Commercial Ubuntu Games, Need Everyone's Feedback

[kiplingw]

Greetings Everyone,

This is a very important question for some colleages of mine and we very much value your feedback. Please answer truthfully, as the results will likely influence decisions made in the future.

If you saw a commercial game that you liked and wanted for Ubuntu, would you be prepared to purchase it for a very reasonable amount? By game, I mean not some old, crusty, loki port, but real, professionally developed games for Ubuntu. While games for Ubuntu should have no difficulty functioning on other distributions, or even porting to OS X or Win32, Ubuntu would be the star of the show.

Kip

[don durito]

Why should Ubuntu be the star?
I do and will buy games professionaly produced for linux.
But I don't want to buy a game cause of a specific trade mark (in your case ubuntu, usually microsoft).

so i can't answer your question with yes or no...
but hope it helps

[steveneddy]

I'm not a gamer by any means, but if the price were reasonable, we would probably buy a game or two if i thought I could attempt to play it with my limited skills.

We try and support the Linux community wherever we can. financially if possible.

We send money to the DSL project because we think it is cool.

We bought a System76 laptop this year, because it IS cool.

We buy Linux and distro t-shirts because we feel like we are doing our part to help the cause.

So, yes, we would probably buy a game or two to support the cause. Even if it had Ubuntu on it.

:popcorn:

[tribaal]

Like don Burrito said, I do and will pay for native _Linux_ games... Why would you want to brand it "Ubuntu only"? Heck, I don't mind having a MacOS and a Windows port too, that would mean more opponents to frag... and maybe talk into switching ;)

Overall, my answer is yes.

- trib'

[ElemonGW]

I would support it too, but I think that all Linux distros should be able to run it as well. And I think that it shouldn't be ported to windows (why "help" Microsoft??? :) )

[hikaricore]

I have seen commercial games I liked and wanted then bought for Linux.

I'm guessing you're wanting to ride Ubuntu's coattails to success?

[azraelck]

If a game caught my eye, and made me think "it might be worth a shot" then yeah, I'd buy it. Not on the basis of being for Ubuntu, but for the basis of having fun. But, it takes a lot to catch my eye and drag it away from my wife and the same old games I've played for years, sometimes literally decades on end. 3 OS's have graced (or cursed) this computer, and the same core group of games has remained on it, and has followed me from at least 7 other x86-based PCs (Windows, DOS, and now Linux). That's not counting the Commodore 64. A few games are added, usually one every year, sometimes, as I find them. So catching my attention is hard to do. And now, I'm old, decrepit, and poor so I'm not likely to pay for a game unless I or my wife will like it.

[Insomn1a]

I would say yes,


reason being that, most likely, it would run very efficiently like the operating system does, its amazing in the performance difference between ubuntu and XP, i noticed it the second i ran it for the first time.


definitely, any idea what genre this game may be? ;)

[FoolsGold_MKII]

I already have. My last purchase was Penumbra Ep 1.

It's commercial enough, though if you mean big boxed stuff you'd see in a store then yes to that as well.

[Nehvrook]

Yeah I'd buy it. As long as it was a game that looked like it would be fairly fun and well made I'd be prepaired to pay money for it. Supporting the cause of Linux gaming would be an added bonus

[SnoozerD]

Yeah me too, I just want more linux games in general and games that are already out a linux port would kick ***, I mean seriously, after the executables and the dll (for windows - bleh) how much more could be needed in a conversion???


Thanks

[RebounD11]

I would buy them, even if they're ported versions of succesful games produced for Windows platforms.

It would give a boost to the gaming industry, and to the attention of GPU's fabricators, who might produce better drivers for Linux.

A competiotion between Linux Drivers - Windows Drivers (Linux Performance of graphic cards - Windows Performance of graphic cards), DirectX - OpenGL, Linux Games - Windows Games would break the monopoly of Windows as a gaming platform and would benefit both Windows and Linux gamers and all users in the end, especially those interested in using they're graphics card capabilites to the maximum.

so the answer is yes, I would buy such games, and will support any initiative in this direction.

PS: Maybe better 3D benchmarks will be introduced under Linux :D

[Extreme Coder]

A competiotion between Linux Drivers - Windows Drivers (Linux Performance of graphic cards - Windows Performance of graphic cards)
According to Phoronix, the nVidia drivers for Linux have almost the same performance as in Windows, unlike ATI, whose drivers can become 50% slower than Windows drivers.

[AJB2K3]

if you want to sell linux games (yes i would pay) you would need to provide the installers or all varations (apt/rpm/deb)

[kiplingw]

*bump*

Kip

[Omnios]

Old school crappy games are still played today.

