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Well the latest Steam hardware survey is out for April and it isn't looking good again for Linux.
Here are the statistics just for Linux
Ubuntu 12.10 64 bit 0.35% -0.12%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 64 bit 0.23% -0.05%
Ubuntu 12.10 0.14% -0.05%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 0.14% -0.02%
Ubuntu 13.04 64 bit 0.11% +0.11%
Linux Mint 14 Nadia 64 bit 0.11% -0.02%
Linux 64 bit 0.10% -0.01%
Ubuntu Raring Ringtail (development branch) 64 bit 0.06% +0.02%
"Arch Linux" 64 bit 0.04% 0.00%
Ubuntu 13.04 0.04% +0.04%
Linux Mint 14 Nadia 0.03% -0.01%
"Fedora release 18 (Spherical Cow)" 64 bit 0.03% 0.00%
"openSUSE 12.3 (x86_64)" 64 bit 0.02% 0.00%
Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 (wheezy) 64 bit 0.02% -0.01%
Linux Mint 13 Maya 64 bit 0.02% -0.01%
Ubuntu Raring Ringtail (development branch) 0.02% +0.01%
Linux 0.01% 0.00%
Linux Mint 13 Maya 0.01% 0.00%
"Manjaro Linux" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"NAME=Gentoo" 64 bit 0.01% +0.01%
"Fedora release 17 (Beefy Miracle)" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS 0.01% 0.00%
elementary OS Luna 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"Gentoo Base System release 2.1" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"openSUSE 12.2 (x86_64)" 64 bit 0.01% -0.01%
Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 (wheezy) 0.00% -0.01%
"Gentoo Base System release 2.2" 64 bit 0.00% -0.01%
This Month: 1.56%
Last Month: 1.69%
So we lose another 0.13%, this is after a loss the previous month as well (see our post on last month here).
Well I was hoping we would see a rise this month but nope, another fall.
Could this be the sign of a continued trend across this year or will some high profile Valve launches like Left 4 Dead 2, DOTA2, Counter Strike:GO lift up our share? I seriously hope this doesn't continue as it won't paint a pretty picture for developers looking to Steam for Linux viability for ports.
What I really hope though is that people aren't looking too much into the survey, especially developers, the results are from a random set of users and as with all surveys it will only be a small % of users that will be asked so it could actually be missing out a vast amount of Linux users.
Update: As pointed out, you should allow for a margin of error on the Steam stats since they could be rounding up, rounding down or truncating the total stats to make it smaller.
Lastly Linux users typically shy away from any form of DRM, so you can bet there is a large bunch of Linux users who just simply refuse to use Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Here are the statistics just for Linux
Ubuntu 12.10 64 bit 0.35% -0.12%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 64 bit 0.23% -0.05%
Ubuntu 12.10 0.14% -0.05%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 0.14% -0.02%
Ubuntu 13.04 64 bit 0.11% +0.11%
Linux Mint 14 Nadia 64 bit 0.11% -0.02%
Linux 64 bit 0.10% -0.01%
Ubuntu Raring Ringtail (development branch) 64 bit 0.06% +0.02%
"Arch Linux" 64 bit 0.04% 0.00%
Ubuntu 13.04 0.04% +0.04%
Linux Mint 14 Nadia 0.03% -0.01%
"Fedora release 18 (Spherical Cow)" 64 bit 0.03% 0.00%
"openSUSE 12.3 (x86_64)" 64 bit 0.02% 0.00%
Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 (wheezy) 64 bit 0.02% -0.01%
Linux Mint 13 Maya 64 bit 0.02% -0.01%
Ubuntu Raring Ringtail (development branch) 0.02% +0.01%
Linux 0.01% 0.00%
Linux Mint 13 Maya 0.01% 0.00%
"Manjaro Linux" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"NAME=Gentoo" 64 bit 0.01% +0.01%
"Fedora release 17 (Beefy Miracle)" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS 0.01% 0.00%
elementary OS Luna 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"Gentoo Base System release 2.1" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"openSUSE 12.2 (x86_64)" 64 bit 0.01% -0.01%
Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 (wheezy) 0.00% -0.01%
"Gentoo Base System release 2.2" 64 bit 0.00% -0.01%
This Month: 1.56%
Last Month: 1.69%
So we lose another 0.13%, this is after a loss the previous month as well (see our post on last month here).
Well I was hoping we would see a rise this month but nope, another fall.
Could this be the sign of a continued trend across this year or will some high profile Valve launches like Left 4 Dead 2, DOTA2, Counter Strike:GO lift up our share? I seriously hope this doesn't continue as it won't paint a pretty picture for developers looking to Steam for Linux viability for ports.
What I really hope though is that people aren't looking too much into the survey, especially developers, the results are from a random set of users and as with all surveys it will only be a small % of users that will be asked so it could actually be missing out a vast amount of Linux users.
Update: As pointed out, you should allow for a margin of error on the Steam stats since they could be rounding up, rounding down or truncating the total stats to make it smaller.
Lastly Linux users typically shy away from any form of DRM, so you can bet there is a large bunch of Linux users who just simply refuse to use Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
It really isn't a mystery. In spite of all the hooplah and trumpeting, linux users are still being offered 3rd tier and ancient games. I installed Steam on three of my computers during beta because I was so excited to be getting a chance to game in linux. After three months of getting the same crap games I was installing before Steam was available on linux, I just went back to using Steam on my Windows partition.
Until someone offers current gen and top shelf games for linux, it's going to remain something for only the zealots and fanbois to get excited over.
Until someone offers current gen and top shelf games for linux, it's going to remain something for only the zealots and fanbois to get excited over.
