Open Letter to Game Makers - Investigate the niche of GNU/Linux compatibility
January 11th, 2009
Dear Respected Video Game Maker;
Sometimes it takes one heck of a company to show enough backbone to explore new and exciting markets for their products. One example of this type of company is Dell. I say this because, by selling Ubuntu GNU/Linux directly to users, Dell has taken a courageous and honorable turn away from the typical supporters of the OS monopoly. This truly does make Dell a power player. If you check around, you will find that many other companies are following Dell's lead to offer what users want, and what they need - technology that enables humans with GNU/Linux.
Over the next 1 to 3 years, and beyond, we are set to see the glory of the GNU/Linux operating system take hold as the prominently used end user platform for computers everywhere.
This is why it makes a whole bunch of sense for you to port your games to GNU/Linux.
But don't take my word for it, checkout the links and information below that I've gleaned from the Internet. You'll find that there are many good reasons you should make a native GNU/Linux version of your games:
Dear Respected Video Game Maker;
Sometimes it takes one heck of a company to show enough backbone to explore new and exciting markets for their products. One example of this type of company is Dell. I say this because, by selling Ubuntu GNU/Linux directly to users, Dell has taken a courageous and honorable turn away from the typical supporters of the OS monopoly. This truly does make Dell a power player. If you check around, you will find that many other companies are following Dell's lead to offer what users want, and what they need - technology that enables humans with GNU/Linux.
Over the next 1 to 3 years, and beyond, we are set to see the glory of the GNU/Linux operating system take hold as the prominently used end user platform for computers everywhere.
This is why it makes a whole bunch of sense for you to port your games to GNU/Linux.
But don't take my word for it, checkout the links and information below that I've gleaned from the Internet. You'll find that there are many good reasons you should make a native GNU/Linux version of your games:
- Jeff Rosen (a game developer at Wolfire Games - makers of the crossplatform(including Linux) game "Lugaru") outlines 5 good (and profitable) reasons games ported to GNU/Linux will do well:
Also see this google search term: world of goo on linux site:digg.com
http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=15357
http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=15357
- This forum at linuxquestions.org has 80 pages of names of games that people would like to see "ported" to GNU/Linux:
- This blog with an experimental test of searching websites with the term "linux" shows that many people are searching for "linux client" versions of games:
- This site is dedicated to enabling Linux users to use 12,251 proprietary(and other) software titles made for windows:
- See the popularity of this digg article concerning gaming on GNU/Linux as a means for user adoption :
- Search google using the following search term and you will find lots of articles concerning porting games to Linux:
port games to linux site:digg.com
linux gaming site:computerworld.com
linux gaming site:slashdot.org
linux gaming site:tgdaily.com
linux gaming site:petitiononline.com
linux gaming site:computerworld.com
linux gaming site:slashdot.org
linux gaming site:tgdaily.com
linux gaming site:petitiononline.com
The time for you to expand into the GNU/Linux gaming market is now. Please consider doing it immediately.
If you're apprehensive, and you're looking for proof as to how successful the porting of games to GNU/Linux would be: Please consider making standard links/buttons on your "System Requirements" and/or "Products" pages that say "Vote here to get this game ported to GNU/Linux"or perhaps "Preorder this game for GNU/Linux now... Note: we need (X number) preorders in order to make it available". This way, you can not only get some good numbers as to the business from GNU/Linux users you are missing out on, but you will also gain popularity as being an "honorable" company that recognizes there is more than just one OS out there.
Thanks for Listening.
Here's to your successfull future with GNU/Linux!!
Sincerely,
Shannon VanWagner (on behalf of millions)
GNU/Linux Enthusiast and IT Pro
[I'll be sending this out to as many game makers as I can find. I'll post the list here later]
Keep up the good work Shannon. The power of one is able to change the human thought process and in turn create a new positive direction for the benefit of others.
ReplyDeleteGreenx @ Digg.com
Just to correct you, Wolfire Games makes Lugaru and Overgrowth, not World of Goo. World of Goo is 2D Boy: http://2dboy.com/games.php
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction. I have updated the text.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Shannon
The success of some games and the longevity of them has sometimes been down to Linux too. Take Unreal Tournament 2004. Very popular amongst Linux gamers. And still going strong, in spite of the latest version (UT3). It seems that UT2004 is over 4 years old and still very popular, partly due to the number of linux players.
