Ya know I do game development for a living. More specifically I do game engine development, which means I make tools that game developers buy, so I get to speak with game developers everyday.
One of the major reasons game developers don't really want to do AAA titles on Linux is because of the risk vs rewards. I've been doing my part by proselytizing, and making sure the tools I release all work with Linux and even Mac out of the box. But there is more to be done. You want to see AAA game titles on Linux? Don't buy the windows version. Let the game company know that they lost a customer because they didn't offer a Linux version. And for the love of god stick to your guns. With a good crossplatform toolset, a game developer can make a game in his environment of choice, and have it work in all target environments sometimes with just a simple recompile. But they WONT take this step because they don't see a financial market for Linux games. Every once in awhile I talk with devs who make mention of the fact that there is no way to make good money selling a linux version, and that sales would not even likely cover costs of development. They cite the demise of LokiGames as one example http://www.lokigames.com/ Honestly I think the demise of great companies like Loki games was due to timing aspects, there wasn't really a good desktop linux when they were in business, and 3D support sucked especially bad, but times have changed. My last install of a desktop linux had 3D support already enabled. You know I got very upset last year when Jeff Tunnell over at GarageGames.com, announced that Linux support was no longer going to be a priority for them, because to quote him "We Love Linux, but Linux doesn't love back". He says this because Linux folks are not coming over to buy games, and so it's not worth their time to publish their game development tools in a Linux compatible version. Guys this is from a company that HAD up until then created one of the ultimate cross platform game development engines. Fortunately, there is an active Linux developer community over there that sees Linux as a real potential market for games, and that community HAS ported or is in the process of porting the entire line of tools. But your likely not a game developer, so heres a couple of things you can do if you want to see more AAA Linux games. #1 Donate to the aspiring developers who do write the high quality free games you're already playing on Linux. And I don't mean donate $1 via paypal. I mean literally buy the game, figure out what you would have spent on the game at your local Walmart, and pay for it. This shows the developer that you really like the game and provides him/her encouragement to continue in the endeavor.(also let them know that's the reason why your donating) #2 Where there are Linux titles for sale, buy them. And make sure to mention to the developer(s) that one of the reasons for your decision to purchase the game was the fact that there was a native linux port. And lest you think there are no commercial Linux games for sale, there is a really great selection of games that have native Linux versions over at http://www.garagegames.com/pg/ Make sure to buy only games with a little penguin at the bottom, and make sure to let the developers know that your reason for purchase was because they took the time to make a native Linux version. #3 Support companies that support Linux, this means the hardware manufacturers, as well as the software guys, if someone open sources a driver for a product that you are in the market for. Or releases the binary driver under a license that allows it to be distributed, or makes a sizable contribution to Open Source projects, then choose that hardware, and let the manufacturer know that Linux support was one of the reasons you choose their product. Remember guys, be vocal, vote with your wallet, and stick to your guns. If you do this you will see more and more AAA game titles on Linux as developers wake up to the fact that Linux is a serious gaming platform. Regards, Steve p.s. I do not work for GarageGames, in fact I tend to butt heads over there alot, but we're all in the same boat of being "independent developers", so it's kinda like butting heads over here :) On 10/12/06, Joseph Hall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Are you kidding? I would totally keep the Pinto, for its sleek stylishness, speed and.. wait, which car were we talking about again? On 10/12/06, jeff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I like the comparison. Explodes when touched. Gutless. I wouldn't > admit to using either. Ugly. Seems appropriate. > > Did pintos get good millage really, or are they just assumed to because > of their size? > > Hill, Greg wrote: > snip > > > > >>It's like keeping a Ford Pinto for "the gas milage" > > > > > > That's a *bad* idea? :) Seriously, though, it's such a flawed > > comparison I don't know where to start. > > > > > snip > -- > Jeff > > "Zathras used to being beast of burden. Zathras have sad life, probably > have sad death, but at least there is symmetry." -- Zathras > > /* > PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net > Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug > Don't fear the penguin. > */ > > -- Joseph http://blog.josephhall.com/ /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
/* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
