The End Is Nigh For the Linux Game Tome

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The End Is Nigh For the Linux Game Tome

Posted by Unknown on Tuesday March 26, 2013 @12:41AM from the end-of-an-era dept.

First time accepted submitter Sodki writes "The Linux Game Tome, one of the most important websites related to video gaming in GNU/Linux, will shut down on the 13th of April, according to a news post published on the website. The decision was made due to the 'lack both the time and the ambition to do what is necessary to keep the site afloat,' which has resulted in 'spam clogging the forums, lack of updates and increasing brokenness of the site.' This might not be the end, though. The maintainers of The Linux Game Tome will make available a dump of the games database, so that anyone interested can cook up a new and updated version of the website, and a worthwhile effort will be considered for a transfer of ownership of the domain. The current source code of the website, which is from 1999, will not be available because 'it is not fit for human consumption.'" It certainly had a good run; I remember poking around the Linux Game Tome as a teenager in the misty past (and it's where I discovered Freeciv, Warzone 2100, and lbreakout2). Are there any alternatives already operating (unfortunately, Freecode doesn't seem popular with game authors)? Or: Which one of you is going to write the Linux Game Tome 3.0?

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Uh, by Forty+Two+Tenfold · 2013-03-26 00:47 · Score: 5, Insightful

Steam?

--
Upward mobility is a slippery slope - the higher you climb the more you show your ass.
1. Re:Uh, by Chaos+Incarnate · 2013-03-26 00:54 · Score: 1
  
  Isn't it still in beta? If so, why would they add an icon when it's not officially supported yet?
  
  --
  Benford's Corollary to Clarke's Law: "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."
2. Re:Uh, by ledow · 2013-03-26 00:57 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  You mean like the one on the first entry here:
  http://store.steampowered.com/search/?snr=1_4_4__12&term=team+fortress+2
  ?
3. Re:Uh, by lesincompetent · 2013-03-26 01:04 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Why should the community give up everything to a strictly proprietary, closed environment? We should maintain at least a free and open alternative!
4. Re:Uh, by h4rr4r · 2013-03-26 01:14 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  I believe you were looking for this:
  http://www.playdeb.net/welcome/
  The reality is Steam offers something not yet available on linux AAA games, even if out of date so far. You don't have to use it, and you can avoid distros that package it even, but it exists for those who want to use it.
5. Re: Uh, by doti · 2013-03-26 01:19 · Score: 1
  
  Uh,
  No?
  
  --
  factor 966971: 966971
6. Re:Uh, by Anonymous Coward · 2013-03-26 01:21 · Score: 2
  
  I am one of the maintainers for playdeb.net (been getting their stability and performaince issues worked out) and it's good to see it mentioned here. I'd love to adopt happy penguin as well, since it fills a slightly diff niche, and I'd hate to see it go.
  Thanks,
  Joseph Brower
  joseph(dot)brower(at)gmail(dot)com
7. Re:Uh, by LordLimecat · 2013-03-26 01:29 · Score: 2
  
  The "community" doesnt really have a right to demand that this site be maintained for free; if you want a free alternative, I imagine you could volunteer to help maintain the site.
  "Its Open Source" doesnt magically generate people to do fixes and maintenance, you know.
8. Re:Uh, by Anonymous Coward · 2013-03-26 01:40 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Not really, some of us just don't give a shit either way.
9. Re:Uh, by smooth+wombat · 2013-03-26 02:10 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  if you want a free alternative, I imagine you could volunteer to help maintain the site ... "Its Open Source" doesnt magically generate people to do fixes and maintenance, you know.
  
  HERESY! Burn them at the stake!
  
  Everyone knows there is no cost associated with software. Charging for something you produce is just evil capitalism. With the wonders of free software, everything miraculously springs forth by sheer will, not through money and maintenance. People create this stuff through their own generosity without regard to costs since there are none.
  
  That's why there's no problem with stealing someone's work. Since there was no cost involved with producing it, there's no need to pay someone for their work.
  
