (continued) dedication from a company."
The post also indicates that progress is being made on the much-awaited private server functionality, and part two makes brief mention of match broadcasting and community-made maps.
So is only putting one programmer on the job a priority?
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The point of browser-based games is that the end user doesn't need to install anything, but Quake Live is a browser plugin, so it's basically a complete, stand-alone game. Except that it is now dependent on browser plugin APIs for, apparently, no reason. Why is this better than a stand-alone online-only game? It seems to be 'browser' based only in as much as that the browser launches the game and the game runs in the browser's address space (and so can break it). If you want closer browser-game integration, a better approach seems to be to register a handler for a custom URL schema (e.g. quakelive://) so any links in the browser that start like that are handed off to your game.
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I was wondering why they went browser based if it was only going to run on windows. Lets just hope that linux/mac support remains a priority. I seen other "cross-platform" games were linux/mac support always lag behind windows support.
The best test environment is production. - Me
chrome://browser/content/browser.xul
Now that I'm almost completely addicted to the game, they finish up the Mac port so that I'll be able to play the game on my MacBook while I'm in lecture during the day. And as an added bonus, there will be private servers I can meet my friends on.
I am so going to fail out of school.
"I'd just like to emphasise that taking a million years isn't a metaphor here..." -Rich Bradshaw
They've made a lot of great games, and they open source there older platforms. What more can you ask from a software company?
On a side note Quake Live is fun
my sig
Quake as a browserplugin? What's the point? What makes it better to play in a browser? I fail to get the point, you'll have to download a binary in any case.
Not when you've invested as much as id has in wooing our crowd with open sourcinq quake 3
Sure it does. Catering to the Linux community creates good will. The geeks that use Linux often have influence over the technology selections of others and are more likely to recommend products from a company that, in their eyes, has done something good. Every business decision does not have to equal measurable profits. Some decisions may have no effect on the bottom line today, but by doing The Right Thing by some, will reap rewards in the future.
... Or maybe Carmack just wants to play a little FFA on his Linux box. :)
I'm really looking forward to the implementation of private servers. I know all that's holding a few of my friends back is the fact that they have to play with the unwashed masses. It'd be great if several of us could hop on for some games against opponents we know and can laugh with.
Is that they'll be testing the versions soon. I don't get why the header is "Mac and Linux are "Top Priority", as they said it a month or so before.
I wish I could get to see the numbers (or percentages) they (ID Software) estimate to be the potential size of Linux and Mac OS X users. I suspect, though I am biased, that their numbers would surpass in quality and quantity the recent estimate based on web site traffic that set Linux use at one percent. I suspect too those figures would be less prone to tweaking or to external third party pressures.
Because firstly, it's OpenGL. It's damn easy to port it to Linux. Second, it's not that type of a game that you're used to see. Their market is everybody that uses a browser, thus having it run on every computer is a lot more important. Not that I think they would port it to Linux if porting it to OS X wouldn't be half of the job ;)
is not when will it be released but will it have a tux model available.
lose != loose
What's the next one on the list to go over, how about the fact that Trolltech's (now Nokia's) toolkit is a word, not an acronym. Qt (pronounced cute) - not Q.T. grr. I could go on with you and your "unix daymon" retarded pronunciation habit as well, but my arm is getting tired of the cane shaking.
Quake Live works fine under Parallels; the only gotcha is you have to press fn-F3 to ready yourself.
Why on earth would any sane company make a linux port a priority?
"A" priority doesn't mean a thing. If it were the priority it would have come out at the same time as the Windows support (or before) but since it didn't it's obviously one of those "when we get around to it" type things. As well it should be — they have already reached the largest part of the market.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
The want the game to be free to play, and supported by ads. Adware in executables has a bad rap, but people tolerate them in free online games.
simple, gang up on the guy with the quad, so what it's ffa, I've killed the quad holder plenty of times.
I am happy of course to see that having a Linux native version is a priority at least for some developers.
Too bad I really don't like Quake-like games, or any FPS.
If only the RPG companies would have Linux in their mind. Like Bioware, which delivered Neverwinter Nights (thanks!), but now turned its back on us with Dragon Age.
simple, gang up on the guy with the quad, so what it's ffa, I've killed the quad holder plenty of times.
Or take advantage of that 3D sound card and your knowledge of the map's sounds, and stay out of the quad carrier's way. Hearing the quad timer count down it's end without the player having gotten any kills is one of life's small pleasures.
You can also try a timeless classic: wait until he pulls out the rocket launcher, then leap out at him suddenly with the super shotgun. After you've removed his advantage via a bloody explosion, the following race from spawn points to where the quad and weapons are sitting is added fun.
Good times!
Now that's a bold statement from someone that has this as his sig!
Please learn the difference: à la = "in the style or manner of" ; aka = "also known as"
Fsckin' moron! LOL!!!
Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
No, it is no fun turning the corner and coming muzzle to muzzle with someone who is on quad damage, but on the other hand, it is oh so satisfying to then splatter them with the good old shotgun.
The power ups and weapons are all part of the game. They do have limited shots and durations after all. /. time, dammit.
The game. Ah.
The highly addictive game.
That I have spent many, many hours playing.
That I am feeling an urge to log on to right now. (twitch, twitch.)
It is seriously cutting into my
I must work towards my 25K frags award. (gibber, gibber. twitch, twitch.)
Flags to capture. Opponents to fry. Or splash. Or perforate. (gibber, gibber. twitch, twitch. mumble, mumble)
Trying to associate Microsoft with "fun" is like trying to associate Satan with aromatherapy. -Tycho
Now we can play utterly boring games on other platforms. I can hardly wait.
A corollary to that third sentence is that the percentage of gamers or potential gamers is probably much higher among those who use or consider using Linux.
We need to keep in mind there's a big chunk of people who use Windows who tend not to be gamers. Your own parents, aunts and uncles, seniors, adults who just had a family. Never mind all the Windows users (Windows market share) in the workplace who aren't about to install games on those machines.
What, then, is the true percentage of the Windows gamer's market? It's actually not logical to claim that if Windows:Linux usage is 100:1, then the gaming market is also 100:1.
Hats off to id software for making Linux versions of all their games!
I've bought every id game because they port to Linux. They've made a few bucks off me, times that by a few others and perhaps it's worthwhile.
POKE 36879,8