ReplyDeleteLinux sux, kthx buh-bye
ReplyDeleteOh really, Linux's market share doesn't even come close to OSX... prominently used end user platform for computers everywhere!?!?!?
ReplyDeletePlease, do some research before you write any more bullshit.
There are two problems with your post...
ReplyDelete1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_desktop_operating_systems
2. How many people who run unix would actually pay for software?
LULZ, LINUX = JOKEWARE
ReplyDelete"Over the next 1 to 3 years, and beyond, we are set to see the glory of the GNU/Linux operating system take hold as the prominently used end user platform for computers everywhere."
ReplyDeleteUm.... You and a lot of other zealots have been saying that (on the Internet) for about the past 10 years now. Oh, I know, "this time" things are going to be different.
"2. How many people who run unix would actually pay for software?"
ReplyDeleteHmm...let's see...I don't have to pay for a new operating system, I don't have to pay for officeware, don't have to pay for antivirus software...hey look! I actually have money to BUY games!
Posted from a Linux machine.
ReplyDeleteFAT CHANCE!
ReplyDeleteLinux totally rocks dude, Blows Windows away hands down!
ReplyDeleteJT
www.Privacy-Center.net
We'll see when there's actually good and stable APIs to base games from. Do you know how much of a joke the open source 3D stack is in this current time? It can hardly do OpenGL1.5! You need either nvidia or ATI/AMD proprietary drivers, and even then their opengl stack isn't all that stable or feature-complete for the latest opengl 2.x or 3.x stack, especially AMD's. Right now basing games on linux is an exercise of making games for nvidia cards, and dumbing it down with opengl extensions the other gpu manufacturers have available. Not to mention how unnecessarily hard it is to do things like mouse input properly through SDL due to X limitations at this current time.
ReplyDeleteThere's also that issue with audio and like 10-20 different ways of interfacing with it... We also haven't even come to the point of how to distribute games in a predictable and compatible way with the distributions.
However many of the X server's (the GUI) and mesa/dri/drm/gallium3D (the open source 3D stack) sub-systems are being refactored so maybe the desktop can have a fighting chance graphics-wise, because right now it doesn't compete very well at all.
There's a reason people use direct3D, one is driver stability and the other is consistency of features. Something which opengl lacks in spades on the linux desktop and most likely windows too. What I'm getting at is that the linux desktop is very game developer-unfriendly with hordes of issues, canonical/novell/redhat or whoever needs to actually help out this situation perhaps, or like you said a very special game developer (props to icculus and the SDL team and linux game publishers for their _incredible_ amounts of effort on their part to make the current linux game ports work!)
I hope this helps enlighten people on the technical problems that it's not all about the game developer/publisher's fault, it's shoddy infrastructure which is a part of the problem.
Its name is just "Linux", not "GNU/Linux". I've been using it professionally since 1994, and it's always been called "Linux". Because that's what Linus named it, you see. He's always called it simply "Linux". Stallman only started asking for people to add the "GNU/" in the mid 90's, after the OS was fairly widespread. Which means he was a little late to the "who gets to name the thing" game. See here for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU/Linux_naming_controversy
ReplyDeleteI realize that you have a (rather misguided, IMO) notion of trying to recognize the GNU folks in Linux's success, but that GNU stuff is just software (which was ported by the Linux guys), same as the apps which are installed on a machine. You wouldn't call an OS owned by a graphic artist "Windows/Photoshop", would you? My web server OS isn't called "GNU/Apache/Linux" is it? No, that's silly.
Anyway, the OS which deserves the GNU moniker is called HURD. It also comes with a bunch of GNU software like bash, gcc, etc. It's fun to play with, BTW, but not (yet?) a practical OS.
More on topic, I have every game that Loki Games put out, and play then even still. Check out http://linuxgames.com for a bunch of Linux-capable games. There is indeed a market. But it's small, as Linux isn't quite yet a wide-spread desktop OS. It's certainly capable. But from a "return on your money" perspective, I don't see Linux games becoming very widespread.
Developers, please note, the Linux Standard Base (LSB) designation indicates that you have a standard system to design for. Please take note, I have bought Windows games and had them run on Linux better then windows on the exact same machine. I can not even run Call of Duty 4 on my new machine without it locking up in windows. Running under Cedega works great, but I would love to buy a copy that runs natively under Linux. I would be willing to buy another copy, just to support the effort.
