I'm wavering here...

[GFree678]

This might seem at first like a whiny rant, but it's actually a plea for help, so read damnit! :)

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I'm a recovering gaming addict. You know the type - the ones who'll blow their cash on the latest and greatest hardware to play the latest crap. Yeah, well I used to be one of them, but lately I've developed a desire to actually use my hardware rather than just upgrade every year simply because of games; must be due to my engineering background that I hate wasting perfectly good hardware.

So, because I developed a perspective shift I finally was able to move entirely to Linux and only have Windows used occasionally in a VM. It allows me light gaming, which I'm happy with for the most part, plus it provides the technical qualities I was after in the first place. I'm pretty happy of my decision, and pretty happy to be part of the community. It's worked out well so far. But... we all have vices.

Now, BioShock is being released extremely soon, some of you might know about it. If the reviews/previews I've seen are anything to go by, this may well be the best game in the history of video gaming, and I'm not going to be a part of it because I rescinded (most of) my gaming background. However, a demo for the PC has an imminent release too - Windows only of course, and I'm seriously thinking of blowing away a partition solely to stick XP back on, the necessary drivers, download the massive 1.8GB demo when it's released and play it.

The CPU is "underpowered" for the specs recommended (but runs a mean Linux distro), the video card is "underpowered" for the specs recommended (but runs a mean Compiz Fusion), and the RAM... etc. But, it still meet the minimum specs and as such, it will run. Not well, perhaps not even respectably, but it will run. Simply put, I fear that I'll end up doing what I've done several times before - blow away Linux entirely, return to Windows and fall back into a gaming addiction which hasn't exactly served me well in the past, both financially and otherwise. It's a guilty feeling upgrading just for games, at least for me now.

There is one way out of this - consoles. I have never owned a console having been a faithful PC gamer all my life, but given how easy and accessible gaming is on a console I can finally understand why it's so popular, and BioShock will be released on the 360 with flawless performance so the compromise is there. I also doubt I'd return to my gaming addiction due to the nature of the system. But... I'm not in a position to get a console just yet, so I need you people to convince me that sticking with Linux is better than playing the best game ever created.

I still like games, but only if I can run them in Linux somehow. Since there aren't enough in Linux to cause sensory meltdown I'm safe; my concern is primarily falling back to Windows for the rest and entering the addictive gaming scene again. If I do that I lose all the progress I've made here. Of course there's always the future (the game isn't gonna disappear of course), but like I said, I have a strong vice that needs breaking, and damnit if I can't stay off the bloody gaming sites. Help! :)

BTW, I don't dual-boot, so don't suggest it. For me it's one or the other, VMs allowed at most.

I hate being a ***** (<-- word for cat, starts with p).

[scrooge_74]

Man, do your self a favor and keep away from Windows and games. Addictions of any kinds are a bad thing.

Be aware that if you get a console you are going to get on that vice just the same. I played a couple of months ago I was at a friend's house in the beach and until that point I had not touch a console and this one had one of those comando style war games. I just went on playing on playing for hours on end (even my wife was getting worried). I use to play anything I could in the past.

But since changing to linux I am more productive (less games to paly with). I recommend you stick to using something like DOSBOX and downloading very old DOS games and see which ones work.

Try to stay focuss. Take care

[LaRoza]

I still like games, but only if I can run them in Linux somehow. Since there aren't enough in Linux to cause sensory meltdown I'm safe; my concern is primarily falling back to Windows for the rest and entering the addictive gaming scene again. If I do that I lose all the progress I've made here. Of course there's always the future (the game isn't gonna disappear of course), but like I said, I have a strong vice that needs breaking, and damnit if I can't stay off the bloody gaming sites. Help! :)

BTW, I don't dual-boot, so don't suggest it. For me it's one or the other, VMs allowed at most.


1. Try Linux games, I'm sure others have good suggestions (I don't play games)

2. Do you not dual boot because you don't know how or are worried about it? If not, be aware that if you have a program written for Windows, you should run it in Windows, especially if it has Windows specific programming that cannot be used in an emulator

3. If it is one way or the other, and you want Windows games, you should logically use Windows.

-EDIT The post above this wasn't there as I typed, I also recommend DOS games, all of the work in DOSBox, and Wolfenstein and Blood are quite fun.

[GFree678]

1. Try Linux games, I'm sure others have good suggestions (I don't play games)
I have a few, they're good and keep me happy. I suppose the problems occur when specific "must-get" ones come around, at which point the urges kick in.


2. Do you not dual boot because you don't know how or are worried about it? If not, be aware that if you have a program written for Windows, you should run it in Windows, especially if it has Windows specific programming that cannot be used in an emulator
I use VMWare for anything that can't be run natively in Linux or using WINE. The reason I don't dual boot because I hate juggling with two operating systems. Also, in the past I've had an issue with having Windows/Linux but pretty much using just Windows only. To force myself to learn Linux effectively I had to go solo, and now that my requirements for Windows are extremely low, having it occupy a partition seems like a waste. Matter of principle, and I'll accept to being considered stubborn about it.


3. If it is one way or the other, and you want Windows games, you should logically use Windows.
I'm aware of this. Thing is, I have very little use for Windows anymore and want to keep it that way. Just having Windows around for BioShock means I'd break my focus on Linux and fall back into my addiction. It's a very important to me that I can walk forward and stop falling back.

There is of course the brute-force solution - give up gaming entirely. Not sure I want to entertain that yet.

EDIT: DOSBox, yeah, that's cool. Got Tyrian 2000 running nicely, plus you can't quite get addicted with those games, but they're still good fun. Decent balance. :)

[LaRoza]

EDIT: DOSBox, yeah, that's cool. Got Tyrian 2000 running nicely, plus you can't quite get addicted with those games, but they're still good fun. Decent balance. :)

You can get addicted, be careful :D.