  --
  We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
10. Re:Uh, by Runaway1956 · 2013-03-26 02:15 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  You seem to presume that all Linux people are alike. Tell you what - next time you're browsing, take a look at the names. Some of the names seem to be obviously female, some seem just as obviously male. Different, huh? Oh - some of the posters are obviously young, others are older than dirt. Different, again! Some of us like the toe-jam guy, others of us don't. Wow - more difference!
  For the most part, I only use free stuff. But, sometimes, the closed source commercial stuff is all that's available, or it's the easiest solution, or it's the solution that I understand. And, sometimes, it's actually the best.
  Each and every one of us penguin people has to decide for himself just what it is that he needs and wants from Linux, and his machine(s). I'm slightly less passionate about "free" than some other people. Others don't give a damn either way. Give us a break, alright? We didn't all go to boot camp to learn how to be Linux geeks. There isn't just one right way. For proof of that, just start counting up the distros!
  
  --
  "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
11. Re:Uh, by interkin3tic · 2013-03-26 02:16 · Score: 2
  
  Why make an icon for two games?
  
  I kid, I kid, steam has made a good number of their games available for linux. There is a second of the store called "Linux" which features only games available on linux. You don't need a icon. Just browse the linux section. Or use google. Or look on the page in the store that tells you what the system requirements are, it will say linux.
12. Re:Uh, by interkin3tic · 2013-03-26 02:18 · Score: 1
  
  I meant "SECTION of the store," in case anyone is confused.
13. Re:Uh, by jedidiah · 2013-03-26 02:46 · Score: 2
  
  You are confusing the Linux community at large with RMS.
  
  --
  A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
14. Re:Uh, by jedidiah · 2013-03-26 02:52 · Score: 2
  
  I've always been about pragmatism.
  Free Software is immune from market pressures and inevitable destruction in much the same way a monopoly is.
  I despise Microsoft products based on merit. I could happily use some 3rd option if the market allowed for it. It doesn't really.
  The only company to survive the 90s bloodbath turned into a consumer electronics vendor.
  Linux will continue on regardless of how much Microsoft or Apple or even Canonical wants to turn everything into a locked down tablet.
  
  --
  A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
15. Re:Uh, by Anonymous Coward · 2013-03-26 03:07 · Score: 1
  
  Why should the community give up everything to a strictly proprietary, closed environment? We should maintain at least a free and open alternative!
  I assume that means you're volunteering to do the work?
  The community doesn't owe you anything, you know.
16. Re:Uh, by Anonymous Coward · 2013-03-26 03:34 · Score: 1
  
  still having trouble reading. Try again:
  
  Steam just shows what a bunch of little hypocrits the average...
  Nice editing there.
  
  what a bunch of little hypocrits the average Linux is,
  Ahh, Anonymous Coward, still having trouble writing in complete sentences. Try again.
17. Re:Uh, by Isaac+Remuant · 2013-03-26 04:10 · Score: 1
  
  any self respecting email fetch script will be able to translate ats and dots without issue. You're not exposing him any more than he did.
  
  --
  "Science can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world. " - Asimov.
18. Re:Uh, by ddegirmenci · 2013-03-26 04:55 · Score: 1
  
  It is officially supported. There was even a week-long "Steam on Linux" sale on Linux games.
19. Re:Uh, by GNious · 2013-03-26 06:14 · Score: 1
  
  Is it similar to the OSX section, where you get all OSX-compatible games in a big jumble, unable to apply categories like "RPG" or "Shooter" to further limit the listing?
  Disclaimer: This was how it was last I ran Steam - the client hasn't worked on my computer for a while now.
20. Re:Uh, by Anonymous Coward · 2013-03-26 08:48 · Score: 1
  
  The model's worked so far.
  That's why Windows and OS X have no malware; if there were any bugs, you could sue Microsoft or Apple.
21. Re:Uh, by LordLucless · 2013-03-26 09:04 · Score: 1
  
  Why should the community give up everything to a strictly proprietary, closed environment? We should maintain at least a free and open alternative!
  The Game Tome isn't publishing their source code are they? Sounds like moving from one proprietary, closed environment to another. If you want a free and open alternative, then build it.
  
