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Portal Released For Steam On Linux

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Re: Portal Released For Steam On Linux

#31

Post by oceanstone »

hdra wrote: post #25
rinon wrote: post #10

Now if we can only get semi-stable, long-term graphics driver support for Linux to be able to play these games. I think there may be light at the end of that tunnel, since hardware vendors seem to be providing more support for Linux now.

when that day comes, I am sure many would switch to Linux, especially among the developers. In the past few years using Windows, I have stopped thinking about device drivers at all, I just expected them to work. I am looking forward to the day where this comes to desktop Linux.

Once Linux has good device drivers, someone will release a highly optimized distribution for gaming. Afterwards, I think Linux will start to become the leading desktop OS.

Re: Portal Released For Steam On Linux

#32

Post by fragsworth »

Steam is now the de-facto "app store" of the PC as far as games go, which was no small feat. It took them more than 10 years to get to this point and it's now in jeopardy.

With Google and Apple already controlling the mobile app stores, various console manufacturers controlling their own ecosystems, and Microsoft attempting to abandon their "open" Windows (so they can run their own app store) - the industry is shifting into a position of hardware/OS manufacturers/monopolies taking massive cuts (30%) from the software market. Valve, without any hardware of their own, but a very large PC app store with a significant user base, really has nowhere else to turn. Gabe himself has expressed quite a bit of dismay over Microsoft's recent decisions.

I expect them to use everything in their power to make Linux become a mainstream thing. They're going to port all of their own games to Linux, and I expect at some point there will be Linux-only discounts for their games.

I really hope Microsoft underestimated their power, and that Valve is capable of doing this. It'll be better for all of us. The software industry is heading in very bad directions, and this is at least a glimmer of hope.

Re: Portal Released For Steam On Linux

#33

Post by Shorel »

stephengillie wrote: post #13

How long before Steam for Android? And Portal for Android?

Steam for Android? What for?

Android already has a game store. It doesn't make any business sense for Valve to try to compete with Google Play Store.

About Portal: It has to be profitable enough to justify the huge cost of porting the game to Android. The same for any other game.

Re: Portal Released For Steam On Linux

#34

Post by thefreeman »

hkmurakami wrote: post #19
chongli wrote: post #7

Sweet. Now hopefully they bring DOTA2 over next. That game will lead to a ton of Linux switchers!

Yup, I've been waiting for Dota2 on Linux steam for a few months now (getting the game to work via Wine & an ATI graphics card was one of the first things I spent hours figuring out after getting my linux box! http://www.hkmurakami.com/blog/2013/022_dota2_linux.html )

You didn't happen to run into (and solve) the issue of all characters moving in an extremely jerky fashion, did you (ie. take two steps forward, suddenly jerk back a frame)? It's the one thing I cannot solve and forces me to continue to dual boot >_>

Re: Portal Released For Steam On Linux

#35

Post by sharkweek »

fragsworth wrote: post #32

Steam is now the de-facto "app store" of the PC as far as games go, which was no small feat. It took them more than 10 years to get to this point and it's now in jeopardy. With Google and Apple already controlling the mobile app stores, various console manufacturers controlling their own ecosystems, and Microsoft attempting to abandon their "open" Windows (so they can run their own app store) - the industry is shifti…

Spit-balling a marketing strategy that could violently backfire here; but if anyone could pull it off, it might be Valve...

Ok try not to laugh....

HL3 releases in the next few years.... only available on Linux for the first few months

Re: Portal Released For Steam On Linux

#36

Post by Skoofoo »

fragsworth wrote: post #32

Steam is now the de-facto "app store" of the PC as far as games go, which was no small feat. It took them more than 10 years to get to this point and it's now in jeopardy. With Google and Apple already controlling the mobile app stores, various console manufacturers controlling their own ecosystems, and Microsoft attempting to abandon their "open" Windows (so they can run their own app store) - the industry is shifti…

I would sympathize with Valve if they didn't completely ignore Linux before acting like the Linux community's best friend when it became apparent that they had nowhere else to turn to [1]. Like many, I'm a fan of their games and their flat management, but they have a history of being as short-sighted and callous as EA and I wish more people would see that [2].

I have a lot more respect for the people behind Humble Bundle/Wolfire, who went out of their way to support Linux long before it was cool [3]. Plus they don't force DRM middleware on you.

[1] http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/linux/steamd-penguins/

[2] http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/11/valve-tricked-h/

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugaru

Re: Portal Released For Steam On Linux

#37

Post by kbenson »

rinon wrote: post #10

Now if we can only get semi-stable, long-term graphics driver support for Linux to be able to play these games. I think there may be light at the end of that tunnel, since hardware vendors seem to be providing more support for Linux now.

Valve collects a lot of stats on systems that use their software, including hardware, driver versions, and installed libraries (I think?). They have the power to really drill down and find out which hardware and/or drivers are causing problems, and I expect they'll use it to good effect.

Re: Portal Released For Steam On Linux

#38

Post by shmerl »

fragsworth wrote: post #32

Steam is now the de-facto "app store" of the PC as far as games go, which was no small feat. It took them more than 10 years to get to this point and it's now in jeopardy. With Google and Apple already controlling the mobile app stores, various console manufacturers controlling their own ecosystems, and Microsoft attempting to abandon their "open" Windows (so they can run their own app store) - the industry is shifti…

> Steam is now the de-facto "app store" of the PC as far as games go

I hope GOG will become comparable numbers wise, since it's the only big DRM free alternative as of now. Though they lack Linux releases yet. (Keep voting here: http://www.gog.com/wishlist/site/add_linux_versions_of_games).

Re: Portal Released For Steam On Linux

#39

Post by dmoy »

loser777 wrote: post #11

Yet another reason to lament the lack of decent mouse driver support in GNU/Linux. As long as I have to relearn how to move my mouse in order to play a game, I'm going to keep a Windows box handy for games.

Yea my mouse is wonky as hell in Linux. Keyboard drivers too :( The mechanical keyboard I have at home doesn't even work in linux. Every keystroke registers as three other characters (e.g. the F1 key types out 'mij'). None of the keys work. But it works flawlessly on Windows. I realize this is as much the keyboard manufacturer's fault as anyone, but it just adds one more thing I'd have to sink hours into if I wanted to use Linux on my hardware.

If I wasn't into gaming, I'd be able to move completely off of Windows. But until games are available and peripherals "just work", that's not going to happen :(

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