Why don't you support your favourite platform ?

duglambier · n00b Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 6

Hi !

I am very very upset when lookint at the Linux Games sales.
A very very successfull Linux Games can reach 2 000 sales today (it was 10 000 when Loki was alive in 2 000, a successfull Mac Games can reach 50 000 sales)
I don't take into account games Linux Doom 3, NeverWinter Nights or Unreal Tournament 2004, because it's a native Windows games were Linux binaries are available.

I don't understand this situation.
Few commercial Linux games outperform the 500 sale's Limit.

Some people say that the commercial games are old and are available on Windows for 2 years : does it means you use Linux for programming and Windows for performing normal tasks ?

Some people say that the Linux Games are too expansive. That's a fact, but is it more expensive than a Wine X subscription or a 3-months internet access subscription ?

There are plenty of cool games available on the net.

For instance, you can take a llok at :
http://www.tuxgames.com/details.cgi?nc=1119709895&gameref=130

Or here :
http://www.tuxgames.com/details.cgi?nc=1119710409&gameref=125

Or here :
http://www.linuxcentral.com/catalog/index.php3?prod_code=S000-241&id=C1CqZIdm8k8CX

Or here :
http://www.jeuxlinux.com/produits/savage/

So why don't you support your favourite platform ?

Lepaca Kliffoth · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:58 pm Post subject:

Never heard of a game that runs natively on linux, has no windows port and you must pay for it. Care to enlighten me?
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Liff · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 08 Oct 2002 Posts: 111

I own savage
I don't want postal... because it's postal, 'nuff said.
the other two, I've never heard of.
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duglambier · n00b Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 6

duglambier · n00b Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 6

bonbons · Apprentice Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 250

Fuchs · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:53 pm Post subject:

I bought Neverwinther nights with an add-on,
I bought UT, UT2003, UT2004 and Quake 3 Arena.

I bought them because many of my friends play
these games too (they use windows), and so
we can play togehter over the net or at a LAN-Party.

I wouldn't buy Linux-only games, because I want
to play together with my friends, and most of
them use windows.

I also wouldn't buy a game just because there is
a linuxclient for it.
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bonbons · Apprentice Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 250

Arainach · l33t Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 609

I've bought UT, UT2004, Doom 3, and RTCW. Good games take good budgets, and developing for Linux-only isn't cost effective, therefore the best games are Windows games with Linux ports if we're lucky. I only buy GOOD games. They just happen to have Linux ports most of the time.
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Fuchs · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 4:16 pm Post subject:

ansient · Guru Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 445 Location: Argentina

I have little interest in games that only run on Linux. Games should run on all major platforms.

HydroSan · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:53 pm Post subject:

ChojinDSL · l33t Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 784

By the way, lets not forget how many of us already own a game for which a linux client was released afterwards.
UT2003/4 might have had a linux client in the box, but what about quake3, doom3 or stuff like that? A client got released afterwards which requires the windows version to install. Im pretty sure those sales arent taken into consideration.
Then there are those of us who use wine or cedega and have bought games which have no native port, but we still dont play them under windows.

Given the current situation I guess it makes it kind of difficult to somewhat accurately estimate just how many sales of a particular game are intended for linux.

It would be a different situation if there was a simultaenously released LINUXONLY version, or shortly after the initial windows release, then you could have a proper linux sale confirmation.

Personally I prefer it when a released game is multiplatform, either via a linux client thats already on the disc, or via a downloadable linux client. Certainly gives the user much more bang for their buck.

That being said, I also think that Epic & ID Software's approach is the way to go. Have the game use universal data files, and only the actual client to be platform specific. Furthermore, as has been said before, its a big difference if a game was designed to be multiplatform from the start. Im sure it not only makes other ports easier, but also has the potential to make the codebase much more robust, since you cant rely too much on OS specific hacks.

charlieg · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 10:17 pm Post subject:

I only run free software games. Commercial games hold no interest for me. *shrugs*
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Aynjell · Veteran Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 1117

No postal? What the hell is wrong with you? Well, I guess it takes something wrong with you to enjoy it.

I love postal 2, and I'm currently in windows, wishing I could play it. Gotta wait to get my new CPU so I can set up the dedicated linux rig. I won't dual boot, and I'm tired of switching OS's. Having two computers that can switch back and forth from is going to be awesome...

And I've been meaning to ask, what is this claim to fame bit? Is IRCMonkey like, popular or something?
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Archangel1 · Veteran Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1212 Location: Work

IvanHoe · l33t Joined: 05 Oct 2002 Posts: 658

The only game you have listed there that looks even remotely interesting to me is Robin Hood. Since you brought it to my attention I'll check out the demo. If I like it then I'll purchase a copy.

BTW, I don't see anything wrong with a game company producing Linux, Mac and Windows executables that use the same data files. I just wish more game companies would produce Linux executables.

EzInKy · Veteran Joined: 11 Oct 2002 Posts: 1742 Location: Kentucky

Most commercial Linux games are first person shooters or concentrate on networked play. I bought CTP and SMAC when they became available for Linux, and would pay for Civ3 again if it is ported despite already owning the original, PTW, and Conquests. Adventures such as Gabriel Knight and The Dig are also rare if not non-existent (there was Hopkin's FBI) for Linux.
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Gentii · Guru Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 306

Gamers can use linux as their major/only platform. They just have to pick a native linux game and stick with it. Even if you play this game 10 hours a day during 2 months or more, you'll never reach the top, though it's the only way to actually progress.
What I just want to say is that one game is enough, even for people who plays a lot... So a gamer can use linux.

Kern3lP4nic · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:50 pm Post subject:

xordan · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 148

I use linux as my main platform and use it to play any games which are either native, or run decently in cedega. Anything that I want to play that doesn't work on linux in any form I play in windows which I keep on my second HDD. And I'm pretty happy with that. If there's more support for games on linux it just means I have to dual-boot less often, which I think is great. I'm more interested in things actually working, whatever form that is, either native or on a emulation layer, than trying to get game developers to write games native for linux. More game developers will write games for linux when they think they can make more money from it, not because there's a 1% minority who wish it. Anything commercial will do what it can to make the most money, which is the whole point of commercial.

Ctrl+Alt+Del · Guru Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 326 Location: .de

I would buy a Linux game provided it is of interest to me, not just because it's a linux game.
Currently there's nothing of interest on the market. Last Linux game i enjoyed that was sold as a seperated Linux game was Tribes 2 by Loki in 2001, Ut2k4 is a mixed cd, doom3 is a win32 cd + downloadable installer.
I would love to buy native ports of games like Tribes:Vengeance, Battlefield2 or HalfLife2.