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Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

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Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#31

Post by drivebyacct2 »

Camillo wrote: post #18
drivebyacct2 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. Why is that obvious? 2. "only? 3. Why do people care? Not necessarily you, but commenters on reddit, The Verge and others are practically angry at Valve supporting Linux.

I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but I get the impression that Linux-on-the-desktop peaked a couple of years ago, Now, with the Unity/Gnome 3/Mint/etc. mess, the momentum Ubuntu had has fragmented into several diverging paths. It seems harder now to recommend one single Linux distribution for the average user than it was two years ago. On top of that, the PC itself seems to have peaked. It's hard to think that Valv…

>the Unity/Gnome 3/Mint/etc mess

What mess? Unity is getting to be quite tolerable. Gnome is forging ahead with their vision and Mint provides a nice alternative to Ubuntu with several different UIs. I don't understand the argument that this is "bad". People have been saying that since the dawn of Linux and it's boring and an non-point.

If you accept that "PC" has peaked, Valve/Steam is screwed anyway. If consumers keep flocking to iOS/Windows8, let alone to Android... then Steam will die a painful death and modern computing will be reduced to mindless one-at-a-time "apps".

Ironically, the "mess" of Linux desktop is the only platform that isn't going for a signed, verified, OEM only software model eroding consumers' rights and freedoms along the way.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#36

Post by whichdan »

untog wrote: post #23
bitwize wrote: post #7

That's great but... where were you 15 years ago, Valve? I was trying to keep Windows 98 taped together to run HL...

Serious question: was Linux able to play any kind of game in 1998? Linux releases are a little more fluid so there aren't as many big moments, but I'd imagine it was a hell of a lot less capable in '98.

I've had a lot of fun playing Sokoban before.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#37

Post by moultano »

jsmeaton wrote: post #17
Breakthrough wrote: post #2

This is so amazing, but I'm really hoping that they release a way for mod developers to recompile their mods to work... Do they have the multiplayer aspects working? Obligatory plug for my favourite HL1 mod: http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/ Edit: Yep, sure enough HL1 shows up in the Steam Linux CDR ( http://cdr.xpaw.ru/linux/ ), and interestingly enough, so does Counter-Strike - albeit with the message "Not Marked fo…

Natural Selection was probably the funnest mod (with CS being my favourite). I've been trying to find reviews on NS2 from those that actually played the original - any chance you've given NS2 a go?

I made ns_shiva for the original, so that should speak to how much I liked it. :) I am completely in love with the sequel. It is fantastic.

Here are the main differences:

* Commanding is much less stressful. Giving the marines their own resources and the ability to buy their own weapons means you can focus more of your attention on just coordinating attacks and getting upgrades.

* Stalemates are much less common. In NS1 taking down the turret factory would mean that there's an opportunity for everyone to rush it to take the rest of the base, now every room has a power node in a fixed location that powers down all the structures when it is destroyed. This makes it much easier to force a beacon, and to end the game once the marines are down to their last base.

* Each class is much better balanced. Excellent Fades are no longer the sole backbone of a good team. Lerks now are useful at all skill levels. Exosuits are extremely powerful but very vulnerable when alone.

* Gorges are now a nice-to-have when building instead of absolutely necessary. This means they can be on the front-lines more often.

* Graphics (obviously) and very dynamic environments. The infestation spreading is beautiful, and taking the power down makes for some very tense moments.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#38

Post by jsnell »

untog wrote: post #23
bitwize wrote: post #7

That's great but... where were you 15 years ago, Valve? I was trying to keep Windows 98 taped together to run HL...

Serious question: was Linux able to play any kind of game in 1998? Linux releases are a little more fluid so there aren't as many big moments, but I'd imagine it was a hell of a lot less capable in '98.

There was a fair amount of AAA gaming support around that timeframe (say 1996-2000). Almost a golden age. Games based on the Quake engine were the most obvious example. Besides them, Loki ported maybe 20 games over to Linux. The ones I still have CDs around for somewhere are Railroad Tycoon 2, Heroes of Might and Magic 3 and Myth 2.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#39

Post by shmerl »

nitrogen wrote: post #29
shmerl wrote: post #24

Where can one buy the DRM free version?

Though your comment is clearly sarcastic, you might be able to get an old CD copy of HL1 from eBay, which only has CD key protection and works in Wine.

Why sarcastic, the question is sincere. It's nice to see Valve pushing for more native Linux games, but on the other hand I'm not using Steam because of its DRM. So that's why I asked if it would be possible to buy the Linux version somewhere outside Steam. Buying CDs in the age of digital distribution sounds crude.
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