Valve's Gabe Newell Talks Linux Steam Client, Source Engine

[johnc]

WOW WTF with these delayed posts? I thought they were failed to be posted. Can't even edit them to write "duplicated post". Such crappy forum system this site has...

I think new posters who post links have to have their posts approved before they appear.

[fuzz]

I think new posters who post links have to have their posts approved before they appear.

Links and/or images (I think), yes. Happened on my first post, took a few days for it to get approved. Can only assume there's a lot of spam posts like that. It also tells you in a message after you register.

[prophet5]

I'm not entirely sure why this is a problem. Isn't it clear to the user that they have to download the games and need a constant internet connection? What else can people say or how can they help?

It's a problem if your geographical location restricts your Internet because the infrastructure isn't there, which is the case for a lot of locations. I hope you're not suggesting to relocate your family and place of employment just so you can download a game. Like I said... I'm not flaming Steam. I do see it's good points too

For Windows users who argue that they can't play games on Linux, then a native Steam client would help migration, as long as the inference is for Valve and other developers to release Linux clients of there games as well. Steam on Linux would be inadequate if you could only buy Windows games.

[psycho_driver]

It's a problem if your geographical location restricts your Internet because the infrastructure isn't there, which is the case for a lot of locations. I hope you're not suggesting to relocate your family and place of employment just so you can download a game. Like I said... I'm not flaming Steam. I do see it's good points too

For Windows users who argue that they can't play games on Linux, then a native Steam client would help migration, as long as the inference is for Valve and other developers to release Linux clients of there games as well. Steam on Linux would be inadequate if you could only buy Windows games.

I'm considering relocating to KC for the Google 100mbit fiber. Does this make me a bad person?

I'm not all that far away now though

[Geri]

another rivet in microsofts coffin.

[Vax456]

It's a problem if your geographical location restricts your Internet because the infrastructure isn't there, which is the case for a lot of locations. I hope you're not suggesting to relocate your family and place of employment just so you can download a game. Like I said... I'm not flaming Steam. I do see it's good points too

Mmm, no, I'm not suggesting to relocate because you can't play a game. I'm suggesting that the user should be well aware that he needs a good internet connection. If the user moves to a place with a crappy internet connection, that's the user's problem. When the user asks for help, what else can anyone do besides tell the user to get a better internet connection?

[Qaridarium]

Also, for all of you guys.... I think you guys completely misunderstand how Valve operates.


From what I was reading from several years of articles, including the problematic ones from past, it is nothing special. It seems Valve indeed began to work on Linux as early as 2007 (which is something incredible considering how niche the platform was. There was no Android or any serious Linux-based platforms at that time.) But what you guys must realize is that there is no hierarchy in Valve.

Yes, you read it. There is NO hierarchy in Valve.

I assume you guys have jobs or at least did some intern. Your boss tells you to do something. You do it.
If you don't do it. You either need to present him/her valid reason(s) or risk getting fired or similar circumstances.

Inside Valve, this does not happen. People do stuffs whatever they like. If they get bored or feel it is not right, they stop doing it, and Gabe just does not care. He does not control his employees for what they are working on. Projects can be stalled for years if no one interests in working on, while others are being done very fast if a lot of people work on; there are no plans nor guides.

The result is obviously 'Valve' time. Half Life Episode 3 has been announced in 2006, promising 2007 Christmas release, and after nearly 6 years we are still waiting for it.

Team Fortress 2 was actually announced in 1998, and it was finally released on 2007, after 9 years of delaying and re-creating assets.


On the other hand, Valve initially had little interest in PS3, even Gabe said 'it sucks'. But suddenly, he began to like PS3 and Portal 2 came out with Steam on PS3. It is just because, Gabe and others just happened to find interesting things on PS3, so they decided to change their minds and worked hard on it. Obviously other projects including Linux and Episode 3 should had been delayed again because of people shifting into more interesting works.


That said, it is rather pointless whether Valve announce their vision about Linux or not. Even if they post a huge, big penguin and saying "STEAM FOR LINUX COMING SOON", it literally means nothing. It can be altered and delayed whatever Valve people imply. There can be such a big announcement and we would have to wait about 10 years to get a working native client, or, out of blue, they might just start beta for Steam Linux client without any warnings.


All what Michael confirmed is that there has been works done on Linux, and recently the work has been accelerated because Gabe got interest on the Linux work and there are some initial results. Nothing more, nothing less.

Even if Valve comes out and say "we have no plan for releasing Linux client for now" like 2010, still both Michael and Valve are right. Valve people have no plan, because they don't make plans in the first place. If you ask same question about Episode 3, the answer would be very similar/same like "we have no plan for releasing Episode 3 for now" for very same reason.

You also misunderstood something you don't need a "hierarchy" to share the same dream about a free and open operating system for your games.

And this time to many people share this dream inside of valve and outside of valve.

all your explanations doesn't matter at this point.

[kwm1800]

You also misunderstood something you don't need a "hierarchy" to share the same dream about a free and open operating system for your games.

And this time to many people share this dream inside of valve and outside of valve.

all your explanations doesn't matter at this point.

I think you do not comprehend my post at all. Your post is very weird..... I assume you are not familiar with English?

[not.sure]

I think you do not comprehend my post at all. Your post is very weird..... I assume you are not familiar with English?

Oh boy, you are new...

[Michael]

There will be a new three-page Valve Linux article on Saturday morning (CST time, soon as I land) about a "special Linux delivery" -- for those that don't follow my Twitter feed. It's on the behalf of all Phoronix readers.