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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: 2) by Hairyfeet on Monday March 02 2015, @04:02PM
I'm sorry but you are invoking meme 27, imaginary problems kill Windows [tmrepository.com] only switching the kill target, although one could argue you are trying to invoke meme 52 Windows is buggy [tmrepository.com] and simply invoking it poorly.
in either case you are showing both your biases AND your age as the behavior you describe, Windows wiping the drive? Hasn't been the default for Windows since Windows 98SE which has been EOL since 2004. From Win2K on up the default behavior if Windows encounters a drive that isn't already pre-formatted is to ASK what size a partition you want, you can tailor it down to the MB. If you are attempting to install Windows on a drive preformatted to EXT 3 for the entire drive? That is YOUR fault as Windows doesn't support EXT 3 anymore that Linux supports WIMBoot and ExFAT. As for the bootloader? No different than how most Linux installers do, in both cases they figure if you are intelligent enough to attempt to set up a dual boot you are intelligent enough to add a line to the boot loader, takes all of 15 seconds to do in either OS.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 2) by urza9814 on Monday March 02 2015, @07:03PM
No, most Linux installers will autodetect other operating systems or your existing bootloader and chain that into Grub or whatever. Windows doesn't. Most Linux installers give you an option during the install process to make any necessary changes to the bootloader. Windows doesn't. Doesn't take that long to reset the bootloader if you've still got your Linux installation media laying around, but I've got exactly one flash drive that I always use to burn installers, so I'd probably have to go re-download that...and get some awful shareware app to do it since Windows doesn't have dd...yeah, it's simple, but it's not always that simple. It'd take at least an hour just to restore the bootloader on my current laptop if I had to do it right now in its current state. It'd take around 30 minutes to install Windows in a VM.
I'm 24 years old. I started playing with Linux when I was 15 or 16. Win98 was *long* gone by then. I've never installed anything earlier than XP SP0 on bare metal. But I did have my entire drive wiped by that Windows installer once. I think I used a Dell OEM install disk though so I suppose there could have been something different because of that.
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Tuesday March 03 2015, @03:56AM
Uhhh...dude? They are STILL overwriting the installed bootloader FOR THEIR OWN. If it was a truly logical and non biased system it would ask "Would you like to have Grub, have grub and add a line for the Windows OS, or keep the Windows bootloader and add a line to it for our OS? Please note if you choose 3 you will have to DIY" but that is NOT what it does, it does the exact. same. thing. Windows does and overwrites the previous bootloader without prompting. This is why I recommend Linux in a VM now, got tired of doing the "Fix MBR, fix boot" dance because none of the Linux installers would just install the OS and give ME, the user, the choice of what to do on the bootloader issue.
And you just told us all we need to know, because you have AAMOF NEVER installed Windows even once! A Dell recovery disc says quite clearly it is A RECOVERY DISC, it is NOT a Windows installation disc! How you think you can say you know how Windows behaves when you do not even understand the difference between recovery OEM and install CD/DVD? Again shows your bias and lack of actual real world experience. A Dell disc is designed to put a PC back to factory image...that's it, you can NOT install Windows from this disc, in fact if you try to run it on anything other than the model it came with all it will do is make a big fucked up mess, as everything from the registry to the boot order has been PRESET by Dell at the factory. The reason why they do this is two-fold, 1.- They get paid $$ to install bloatware, the bloatware is already baked into the recovery disc so if you recover? You get the bloatware back. 2.- If you want an actual Windows install disc you can get one from Del...at an additional fee.
But just FYI saying you "installed" an XP RTM recovery disc so you "know" how Windows behaves? Not only makes you look uninformed, it makes you look like a dinosaur. It would be like me giving a review of Linux by trotting out the first edition of Debian...you see XP RTM was released FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, a full decade and a half, and has about as much to do with how modern Windows operates as Debian 1 is a reflection of how the latest Mint behaves. And again you didn't even install a single copy of XP RTM, you used a Dell disc image of a crapware loaded preinstall, and you are using THAT to judge how Windows behaves? Dude get with this decade, okay? Try an actual copy of Windows 7, you might actually like it!
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.