Make Some Linux Dedicated Games !

For all of those Linux Heads out there who keep bashing MS and probably Apple as well - Wouldnt it be a Decent idea if a Up in Coming Game Developer were to try and Design a Linux Exclusive Game Title?

Personally - I like Microsoft - but the only real reason I use it is for Gaming. If someone out there designed the Next 'Halo' -like exclusive Game for Linux, it would quite possibly turn gamers on to the Idea of Utilizing Ubuntu or something similar, and then hopfully future Developers may follow..

Why would this be a good idea? Well - if ur unfamiliar with Linux, then thats probably the kind of question you would ask. Since Linux is Open Source , the OS is free for everyone. And well - do some reading to get an understanding of why so many enthusisats have such High remarks of it.

How bout it? This plan just might work . . .

Why would this be a good idea? Well - if ur unfamiliar with Linux, then thats probably the kind of question you would ask.Xsan3

Sorry, but you come off as very naive. This plan might just never work. Wait, scratch out the 'might' part. It just won't work.

The reality is that AAA titles almost never get produced by brand new, up and coming developers. If they do, then they have guidance from some people in the industry. But most importantly, a dev team that is behind what's nearly guaranteed to be the next big games will need to have MASSIVE FINANCIAL BACKING.

And that's what it boils down to. If you want to make an amazing game with really high production values, you will need to have one of the big publishers behind you. And we all know that Activision, EA, or Ubisoft simply will not make risks like that.

I know you're well-meaning, but this is just unrealistic. We'll have world peace before some publisher decides to release their next blockbuster game to Linux only.

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

[QUOTE="Xsan3"]

Why would this be a good idea? Well - if ur unfamiliar with Linux, then thats probably the kind of question you would ask.giant11

Sorry, but you come off as very naive. This plan might just never work. Wait, scratch out the 'might' part. It just won't work.

The reality is that AAA titles almost never get produced by brand new, up and coming developers. If they do, then they have guidance from some people in the industry. But most importantly, a dev team that is behind what's nearly guaranteed to be the next big games will need to have MASSIVE FINANCIAL BACKING.

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

JigglyWiggly_

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

Iantheone

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

JigglyWiggly_

Maybe I'm wrong. But, the majority of Mac users tend to pay for their software while the prevailing mood with Linux users is that everything should be free. Valve probably sees making a profit with Mac users. But, they may not have the same opinion with regards to Linux users.

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

JigglyWiggly_

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

guildclaws

You have definite proof of this?

You have definite proof of this?Sparticus247

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

jun_aka_pekto

Maybe I'm wrong. But, the majority of Mac users tend to pay for their software while the prevailing mood with Linux users is that everything should be free. Valve probably sees making a profit with Mac users. But, they may not have the same opinion with regards to Linux users.

Anyway, here is proof for Steam under Linux.

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=ODE3Mw

And how much would u really predict it would cost to actually make a game? Crysis cost somewhere around $20million to make - and i doubt there would have to be that much spent to make a less graphically complex game as such.Xsan3

It would cost many millions. It always does. And as long as we're talking about 'the next Halo', it will need to have just about bleeding edge graphics.

It is possible to make a great game without having to bet the farm - it would just require someone who isnt out just to make millions - but someone who believes in building a better product. And I belive Linux is that better product.Xsan3

Linux is great. I like it. Is it great for developers/programmers/people who believe in open system design? Absolutely. But is it better for gaming? No.

IMO, what could kind of work is Linux getting more games ported after Valve finally releases Valve for Steam. You might have more and more games trickle down to Linux. But if we are arrive at a point when a AAA title gets release to Linux first, it will be at a time when Windows & Linux are treated equally by developers, and will more likely have happened by mere chance and will almost certainly be followed up by a port to Windows.

[QUOTE="guildclaws"][QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

Sparticus247

You have definite proof of this?

And for someone else to say it would be unprofitable is also an Unforseen prediction. Why wouldnt it be? If the OS is free - and the game costs as much as any other game - Why not buy it ?

EDIT: @ JigglyWiggly - Thx for the Link about Steam coming to Linux - There is no doubt in my mind Linux Programmers out there can Optimize an OS directly for Gaming and the Entertainment World.
When this does ever happen - - Id like to see Steam post a Link or a free download of a Linux OS , that can be setup like Ubuntu and partition its OS an already existing Loaded HDD.

[QUOTE="Xsan3"]And how much would u really predict it would cost to actually make a game? Crysis cost somewhere around $20million to make - and i doubt there would have to be that much spent to make a less graphically complex game as such.giant11

It would cost many millions. It always does. And as long as we're talking about 'the next Halo', it will need to have just about bleeding edge graphics.