ReplyDeleteHeheheh... you made me laugh. I mean, Linux, a mainstream gaming platform, really?
ReplyDelete:-))))))))))
Keep up with the good jokes, man!
Quick Ballpark numbers:
ReplyDeleteXfire users as of (Oct. 2007) ~ 8 million
(http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/xfire-hits-8-million-users)
Percentage of Web surfers using Linux ~ 1%
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_desktop_operating_systems)
Multiplayer Online FPS Retail Price ~ $50
If Linux gamers translate to 1% of the existing serious gamer customer base then seems like somebody might think the effort would be worth a few million dollars.
anonymous said,
ReplyDelete"How many people who run unix would actually pay for software?"
A lot actually, linux has about 1% market share. Mac OS X has less than 10% (the link says 5%, though other sources place it at about 10%). In spite of this, if you read the first bulleted link in the article you would know, linux and mac accounted for 5% and 50% of Lugaru sales, respectively. In layman's terms they are many times more likely to buy the software than windows users. Mac actually beat windows in spite of the difference in install base.
I started a non-profit organization and we are working on an open source game (MMORPG).
ReplyDeleteIf you want to check out progress or you want to contribute, feel free to check out our boards
www.freezingmoon.org/forums
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletePeople who run Linux don't care about playing games. If they did they wouldn't run Linux.
ReplyDeleteThey care more about messing around with their system than playing commercial games. Linux IS their game.
linux gaming is great. give us some more games!
ReplyDelete"Linux sux, kthx buh-bye"
ReplyDelete"Heheheh... you made me laugh. I mean, Linux, a mainstream gaming platform, really?
:-))))))))))"
"People who run Linux don't care about playing games. If they did they wouldn't run Linux."
^ People with no brains.
I'm a new Linux user and I actually know more Linux users than Mac users. Actually I don't know ANY Mac user. I would definitely buy native Linux games. Also many people have Windows/Linux dualboot, and if there were an easy way to just "click" games on Linux, you'd know which they'd user more ;)
found it on http://www.winfuture.de .
ReplyDeletethank you for this letter!
michael,
linux user who got windows and never uses it.
At this point, do we really need another PC platform for people to pirate games to? Many production studios are wondering why they bother with PC development given the rate of piracy and you think they're going to investigate making Linux games? Reach out and touch reality.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting anonymous... Although, I'm not sure how you logically come to the conclusion that Windows is the great protector against piracy, in fact it's not. Fact: More piracy happens with Windows and proprietary software loaded on that platform than ever happens with GNU/Linux. This is due in part to one of the core purposes of the GNU/Linux philosophy, that is, to not break EULA or steal software. People who use GNU/Linux are not criminals because they use GNU/Linux, no matter how much you try to make it sound that way. From your comment, it sounds to me like you think that DRM on Windows is the answer to stopping piracy, and for that I completely disagree. In fact, my view is that by restricting technology solely for profit, and trying to make people play by "little kid" rules (through DRM) you are actually helping the masses move to the GNU/Linux cause. One more thing...As for touching reality, I happen to have a firm grip on reality, it is you my friend that needs to free yourself from restriction, open your eyes, and be enabled with technology.
ReplyDeleteStop the Tax!! Free yourself!!
Go GNU/Linux!!
When I can use the code on Linux that I use to write PC and Xbox 360 games I'll be happy to port my games. Until then it's simply not worth the time or effort.
ReplyDelete"I happen to have a firm grip on reality"
ReplyDeletePlease recheck your definition of the word reality.
"Over the next 1 to 3 years, and beyond, we are set to see the glory of the GNU/Linux operating system take hold as the prominently used end user platform for computers everywhere."
That is not something a person in touch with reality would say.
I hope it's all a masquerade. If you really believe that... well, you need to get out more.
Hey Great article...
ReplyDeletePeople seem to have real preconceptions of what GNU/Linux users are like. I am a long time Linux user that has a Vista laptop on the way from Dell as I write this. Why?
Games.
It should tell you something when I am willing to shoulder the cost of a OS on top of the cost of the game just so I can play.
I am not using Linux out of poverty, I have an IT job that pays very well. Paying for software is not a problem, neither is supporting developers with donations. Given the rampant rates of piracy on the windows platform I would say that it seems that the deadbeats are mostly using Windows...
