What is the point of buying it to support a company that can only survive by getting customers out of sympathy? If it's a support purchase now that will eventually lead them to standing on their own two feet, then maybe.
But if it's the only way they'll ever be able to make a profit, then what's the point?
What are you talking about? There's no windows box and linux box. They're the same thing. You buy the same NWN game that windows users game, and install the binaries. It's the same for when the fullblown Linux client is out - you will need to own a 'windows' copy of the game, but that's not really a good title since the game itself now runs Linux and Windows. It's even same results - for windows users to play online they need to download a patch, same for Linux users.
Check out Daniel 9:25-26, it gives the exact year that the Messiah will be cut off. You can work it out yourself "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;" and so on.
Each week as we know is seven years - if you don't know why we say that, I'll explain later. The command to rebuild Jerusalem was in 445BC by Artaxerxes. Using the Lunar years (360 days), that's the time they used, calculate the first seven sevens and the sixty-two sevens "There shall be seven weeks and sixty two weeks....and after the xity-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but nor for Himself". That's 49 and 434 years. Multiply by 360 days, divide by 365.25 to get to our solar calendar. Comes to 476 years. Deduct from that 445 (the year the decree came out) and you reach 31-32 AD, when Jesus was crucified.
I encourage you to check that out. Though chances are you are just some troll who is writing this as if you were a Jew but not really. Oh well.
Out of all my NWN gaming friends, about half will use the Linux version (ie, about 2-3 of them:) ). Still, even though they use windows now, an increasing number of gamers are looking to install Linux. Thanks to WineX (I still think this is good, but they shouldn't advertise games with native ports) and NWN Linux version, one of them is going to be interested in completing the wipe of Windows.
It's exactly these ports that will create a new market. Obviously a gaming company wouldn't be interested in having a 50/50 split between Linux and Windows, because then they have to develop two ports. But Bioware has been nice to give us a native port, which later on may result in it being a necessity rather than a kind gesture.
Oh, and by the way, I don't wine about "Dirty evil EA how dare they not give us a native client!" I know why they don't. Instead it's much closer to "Could you please make a Linux client? We would really, really, love that".
I wouldn't exactly describe your post as being clearly tongue in cheek. In fact re-reading it, it's not really obvious at all. So don't be surprised that others made the same mistake I did. Slashdot draws a very large crowd, so it is not at all inconceivable that someone would write a post like you did saying the things you said as something they believe.
Wow, it's lucky we didn't assume it was a female because it was such a poor comparison.
Seriously though, what's the point of your article? You and everyone else know why we assumed it was a male - because in the IT world it is almost always males who write such articles, who are well known open source hackers, etc. Why are we sexist for assuming the norm?
You pointed out it was a female. Good. So people made a mistake. I hardly think this leads to sexism.
First is that WineX will benefit from this slowdown of DirectX releases.
Second, more importantly, some of the Linux gamers out there should work together to enhance kde/gnome or other wm's to integrate gaming into the desktop. I'd offer to help but I'm already working on another project - and I'm sure there's many with a free hand:)
Some thoughts - integrate ICQ or Linux IM's with a protocal for connecting to games. Have it so that your computer is monitoring your favorite servers. You see an onscreen message when one of your friends pops into a game, with a simple button for you to join them in game. If you are about to enter a server, have servers referenced by names rather than IP's - but the IP's still accessible. When you are about to enter a game you can send a quick message to all your friends about the game you are about to enter, or news about something just happening (new patch out, clan war schedule change, etc). Most gamers I know use ICQ, lets integrate some new features into it to mix in with sim-icq and others.
These are just some thoughts. The ideas don't appeal to me much. I imagine that the winner would be a combination of making the OS feel like it's more designed, and make it look pretty at the same time - even if the actual usefulness of the new features is minimal.
Either way, as soon as Microsoft can find a way to force gamers to pay, I expect to see a few more using Linux.
I have tried programming, and I love it:) in fact, I've just started up an opensource project which is generating a fair bit of interest. I've deliberately avoided mentioning what it is or it's location because we are not ready to handle a spike in interest.
Those screaming children can add the feature themselves if they want it. Ah, the beauty of opensource game programming, "If you want it, make it yourself!".
On the topic of engines, we could end up with some very good things in the future, if the community grabs them with two hands. I refer to projects like Crystal Space and Tenebrae.
