Could gog.com be close to supporting Linux?

Chances are slim, and personally (following their previous reasoning for not supporting Linux), I think it's more likely it's Windows 8 (which will be a disappointment all around, I mean who considers it a new OS, it's just a new version), OSX or Android before Linux comes into play. But a man can dream.

It seems OSX is likely, so that CDP RED can have a DRM-free platform to release their games on the Mac, but we'll see.

I don't see it being Windows 8 since when they say PC in the first section they mean Windows? Unless they count every version of Windows a new OS but that's just odd.

I've no idea how did they announce Win7 support. But the date is a couple of days within Win8 release as well.

Perhaps this will be Linux support (with additional repos for Ubuntu users to make it easier). Who knows. Maybe this will be their attempt to compete with Steam, seeing as many more of old games are being released there. However much I want that to be true, I'm still thinking it's unlikely. If I'm wrong, than yay!, but if I'm right, at least I won't be so disappointed.

If it is Linux: This goes back to an email time I had with them about the subject: Many of their games either use dosbox (which has Linux packages) or have native builds, which are mostly open to the community to keep up to date. Of course, I had this conversation MANY months ago with them, but still. *goes back to buy DN3D*

Can someone please explain why so many people today equate PC with Windows?

PC stands for "Personal Computer" and to be more historically accurate "IBM Personal Computer" because it was IBM that first sold a home computer named "PC" or "Personal Computer".

In todays market PC refers to any IBM PC or IBM PC clone *regardless* of what Operating System one uses. Since Macintosh hardware was NOT Intel based originally, it was not called a PC or PC clone. Now that it uses Intel hardware though it *IS* a PC. Also, desktops/laptops running Linux have ALWAYS been PCs. They all run on x86 hardware which is what PC refers to!

By repeatedly saying a PC is a "Windows only" Desktop or Laptop, you show your lack of knowledge and you force your lack of knowledge on others who do not know. Please stop.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer
See the "IBM PC as standard" section to read on IBM PC compatibles and clones as well.

@David: What has that got to do with anything? Anyway, I'd imagine it's something to do with some idiots misunderstanding it, then many campaigns popularizing it and somehow it ended up as PC = Windows.

@avarisclari: We had a conversation here and there was another one on GOG.com simultaneously. The reasons they listed:

too hard to support (many different distros)

requires retraining support staff (which goes back to point one)

needs more testing (the reasoning for that one was weird, something about the many different versions of dosbox across distros and other libraries - this is easily solvable by them distributing their own dosbox (eugh, that'd mean hundreds upon hundreds of unneccessary packages) or making a repo with neccessary packages called gog.com-PACKAGE_NAME)

stuff about possible contract problems with them selling games on Linux but not paying for that

[URL='http://www.gamingonlinux.com/index.php?threads/getting-gog-com-to-support-linux.899/']The thread in question.[/URL] There are other links in there.

A lot could have happened, but I just can't believe this is something that indeed happened. Honestly, even Android is more likely now.

But I will thoroughly hope, and if not now, then maybe at the next conference (should be April or May as usual)?

Can someone please explain why so many people today equate PC with Windows?

PC stands for "Personal Computer" and to be more historically accurate "IBM Personal Computer" because it was IBM that first sold a home computer named "PC" or "Personal Computer".

In todays market PC refers to any IBM PC or IBM PC clone *regardless* of what Operating System one uses. Since Macintosh hardware was NOT Intel based originally, it was not called a PC or PC clone. Now that it uses Intel hardware though it *IS* a PC. Also, desktops/laptops running Linux have ALWAYS been PCs. They all run on x86 hardware which is what PC refers to!

By repeatedly saying a PC is a "Windows only" Desktop or Laptop, you show your lack of knowledge and you force your lack of knowledge on others who do not know. Please stop.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer
See the "IBM PC as standard" section to read on IBM PC compatibles and clones as well.

Tell that to gog.com not us, you are preaching to the converted, we all know PC != Windows. The article only says "PC (Windows)" to show what they mean.

Thanks for posting this, Liam. Much appreciated. I do hope GOG finally gets to it. Like many have said, GOG's ScummVM and DOSBox games would run with little effort and then there are those games with native Linux versions, some of which may need tweaking, but hey, the vast majority of the code is there. GOG can't keep saying no with Kickstarter, the Humble Bundle, Desura, and now Steam supporting Linux ever more.

Desura has a couple Dosbox enabled titles already - so it shows it can be done.

Would love to be able to buy One Unit: Whole Blood (for example) off of them and just expect it to work on my Fedora box. :D

With less than 10 000 members in the Linux group in Steam, and less than 10 000 votes on the Linux request in GOG, I have to wonder where the millions of Linux users are, and if there even are several 10 000 Linux gamers.