There is one generalization that I believe in about GNU/Linux users: You will likely find that they are more likely to make ethics a part of their buying decisions... something that keeps them from paying for Microsoft products but should not be a barrier for most game companies.
Many of us are moved my the moral/ethical dimensions of Open source and are using it for those reasons in spite of losing access to things like Photoshop and Half Life.
That should indicate a level of commitment that I would challenge you to find an equivalent for among the Windows community. A smart company will understand that psychology (which can't be hard to market to frankly) and what it will mean to be seen to join such a community.
People who have already shown their willingness to put their metaphorical money where their mouth is will be just as ready to do it with real money...
Mike W.
Thanks for commenting Mike W., I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'd like to share this information with you:
Have a 3d graphics card? Like team style First Person Shooter(FPS) games?
Checkout this awesome free open source game "Assault Cube". Two downloads and about 4 clicks and you can have it installed in Ubuntu Gnu/Linux. Then all you need is an Internet connection and you can play with others. See the link below.
http://digg.com/linux_unix/How_to_install_AssaultCube_in_Ubuntu_8_10_Intrepid_Ibex
Don't have Ubuntu GNU/Linux? Download it Free from the link below!
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
After you've burned the Ubuntu ISO to disc with this program (for Wind***):
http://infrarecorder.org/?page_id=5
See this link if you want to install Ubuntu in the dual-boot configuration with your existing Operating System.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVOsHrYF9XI
Or if you want to install Ubuntu GNU/Linux as a program in Win**** simply bootup, AND THEN insert the cd into your running computer, then follow the on-screen instructions. (see the page below for instructions to install).
http://techcram.blogspot.com/2009/01/install-ubuntu-without-partitioning.html
When you're all finished, you can be playing an awesome game - Free! Thanks to the awesome people behind Open Source, Ubuntu, and GNU/Linux!! See distrowatch.com and osalt.com to find out more.
Oh and also, I don't have a problem paying for software either, that's why I'm asking that commercial games(especially the good ones) be ported over to GNU/Linux.
Now what I do have a problem with, is paying money to a company that uses it's (monopoly) powers to snuff out standards and competition in the industry... but that story is on a different blog entry than this one.
Humans enabled(not restricted) with technology, that's my goal!
Cheers!
This is all about Linux market share. You and I might feel comfortable working on Linux. Forget about my wife: she is used to see Word and Excel icons around. I am afraid my wife's follows the "common user" profile.
ReplyDeleteAs always with Linux, maybe in 10 years...
FREE THE WORLD FROM MICROSOFT.. I heard Vietname's government changed all Government OS's into Linux's. 8D
ReplyDeleteI think that's the whole point of the gaming/Linux connection; there is a fit between the temperament and needs of Linux users and what the games industry are looking for in a customer.
ReplyDeleteMost gamers are comfy with technology (and spending money to get it) and are probably looked to as technology trendsetters/tastemakers by their friends and families. GNU/Linux users have roughly the same profile but are so under-served that they represent a pretty large and influential potential market even though they are only a tiny percentage of computer users.
I don't think it has to be "maybe in 10 years", I think it is happening now.
Look around. Valve is extending its steam platform to GNU/Linux as we speak. Interestingly, I don't think they really had a choice since they elected to become a distribution platform for other publishers, some of whom write cross-platform.
With a major publisher like that supporting GNU/Linux, all sorts of things will be set in motion...
Mike W
The South African in 2003 I think it was converted all their servers and Desktops to use Fedora instead of forking out the bucket loads of cash for Microsoft products. What did they do with the savings? Got a Linux support company to provide some -actual- support and still have change left over.
ReplyDeleteThe guys who post arb comments under anonymous names and then vanish do it not because they actually have anything intelligent to say, but because for some reason they feel threatened by Linux. I have no idea why but thats what it boils down to. If they actually used the OS, like the Ubuntu Distributions Intrepid Ibex, they would not turn back.
Oh, and gaming on Linux? Would you believe you brainwashed Microsoft lackeys that I can play WoW, Half Life 2 and a number of other games on Ubuntu, and it runs better than on Windows. And ee-gads, whats this? I run no anti-virus .... I haven't for nearly two years now ... Freedom is such a wonderful feeling :P
MS will get wtfpwned if ALL games that come out for Windows are ported just as immediately to Mac/Linux natively.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, within a few months, everyone will be running the newest Ubuntu with the latest games. And majority of the existing Linux community[mind you, that community is large enough pool for any game atm, that 1% of the computing population isn't exactly 5 people] would actually PAY for the games, including myself.