This is really depressing. It's been ages since I've been excited about a game, or been able to play it for hours. Now it seems like we spend our time waiting for the "next big thing", Neverwinter Nights, Warcraft III, Master of Orion 3, Team Fortress 2 (ha!), Doom 3, etc.
We don't buy other unknown titles because they cost so much and no-one else will own them to play with. We wait, and get these games which, sometimes, just aren't that good.
I miss the times when I'd have a game I'd play for hours on end - Transport Tycoon, Master of Orion 2, Ultima 7/8, etc. Innovation really is missing. Case point - the newest game we've started playing at our lan's is Natural Selection, a half life mod. This game is so different from any other first person shooters. It is refreshing and amazing fun, we played for many hours. It's the most fun I've had at a lan for a long time. Why can't we have good new games? Fuck Unreal Tournament 2003, Quake 4 (yes it's being made, not by ID), or these sequals. I want something new, something refreshing. I wish games were a third of the cost they are now, so that I could buy 4-5 games instead of just buying one to be safe. I could try out new games by a company I've never heard of. Right now it breaks the bank of most younger gamers (I'm not one - anymore).
Imagine if all the great scientific minds of today, plus all the new born people, did not die. How much more knowledge could we have? I think travelling to other planets at least is nearby.
Besides, earth is not that crowded, only at certain locations. We have enough resources for many things but we just don't use it efficiently.
Yes, I'm glad I posted on slashdot because I knew there was things I didn't understand.
I'm definately going to check out more about Gnome behind the scenes and see what I can learn.
The problem I have which explains my apparent hypocrism, is that Qt has the potential to become a core part of Linux - an essential for the desktop, and I don't want any one company to control. If MSOffice was the only office suite available for Linux (just imagine) then we would create an open source one so we had freedom. There is no hypocricy.
So basically you think if the situation got bad then it would be a simple step for kde developers to unite to create an LGPL clone of Qt?
That is certainly reasssuring for me.
I do want Linux to win, but only because I think it's a better platform and will save me plus many other average users many headaches.
I don't really care about duplication of applications on Linux - eg, multiple web browsers. But the GTK+/Qt split just annoys me - it means that two people will make a web browser each with the exact same goal in mind, just different toolkits. The toolkit choice should be automatic so we can spend time making real applications. This wouldn't be so bad if people made the same core and just had two different interfaces - one GTK+ and one Qt, but they don't.
And that duplication of effort annoys me. There is a place for multiple browsers, each fills a niche.
I'm sorry, I worded this wrong perhaps. By controlling licensing I mean that in order to create a proprietry app for Qt one has to pay Trolltech (or is this a misunderstanding?). And the problem I have with this is if KDE/Qt become the standard, then proprietry apps for Linux/KDE will be through Trolltech.
As for some GNU licenses not being under the LGPL, that doesn't interest me - because it doesn't seem that it will have as much effect - and because it's either open source or not at all. Here with Qt it's opensource or closed source and pay Trolltech.
I don't understand this all, but I do know at the moment if I wish I can write a proprietry application for GNOME, but I can't for Qt unless I pay Trolltech.
Another I hope quick question. Do you see Gnome in the future implementing features (if people want them) like terminal emulation in the browser/filemanager, etc, like konqueror? The reason why I ask is I want to see if these types of things are a bit different from the philosophy of Gnome or not.
Why do you say that? If it's stored in separate XML files then what's the problem? It's not like windows registry in that regard, and I think that's an important difference. But I don't really understand.
I have some concerns about kde and gnome alike - and I figure you are a good person:) And I really don't know enought.
* Configurability - Gnome to me seems to be getting very unconfigurable, and it's configuration has been likened to the windows registry. Is this really Gnome's direction? I find that very disturbing, as customisability and options are an integral part of my Linux experience. I would not be happy with winning over the desktop with Gnome if it meant sacrificing this. I can't help but feel there's some solution to this question, such as hidden options or something. * Licensing - the fact that Trolltech controls the licensing for any commercial apps I find very disturbing also. I don't think that kind of power should be in the hands of a company - it should be in the hands of the community, or open to all (LGPL). I think the advantage is that it provides a little incentive to produce opensource apps, but I still don't like it. This parts not really a question I suppose:) * I haven't done much kde programming, and no gnome programming. Qt and dcop feel very clean and powerful, integrated. Gnome doesn't have the same feel, but this is just a conception on my behalf. What is Gnome like? Kde has kparts, kioslave, etc, which to me seem to make sense. Does Gnome have sensible behind the scenes operations that make sense? I really am ignorant and I don't know what to read to find out.