Problems.

trying to make it playable on a P2 or P3
"not shur but think this killed the PC gaming and bleeding edge PC market"

Calling a RPG a RPG where you have to manage 4 characters at once.
"when I see a RPG with 4 characters I am totally disappointed. call it something else"

Cool 3D maps that are so small going places is anoying.
K played a game walk three second / load screen / another tree seconds / load screen "not fun"

As for paying for a game in Linux? Counts if I find it fun to play!

Its all about Fun when it stops being fun it becomes a chore.


Now as for Linux could have a download install or a CD with distro launchers and tweekable install files for different distros.

[kiplingw]

Thank you everyone. Please keep them coming until we have at least 100 votes. The data is invaluable to us.

Kip

[Frem]

If you saw a commercial game that you liked and wanted for Ubuntu, would you be prepared to purchase it for a very reasonable amount?

As opposed to what? Never playing it? Pirating it?

The way this question is worded, it sounds very much like "Do Linux users buy stuff?"

I'm pretty sure you're going to get an overwhelmingly positive response. The real question is, "What game?" ;-)

[stalkier]

I believe that games should be produced for Ubuntu or other distros of Linux and sold in major retail stores etc. MS has the computer user by the balls pretty much when it comes to software and games. I wouldn't mind a app such as Steam (a WinXP app) to be produced for Linux. It allows you to purchase and download games. I also believe that there IS such an app for Linspire OS.

So I guess my answer would be yes. I would buy apps that are professionally done for Linux.

[KhaaL]

I've always supported linux games, I got NWN, UT2k4, alpha centauri and lastly dominions 3.

What linux gamers need desperatly is a civ-like strategy game... feed us!

EDIT:
kip, mind sharing what you're going to do with the data?

[Extreme Coder]

Yes, but it would mainly depend on what type of game it is.
I'd buy it in a heartbeat if it was an Age of Empires style game, a racing game, and probably any type of game that isn't an FPS, as you know we got a lot of free FPS around here :/
It would be really nice of you to make it as an RPM, DEB, tgz(for slackware) and other distros, and it would be cool if you could distribute it on CD(make it an autorun in that case too :P)

Extreme Coder

[Omnios]

I've always supported linux games, I got NWN, UT2k4, alpha centauri and lastly dominions 3.

What linux gamers need desperatly is a civ-like strategy game... feed us!

EDIT:
kip, mind sharing what you're going to do with the data?

where can I get UT2k4 for Linux?

[FoolsGold_MKII]

where can I get UT2k4 for Linux?
Simple - buy UT2004 as normal (preferably the original/non-anthology version, since the Unreal Anthology doesn't contain the Linux installer), run the Linux installer on the first disc (or last disc, can't remember), then install the latest Linux patch from the web.

[black_knight]

Yes, but would aswell depend on the game.
Now if Halo(:lolflag: for supporting microsoft) was released for the general Linux population, I would love to have that game.
So a big thumbs up for AAA titles to be released to Linux....especially FPS and RTS(or just strategy games in general) even WOW would be nice.

[kiplingw]

Keep them coming gentlemen. Thank you.

Kip

[Jockboy98295]

I would if I liked the look of the game. I play mostly flight sims seeing as how I am a pilot, so that would be cool. Preferably something that could blow Flight Sim X out of the water :) By the same token, if you could get Halo for Linux that would be really cool!!

[Feba]

If someone released a good native linux MMO, I'd be willing to try nearly anything at this point.

Heck, I'd try *WoW* if Blizzard made a linux version, or started working with WINE's team to make it run perfectly. And I've taken at least three different oaths to never play WoW. Ever.

[Kowalski_GT-R]

I don't mind the scene revolving around Ubuntu.

Yes, I would definitely support commercial games.
I mean it.

ciao,

Andrea

[era86]

No doubt. But it should be ported to Linux entirely, not just Ubuntu.

[hidey]

I wouldn't buy a Linux game out of the principle of supporting Linux gaming, I'd buy it if it was an interesting game or well made or all of the above. ;)

[argie]

If it's a one-time payment, I'm not paying anything more than 1,000 rupees for a good game, and that's if I love it. Else, I'll just choose to spend the money elsewhere. 1000 rupees is 10 movies at a nice theatre, half my fees this semester, 3-4 good books, 35 books at the library, one-ninth a real nice guitar I have my eye on, the difference between being capped at 2GB bandwidth per month and unlimited bandwidth per month for 2 months, 280 kms of travel by car. That's $25.

And all that only if it were a good Linux game and had rpms and debs. Or I'd probably buy it just to support the initiative.

