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)

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.

What does steam mean to me. It means an opportunity for linux and it's distros to survive. The problem with Free is that it is free. If you love you distro and love what linux has done for your life compared to your microsoft experience, let for profit companies offer you more freedom: freedom to pay if you choose. You still have plenty of other open source free software to choose from. And by all means, if you choose to use only the free software, donate money so programmers can continue with their efforts. It is not the end of the world. Unfortunately money makes the world go round and will for the foreseeable future.

Phillyreal

And let me add that I will mostly be utilizing FOSS software even with steams offerings. In the end I pay for whatever i use whether it be through donations or purchase.

It means an opportunity for linux and it's distros to survive.

Are distros in danger of not surviving, though?

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)

Funny - not as in "ha ha", but rather as in "strange you should say that". While I certainly appreciate the command line for its utility, I don't use it most of the time unless I'm trying to fix something. Indeed, for me Linux is "click-and-it-works" because I've made my machine run that way.

Surely I'm not the only one.:)

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.

For me it's simple: direct sales gets preference, then the least drm, and then finally drm.

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.

IMO Free software is over-rated. It's WAAAY more harmfull to build closed systems: closed file standards, protocols (Apple-talk, Skype, Cloud-sync services). While they could be using: Jabber, vcarddav, imap, scp, sftp, ...
This is holding back FOSS a LOT more. This also makes so you can't drop product A and replace it with a better product B because you'd tied to the closed standard.
It will also block and increase the cost of making product B, because it's less economical viable. And for FOSS people it's a LOT more work.

IMO Free software is over-rated. It's WAAAY more harmfull to build closed systems: closed file standards, protocols (Apple-talk, Skype, Cloud-sync services). While they could be using: Jabber, vcarddav, imap, scp, sftp, ...
This is holding back FOSS a LOT more. This also makes so you can't drop product A and replace it with a better product B because you'd tied to the closed standard.
It will also block and increase the cost of making product B, because it's less economical viable. And for FOSS people it's a LOT more work.

I'm not quite sure of what it is you're saying. Is B Free Software in this case? If so, why would costs of development be increased?

The "GNU/Linux" argument has been adopted by trolls as easy material for annoying Linux users. I pretty much laughed at the title since I've seen it so many times before, not only for the fact that it was most likely a troll but also for the fact that it has always been rather unproductive even when people took it seriously.

The "GNU/Linux" argument has been adopted by trolls as easy material for annoying Linux users. I pretty much laughed at the title since I've seen it so many times before, not only for the fact that it was most likely a troll but also for the fact that it has always been rather unproductive even when people took it seriously.

It does have a point though - the GNU project does still need to be taken seriously. I admit, I say Linux more than I say GNU/Linux, but I do understand why they make a fuss about it. Linus does not need the fame or the credit (in fact he has been trying to live it down for the past fifteen years). The GNU project does, as it always needs more hands and more developers and more money. So I can understand why they may get upset about their (large) contributions getting slighted.

Funny - not as in "ha ha", but rather as in "strange you should say that". While I certainly appreciate the command line for its utility, I don't use it most of the time unless I'm trying to fix something. Indeed, for me Linux is "click-and-it-works" because I've made my machine run that way. Surely I'm not the only one.:)

Yeah, but I do you pity them. Using the CLI is quite literally a life changing positive experience. ;)

I'm not quite sure of what it is you're saying. Is B Free Software in this case? If so, why would costs of development be increased?

I think he is just advancing the Micheal Simms argument:
http://blog.linuxgamepublishing.com/2009/06/29/a-closed-source-companys-ceos-view-on-open-source/

Also, the another GNU/Linux thread is there, by the same troll. How can I be sure it's a troll - complains about DRM, owns 72 games, many of which use DRM.