Ultimately the licensing is enough to turn me off KDE, but everything else seems to be so integrated, powerful, and moving places. I can configure every option I want, upcoming versions are going to have VIM integrated into stuff such as the kmail application, etc. I have no idea where Gnome stands but it seems to be removing all power.
I used to be a Gnome man as far as desktop choice went, but I've recently come to KDE. I would change again - I have major concerns for me with both platforms. I'm hoping maybe you can provide me with some ansers, or useful URL's?
This all scares me, it seems that the community has an important decision to make right now, between KDE and Gnome.
If Linux's total victory over Microsoft meant Gnome winning over the Linux desktop with it's simplified interface, then I'd much rather a Linux with a small market share. Customizability, control, is something I love in Linux.
However, as I posted previously I am very concerned about KDE's licensing, and for this reason I think that Gnome should win.
In other words, I have no idea which should win the dektop, but it's a very important decision. It could all be solved for me if Gnome made it's backend cleaner and started to include options so that it was customisable, at least an option to have more options! - or if Trolltech made some promise regarding it's licensing fees or something for commercial applications that could allay any fears of them abusing their position and dominating the desktop.
I think over all KDE is the safer option after writing this - since if Trolltech begins to be a gorilla then people can use a free toolkit available for commercial apps. Not a nice solution, but better than nothing.
Everyone seems to be saying, what we need is truly original games designed for the player. Instead we have redesigns of the same concept, over and over. There are very few games that I actually bother to play now, there is nothing new to excite me.
Open Source developers unite! We are not bound by the $$, so we are free to create any game we wish. Forget about cool programming techniques, think about a great game idea - the game you've always wanted to play - then check out sourceforge to see if anyon'e building it. If they are, join them. If not, start it yourself and finish it.
Then we can see if we can produce some unique, high quality games.
Soon people in my area have the council elections (compulsory here in Australia). I have to choose to give my preferential vote to 10 candidates of whom I know nothing about except 1/3 of an A4 sheet of paper description that they have written themselves.
None of them are inspiring. I was thinking maybe I could run for election next time with just one promise, "I will work to lay the backbone for a fiber optics network to eventually reach into every house in our electorate!". Then we'll see the amount of data sent over the internet more than doubled each time:)
Slashdot Mirror
But if it's the only way they'll ever be able to make a profit, then what's the point?
What are you talking about? There's no windows box and linux box. They're the same thing. You buy the same NWN game that windows users game, and install the binaries. It's the same for when the fullblown Linux client is out - you will need to own a 'windows' copy of the game, but that's not really a good title since the game itself now runs Linux and Windows. It's even same results - for windows users to play online they need to download a patch, same for Linux users.
This post is so incredibly off-topic.
Check out Daniel 9:25-26, it gives the exact year that the Messiah will be cut off. You can work it out yourself "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;" and so on.
Each week as we know is seven years - if you don't know why we say that, I'll explain later. The command to rebuild Jerusalem was in 445BC by Artaxerxes. Using the Lunar years (360 days), that's the time they used, calculate the first seven sevens and the sixty-two sevens "There shall be seven weeks and sixty two weeks....and after the xity-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but nor for Himself". That's 49 and 434 years. Multiply by 360 days, divide by 365.25 to get to our solar calendar. Comes to 476 years. Deduct from that 445 (the year the decree came out) and you reach 31-32 AD, when Jesus was crucified.
I encourage you to check that out. Though chances are you are just some troll who is writing this as if you were a Jew but not really. Oh well.
Out of all my NWN gaming friends, about half will use the Linux version (ie, about 2-3 of them :) ). Still, even though they use windows now, an increasing number of gamers are looking to install Linux. Thanks to WineX (I still think this is good, but they shouldn't advertise games with native ports) and NWN Linux version, one of them is going to be interested in completing the wipe of Windows.
It's exactly these ports that will create a new market. Obviously a gaming company wouldn't be interested in having a 50/50 split between Linux and Windows, because then they have to develop two ports. But Bioware has been nice to give us a native port, which later on may result in it being a necessity rather than a kind gesture.
Oh, and by the way, I don't wine about "Dirty evil EA how dare they not give us a native client!" I know why they don't. Instead it's much closer to "Could you please make a Linux client? We would really, really, love that".