  --
  Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
22. Re:Uh, by kermidge · 2013-03-26 10:51 · Score: 1
  
  Apart from some inherent curiosity (same as lead me to trying out, for grins, Fortran and COBOL on my Atari ST), the practical allure of an alternative to Windows that was also free had definite appeal. And, were I smart enough, the capability to examine source code and change it to my liking was beyond intriguing.
  So, in early Oughts, started trying out various distros to see what was going on. Finally went Linux-only a few years ago. (Yeah, I'm slow, stupid, and lazy, so what? That's part of the 'freedom' I really like.)
  Linux mostly does, and reasonably well, most of what I want, and generally with less overall hassle than the alternatives I've tried or leased (Windows). Pragmatic wins.
  "The only company to survive the 90s bloodbath turned into a consumer electronics vendor." Obvious, but only after you mention it, and finely insightful. Thanks for the perspective I didn't have before; I'd never stopped to think about it.
23. Re:Uh, by JazzVoid · 2013-03-26 18:44 · Score: 1
  
  Steam requires to provide finished product and support. Apart from the libre games, there's a bunch of Linux ports that will never get into Steam because devs can't/don't want to support Linux beyond porting their game.
24. Re:Uh, by lsatenstein · 2013-03-27 05:08 · Score: 1
  
  Withdraw from Tome to using FREE CELL or Spider -- does not require the web
  
  --
  Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
25. Re:Uh, by uninformedLuddite · 2013-03-27 16:02 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  I am sick getting sick and tired of people correctly spelling you're on /.
  
  --
  The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
26. Re:Uh, by sjwt · 2013-04-07 21:06 · Score: 1
  
  Or even better...
  Kerbal Space Program!!
  
  --
  You have 5 Moderator Points!
  Which Helpless Linux zealot/MS basher do you want to mod down today?
27. Re:Uh, by uninformedLuddite · 2013-04-08 14:33 · Score: 1
  
  To the person who down modded the above post. You do realise that it was posted nearly two weeks prior to your brilliant example of moderation? You are typical of the brain dead mainstream user of /. lately. I really wish this site was the same as it used to be ten years or so ago.
  
  --
  The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
Not that big of a deal by O('_')O_Bush · 2013-03-26 00:48 · Score: 1, Insightful

There are already dozens of websites that serve the exact same function, with just as good or better presentation... (not unlike Linux distros themselves).

Let it die, ask another site to fill in holes if there are any, and nothing of value will be lost.

--
while(1) attack(People.Sandy);
1. Re:Not that big of a deal by drinkypoo · 2013-03-26 01:07 · Score: 1
  
  He's full of shit. Besides linuxgames.com you can follow Free Gamer but it's not a directory, just a blog.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
2. Re:Not that big of a deal by Lumpy · 2013-03-26 01:28 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Dozens of "sites" yes.
  https://www.google.com/search?q=linux+games&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS498US498&aq=f&oq=linux+games&aqs=chrome.0.57j59j60j62j61j60.1692&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 none of these are anywhere as comprehensive as the Game Tome.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
3. Re:Not that big of a deal by Mike+Frett · 2013-03-26 02:06 · Score: 2
  
  lgdb.org is always updated and has a huge database of Games, Both free and paid. And DJL (en.djl-linux.org) is sort of like Steam but includes free Games also. There is all kinds of places and things.
4. Re:Not that big of a deal by X0563511 · 2013-03-26 05:08 · Score: 1
  
  I may cuss, but I don't use racial, sexist, or sexual-preference slurs either.
  
  --
  For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
5. Re:Not that big of a deal by X0563511 · 2013-03-26 05:59 · Score: 1
  
  "Faggot."
  I don't care what it's historical usage was.... that's why it's called "historical" or "archaic" usage!
  
  --
  For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
6. Re:Not that big of a deal by X0563511 · 2013-03-26 08:39 · Score: 1
  
  I just fucking said it! The homophobic (aka "sexual-preference" slur) "faggot" usage! As well as your own usage!
  It's as bad as bandying about "nigger."
  Knock that shit off.
  
  --
  For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
Most Important Websites... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-03-26 00:48 · Score: 4, Insightful

That I never ever heard of despite running Linux exclusively for 13 years.
I'm thinking that getting the word out was their problem, and that their importance is being overblown.
1. Re:Most Important Websites... by displague · 2013-03-26 01:34 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Did you ever Altavista search "linux games"? If you were looking for Linux games you would have found this site, along with Happy Penguin (I think they started as separate sites - could be wrong on that), and Tux Games. Eventually Loki Games got things really rolling, and now we have Steam.
  Freshmeat would be the obvious other place to search for Linux games. The TuCows Linux site wasn't very reliable.
  
