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Ars Technica reports:
For decades after Linux's early '90s debut, even the hardest of hardcore boosters for the open source operating system had to admit that it couldn't really compete in one important area of software: gaming.
Now, more than a year into the SteamOS era (measuring from that beta launch), the nascent Linux gaming community is cautiously optimistic about the promise of a viable PC gaming market that doesn't rely on a Microsoft OS. Despite technical and business problems that continue to get in the way, Valve has already transformed gaming on Linux from "practically nothing" to "definitely something" and could be on the verge of making it much more than that.
For those already running Linux on their main machines, though, finally having significant gaming options on their platform of choice will continue to be a happy side effect of Valve's still-developing push into this new market. "I do know that in the absolute worst case, the chicken-and-egg problem is solved," Gordon said. "You get people to a platform with games, but games won't come until people are on a platform. Valve being there has clearly given developers the faith to stick their toes in the water right away."
Linux gaming has come a long way. I have a couple hundred games on Steam than run under Linux. (Well, most of them ;) Here's to the next era being freedom oriented from it's foundations. Oculus selling out to FB was a blow, but I think Steam will do it right if only because they have thrown their hat into SteamOS.
"Steam is bringing the best games and user-generated content to exciting new destinations. At GDC 2015, we’ll be giving demos of the refined Steam Controller, new living room devices, and a previously-unannounced SteamVR hardware system."
http://store.steampowered.com/universe/
http://steamcommunity.com/app/250820
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/02/23/steamvr-announced/
And because it's related, interesting and open source.
http://osvr.com/
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Nerdfest on Saturday February 28 2015, @06:10PM
I too have 100+ Steam games on Linux. As with buying laptops without the "Windows tax", I think this gaming is an area where you have to "put your money where your mouth is" and reward those that push things in the direction you want. I have an XBox 360, but won't likely be buying the new XBox because I want to support gaming on Linux and I've had enough of Microsoft's continued unethical behaviour towards Linux.
It's pretty nice running games on Linux. I've had no problems with any of the games, and I got a kick out of how easy it was dealing with in-game voice under Linux compared to the person I was chatting with running Windows. I hope things continue to improve. I was a little worried when Microsoft backed off a little on the Windows 8 software store. I saw Windows 8 as the first step in a push towards an Apple-style curated "walled garden" when MS gets a cut of all software, and I think Valve saw this as well.
(Score: 5, Disagree) by Hairyfeet on Saturday February 28 2015, @07:23PM
I'll get hate for saying this but here goes, I will be amazed if Valve does not pull the plug on SteamOS in less than 3 years, probably less than 2, and here is why:
1.- the reason for it to exist? Is no longer there. Look up the interviews with gabe before the release and it was ALL hate for Windows 8 and the appstore, well what happened? Windows 8 went down to be WinME The Second Coming, the appstore? Dead as a doornail, in fact running the Win 10 beta I didn't even know where the appstore WAS until somebody pointed it out on a forum and visiting it? Its a ghost town, overpriced under cooked apps not even fanboys would love.
2.- Too many on Linux use it for philosophical reasons so they will kill any upward momentum. Agree or disagree with their beliefs but even the hardcore have to admit there is a LOT of Linux users that swear by everything GNU and HATE DRM with a rabid fiery passion. What is SteamOS? Its DRM, everything they despise about proprietary software...see the problem? Most of us on Windows do not care because we are happy to accept the DRM in return for what we get, ease of purchase, built in chat, banning of cheaters,ease of matchmaking, etc. While there is a subset of Linux users that will accept DRM I would argue the majority? Well they would be more likely to throw their PC in the trash rather than have it "tainted" by DRM. They are welcome to that belief, but it DOES seriously cut down on the amount of users Valve can get compared to Windows where the majority? Really do not mind DRM as long as they get the benefits.
3.- Gabe ROYALLY FUCKED UP, I'm talking "peed in the chili,took a dump on the boardroom table" level of fucked up and I seriously doubt there will be any coming back...what am I talking about? I'm talking about how badly he buttfucked the OEMs WRT to SteamOS! You had all these OEMs sink an INSANE amount of money building all these "console PCs" only for Gabe to say "its not ready yet" and leave them hanging in the breeze! Since PC parts have a shelf life, they had no choice but turn them into Win 8 boxes...and watch them bomb HARD as Windows PC gamers already HAVE gaming PCs (and more powerful ones for cheaper at that) and console users had no reason to buy an overpriced Windows PC so who did that leave? Nobody because without SteamOS there was nothing to make them stand out from the crowd. No way in hell gabe gets 'em onboard again after that clusterfuck.
So for all these reasons, not to mention you will never have more than a small subset of the Windows Steam library (since the majority of Windows games are DirectX and it makes no sense financially to port to OpenGL) i believe SteamOS will just slowly peter out before getting a little "it was a nice idea, but its over" press release that hardly anybody will notice in a couple years. they will probably offer to let Linux users switch their games to Windows, maybe throw them a few Valve titles as a "our bad" but with Win Mist8ke a bad memory, the appstore a bad joke, and Win 10 shaping up to be another Win 7? The reasons Gabe had to be pissed? Just no longer there. If it works for you now? I'm happy for ya, just don't be betting the farm on it, i have a feeling like Gamespy and GFWL it'll be a "whatever happened to?" a few years from now.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 1) by hottabasco on Sunday March 01 2015, @12:45PM
"1.- the reason for it to exist? Is no longer there. Look up the interviews with gabe before the release and it was ALL hate for Windows 8 and the appstore": - Steam was around before the Windows 8 and the appstore, so I don't think that true.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Sunday March 01 2015, @03:20PM
SteamOS. Not Steam itself.
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Sunday March 01 2015, @06:12PM
Uhhh TFA was about SteamOS, not Valve nor Steam. In fact the headline was "The State of Linux Gaming in the SteamOS Era" so yeah, kinda missed TFH as well as TFA didn't ya chief.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.