I wouldn't exactly describe your post as being clearly tongue in cheek. In fact re-reading it, it's not really obvious at all. So don't be surprised that others made the same mistake I did. Slashdot draws a very large crowd, so it is not at all inconceivable that someone would write a post like you did saying the things you said as something they believe.
Wow, it's lucky we didn't assume it was a female because it was such a poor comparison. Seriously though, what's the point of your article? You and everyone else know why we assumed it was a male - because in the IT world it is almost always males who write such articles, who are well known open source hackers, etc. Why are we sexist for assuming the norm? You pointed out it was a female. Good. So people made a mistake. I hardly think this leads to sexism.
I have a couple of thoughts on this article.
:)
First is that WineX will benefit from this slowdown of DirectX releases.
Second, more importantly, some of the Linux gamers out there should work together to enhance kde/gnome or other wm's to integrate gaming into the desktop. I'd offer to help but I'm already working on another project - and I'm sure there's many with a free hand
Some thoughts - integrate ICQ or Linux IM's with a protocal for connecting to games. Have it so that your computer is monitoring your favorite servers. You see an onscreen message when one of your friends pops into a game, with a simple button for you to join them in game. If you are about to enter a server, have servers referenced by names rather than IP's - but the IP's still accessible. When you are about to enter a game you can send a quick message to all your friends about the game you are about to enter, or news about something just happening (new patch out, clan war schedule change, etc). Most gamers I know use ICQ, lets integrate some new features into it to mix in with sim-icq and others.
These are just some thoughts. The ideas don't appeal to me much. I imagine that the winner would be a combination of making the OS feel like it's more designed, and make it look pretty at the same time - even if the actual usefulness of the new features is minimal.
Either way, as soon as Microsoft can find a way to force gamers to pay, I expect to see a few more using Linux.
Those screaming children can add the feature themselves if they want it. Ah, the beauty of opensource game programming, "If you want it, make it yourself!".
On the topic of engines, we could end up with some very good things in the future, if the community grabs them with two hands. I refer to projects like Crystal Space and Tenebrae.
This is really depressing. It's been ages since I've been excited about a game, or been able to play it for hours. Now it seems like we spend our time waiting for the "next big thing", Neverwinter Nights, Warcraft III, Master of Orion 3, Team Fortress 2 (ha!), Doom 3, etc.
We don't buy other unknown titles because they cost so much and no-one else will own them to play with. We wait, and get these games which, sometimes, just aren't that good.
I miss the times when I'd have a game I'd play for hours on end - Transport Tycoon, Master of Orion 2, Ultima 7/8, etc. Innovation really is missing. Case point - the newest game we've started playing at our lan's is Natural Selection, a half life mod. This game is so different from any other first person shooters. It is refreshing and amazing fun, we played for many hours. It's the most fun I've had at a lan for a long time. Why can't we have good new games? Fuck Unreal Tournament 2003, Quake 4 (yes it's being made, not by ID), or these sequals. I want something new, something refreshing. I wish games were a third of the cost they are now, so that I could buy 4-5 games instead of just buying one to be safe. I could try out new games by a company I've never heard of. Right now it breaks the bank of most younger gamers (I'm not one - anymore).
Imagine if all the great scientific minds of today, plus all the new born people, did not die. How much more knowledge could we have? I think travelling to other planets at least is nearby.
Besides, earth is not that crowded, only at certain locations. We have enough resources for many things but we just don't use it efficiently.
Since you love MoO3, could you share the secret of your enjoyment please? So far I've found it an average game.
Yes, I'm glad I posted on slashdot because I knew there was things I didn't understand. I'm definately going to check out more about Gnome behind the scenes and see what I can learn.
The problem I have which explains my apparent hypocrism, is that Qt has the potential to become a core part of Linux - an essential for the desktop, and I don't want any one company to control. If MSOffice was the only office suite available for Linux (just imagine) then we would create an open source one so we had freedom. There is no hypocricy.
So basically you think if the situation got bad then it would be a simple step for kde developers to unite to create an LGPL clone of Qt? That is certainly reasssuring for me.
I do want Linux to win, but only because I think it's a better platform and will save me plus many other average users many headaches. I don't really care about duplication of applications on Linux - eg, multiple web browsers. But the GTK+/Qt split just annoys me - it means that two people will make a web browser each with the exact same goal in mind, just different toolkits. The toolkit choice should be automatic so we can spend time making real applications. This wouldn't be so bad if people made the same core and just had two different interfaces - one GTK+ and one Qt, but they don't. And that duplication of effort annoys me. There is a place for multiple browsers, each fills a niche.
