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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: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @06:31PM
Sorry, this is off-topic, but I don't know where else to put it.
I know there have been changes to the mod system here lately. Some of the new mod categories like "Touche" and "Disagree" are good. But "Flamebait" is being horribly abused.
I'm seeing lots of good comments getting modded "Flamebait". Here are some recent examples:
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6320&cid=151058 [soylentnews.org]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6320&cid=151118 [soylentnews.org]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6321&cid=151045 [soylentnews.org]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6320&cid=151050 [soylentnews.org]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6318&cid=150913 [soylentnews.org]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6318&cid=151110 [soylentnews.org]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6317&cid=150981 [soylentnews.org]
The "Flamebait" mod is clearly being abused far more often than it's ever used appropriately. Those are all good comments, even if some people may disagree with them.
I'd like to see the "Flamebait" mod completely removed.
If something needs to take its place, I'd like to see a "Stimulating" mod put in place, and it's an upmod instead of a downmod.
The comments incorrectly modded as "Flamebait" tend not to be trying to provoke flamewars. Rather, they just express an opinion that is unique or contrary to that held by the majority.
Those kinds of comments should be celebrated here. They make the discussion here interesting, as compared to the bland and mindless discussion over at Reddit or HN or even Slashdot.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @06:57PM
This is stimulating flamebaitery, and will be modded appropriately. Off-topic, too. And I disagree. Touch@!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @07:18PM
I don't see that comment as flamebait. It's pointing out some real problems. I think it should be modded up even if it isn't about this particular story. It's a good comment.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @07:32PM
Wait a minute! Aren't you the same poster what posted the astonishingly brash flamebait? Yep, AC! You could claim you are a different AC, but that won't fool anyone. We AC's must stick together, because we are all the same and no one pays attention to our complaints disguised as flamebait.
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday February 28 2015, @08:32PM
I would have modded those funny instead of flamebait.
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Sunday March 01 2015, @12:21AM
That is what I did, I mean only 100 Chinese names? It was obvious the person was using a classic "modest proposal" style of satire and the "comrades!" at the end really should have given the modder a clue it was satire. Just sad that we really do need some "I'm being a smartass" symbol because so few have a sense of humor anymore.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 01 2015, @02:05AM
Not only OT but completely Off Thread? Are you in the Chinese government requiring real names thread instead of the Steam on Linux thread? I like your style!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @09:52PM
Nah, I don't really post here often. I didn't post the earlier comments with the links, either. I'm just a /. refugee who agrees that bad modding ruins a community like this faster than anything else, including beta sites and video ads.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by moondrake on Saturday February 28 2015, @10:48PM
I disagree. Several of those were inflammatory and off-topic. Perhaps they were intended to discuss some politically incorrect issues, but if so, they lacked the skill to do this without making it same racist or insulting. I would not have modded most of them down, but I can certainly see why others did.
For 2 of them i cannot understand why they were downmodded, but I am doubtful that his points to a pattern of abuse.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @10:57PM
They're only "inflammatory" if you're a left-leaning weirdo who sees "racism" absolutely everywhere, even when it isn't at all present.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 01 2015, @01:57AM
And that "insightful" mod yet further proof that something is wrong with moderations!
Thanks for demonstrating the full range of errors.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 01 2015, @02:08AM
I'm seeing lots of good comments getting modded "Flamebait". Here are some recent examples:
Big deal. At the time of this writing not a single one of those is suffering from excessive down-modding.
Here are the current net moderations on them:
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6320&cid=151058 [soylentnews.org] [Net moderation: +3 ]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6320&cid=151118 [soylentnews.org] [Net moderation: +0 ]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6321&cid=151045 [soylentnews.org] [Net moderation: +0 ]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6320&cid=151050 [soylentnews.org] [Net moderation: +2 ]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6318&cid=150913 [soylentnews.org] [Net moderation: +0 ]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6318&cid=151110 [soylentnews.org] [Net moderation: +0 ]
https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?sid=6317&cid=150981 [soylentnews.org] [Net moderation: +0 ]
There is nothing extreme going on here. There are plenty of good up-mods that far, far out weight your neutral examples. Your complaints, like nearly every other complaint about moderation ever at this site, are about making the perfect the enemy of the good.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 01 2015, @02:25AM
They only got upmodded because that AC brought it to our attention. They would've remained incorrectly modded had the effort not been made to remedy the injustices they suffered.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 01 2015, @02:35AM
Sure...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 01 2015, @01:36PM
Rubbish. I actually modded some of them down because they were brought to my attention.
(Score: 3, Informative) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday March 01 2015, @12:14PM
Bad downmodding is always going to be a problem, no matter if we only have one downmod or thirty. Which is why we have more mod points in circulation right now in the hopes that the community will self-police and take care of bad downmods themselves. Look for an RFC for some upcoming changes after NCommander gets a status update on his RFC from last week out.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.