What can I do to help Linux Gaming?

[Tataulus]

I have a passion for how efficient Xubuntu is. I love that it uses less resources than Windows and many other Operating Systems. I have played UT2004 for 64 bit Linux, and it was MUCH faster than playing UT on Windows (plus, since it is Unix, I assume that the dedicated server is better too).

In short, I want to help further Linux gaming. No I am not talking about Kbounce or Gnometris. I am speaking of games like HL2 and F.E.A.R.. Of course I doubt Linux will ever get that big anytime soon, so in some general idea: games that have decent graphics, online player modes or any FPSs.

I do not know any programing languages (besides html (xhtml, css and a little bit of javascript). However I can type pretty fast, I am pretty good at diagnosing problems in games (bug-testing) and have some pretty good advertising skills. I am 16, and all my money is being put to college (parents can't afford so I have to work), so I can't donate any money.

How can I help further Linux Gaming?

[cogadh]

Install Wine, test Windows games with it and report it to Wine's AppDB. The more people we have trying games in Wine, the more chances we will find and fix any bugs in Wine, which in the end will improve high-end gaming on Linux for everyone.

[Funk Phenomena]

How about Cedega? Or make a $ contrib to Ubuntu with gaming specified.

[cogadh]

Cedega is technically a branch of Wine, but it is not fully open source. However, any improvement to Wine will help both Cedega and CrossOver (the retail version of Wine). Search the forums for numerous debates on the pros and cons of all three (I've already put my two cents in to most of them).

[Feba]

He just said he can't help with money, FunkP.

If you really want to help, I'd recommend you learn programming languages, and start making games we don't already have. You could also use this knowledge to go into programming as a career.

In my experience, linux's good 3D games end at FPS. There's a few racers out there, but those aren't really my thing, and I haven't tried them.

Linux could use GOOD RPGs, GOOD Visual Novels. Heck, make an RPG Maker type program or a Visual Novel program that's easy to write scripts/create images/video for.

Fighting games, I think there's MUGEN but that's technically illegal, not to mention everything i've seen of it looks like totally unbalanced crap. Something like Super Smash Bros. for linux could rock. you could use the characters from http://www.via2b.com/iteam/index.asp?highlight=home as your fighters- in more serious artwork of course.

You could take up graphic design, make the pictures for programmers who aren't artistically inclined.


You can try to contribute to the project I linked above, http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=427011

You can write letters to companies (especially those who have just announced games) asking them to make their games able to run on linux, or at least under WINE.

You could hold form a gang and kidnap key bioware employees until they promise to make stuff for linux.

Really, there's a lot of stuff you can do to help. The important part is actually doing it.

[Dark Aspect]

I have a passion for how efficient Xubuntu is. I love that it uses less resources than Windows and many other Operating Systems. I have played UT2004 for 64 bit Linux, and it was MUCH faster than playing UT on Windows (plus, since it is Unix, I assume that the dedicated server is better too).

In short, I want to help further Linux gaming. No I am not talking about Kbounce or Gnometris. I am speaking of games like HL2 and F.E.A.R.. Of course I doubt Linux will ever get that big anytime soon, so in some general idea: games that have decent graphics, online player modes or any FPSs.

I do not know any programing languages (besides html (xhtml, css and a little bit of javascript). However I can type pretty fast, I am pretty good at diagnosing problems in games (bug-testing) and have some pretty good advertising skills. I am 16, and all my money is being put to college (parents can't afford so I have to work), so I can't donate any money.

How can I help further Linux Gaming?
Well unless you learn C (which I don't know either) the only other thing I can think of is testing stuff on wine really.I have cedega and F.E.A.R works with issues on the new cedega 6 as well as midnight club 2 and stuff that does not work on wine.Having said that I really unless its a brand new game don't have trouble playing games on linux.you could maybe if you learn C modify progarms to run easy on wine and cedega.

[Twar3Draconis]

Visual Novel Program that's easy to write scripts for: Ren'Py, since it runs on Python.

It's as Feba said, Linux needs more easy-to-use engines, like how Windows has GameMakerStudio.Net, or RPGMaker XP. If we did have such engines, the amount of games available for linux would increase.

You could learn to program, and yes, make your own games.

But don't kidnap Bioware employees in the name of Linux. It makes us look bad.

[po0f]

Tataulus,

I know you said you couldn't contribute much monetarily, but when you do buy games, buy games that have native Linux clients. You mentioned UT2k4; write an email to Epic (?) stating that you enjoyed the product and the fact that it is Linux-native.

I own both UT2k4 and NWN, and only because they work on Linux (I'd get DOOM3 and Quake 4 if my box could handle them; on second thought, I might buy them just because). Let developers know with your dollar and an email why you chose their product. If they get enough of these emails, who knows what games we'll get in the future.

And contributing to a gaming project couldn't hurt either. As others have mentioned already, there's programming, scripting and game art (models, textures, etc) that go into a game. Music is important as well. Beta- and bug-testing help ensure that games are solid. Help wherever you are able to. Maybe one day you'll be cranking out your own games. ;)

[Malikith]

He just said he can't help with money, FunkP.

If you really want to help, I'd recommend you learn programming languages, and start making games we don't already have. You could also use this knowledge to go into programming as a career.

In my experience, linux's good 3D games end at FPS. There's a few racers out there, but those aren't really my thing, and I haven't tried them.

Linux could use GOOD RPGs, GOOD Visual Novels. Heck, make an RPG Maker type program or a Visual Novel program that's easy to write scripts/create images/video for.

Fighting games, I think there's MUGEN but that's technically illegal, not to mention everything i've seen of it looks like totally unbalanced crap. Something like Super Smash Bros. for linux could rock. you could use the characters from http://www.via2b.com/iteam/index.asp?highlight=home as your fighters- in more serious artwork of course.

You could take up graphic design, make the pictures for programmers who aren't artistically inclined.


You can try to contribute to the project I linked above, http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=427011

You can write letters to companies (especially those who have just announced games) asking them to make their games able to run on linux, or at least under WINE.

You could hold form a gang and kidnap key bioware employees until they promise to make stuff for linux.

Really, there's a lot of stuff you can do to help. The important part is actually doing it.

Well said, that super smash bros idea that you have is actually pretty good, those characters at that site would be a great start. Very interesting.

[jorgerosa]

I am pretty good at diagnosing problems in games (bug-testing) and have some pretty good advertising skills...How can I help further Linux Gaming?

Hi Tataulus, you (you all) can play iteam (pre-pre-alpha game project) and contribute with your comments, suggestions, finding bugs, or just talking with us, etc. Please, see here (http://www.via2b.com/iteam/produtos.asp?highlight=Downloads_and_Links&id=509). Cya.

EDIT: Ops, now i see i posted this reply too late... (Havent read Feba and Malikith posts! That´s why reading is so important... ;) ) ... anyway...