I'm sorry, I worded this wrong perhaps. By controlling licensing I mean that in order to create a proprietry app for Qt one has to pay Trolltech (or is this a misunderstanding?). And the problem I have with this is if KDE/Qt become the standard, then proprietry apps for Linux/KDE will be through Trolltech.
As for some GNU licenses not being under the LGPL, that doesn't interest me - because it doesn't seem that it will have as much effect - and because it's either open source or not at all. Here with Qt it's opensource or closed source and pay Trolltech.
I don't understand this all, but I do know at the moment if I wish I can write a proprietry application for GNOME, but I can't for Qt unless I pay Trolltech.
Thanks, I'll do some reading up on those.
Another I hope quick question. Do you see Gnome in the future implementing features (if people want them) like terminal emulation in the browser/filemanager, etc, like konqueror? The reason why I ask is I want to see if these types of things are a bit different from the philosophy of Gnome or not.
Why do you say that? If it's stored in separate XML files then what's the problem? It's not like windows registry in that regard, and I think that's an important difference. But I don't really understand.
I have some concerns about kde and gnome alike - and I figure you are a good person :) And I really don't know enought.
:)
:)
* Configurability - Gnome to me seems to be getting very unconfigurable, and it's configuration has been likened to the windows registry. Is this really Gnome's direction? I find that very disturbing, as customisability and options are an integral part of my Linux experience. I would not be happy with winning over the desktop with Gnome if it meant sacrificing this. I can't help but feel there's some solution to this question, such as hidden options or something.
* Licensing - the fact that Trolltech controls the licensing for any commercial apps I find very disturbing also. I don't think that kind of power should be in the hands of a company - it should be in the hands of the community, or open to all (LGPL). I think the advantage is that it provides a little incentive to produce opensource apps, but I still don't like it. This parts not really a question I suppose
* I haven't done much kde programming, and no gnome programming. Qt and dcop feel very clean and powerful, integrated. Gnome doesn't have the same feel, but this is just a conception on my behalf. What is Gnome like? Kde has kparts, kioslave, etc, which to me seem to make sense. Does Gnome have sensible behind the scenes operations that make sense? I really am ignorant and I don't know what to read to find out.
Ultimately the licensing is enough to turn me off KDE, but everything else seems to be so integrated, powerful, and moving places. I can configure every option I want, upcoming versions are going to have VIM integrated into stuff such as the kmail application, etc. I have no idea where Gnome stands but it seems to be removing all power.
I used to be a Gnome man as far as desktop choice went, but I've recently come to KDE. I would change again - I have major concerns for me with both platforms. I'm hoping maybe you can provide me with some ansers, or useful URL's?
And that list-widget looks pretty nice
If Linux's total victory over Microsoft meant Gnome winning over the Linux desktop with it's simplified interface, then I'd much rather a Linux with a small market share. Customizability, control, is something I love in Linux.
However, as I posted previously I am very concerned about KDE's licensing, and for this reason I think that Gnome should win.
In other words, I have no idea which should win the dektop, but it's a very important decision. It could all be solved for me if Gnome made it's backend cleaner and started to include options so that it was customisable, at least an option to have more options! - or if Trolltech made some promise regarding it's licensing fees or something for commercial applications that could allay any fears of them abusing their position and dominating the desktop.
I think over all KDE is the safer option after writing this - since if Trolltech begins to be a gorilla then people can use a free toolkit available for commercial apps. Not a nice solution, but better than nothing.
Someone help!
For sure, I see nothing wrong with that. I'd love to be paid as a game programmer, but I see value in open source gaming too :)
Open Source developers unite! We are not bound by the $$, so we are free to create any game we wish. Forget about cool programming techniques, think about a great game idea - the game you've always wanted to play - then check out sourceforge to see if anyon'e building it. If they are, join them. If not, start it yourself and finish it.
Then we can see if we can produce some unique, high quality games.
None of them are inspiring. I was thinking maybe I could run for election next time with just one promise, "I will work to lay the backbone for a fiber optics network to eventually reach into every house in our electorate!". Then we'll see the amount of data sent over the internet more than doubled each time :)
Yes, I can't stand every app starting with a "K" - even though I now prefer KDE over GNOME. Sim-ICQ, now that's a better name, not a "K" in sight!