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I am a gamer and linux does not play the game (GW2) I playing currently very well so I am stuck with windows, but there is no reason for the non-gamer not to switch, but here is my take on why this is not happening, Windows is used by the users company so the average user uses it at home because they are too lazy to learn something new and the average Linux user turns off the average windows user with what I like to call a holier than thou attitude, in other words you should know that or I am smarter then you, the linux user may not say these things but there attitude may imply it, for example the other day I was reading a thread were basically a windows user is saying they have not switched to linux is because it cannot install were the user would like it to, I know linux is more flexible than windows on the install location, but another user (maybe he is a windows user but the other user identified him as a linux user) was arguing my point but the windows user takes it as an attack, it does not matter what windows has done it just matters what linux can do, unless of course the windows user is really p'ed off about something, another example is I asked my step-dad why he has not switched and he replies he uses outlook which I do not use so I cannot reply use this instead or if the users data can be transferred.
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I agree until AAA game title are native or playable on linux you will not see many users switching.
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I guess in a way I am just as bad as the average non-gamer windows user by letting a game stop me from making the change, but I feel I have an excuse, I have money invested but I guess the non-gamer could use that excuse too.
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The big question I have is the way this is calculated. I was playing a lot of New Vegas in April using WINE. Does that count me incorrectly as a windows user since I was having to run the windows version of steam to play it?
These metrics are useless until we know how accurately they're being compiled.
These metrics are useless until we know how accurately they're being compiled.
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Cheeseness May 6, 2013
Quoting: MowsThe big question I have is the way this is calculated. I was playing a lot of New Vegas in April using WINE. Does that count me incorrectly as a windows user since I was having to run the windows version of steam to play it?
These metrics are useless until we know how accurately they're being compiled.
A number of Steam users are prompted to voluntarily participate in the survey each month. If you didn't receive a prompt to participate, then your details are not included in the results. There's a summary window prior to submission which lists all of the information collected. When running in Wine, this shows the Windows version that Wine is configured to emulate as the operating system version (whether this is incorrect is definitely debatable :) ).
If you're looking for more reading, I've compiled all the solid information that I've been able to find here.
Edit: Wine and Gecko are listed as installed software, but it's unclear as to whether or not this has any bearing in the results seen on the Steam website - I'd hazard a guess and say none.
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Quoting: MowsDoes that count me incorrectly as a windows user since I was having to run the windows version of steam to play it?
I am sorry, but I do not buy that assertion If you are using the Windows version, why would it saying you were a Windows user be incorrect? What does WINE usage have to do with Linux client usage? I am not condemning you for anything here, but this notion that WINE statistics should count as Linux bothers me, as you are still being a Windows customer for them regardless.
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Quoting: HamishYou don't buy it? Well that's a little confrontational for someone who misses the point. Since you set the tone, allow me to carry it:Quoting: MowsDoes that count me incorrectly as a windows user since I was having to run the windows version of steam to play it?
I am sorry, but I do not buy that assertion If you are using the Windows version, why would it saying you were a Windows user be incorrect? What does WINE usage have to do with Linux client usage? I am not condemning you for anything here, but this notion that WINE statistics should count as Linux bothers me, as you are still being a Windows customer for them regardless.
What are the stats on number of linux users for Steam going to be used for? Ponder that for a moment.
To save time, let me just tell you that a company questioning whether or not to port a game to linux would want to know how many potential new customers they could get for their efforts. In that respect, someone running a linux OS is what matters. The fact that a gamer is using a workaround to play something is irrelevant in the course of having accurate data to base that decision on. If linux is their os, then linux is what should be reported. Otherwise the real numbers are watered down by people using workarounds like wine, thus ultimately delaying or completely preventing linux ports because it looks like no one is using the OS.
Now, if you'd like to be less confrontational about this very simple concept, I'd be happy to clarify anything that still eludes you.
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Cheeseness May 6, 2013
Quoting: AnonymousTo save time, let me just tell you that a company questioning whether or not to port a game to linux would want to know how many potential new customers they could get for their efforts. In that respect, someone running a linux OS is what matters. The fact that a gamer is using a workaround to play something is irrelevant in the course of having accurate data to base that decision on. If linux is their os, then linux is what should be reported. Otherwise the real numbers are watered down by people using workarounds like wine, thus ultimately delaying or completely preventing linux ports because it looks like no one is using the OS.
Now, if you'd like to be less confrontational about this very simple concept, I'd be happy to clarify anything that still eludes you.
I can't really speak for Hamish, but he certainly didn't come across as confrontational or lacking insight to me.
Whilst stats of Wine users as a separate metric may be of value in some respects, I think it would undermine the efforts and recognition of people actually running native software if the numbers were to be mixed with people running software that pretended to be Windows, and in the end make for less accurate data rather than more accurate as you claim.
I think the assumption that Wine usage would convince a developer to support Linux is flawed. From a business perspective, if you already have Linux users buying your non-native titles, then that's a market already satisfied without the overheads of porting, extra support or testing. It would take a more insightful publisher/dev studio than most to believe that native support was worth the effort.
IMO, championing Wine usage stats is a trap.
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Quoting: CheesenessWhilst stats of Wine users as a separate metric may be of value in some respects, I think it would undermine the efforts and recognition of people actually running native software if the numbers were to be mixed with people running software that pretended to be WindowsYes, that is my point. Thanks. Oh wait...
Quoting: Cheesenessand in the end make for less accurate data rather than more accurate as you claim.So I say if I'm using wine, that I should count as linux. You say that wine stats should not be mixed with windows stats, which seems to be in agreement with me. Then you say I'm wrong? How does that work?
Quoting: CheesenessIMO, championing Wine usage stats is a trap.Which is why there shouldn't be any. It should count as linux, because that's the OS you're running. Who, besides you, ever mentioned such a thing as stats for wine?
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