Last time I've talked to someone at Sierra, they were still disapointed by the low sales of Caesar 3 and didn't want to release new games for Mac. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the sales of Caesar 3 on Mac was still higher than any Linux games.
The Matrox G400 with 32mb ram, I can play about any 3d games on Windows in 1152x864 or 1024x768. Things aren't that slow unless maybe if you use a very old driver.
Keep in mind that id have other games. Yes, Quake is under GPL because it's no longer their best toy in the house.
Look here:
http://www.idsoftware.com/archives/quake3arc.htm l
For example, they release game code of Quake3 to make sure that it's possible to modify as much as possible the gameplay, but they keep the 3D engine closed. The game code of Quake3 isn't GPL. I have no idea on which license they released it, but there must be something to prevent anyone to sell a game based on Quake 3 code without paying $300,000.
I think it's great the way they do it. I'm not complaining, but I would like to see Commander Keen source code!
Because the Mac users go buy the native port. I know well that the sales of Mac games are much much much bigger that Linux games! They can't reboot to Windows 95/95/ME to play games and their emulator isn't perfect for games. Linux port of Baldurs Gate, Diablo 2, Warcraft 3, The Sims, Monkey Island and Sacrifice would all exist if the sales of Linux games would be higher.
Also, one big difference is that Mac already exist as a viable desktop platform for some time now. People are more aware of Apple and Mac as a home computer. Linux have started to get more publicity about a year ago while Apple has been known for home computer since late '70 or early '80 if my memory is good.
John Gildred isn't a Linux user. According to the email header from emails I've got from him and another guy at Indrema, they use Microsoft Outlook Express 5. I doubt they really use Linux for themself. It's always funny to look at email headers to find surprise.
Quake is available for almost every platform you can imagine, and even Win95.
It could have been fun, if it could have been open to ALL Linux developers.
Instead Loki president attitude was near to go away and make your own things.
While everyone is on party of this big announcement, we are forced to choose between:
- Implement yet another 3d sound library - Follow Loki path, and hope to survive in the shadow of Loki - "Gold old stereo is enough!!!" - License a proprietary Windows library like Miles Sound System
I would have prefered that all Linux developer got to define a standard with everyone, but one established developer prefer to be alone on the spotlight.
I've noticed that a lot of people complain about the delay to bring games to Linux. The big delay for JA2 was more about starting our business...
In the future, we will try to release games more quickly on Linux (what about 2-3 months later). However, JA2 is more a game with deep game-play that you can play for months so I feel it's great to make it available for Linux.
We have approached Sir-Tech since we were thinking that JA2 would be great on Linux. They liked the idea of having JA2 available for Linux, and they even received request from Linux users which helped our cause a lot. Mathieu Pinard Tribsoft Inc.
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Last time I've talked to someone at Sierra, they were still disapointed by the low sales of Caesar 3 and didn't want to release new games for Mac. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the sales of Caesar 3 on Mac was still higher than any Linux games.
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
The Matrox G400 with 32mb ram, I can play about any 3d games on Windows in 1152x864 or 1024x768. Things aren't that slow unless maybe if you use a very old driver.
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
Keep in mind that id have other games. Yes, Quake is under GPL because it's no longer their best toy in the house.
m l
Look here:
http://www.idsoftware.com/archives/quake3arc.ht
For example, they release game code of Quake3 to make sure that it's possible to modify as much as possible the gameplay, but they keep the 3D engine closed. The game code of Quake3 isn't GPL. I have no idea on which license they released it, but there must be something to prevent anyone to sell a game based on Quake 3 code without paying $300,000.
I think it's great the way they do it. I'm not complaining, but I would like to see Commander Keen source code!
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
Because the Mac users go buy the native port. I know well that the sales of Mac games are much much much bigger that Linux games! They can't reboot to Windows 95/95/ME to play games and their emulator isn't perfect for games. Linux port of Baldurs Gate, Diablo 2, Warcraft 3, The Sims, Monkey Island and Sacrifice would all exist if the sales of Linux games would be higher.
Also, one big difference is that Mac already exist as a viable desktop platform for some time now. People are more aware of Apple and Mac as a home computer. Linux have started to get more publicity about a year ago while Apple has been known for home computer since late '70 or early '80 if my memory is good.
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
Quake is available for almost every platform you can imagine, and even Win95.
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
As I have written (and sorry if some beleive it is a flame), we have 4 choices, and OpenAL is one of them.
I'm sorry if Linux users got my comment as a attack to Linux.
"Also what is a Gold stero. Most of mine are usually grey or tan. "
Sorry: "Good old stereo"
Scuse me...
Creative Labs weren't able to talk much about 3d and Linux... sound like nda.
We also talked to another sound card company that were not able to work to much on Linux at this time.
This was not flaming, but a way to explain our choices to be able to make a good decision.
It could have been fun, if it could have been open to ALL Linux developers.
Instead Loki president attitude was near to go away and make your own things.
While everyone is on party of this big announcement, we are forced to choose between:
- Implement yet another 3d sound library
- Follow Loki path, and hope to survive in the shadow of Loki
- "Gold old stereo is enough!!!"
- License a proprietary Windows library like Miles Sound System
I would have prefered that all Linux developer got to define a standard with everyone, but one established developer prefer to be alone on the spotlight.
"There is an enormous untapped market here of about 15 million users"
Unfortunately this number include servers and users that are not buying games. Anyway I don't mind since this job is simply too fun!
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
Don't worry, we won't stop porting after JA2...
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
Ouch,
who owns the rights on "Great Things"?
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
Hi I'm working for Tribsoft (we are porting Jagged Alliance 2 to Linux).
Linux IS becoming a major gaming platform. We are currently writting contracts for some extremely interesting games (I mean AAA games).
In 2000, there is a lot of GREAT THINGS coming for Linux. (Damm NDAs...)
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
www.tribsoft.com
Look at www.tribsoft.com for more info.
At least working on JA2 is very fun...
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
The publishing side of Sir-Tech was closed in '98, but the development studio that is called Sir-Tech Canada survived.
Sir-Tech Canada is located in Ottawa, Canada
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
I've noticed that a lot of people complain about the delay to bring games to Linux. The big delay for JA2 was more about starting our business...
In the future, we will try to release games more quickly on Linux (what about 2-3 months later). However, JA2 is more a game with deep game-play that you can play for months so I feel it's great to make it available for Linux.
Mathieu Pinard
Tribsoft Inc.
We have approached Sir-Tech since we were thinking that JA2 would be great on Linux. They liked the idea of having JA2 available for Linux, and they even received request from Linux users which helped our cause a lot. Mathieu Pinard Tribsoft Inc.