Linux is jokeware? Says the guy who hasn't smelled anything outside of Redmond shit.
Great Article! I'm a linux lover too, well.. about piracy, everyone who can't afford to pay for an operative system, won't be able to buy games also, but that doesn't meen that linux is just an alternative to people that don't have a good income, linux is about freedom, is about the power of choosing another operative system instead of the pre installed ones that the monopolist microsoft has to offer, using linux doesn't meen that everyone will pirate the games, I think that giving a chance to linux in the games market is a great opportunity, not only for the gaming companies, if the gaming market opens to linux, more people will change from other systems to linux, I'm shure of that..
ReplyDeleteI dual boot Linux and Windows only because there is one game that doesn't work with Wine or Cedega. I would gladly pay for a Linux version. With Linux, I don't have to worry about crashes and viruses. Everything else that I would do on a Windows machine, I can do with Linux.
ReplyDelete@anonymous - "one game that doesn't work with Wine or Cedega"
ReplyDeleteWhat game is it?
Congrats on your Freedom!!
Shannon
The one game I can't get to work with Linux is "The Sims 2."
ReplyDeleteThose who told about Linux that it is not capable of doing X dude are completely novice and they have not ever used it or they just know the name of it.
ReplyDeletePlease give it a chance.
I am not a Linux advocate, I just love great thing.
Hello everybody!
ReplyDeleteI have some news for you...this is my take on making linux a batter place for the desktop:
I started a non profit organization a while ago, developing free open source (cross platform) games.
--------------------
www.FreezingMoon.org
--------------------
Finishing college soon and will speed up the development process a lot. We should have at least an alpha of one of the projects by the end of the year.
I really want to produce commercial like quality games and will do whatever it takes to get it done, hopefully at some point I'll even manage to make a studio because just working from home all the time will get a bit boring in the long run :D
We need more support from community and people to spread the word about us, by writing blog posts and so on.
Cheers!
-Vali (DreadKnight@FreezingMoon.org)
@anonymous - "The one game I can't get to work with Linux is "The Sims 2."
ReplyDeleteWell it looks like you can run The Sims 3 on Cedega now... See this digg article:
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Sims_3_on_Linux
I've been working on my game for a while. The problem is you will have a rough time unless you have exact hardware specifications. Some things will be supported others won't.
ReplyDeleteBut the real problem lies with the developers and distributors of the software. You got too much attitude and too many opinions coming out of those camps.
There is the holy banter of Free! software.
These guys push politics which have no place in open-source when you're trying to provide a solution. They worry about patents, what license certain code has, and who the developer was that wrote it.
This severely hinders productivity.
Look at how much flak Microsoft takes for having CodePlex.
It's ten times better than sourceforge.
The tools are there . Blender3D will model and export to your hearts content.
SDL will contain your OpenGL framework and provide a mechanism for input.
It will play music and sound clips.
It's not packaged up easily enough though.
And with half working drivers you won't get 3D performance. Most people don't know how to install ATI or NVIDIA drivers. And there is nothing you can really do for the others cards other than upgrade the whole Xorg suite which tends to break other things.
So the primary thing that needs fixing is to stop with the ridicules upgrading everything to get one feature. Redhat tends to back port new features. But I don't think anyone tends to backport drivers from a newer Xorg to an older one. The model is full of holes.
Most people don't have the bandwidth to flip and flop between distributions when they mess up a release. I mean are you going to say to use Ubuntu only for your game? What if Fedore better supports your NVIDIA customers? Are you going to provide support for 3 different distributions?
To fix the problems:
1. Get rid of the opinions
2. Get rid of the Anal Retentiveness
3. Find a good Quality Control expert to oversee your development.
4. Get some training.
I don't know that I will ever finish my game under the linux platform. I may move development to Windows / 360. But I'll surly keep it free or inexpensive. No game is worth $50.
Users aren't interested in development and goals.As far as ethics it has nothing to do with Microsoft vs Linux.Large corporations are concerned with one thing:Money.If they where not greedy then they would be a small company with ethics.Most people don't care about excuses/reasons why they have difficulties.Quite simply, within 10 clicks can a person install and run a game.Does the game look good,does it play well,and most importantly is it fun.
ReplyDeleteI think not a chance.
ReplyDelete