6 ms·

The question at the heart of this: what stakeholders exist that are incentivized to create a Linux-exclusive game? Halo was XBOX-exclusive because Bungie was o

by jmduke 13y ago

The question at the heart of this: what stakeholders exist that are incentivized to create a Linux-exclusive game? Halo was XBOX-exclusive because Bungie was owned by Microsoft; their specific goal was to make an XBOX-exclusive title, and there was a very real incentive for them to funnel energy into the platform. DICE (and to a much lesser extent, Valve[1]) gets nothing specifically from having a Linux version besides the slightly larger target audience (and PR); there's nothing in it for them to spend massive development time on a AAA game and not release it on Windows + Mac + Consoles as well. Am I missing something? [1] From what I understand, Valve's pursuing non-Windows options to try and avoid a shootout between them and Windows Store. That's pretty understandable in of itself.

rythie 13y ago
What about Ubuntu? they have their own store so they could benefit directly from the game's sales
- Mikeb85 13y ago
  But Ubuntu is open-source, so if Ubuntu tries to lock anyone in, Valve just forks and has full control. The very nature of Linux and open source distros is what Valve likes, Ubuntu is simply the most accessible and easiest to recommend. Steam works just fine on a number of other Linux distros BTW (I've run it on Arch and openSUSE machines too).
  - rythie 13y ago
    It only has to be exclusive to the Ubuntu store, doesn't stop people playing Steam games. Valve forking Ubuntu, doesn't give them right distribute the game.
    - Mikeb85 13y ago
      Sorry, misunderstood. I do think however that if Linux is going to take off because of a game, it'll be a SteamOS exclusive. The advantage of Steam is that it runs on every Linux distro, (even automatically solving dependencies), versus the Software centre which is an Ubuntu exclusive.
mbell 13y ago
Valve can use Half-Life 3 / Portal 3 exclusives on SteamOS to push adoption of the OS/console which benefits them greatly.
- phaus 13y ago
  Exactly, Back when HL2 came out, I didn't want to install Steam, but ultimately I wasn't going to miss out on the sequel to the best FPS ever made. Then again, it's far easier to install Steam than it is for the average person to abandon Windows. I guess that's where the Steam Box comes in.
- anologwintermut 13y ago
  But that would be Steam OS exlcusive, not actually on any other Linux distro. So while it might trickle down to better game dev tool support in linux, it wouldn't on face effect adoption rates. If you say that SteamOS means a game is Linux exclusive, you can say Metal Gear Solid for was CellOS/BSD exclusive[0]. [0]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3_system_software http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3_system_software
  - aclevernickname 13y ago
    MGS was released for the original playstation, which did not run either CellOS or BSD.
    - anologwintermut 13y ago
      I meant MGS 4. Somehow I left out the 4.
- theg2 13y ago
  Or commit fiscal suicide. I'm not interested in installing a gaming focused OS on my desktop just to play a single game.
scoofy 13y ago
You need to think about this not on a simplistic single-game game theory model, but more specifically, creating a linux exclusive game would be part of a broader long term strategy. Boosting the popularity of an open gaming system would reduce the rents that can be charged by network holders on gaming companies. This would, obviously be a short term money loser, but with firms like Valve, that have a major foothold and could take the short term hit, boosting a open system/network could pay dividends in reduced future costs (granted, i'm not in the industry, and this is purely speculative).
hrkristian 13y ago
I get the impression you've missed the announcements of SteamBoxes and SteamOS. Valve do have triple-A titles, and they do -they may- have the incentive to release it exclusively on Linux/SteamOS. What concerns me about SteamOS is their (supposed, as I don't know if it's been actually confirmed yet) Ubuntu base. I personally loathe Ubuntu, it and all its derivatives seem bloated and unstable, I get the same feeling using it as I would get using Windows Vista. Remember the extra hoops Vista introduced to get to basic network settings? Ubuntu might be Open Source, but it's not open, user-friendliness should not equate locking down an OS, there must be -and is- a better way. I feel GNOME on my Arch install does the job admirably, so much so that friends want a piece of the action.
- Shivetya 13y ago
  To be honest, if it were SteamBox exclusive I would not buy it. I don't buy exclusives. Gaming is about fun and convenience to me. Having to buy hardware always factors into my gaming, I am very content to not spend money on hardware, especially niche hardware. I was tempted to go with a PS/3 back in the days because I could offset the cost of a dedicated gaming machine with the fact I could play Blu-Ray. So unless this Steambox is insanely cheap or provides a significant other use and does those other uses really well I will factor its cost into the game I want to play.
  - JonnieCache 13y ago
    I was thinking earlier they might sell livebooting usb3 sticks with SteamOS and HL3 on them, alongside the actual Steamboxes. They could bundle it with the controller. Then release it for windows/mac a month later. If they could get it to boot in like 5 seconds, and it came with the ability to play a range of existing steam titles, it might be a winner.
    - jonhohle 13y ago
      I had thought of this as well, but one of the major benefits of Steam (access to all your purchased games) is lost if you can't play them due to resource constraints (not enough storage on the usb stick for persistence, long load times for large games that need to be downloaded each time you boot). Might be a good idea for single titles, though.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
6ren 13y ago
half-life 3 confirmed Valve gets their platform launched. Strategically, in the long-term, a platform is worth far more than any individual AAA title, or even a franchise. Note: not a "linux version", a "steambox version". Yes, no one has the incentive to push Valve's platform but Valve. They might pay someone else, but any game of comparable interest to HL3 would be very expensive. They aren't as wealthy as Microsoft. No one is. So, really, HL3 absolutely fits - this even makes sense of its curious delay. They can always port it later (though, not foreshadow, and well after the initial publicity, or its force will be dissipated).