[Kaltas]

Of course I would if it was a good game and was interesting for me (I would buy an RPG game that runs on linux natively for example). But I would not pay more than $50 for it - this is the line I am not willing to cross in case of computer games (does not apply to other software though).

[Depressed Man]

If it was a reasonable price (360 and PS3 games are pushing the limit to me) and wasn't a monthly fee, plus if it was cross platform I'd buy it. I really don't like being locked into an OS just to play a game. >.<

[Kumeelyun]

From what I read on various forums and sites, people clamor for native support for Linux. Many videos are posted on how to get various games to run in Linux. Cedega actually makes money on their service despite the fact that Wine is available for free. Most any natively-running first person shooter is usually based on the Quake engines, which were ported to Linux. The most sought-after disc of Unreal Tournament is the one with the native Linux Installer. I'm certain the question you ask is a no-brainer.

It's just some of the details that have people wondering. Many people here seem to be afraid that you'll think (if you indeed plan to offer a product at all) that they'll pay more than the average price for a game simply because it's made for Linux. And the whole 'Ubuntu is the star' deal is puzzling too. While Ubuntu is gaining popularity as a 'comsumer' distro of Linux, making it specifically for Ubuntu is a big mistake as not everyone runs/likes Ubuntu. Also, take note of the 'Games for Windows' initiative. Many people feel it's already too restrictive, confusing and simply around to try and force people to either get Vista or get a 360. One company is planning to sell files that will make Halo 2, for example, able to run on XP.

So after answering your question, our question to you is: what exactly are you planning on doing?

[kiplingw]

*bump*

[phil90]

I am not sure it would work

There was a company that did produce Linux version of popular games only and they did not have much of success and do not exist anymore but if you are lucky you might be able to find some of the games they developped.

The company was called Loki,

[mike102282]

support what?

[bg1256]

Beyond any shadow of a doubt, yes I would. It would be important to me that installation be as easy as it would be in windoze, however. I'm not an Ubuntu genius, so I would need it to be quite simple... But, I would most definitely buy games for Linux.

[g4ry.l33]

Sure I would pay for a good game. I've spent a lot of money on games for Winduh$ 95/98 and many won't work on xPee. And to this day I still think some of the best games were DOS games.

[Extreme Coder]

I am not sure it would work

There was a company that did produce Linux version of popular games only and they did not have much of success and do not exist anymore but if you are lucky you might be able to find some of the games they developped.

The company was called Loki,
Unlike what you might think, Loki fell mainly because of reasons other than financial(like management,etc..) There is an article out there that explained that.

[Seraed]

Its been said already, but I might as well support the argument of not locking a game into a platform. I would most definitely buy a game that was billed as cross platform and if it looked to have promising game play. I would _not_ buy a game just because it is cross platform, but because it is fun and will allow me to play it if I decide to switch my OS of choice.

Also, there are consequences if the game is just garbage. It can hurt the reputation of any movement that aims to support Linux games just by the fact that it sucks. Granted, thats quite an extreme outlook on it, and if there were more alternatives that do well, then that small blemish can go unnoticed.

[phil90]

I don't know the reasons that made loki close but if you get to find that article I would sure read it.

I was just saying I am not sure It would work.

I agree that making the games cross platform at first would make it a lot easier. But try to convince the companies, they all produce it to be Direct X compliant which is sure not Linux compliant.

Making the game cross platform might also destroy one of the barrier being that the market for players not using windows is smaller. If a person also decide to switch from Windows to linux or mac for exemple this person would not have to say bye to his/her favorites games but they would be able to play it in other OS.

It would be really great if it was this way I believe linux would get a lot more users. Lots of players don't switch for that reason.

[Nkari]

I already buy quite a lot of windows games when I seesomething that looks good, and it is literally the only thing that has been keeping me on windows really for ages. Every other app I use has a linux native version that runs better.

If I knew I could buy games that were just going to work I could delete the windows partition (that is there just so I can play games) and stick to Ubuntu.

My first attempt at getting a Windows game to work (WoW) has not really worked for me yet so I am still stuck playing that under windows for now.

[dmn_clown]

If you saw a commercial game that you liked and wanted for Ubuntu, would you be prepared to purchase it for a very reasonable amount? By game, I mean not some old, crusty, loki port, but real, professionally developed games for Ubuntu. While games for Ubuntu should have no difficulty functioning on other distributions, or even porting to OS X or Win32, Ubuntu would be the star of the show.

Kip

I voted no for the simple fact that a game compiled for the latest Ubuntu release will not run on any of the more "stable" distributions without either recompiling the binary (I doubt your license will give people the ability to do this) or including the libs that the binary is compiled against ala iD's and EPIC's ports and starting the game with a wrapper script that calls these libs.