  --
  Marques Johansson
Desura by Anonymous Coward · 2013-03-26 00:55 · Score: 1

another game distribution package that includes a lot of open source games is desura
1. Re:Desura by LesFerg · 2013-03-26 15:34 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, I would also like to see some more developers and support people get behind Desura for Linux and get it working properly across multiple Linux distros.
  Sadly, last time I looked, Desura had Linux game installers that fail, mainly due to library dependencies, while the Ubuntu software center can install the same game properly. There was no clear indication of which specific distro it was expected to be compliant with.
  It would be way cool to have the one app responsible for finding, installing, launching, and also for browsing and adding mods to all those games which can run on Linux, plus hooking in community and support forums. I believe it has a valuable niche for all those games and mods which fall outside of the Steam-for-Linux catalog.
  
  --
  If I had a DeLorean... I would probably only drive it from time to time.
Sad Day. by tetrahedrassface · 2013-03-26 00:55 · Score: 2

I liked Happy Penguin, what's next? Will LWN close down too?? I suppose for a lot of us The LInux Game Tome was important because they listed lots of games for us, and have a pretty good interface at that. Guess I just miss the old wide open days of Linux..
*Goes out and and stands in yard with a torch and pitchfork*
1. Re:Sad Day. by twicepending · 2013-03-26 01:18 · Score: 1
  
  The demise of Happy Penguin will for me at least be a sad day as I have discovered many fun distractions on the site over the years. It is probably the most complete database of Linux games around (that I know of).
Gaming on Linux? by Gothmolly · 2013-03-26 01:00 · Score: 4, Funny

There's games for Linux besides TuxRacer?

--
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
1. Re:Gaming on Linux? by Lumpy · 2013-03-26 01:29 · Score: 1
  
  Abuse... even better than tux racer.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
2. Re:Gaming on Linux? by LordLimecat · 2013-03-26 01:32 · Score: 1
  
  Pretty sure you can also get Unreal Tournament 2002; thats how I learned to install nvidia drivers (in a linux class, no less-- i was technically learning).
3. Re:Gaming on Linux? by robthebloke · 2013-03-26 01:33 · Score: 2
  
  The other one is called BZ flag.
4. Re:Gaming on Linux? by zAPPzAPP · 2013-03-26 01:50 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  I wonder why the site shuts down now, when it is finally the year of Linux on the desktop?
5. Re:Gaming on Linux? by BobNET · 2013-03-26 01:51 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Given that the unix port of Nethack is far superior to the msdos or winnt ports, I can't imagine why anyone would use anything other than Linux for gaming.
6. Re:Gaming on Linux? by RedHackTea · 2013-03-26 02:42 · Score: 1
  
  XBILL will always be best game. 2nd maybe to vi. 3rd is emacs of course. 4th is probably either /boot or /etc.
  
  --
  The G
7. Re:Gaming on Linux? by marcello_dl · 2013-03-26 04:22 · Score: 1
  
  sauerbraten, quakelive (freeware), assault cube, armagetron, supertuxkart.
  
  --
  ---- MISSING MISCELLANEOUS DATA SEGMENT --- [sigdash] trolololol
8. Re:Gaming on Linux? by jones_supa · 2013-03-26 04:57 · Score: 1
  
  Actually, it's Unreal Tournament 2004. Quake III Arena runs great too. Excellent hardcore deathmatch, both!
9. Re:Gaming on Linux? by kermidge · 2013-03-26 10:31 · Score: 1
  
  Nope, you're doing exactly right and fine. Welcome to the bafflement zone.
  I'm guessing that the question got modded up for the excellent sarcasm - else the innocent unintended sarcasm or for the backhanded nasty sarcasm - a win no matter what. And, while there are indeed quite a few games that can be played natively on Linux, many are at least historically not quite ready for prime time or in various beta- and alpha-stages; for years when finding a listing of Linux games, Tux Racer was at or near top of list, being an earlier fairly well-polished effort, so it got bragged on.
10. Re:Gaming on Linux? by LesFerg · 2013-03-26 15:44 · Score: 1
  
  I loved the old-school hard core action in sauerbraten but got put off badly when people started using every hack imaginable, including running around 10 times faster than everybody else while their aim bot shot everybody in range.
  This was when I realized that open source multiplayer games are only any fun in closed environments or when there was some effort put into validating that each client was running the same unmodified code.
  
