Two PC Action Games Being Ported To Linux

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Two PC Action Games Being Ported To Linux

It has been nearly four months since Unreal Tournament 3 first shipped for the PC, while the Linux client is still missing in action due to software legal issues. At the same time, Linux Game Publishing is running late on delivering their Linux ports of both Bandits: Phoenix Rising and X3: Reunion. Over the past couple of quarters it's definitely been an unpleasant time for the Linux commercial gaming scene, but this week there is good news coming out of Finland and that is two games -- both relatively new to the marketplace -- being ported to Linux.

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=12027

[Michael]

Discussion also @ http://www.phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=8361

[curaga]

Small typo, Finish-based should read Finnish-based..

[Kevin]

These two games actually look ok. Might be worth checking out when they get released for Linux.

[Michael]

Small typo, Finish-based should read Finnish-based..

Oops, fixed. Thanks.

[container]

Looks like I'll have to get the game: I'm Finnish and a Linux user. I also like the idea of indicating to the game companies that if they make Linux ports, it's actually worth the finance and the time, because people will actually buy the game more.

Furthermore, free operating systems (namely Linux) aren't spreading very fast because kids can't play games on them. Of course, if all the people switched to Linux first, then all game companies would release their games for that platform. Users would make the decision first, and as a result, software houses would adapt to that. But people don't have that kind of faith; they would prefer to see all games and software available on Linux FIRST. And of course, usually software isn't ported to Linux because nobody uses it. This may be a bit cynical, but people as users aren't themselves really capable of switching to a free OS, but the software companies could make it happen by providing multi-platform software first. I see this game porting project as a small step in the advancement of a free OS as well.

Also, when I get the game, it'll be interesting to see how well it works on my Hardy box that has a Radeon and fglrx. ;)

[Vadi]

I'll be getting it too, I'm interested.

[KohlyKohl]

I just noticed something interesting while I was updating my Sins of a Solar Empire. Apparently you can also download this game using Stardock Central's Totalgaming.net. It does not seem likely that they would port over this application. However, it shows that they are willing to use other means of digital distribution.

Still it would seem very likely that steam is being ported to Linux, for this and perhaps other games. After all, why would they port Steam for one game?

[Regenwald]

well, i think that steam on linux would be the holy grail for linux. there are so many games available through steam. ea could easyly follow...

[joshuapurcell]

Nice article... it's ones like these that are the reason I joined up on this site in the first place. The game looks good, and if there's any way I'll be able to get the game then I will.

[d2kx]

Port Steam and the Source engine and Valve is above godlike :) Steam just got 66 new games on it and it's getting bigger and bigger... and I could finally play my favourite game, the Kreedz Climbing mod for HL2 again (fglrx & wine & Steam = sucks).

[container]

Sorry, but now that we're talking about Steam: isn't it just a downloading tool, and not a game engine? Even if you ported Steam to Linux, wouldn't you still have to port every single game available through it individually? I've hardly ever used it myself, but I can't see what's holy-grailey about it...

[Svartalf]

Sorry, but now that we're talking about Steam: isn't it just a downloading tool, and not a game engine? Even if you ported Steam to Linux, wouldn't you still have to port every single game available through it individually? I've hardly ever used it myself, but I can't see what's holy-grailey about it...

By and of itself, it's not holy-grailish. (Might be Monty Python and the...) With the Source Engine and Steam, comes Half Life 2 and a host of other titles that they're shipping right now through the Steam service.

To be sure, there's...issues...with Steam, but if it and Source are coming (Keep in mind that they were posting job openings for a couple of cross-platform game developers with Linux experience preferred in the last year.)...heh...it'd be nice to say the least. Who can say what will come of all of it?

[niniendowarrior]

By and of itself, it's not holy-grailish. (Might be Monty Python and the...) With the Source Engine and Steam, comes Half Life 2 and a host of other titles that they're shipping right now through the Steam service.

To be sure, there's...issues...with Steam, but if it and Source are coming (Keep in mind that they were posting job openings for a couple of cross-platform game developers with Linux experience preferred in the last year.)...heh...it'd be nice to say the least. Who can say what will come of all of it?

Job openings really don't mean anything as far as I can see. I read before Positech was asking about Linux porting of some of their titles. THAT NEVER MATERIALIZED.

And Steam isn't really a huge thing. It's the things being sold on Steam that should hit Linux. :D

[sashimi]

At last having good commercial games being ported to linux!

OK, so now all we need is go give a major kick in the asses of ATI and NVIDIA so that they get round to program drivers which do as good (if not better) than the windows ones.

I am a ATI user (laptop : didn't have the choice) and I must say that the last ATI fglrx drivers are getting worse and worse.

I'd be happy to at last change my laptop for a new high end one and be able to play X3, but not until gfx drivers with REAL 3D support come out.

[KohlyKohl]

Digital Distribution is the up and coming medium. I just purchased my first game this way and if I could do this for every game in the future I would. If steam was on Linux this would make it easier for smaller companies to distribute their products to Linux users without having to worry about media production costs and selling to stores.

[BlueKoala]

I think it would be wise for Steam to port to linux and have a linux game store. Ever since vista came out, a few distributions have started gaining traction and at this point it really is starting to gain more and more momentum. Not only for the home desktops and laptops, but also workstations. I think most IT managers would reconsider switching to Vista, notably due to licensing costs and hardware costs as well as office 2007 not being as fun and intuitive as 2003. Not only do I think it's bad buisness practice from MS to force their customers to upgrade, but I also think it's going to cost them a slice from the pie which will be enough to put them in a very compromising situation. It may be just a matter of time before the corporate world realises that besides an exchange server, MS has no real compelling offerings. I think a lot of credit is due to composite desktop as it shows people that a 5 year old computer can put vista's AERO to shame on a much newer system.
If more computers are going to Linux, games are sure to follow.
Besides, using wine and dosbox you can probably play more MS platform titles on Linux than you can with Vista.
I'm going to buy this game regardless of the consequences for the simple fact that it's being ported to Linux. If companies can observe that porting their games to Linux can be financially viable on top of getting kudos, I don't think it will be very long before the mainstream game developpers start going for a cross platform solution. Of course, I think OpenGL 3.0 will be an important variable in this whole equasion.

[xav1r]

Isnt it a coincidence that most games being ported to linux are from finnish companies, and linux, well, Linus Torvalds, finnish too. :P

[Vadi]

Firefox has the biggest market share of all europe in Finland too, I think. Like 50%.

[xav1r]

Yea, and where is openGL 3.0, it's been MIA for a while now.

[BlueKoala]

I hear its being re-vamped.