[southernman]

This may seem like a poke in the eye... with a big stick but:

Addicts can't "use" recreational - it just doesn't work. Doesn't matter if it's gaming, porn, drugs or booze. The end result is relapse.

My brother was a gaming freeeeeek! He has a beautiful wife, beautiful kids (and well mannered) and an outrageous career where inside of 6 years he's been promoted to running the entire radiology department of a mid-sized hospital. He managed to keep his family in tact... and his job of course. He did however shift his focus from gaming to investing. Maybe he has an ultimate goal of early retirement to do nothing but game game game... ! Doubt it, but maybe you get my drift here.

You have an engineering background. Do you also program by chance? If so, maybe shift your addiction of gaming to programming of open source engineering apps... or join a current project... breath life into a dead project.

My further adivce is drop the VM. It is one step closer to your ultimate goal I think.

Best of luck as addictions are tough to overcome... I know first hand! Acceptance is the biggest hurdle to overcome, and clearly your past that point now. Each day you'll find it easier.

[GFree678]

This may seem like a poke in the eye... with a big stick but:

Addicts can't "use" recreational - it just doesn't work. Doesn't matter if it's gaming, porn, drugs or booze. The end result is relapse.

My brother was a gaming freeeeeek! He has a beautiful wife, beautiful kids (and well mannered) and an outrageous career where inside of 6 years he's been promoted to running the entire radiology department of a mid-sized hospital. He managed to keep his family in tact... and his job of course. He did however shift his focus from gaming to investing. Maybe he has an ultimate goal of early retirement to do nothing but game game game... ! Doubt it, but maybe you get my drift here.

You have an engineering background. Do you also program by chance? If so, maybe shift your addiction of gaming to programming of open source engineering apps... or join a current project... breath life into a dead project.

My further adivce is drop the VM. It is one step closer to your ultimate goal I think.

Best of luck as addictions are tough to overcome... I know first hand! Acceptance is the biggest hurdle to overcome, and clearly your past that point now. Each day you'll find it easier.
Appreciate it. ):P

I program when I need to, but I could do with some sharpening of the skill sets. It might be a good idea to shift the addiction to something useful I guess. Fill the hole that's left by gaming. What's the best way to contribute to an open source project anyway? I have no experience in helping others in such a manner, yet.

I'm uncertain if I can drop the use of the VM yet. After all it does provide the ability to run some technical software not yet available in Linux, but the good thing about it is it's incapable of anything 3D so I can't relapse using it. Purely for productive work, and it's very nature is why I chose it instead of dual-boot.

[original_jamingrit]

Appreciate it. ):P

I program when I need to, but I could do with some sharpening of the skill sets. It might be a good idea to shift the addiction to something useful I guess. Fill the hole that's left by gaming. What's the best way to contribute to an open source project anyway? I have no experience in helping others in such a manner, yet.

I'm uncertain if I can drop the use of the VM yet. After all it does provide the ability to run some technical software not yet available in Linux, but the good thing about it is it's incapable of anything 3D so I can't relapse using it. Purely for productive work, and it's very nature is why I chose it instead of dual-boot.

There's different ways to help out. Just downloading the source of any project and trying to understand how it works, then looking for improvements or implementing TODOs is probably the best and easiest way, there's no real formality for it.

So, just find any sort of open source project, whether it's a software tool or a game, download the source from their SVN, maybe join there forums or talk to someone to get a basic understanding of how it works, and then start tinkering around.

It may be overwhelming, there are tons of different projects out there, so just work with a piece of software that you would use yourself.

And hacking is a lot like gaming, it's mostly just about having fun while challenging yourself, and getting to the next level.

[GFree678]

I gotta sleep now (it's near midnight here), but thanks to the respondents so far. After thinking about several possibilities... I think I'll be keeping my drives the way they are for some time now. :)

[southernman]

Appreciate it. ):P

I program when I need to, but I could do with some sharpening of the skill sets. It might be a good idea to shift the addiction to something useful I guess. Fill the hole that's left by gaming. What's the best way to contribute to an open source project anyway? I have no experience in helping others in such a manner, yet.

Any contribution is a big help, even if it's nothing more than reporting buggy software. I would suggest finding a niche app, one that causes you to have to use VM for instance and join their mailing list. You'll find that if you ask how you could help them, they will in turn direct you to any current needs of which you could pick from according to your abilities.

I am not a programmer so my advice in this arena may totally suck! I contribute by trying to help out on the forums when I can. It isn't much, but better than /dev/null




I'm uncertain if I can drop the use of the VM yet. After all it does provide the ability to run some technical software not yet available in Linux, but the good thing about it is it's incapable of anything 3D so I can't relapse using it. Purely for productive work, and it's very nature is why I chose it instead of dual-boot.Ah but yes. I should have known that was the reason you run VM... cancel the suggestion of dropping it. :o

Ohhhhh - killer comment to the Salutation thread! rofl

[forrestcupp]

Gaming is not bad in and of itself. To most people I would say that they need to dual boot to play games, and don't worry about what any anti-Microsoft activists say.

But in your case, I say you should keep away from it. Gaming isn't bad, but a severe addiction to gaming can ruin your life. There was a time that I went through a depression. In order to try to fill that emptiness I got myself into debt by constantly pouring money I didn't have into computer upgrades and games. It's just a patch, just a temporary pleasure to cover over something deeper. I had to find my answers in other places.

I suggest that pouring your life into programming and open source can be just as much of an addiction as gaming. You should keep running Linux to stay away from the gaming "machine", but you should also make sure to have plenty of interaction with real, live people that you can see and touch. Chatting and forum posting isn't enough.

[DeadSuperHero]

I just realized...
Linux needs more Zombie games...
*sigh*