  --
  If I had a DeLorean... I would probably only drive it from time to time.
11. Re:Gaming on Linux? by marcello_dl · 2013-03-27 00:27 · Score: 1
  
  in fact for sauerbraten swl.me issues a binary anticheat client just before the tournament. Cheaters are also kicked from servers, if you play and join a clan you can ask for admin on the main ones and clean up yourself.
  I'd consider cheaters as good bots for practice, the real matches are among clans members and tournaments.
  
  --
  ---- MISSING MISCELLANEOUS DATA SEGMENT --- [sigdash] trolololol
Remember Pingus? by Vintermann · 2013-03-26 01:10 · Score: 2

Now that we have Steam, they probably have outlived their usefulness somewhat. It used to be the case that all Linux games were made by Ingo Ruhnke.
There's still a market for a Free software-only games portal, I suppose.

--
xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
1. Re:Remember Pingus? by Hatta · 2013-03-26 01:22 · Score: 1
  
  There's still a market for a Free software-only games portal, I suppose.
  It's called apt-get.
  
  --
  Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
2. Re:Remember Pingus? by t0rkm3 · 2013-03-26 02:18 · Score: 1
  
  Perhaps apt-cache review freeciv?
  I am certain there will be a utility to serve this function soon, or there already is one that I've never heard of.... like perlthanks or something.
Re:i'd love to help. by h4rr4r · 2013-03-26 01:17 · Score: 1

Try postmaster at that url.
The email address should in theory exist and someone should get it.
If this is not the case drag the owner into the street and beat him within an inch of his life. People who don't follow the email RFCs are some of the worst scum on earth.
Re:'Not fit for human consumption' by unixisc · 2013-03-26 01:46 · Score: 1

If they are dedicated to libre-software, there is no such thing as 'not fit for human consumption'. As long as the source code is free to be copied and redistributed, it's perfect from the POV of the FSF/GNU/Libre-Linux crowd. They should have simply released the 1999 source code
Re:i'd love to help. by h4rr4r · 2013-03-26 02:00 · Score: 1

In theory yes, but the odds of a webmaster account existing is even lower.
Libregamewiki by Anonymous Coward · 2013-03-26 02:31 · Score: 2, Informative

For games that are free software and have their media released under a free license as well, check out
https://libregamewiki.org/
indiedb by xhrit · 2013-03-26 07:32 · Score: 1

Ever since the linux game tome stopped being updated, I switched to indiedb to publish my open source games.

http://www.indiedb.com/games/dungeon-tactics

--
Dungeon Tactics : Free Open Source SRPG
Other websites available by liamdawe · 2013-03-26 08:16 · Score: 1

Well there are plenty of others, LGT was my first though! http://www.gamingonlinux.com/ - daily news http://www.penguspy.com/ - a directory similair to LGT http://linuxgamecast.com/ - game videos and tutorials for linux
Re:Last breath effort by kermidge · 2013-03-26 10:21 · Score: 1

Since they're closing up getting more visits wouldn't do anything useful, so poor assumption on your part. Moreover the reason given for closing the site is 'lack both the time and the ambition to do what is necessary to keep the site afloat', so props to your reading comprehension.
So you've used Linux for all that time and never heard of the site. Yippee. Had you ever done a search for "Linux games" you'd most likely have stumbled across it in the first ten results; it shows up as happypenguin.org.
But since you've never heard of it, you can somehow be certain that there's nothing of value being lost. Bravo. Interesting way to live a life: "If I haven't heard of it it's worthless." Of all the arrogance I've met in life yours strikes me as the worst yet. Congrats, and all that. Sorry, I'm fresh out of prizes. But since you likely never heard of me ere now, I have no worries, being worthless. Thanks.
@LinuxGamers by tangent3 · 2013-03-26 14:48 · Score: 1

https://twitter.com/LinuxGamers
That's who I follow to keep up to date on which projects on Kickstarter (et al) plan to support Linux