by jmduke 13y ago

rythie 13y ago

What about Ubuntu? they have their own store so they could benefit directly from the game's sales

Mikeb85 13y ago
But Ubuntu is open-source, so if Ubuntu tries to lock anyone in, Valve just forks and has full control. The very nature of Linux and open source distros is what Valve likes, Ubuntu is simply the most accessible and easiest to recommend. Steam works just fine on a number of other Linux distros BTW (I've run it on Arch and openSUSE machines too).
- rythie 13y ago
  It only has to be exclusive to the Ubuntu store, doesn't stop people playing Steam games. Valve forking Ubuntu, doesn't give them right distribute the game.
  - Mikeb85 13y ago
    Sorry, misunderstood. I do think however that if Linux is going to take off because of a game, it'll be a SteamOS exclusive. The advantage of Steam is that it runs on every Linux distro, (even automatically solving dependencies), versus the Software centre which is an Ubuntu exclusive.

mbell 13y ago

Valve can use Half-Life 3 / Portal 3 exclusives on SteamOS to push adoption of the OS/console which benefits them greatly.

phaus 13y ago
Exactly, Back when HL2 came out, I didn't want to install Steam, but ultimately I wasn't going to miss out on the sequel to the best FPS ever made. Then again, it's far easier to install Steam than it is for the average person to abandon Windows. I guess that's where the Steam Box comes in.
anologwintermut 13y ago
But that would be Steam OS exlcusive, not actually on any other Linux distro. So while it might trickle down to better game dev tool support in linux, it wouldn't on face effect adoption rates. If you say that SteamOS means a game is Linux exclusive, you can say Metal Gear Solid for was CellOS/BSD exclusive[0]. [0]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3_system_software http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3_system_software
- aclevernickname 13y ago
  MGS was released for the original playstation, which did not run either CellOS or BSD.
  - anologwintermut 13y ago
    I meant MGS 4. Somehow I left out the 4.
theg2 13y ago
Or commit fiscal suicide. I'm not interested in installing a gaming focused OS on my desktop just to play a single game.

scoofy 13y ago

You need to think about this not on a simplistic single-game game theory model, but more specifically, creating a linux exclusive game would be part of a broader long term strategy. Boosting the popularity of an open gaming system would reduce the rents that can be charged by network holders on gaming companies. This would, obviously be a short term money loser, but with firms like Valve, that have a major foothold and could take the short term hit, boosting a open system/network could pay dividends in reduced future costs (granted, i'm not in the industry, and this is purely speculative).

hrkristian 13y ago

I get the impression you've missed the announcements of SteamBoxes and SteamOS. Valve do have triple-A titles, and they do -they may- have the incentive to release it exclusively on Linux/SteamOS. What concerns me about SteamOS is their (supposed, as I don't know if it's been actually confirmed yet) Ubuntu base. I personally loathe Ubuntu, it and all its derivatives seem bloated and unstable, I get the same feeling using it as I would get using Windows Vista. Remember the extra hoops Vista introduced to get to basic network settings? Ubuntu might be Open Source, but it's not open, user-friendliness should not equate locking down an OS, there must be -and is- a better way. I feel GNOME on my Arch install does the job admirably, so much so that friends want a piece of the action.

Shivetya 13y ago
To be honest, if it were SteamBox exclusive I would not buy it. I don't buy exclusives. Gaming is about fun and convenience to me. Having to buy hardware always factors into my gaming, I am very content to not spend money on hardware, especially niche hardware. I was tempted to go with a PS/3 back in the days because I could offset the cost of a dedicated gaming machine with the fact I could play Blu-Ray. So unless this Steambox is insanely cheap or provides a significant other use and does those other uses really well I will factor its cost into the game I want to play.
- JonnieCache 13y ago
  I was thinking earlier they might sell livebooting usb3 sticks with SteamOS and HL3 on them, alongside the actual Steamboxes. They could bundle it with the controller. Then release it for windows/mac a month later. If they could get it to boot in like 5 seconds, and it came with the ability to play a range of existing steam titles, it might be a winner.
  - jonhohle 13y ago
    I had thought of this as well, but one of the major benefits of Steam (access to all your purchased games) is lost if you can't play them due to resource constraints (not enough storage on the usb stick for persistence, long load times for large games that need to be downloaded each time you boot). Might be a good idea for single titles, though.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

6ren 13y ago

half-life 3 confirmed Valve gets their platform launched. Strategically, in the long-term, a platform is worth far more than any individual AAA title, or even a franchise. Note: not a "linux version", a "steambox version". Yes, no one has the incentive to push Valve's platform but Valve. They might pay someone else, but any game of comparable interest to HL3 would be very expensive. They aren't as wealthy as Microsoft. No one is. So, really, HL3 absolutely fits - this even makes sense of its curious delay. They can always port it later (though, not foreshadow, and well after the initial publicity, or its force will be dissipated).