Most don't bother? I know I never joined that Steam group. I guess we'll see after Steam comes to Linux, I hope the statistics put Linux at the same numbers as Mac.

Well, I am not on Steam or GOG. You face a chicken and egg problem - why should Linux users have an account for something on a service that does not support them?

It was not screaming by fans that turned Valve's head anyway. Still, I do wish you luck...

On a positive note, xyem in the Linux request on GOG just pointed out that at the time of writing, the Linux request has 82% of the votes that the Windows 7 request has. Not bad!

Most don't bother? I know I never joined that Steam group. I guess we'll see after Steam comes to Linux, I hope the statistics put Linux at the same numbers as Mac.

If they don't bother, then you can't really blame companies when they don't bother with Linux users. Appearing in throngs can only help. I hope the same thing as you by the way. Still, signing up takes a minute and then you can forget about it if it really is that troublesome.

Well, I am not on Steam or GOG. You face a chicken and egg problem - why should Linux users have an account for something on a service that does not support them?

It was not screaming by fans that turned Valve's head anyway. Still, I do wish you luck...

When an entity that could greatly improve the way your favorite operating system is perceived as well as benefit you personally with more support is showing interest in you, the chicken and egg problem no longer exists. Linux is already being eyed. Linux is being considered. Now you have to respond, and preferably in droves so that the interested party gets the message. Anyway, thanks. I probably need it...

Yep, at the moment the Linux request has more than the Mac and Windows 8 request combined. But that still doesn't mean anything. It'd be nice if GOG.com just dropped a nice hint so we'll know and either be very excited or just stop thinking about it.

Still I don't see how would GOG see us, other than a few posts about running on Linux on every forum, the wishlists and the game lists as well, there was no indication that Linux users are a large part of that community. Maybe the numbers of users visiting from Linux was large, who knows.

The Steam hardware surveys might have provided Valve with some insight as to what percentage of their users uses Linux, but taking in account that a lot of people just dual-boot, hardly any care to join the groups (I still don't see the point) and then there's the issue that most just won't run Steam at all - because what's the point, if it's not native and requires you to mess around with Wine.

I don't know what is happening but I think it's great. The Linux request on GOG is now getting votes every few seconds, has gotten over 150 votes today, and has moved to being the top most voted request this week. Keep it up you guys. Show GOG it's worth it.

Yep, at the moment the Linux request has more than the Mac and Windows 8 request combined. But that still doesn't mean anything. It'd be nice if GOG.com just dropped a nice hint so we'll know and either be very excited or just stop thinking about it.

Still I don't see how would GOG see us, other than a few posts about running on Linux on every forum, the wishlists and the game lists as well, there was no indication that Linux users are a large part of that community. Maybe the numbers of users visiting from Linux was large, who knows.

The Steam hardware surveys might have provided Valve with some insight as to what percentage of their users uses Linux, but taking in account that a lot of people just dual-boot, hardly any care to join the groups (I still don't see the point) and then there's the issue that most just won't run Steam at all - because what's the point, if it's not native and requires you to mess around with Wine.

I guess we'll have to wait till the 18th to get an answer as to whether Linux support is close or still far away. Also, there seem to be more and more complaints regarding GOG only supporting Windows while selling games that have Mac OS and Linux versions as well and that will only increase. Regarding the issue of Steam, I do understand, but that will change as well. It's only going to get better so people should start coming out of their hiding places!

Can someone please explain why so many people today equate PC with Windows?

PC stands for "Personal Computer" and to be more historically accurate "IBM Personal Computer" because it was IBM that first sold a home computer named "PC" or "Personal Computer".

In todays market PC refers to any IBM PC or IBM PC clone *regardless* of what Operating System one uses. Since Macintosh hardware was NOT Intel based originally, it was not called a PC or PC clone. Now that it uses Intel hardware though it *IS* a PC. Also, desktops/laptops running Linux have ALWAYS been PCs. They all run on x86 hardware which is what PC refers to!

By repeatedly saying a PC is a "Windows only" Desktop or Laptop, you show your lack of knowledge and you force your lack of knowledge on others who do not know. Please stop.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer
See the "IBM PC as standard" section to read on IBM PC compatibles and clones as well.

It's because back when "IBM PC compatible" was a term people actually used, it referred not only to the hardware, but also the software. And guess which software ran on IBM PCs? IBM Disk Operating System, written by a then small company called MicroSoft. (Note that Microsoft used to be capitalized as "MicroSoft", hence the abbreviation, "MS")

This is why Apple computers, PCs running Unixes, and others were not called IBM PC compatibles, and by extension, why they were not even called PCs. What really mattered then was that your PC clone ran a compatible version of IBM DOS that would ultimately run the same software programs. Over the course of 30+ years and it's not terribly difficult to understand why most people still mean a Microsoft OS when they say PC.