Now, had you worded that differently to something like say If you saw a commercial game that you liked and wanted for the GNU/Linux platform that has been tested to run on all major distributions I would have voted yes.

[tsav87]

Um...HECK YESS!!!!!!!!!!!

I am already paying for windows games to run with crossover, if I could get the same game, or one similar to it native to linux, I would choose that one over the emulated one without question.

[Heedbanger]

Yes I would buy games for linux.

I buy games anyway but I wouldn't buy a game just because it was for linux, it would have to be a game I would like to buy regardless of what OS it is for.
So any game for linux that I would have to pay for would have to be able to stand up against the top windows games.

[kevinlyfellow]

I'm not a big gamer (as you will see by this post), but I would buy a linux game I enjoyed for $10 or less and there wasn't a sufficient open source game that was similar.

What type of game are we talking here? Violent shoot-em-up that sells for a ridiculously high price and needs the latest nvidia card or are we talking a fun low spec game that focuses on game play and not graphics?

[tsav87]

Violent shoot-em-up that sells for a ridiculously high price and needs the latest nvidia card

"That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh I like it, uh-huh uh-huh"

:lolflag:

I don't mind paying $40 bucks for a good game.

I just don't understand the idea of ALL software being free, that's an unrealistic dream. I mean, you get the OS and 95% of the software for it for FREE, why bitch when you have to pay for something as small as a game? I mean, you don't HAVE to buy it, you don't NEED it to run your computer...lol

[kevinlyfellow]

"That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh I like it, uh-huh uh-huh"

:lolflag:

I don't mind paying $40 bucks for a good game.

I just don't understand the idea of ALL software being free, that's an unrealistic dream. I mean, you get the OS and 95% of the software for it for FREE, why bitch when you have to pay for something as small as a game? I mean, you don't HAVE to buy it, you don't NEED it to run your computer...lol

I agree. When it comes to certain specialized programs (such as games), free/open source software doesn't do as great of a job, because not enough interest can be garnered for the project. Games come and games go, but floss does better in the long run.

[pofigster]

I figure what you mean by "Ubuntu would be the star" is that it would be branded as a Linux game with Windows/OSX compat?

I would def pay for games which were originally written to run in a Linux environment, esp if it was debian compatible too.

I think it's a big market for high quality, commercial games for linux. Lack of gaming is what keeps a bunch of my friends from switching. ET and UT2004 are enough for me right now, but if there was more choices. Heck yes!

[herrdoktor330]

I know I'm treading on the beaten path here, but I'm going to go there anyway:

1) Don't just develop for Ubuntu... go for all linux distros.

2) If it's a good game, it's going to sell regardless of platform.

3) Most game developers are developing for Active X, which is strictly windows. Open GL would be your development graphics platform. I'm not sure where Open GL development stopped or if it's still going on now. But that would be your theoretical color palette to work from. The beauty part of developing in Open GL would be that you could include a Mac .app compile to go along with your game. Otherwise it opens the floor for cross platform play.

4) If you're working on any entertainment software for linux, make one of the following: an MMO or a Content Delivery System (Xbox Live Marketplace, Steam, Gametap) which will allow customers easy access, install, and purchase to a game library. I don't know if anyone here remembers reading about the Phantom console, but their idea of content delivery has been duplicated by folks at Microsoft and Valve with great success.

5) If we're talking ports, there's only 2 things I need to see ported to Linux: Steam and WoW. When that happens (and I'm going to be honest) I won't have anything else I need to buy.

6) I know that there's a wiz-bang version of parallels out for Mac OSX, which I'm sure is being ported over to the Linux enviroment. Once that happens, we may not have to worry about development for linux as your linux box will just have a version of windows tucked away for just that purpose.

http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/

[ZacDavis]

Well, I would much rather the game be free if you were going to use Ubuntu's popularity to support the game. Considering Ubuntu is free and everything. But if the price seemed reasonable for the quality of game I would buy it.

[Kitsun]

Not everyone who uses Ubuntu use it because of its "ethics", I and many others use it because it is a better alternative to other OSes.

I would purchase a native game if I liked it, but not simply because it was native (unless it was really cheap).

[bluezdood]

Absolutely, as long as it wasn't janky like most of the games I see out there for Ubuntu. Tux Racer is cute, but c'mon, it's no F.E.A.R. Can you imagine the appeal of not needing to run something in Wine? I've always said when killer games start coming out for Ubuntu, a lot of people are going to switch since many gamers only stick with Windows XP for that very reason.