It is possible to make a great game without having to bet the farm - it would just require someone who isnt out just to make millions - but someone who believes in building a better product. And I belive Linux is that better product.Xsan3

Linux is great. I like it. Is it great for developers/programmers/people who believe in open system design? Absolutely. But is it better for gaming? No.

Im sure a Decade ago - folks would have said the same negativity about the Xbox, and how MS isnt a Hardware corp...But theyve managed to pull it off.

Performance is going to be around the same level as a Mac... as in not very good :P

Performance is going to be around the same level as a Mac... as in not very good :P

JigglyWiggly_

[QUOTE="Sparticus247"]You have definite proof of this?subrosian

[QUOTE="subrosian"][QUOTE="Sparticus247"]You have definite proof of this?alexside1

BTW - Who would have Ever though Apple would start using INTEL hardware? Im sue someone probably asked that question at sometime and too got a bunch of Negative responses saying how impossible or unprofitable the idea is. Or someone said Apple or Intel wil NEVER do that!

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]

Performance is going to be around the same level as a Mac... as in not very good :P

Xsan3

I'm not sure how long you've used Linux for but back in the late 90s, early 00's a company called Loki tried to port commercial games to Linux. They ended up closing down reasonably quickly. I remember when they were porting games and asking for money Linux users were complaining about having to pay for software. Unless this everything has got to be free attitude has changed I don't hold out much hope for Linux as a proper gaming platform. I still have a heap of Loki retail boxes here. It was a good time to be a Linux user, it sucked to see them close so quickly though.CellAnimation

The environment has definitely changed. For one, there are a lot more Linux users. And at least part of the reason for that is the much better hardware support in Linux. Also, a number of Linux users do pay for their software, for example, like with Transgaming's CEDEGA service.

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

JigglyWiggly_

To develop a Linux exclusive is kind of foolish since it's not the best market for games and making a small game run on Windows, Mac OS and Linux is not difficult, so why only support the platform that will be the least profitable?

This is a bad idea and you should feel bad.

(and for the record, your original post was about developing a game exclusively for linux, but this thread seems to have become a debate about the possibility of putting steam on linux.)

This is a bad idea and you should feel bad.

(and for the record, your original post was about developing a game exclusively for linux, but this thread seems to have become a debate about the possibility of putting steam on linux.)

iamthejapanman

YOU SHOULD FEEL BADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD :P

YOU SHOULD FEEL BADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD :P

JigglyWiggly_

Jig-U mentioned Nvidia/Ati drivers , Was cool to see Ubuntu Recognized my 8800gt and downloaded drivers Directly. And if u check out the Nvidia Website, U'll see Linux 32 & 64 bit drivers for just about all of thier cards - eve ur 460. They even support Free BSD . Kinda cool..!!

I mean, the performance of those drivers isn't anything spectacular... as in worse than Windows. But that's to be expected I mean, Windows has had games a lot longer. And yeah, Nvidia is really good about supporting other OS's, ATI... not so much.JigglyWiggly_

ur just mad you picked one of the cards that ATI won't support with Linux :P

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]I mean, the performance of those drivers isn't anything spectacular... as in worse than Windows. But that's to be expected I mean, Windows has had games a lot longer. And yeah, Nvidia is really good about supporting other OS's, ATI... not so much.Sparticus247

ur just mad you picked one of the cards that ATI won't support with Linux :P

And no FreeBSD drivers, but I will say not a lot of people use FreeBSD with a GUI. Though nvidia is bringing 64bit FreeBSD drivers now, they are in beta.

Yo prefiero DirectX mas de OpenGL (pero OpenGL esta bien tambien) :P was my spanish ok?

Who would think for a second that making an exclusive game for the least common os would be a good idea.. ever? Even with a small budget.Inconsistancy

[QUOTE="subrosian"][QUOTE="Sparticus247"]You have definite proof of this?alexside1

[QUOTE="jun_aka_pekto"]

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]

Just wait for Valve to port Steam to Linux... I mean if a game is on Mac, it won't take a lot of work to port it to Linux.

JigglyWiggly_

Maybe I'm wrong. But, the majority of Mac users tend to pay for their software while the prevailing mood with Linux users is that everything should be free. Valve probably sees making a profit with Mac users. But, they may not have the same opinion with regards to Linux users.

Anyway, here is proof for Steam under Linux.

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=ODE3Mw

Ok. My bad. It should be most Linux users aren't likely to fork over any cash. At least that's the perception.