Steam Linux Beta is looming over us with new info

I can't wait for what this brings to us, especially Crusader Kings II (I learned of it by watching the CDR, and it'll be the first thing I buy one it's out for Linux). But for all the good things this will cause, I still thoroughly hate the lock-in this causes. If only GOG had all the new titles and Linux support.

The links to "[URL='http://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/0/882964057652884198/']It's GNU/Linux not Linux[/URL]" and "[URL='http://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/0/882964057665374339/']Why do you hate freedom?[/URL]" seem to have been removed... :/

there are always a few vocal people who, because the linux world is smaller then the windows world, can still create a headline, its their right to do so :)

I do laugh at people who rant about LGP copy protection yet love that steam is coming :)

I think its cool steam comes to linux, I do worry a bit what will happen with the smaller players like Desura and Gamolith. In a huge windows environment there is room for other companies to exists but with the success of HiB where a Steam key is a must people will get pushed towards steam and I am afraid that soon Desura and Gamolith will be pushed aside.

I also wonder what this will mean for Wine and Codeweavers, games is a huge force behind Wine and Codeweavers have done a marvellous job, I do hope they can adjust to this changing playing field.

And of course I hope we gone get a none ubuntu install option soon :)

Why the disappointed face? I understand the distinction between GNU and Linux, but well, have you seen the posts there? I'm glad no one here is claiming it should be 'Gaming on GNU/Linux' and the freedom post was about everything being free and not about the freedom to choose. Also, I can't remember which, but one was by a profile called Richard Stallman, so it's good it was removed, as it was someone impersonating with the obvious attempt at trolling.

I am not going to deny that when it comes to giving the Linux gaming industry a big push this is probably going to be fantastic, but I still loathe many parts of Steam to a large degree. In the short term I am just going to sit and watch what happens and keep playing my games as I have been doing anyway. What this has made me realize though is that Linux is not what has really been holding back my gaming - my principles have. Even if I was on Windows I would be playing many of the same titles I do now, and would be hanging out with much the same sort of crowds, although if I was on Windows the message would be a lot less apt I should say.

In the end, I thank Linux for bringing to light all sorts of DRM free and independent titles to my attention. I may never have played Penumbra if it were not released for Linux; I probably would never have heard of it. The same goes for Trine, and while I had heard of Postal 2, I may never have been able to look passed the bad hype surrounding it to actually give it an honest go if it were not a Linux game. The Linux gaming community has kept me honest to many of my ideals, and while now we have a wider choice of moral choices and shades of grey, I will thank Linux for introducing me to this wonderful underground of basement coders and freethinkers offering games outside of the often restrictive commercial mainstream.

I hope they can continue to keep it up.

I honestly don't have a super huge problem with it. The only one I do have is that by doing this, forums are going to explode with non linux users, don't take this the wrong way, trying to figure out how to use various features because they've grown with click and it works, no keyboard required. (Pretty much how it is now, but after learning it when i first came over in 08 i love cli)

Quoting: "Anon, post: 5907"Why the disappointed face? I understand the distinction between GNU and Linux, but well, have you seen the posts there? I'm glad no one here is claiming it should be 'Gaming on GNU/Linux' and the freedom post was about everything being free and not about the freedom to choose. Also, I can't remember which, but one was by a profile called Richard Stallman, so it's good it was removed, as it was someone impersonating with the obvious attempt at trolling.

Well, it was mostly because it felt like things were being censored. And maybe because I was kind of curious what the post about freedom said.
I understand the need for moderation, but unless the post was somehow offensive or contained illegal material, a simple ban or thread lock seems like enough.

Oh, I see. Well, the freedom one said the same thing as in the title, and so did the GNU/Linux one. They weren't thought out or anything and only consisted of the same thing in the body and the title, and the authors just proceeded to attack anyone commenting on them.

Probably just an act of community moderation. Probably...

I'm with KIAaze. I'd really like to see greater discussion and awareness of the implications of running non-free software on a Free OS. I'm comfortable running Steam and some other non-free software, but it's something I've put a lot of thought into, and I am massively wary of the number of new people who a) won't care about this stuff, and b) will actively be dismissive of/against the Free Software movement (we've always had them, but I suspect that following the launch of Steam, those people will outnumber those who do understand the value in Free Software, which has the potential to get unpleasant if the b) people get vocal).

I'm hopeful that rational, open, polite discussion can help create bridges of understanding between those that are passionate about the Free Software movement and those that aren't. It's sad that there's what seems to be aggressive behaviour from the existing community.

By the way, it seems that this Linux Beta Access group and the Steam For Linux "group" are the same thing.