Doesn't make you mad.....

[FX]

Not to start a flame war, but man it really burns me when game makers use Linux for a server but cannot create a client for Linux.

Two that I can think of and I know there are more, but Battlefield 2 and Counter Strike.

Just wonder what if anything can be done.

[claydoh]

To be honest, Transgaming worked with Valve to get Steam running with Cedega, so why would they bother making a Linux version?

ALso, there are many more Linux servers running Linux(as a percentage of total servers) out there.

Not that I disagree with you, mind you. It is rather frustrating at times.

[Zeroedout]

Perhaps it's my lack of understanding on the matter, but isn't it much more difficult to write a linux 'client' for a game, rather than a server? The server has nothing graphic wise to display on screen, so it's much less work. When writing a game for linux, they can't use directX, and supposedly, it's much faster to write a game in directX than in opengl. Don't get me wrong, i'de much prefer opengl, however, why would most take a longer dev cycle for such a small market? What really needs to be done is an objective study of how many linux users Vs win users, rather than just sales; that usually helps windows and kill linux (people buying dells twice within the couple years the study is cover, and people downloading linux rather than buying it preloaded [once again, I prefer the downloading, however thier needs to be a proper method of measuring this]). The other idea could be a central linux registry where people can volunteerly register themselves as linux users, however the problem would be people doing it twice or more, and people who would not be comfortable registering. The only way I see more company's using opengl and porting to linux is if they know thier is a good market; or somone could blow up Microsoft........... fire solves all problems, dosn't it?

[dgbauer]

I was saying the exact same thing over at my friend's house a few nights ago because we all wanted to play CS and we got into a long talk about how all these companies are making Linux servers for their games and no linux clients!

I can understand why, just because there are still more Windows gamers than Linux games out there, and most of these games are made with DirectX instaead of OpenGL (or both for that matter). For now I am using Cedega to keep my Linux Box running games, and if worse comes to worse, I still have my wonderfully horrible Windows box to play the games Linux won't.

[FX]

Same here as using windows. I basically use Linux for internet/email/chat and that stuff.

I know there are some games I could get working in Linux, but I really don't want to put that much effort into it. (Yes I'm lazy, I like the easy install MS has for games.) Plus whenever I am playing a game I run TeamSpeak and so far on Linux I have not been able to get both TS and games to play well together.

Hopefully someday this might change.

[bonzodog]

. The other idea could be a central linux registry where people can volunteerly register themselves as linux users, however the problem would be people doing it twice or more, and people who would not be comfortable registering.

There IS a voluntary register of linux users;
http://counter.li.org/

I have registered on there. He currently guesses at linux users to be 29 million.

[Zeroedout]

There IS a voluntary register of linux users;
http://counter.li.org/

I have registered on there. He currently guesses at linux users to be 29 million.

Thanks for the link, I was not aware of it's existance. However, I was talking about a central registry, one that all the distros recommend. Something they would list on thier front page and encourage users to register, If that dosn't catch the corprate eye, what will?

[bonzodog]

yeah, it would be a good idea, if there could be a centralised database of linux users, so people just 'register' that they are downloading a distro on a central database, which could then collate figures. the only problem with this is, one person could be doing multiple downloads due to bad chacksums or something.

[dcraven]

I just wanted to pipe in and agree with the original poster as this has something that has pissed me off for several years. I know why it is the way it is, and I don't expect it to change, but I still think it stinks.

Cheers,
~djc

[dcraven]

Thanks for the link, I was not aware of it's existance. However, I was talking about a central registry, one that all the distros recommend. Something they would list on thier front page and encourage users to register, If that dosn't catch the corprate eye, what will?
The corporate eye wouldn't believe it, and neither would I. Like the counter that is in place, it will be unusably inaccurate. Between users that don't register due to explicit refusal or users that are unaware of its existance, it would be too low. Due to users that download Linux, install it, register, then return to Windows never to be seen again because they are confused, it would be waaaay inflated.

Cheers,
~djc

[bored2k]

Chances are, the amount of money that would be spend on porting non-free games to Linux (hiring new devs, etc), is to high for what the companies will gain. Sure, a Linux version of all games would be nice, but in general, Linux users don't like spending money on non-free applications, and the ones that do, are a considerably low number (unless companies know the games will earn so much that spending some extra bucks wont matter, à la Doom, Neverwinter, etc.).

[leech]

That's why the best method for a company to do is from the beginning of the project define the goal of being cross platform (much like Cold War was) this of course limits them to using OpenGL, but I don't see that as an issue with OpenGL 2.0. But that will seriously make developing it much better, and overall can increase testing and stability of the software.

Unfortunately most developers of games are whores to the microsoft cause and don't give a crap about anything else.

What I want to know is if there is a Mac versio of Raven Shield, why can't we have a port of if to Linux? That's one of the few games that I just love and occasionally have to reboot to windows to play it (it doesn't work in wine or Cedega the last few times I tried).

Leech

[gil-galad]

Linux users don't like spending money on non-free applications

I don't think this is true. I know when I was a windows user I pirated every game I played, however, now that I use Linux I appreciate copyright more and I buy games that come out for Linux.

It seems to me that a large percentage of Linux users like playing games and love it when companies release Linux versions.