Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

phoronix.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 159 posts

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#41

Post by alexanderh »

barredo wrote: post #12
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…

You surely meant http://www.dayofdefeat.com/

Both of you seem to have misspoke, you meant to say http://www.moddb.com/mods/action-half-life

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#42

Post by alexanderh »

DeepDuh wrote: post #35
daenz wrote: post #34

I read this as a hint/signal that Half-Life 3 may be available on Linux as well.

Just imagine the effect an exclusive linux release of HL (ep?) 3 would have. If Valve really wanted to piss on Microsoft's foot, that's what they should do.

I dont think there is a chance in hell that it'd be a Linux exclusive but if it's on Linux at launch, that would still be HUGE.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#43

Post by jeffool »

shmerl wrote: post #39
nitrogen wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think people (myself included) took your initial inquiry as sarcastic because you didn't so much as ask if it were possible as ask where it could be done. The wording kinda to presume one COULD purchase the game without DRM. And if you know Valve (and you may not, that's fair), then you should know DRM is their bread and butter. They're more synonymous with their DRM scheme/store/toolset Steam than they are with games.

To use a more readily recognizable name... It would be like seeing a post about a new version of Windows releasing, and someone saying "Great! Where can I get the source so I can roll my own?" Maybe that person wouldn't know... But the assumption is going to be they're making a comment rather than asking a genuine question.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#44

Post by joeyo »

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 am pretty sure that the Quake 3 demo was released for Linux first and my memory is that this was an intentional move by Carmack to promote Linux [1].

1. Wikipedia lists the release dates for the full game, which were in Dec 1999 for both Windows and Linux (windows a few weeks earlier). I don't recall exactly when the demo came out, but I think it was sometime in the winter of 1999.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#46

Post by shmerl »

jeffool wrote: post #43
shmerl wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think people (myself included) took your initial inquiry as sarcastic because you didn't so much as ask if it were possible as ask where it could be done. The wording kinda to presume one COULD purchase the game without DRM. And if you know Valve (and you may not, that's fair), then you should know DRM is their bread and butter. They're more synonymous with their DRM scheme/store/toolset Steam than they are with ga…

Well, I never used Steam preferring DRM free distributors like GOG, so I can't say much about Valve in this regard except that I know that Steam uses it :) It's unfortunate that they are too engrossed in DRM as much as preventing their games form being distributed by DRM free channels.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#47

Post by RegEx »

moultano wrote: post #37
jsmeaton wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Sounds fun! I've heard a lot about the game and I'm thinking of giving it a go myself.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#48

Post by jeffool »

shmerl wrote: post #46
jeffool wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think people (myself included) took your initial inquiry as sarcastic because you didn't so much as ask if it were possible as ask where it could be done. The wording kinda to presume one COULD purchase the game without DRM. And if you know Valve (and you may not, that's fair), then you should know DRM is their bread and butter. They're more synonymous with their DRM scheme/store/toolset Steam than they are with ga…

Well, I never used Steam preferring DRM free distributors like GOG, so I can't say much about Valve in this regard except that I know that Steam uses it :) It's unfortunate that they are too engrossed in DRM as much as preventing their games form being distributed by DRM free channels.

Well, Valve owns Steam, their publishing arm/store/DRM. And like EA now sells their games with their online store/DRM "Origin", Valve does the same with theirs, Steam!

Yeah, they get more by shoehorning people into Steam than they would lose from not selling DRM-free versions.

There may have been a point to stop this from growing into what it's become early on... But it's too far gone to be broken free of save a major scandal. And even then, it'd probably take a few. It's just by far and large a non-invasive tool. They've worked out many kinks.

I'm not saying it's perfect, nor am I saying we should be happy with it. But it's avoided the major problems most other DRM efforts see in "making things more difficult for legit users than pirates". I haven't had any issues with any aspects in years.

Re: Valve Pushes Out Half-Life For Linux

#50

Post by lifeguard »

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…

Dust!
Post reply on HN