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A question I am sure is burning in everyone’s minds is "Will gog.com ever support Linux", well I aim to give this a bit of limelight here on GOL.
First of all let me direct you to this wishlist item on gog.com itself which has 11,125 votes on it, I find that crazy that a store like gog.com has that many customers who want to support them with their money if they just put up Linux versions of games. So while you are on that page be sure to give it a vote if you like DRM Free games in a standalone download, no messing around with clients like Steam or Desura.
Now something else has popped up on my email radar recently, I am speaking about Simon Roth the developer of Maia who stated this on reddit in response to a question from one of our supporters FutureSuture;
That sounds vaguely promising doesn't it? Well I choose to look at it that way anyway.
Personally I think gog.com run a great service for the PC Gaming industry making sure gamers have a place to get games new and old that aren't filled with any DRM, it's really a great store, hell I am even a customer!
I have a copy of Freespace 2 and Theme Hospital from them to use on the open source engines, I would gladly buy more from them too if they only allowed Linux versions up.
Although this did get me thinking, is it difficult for developers to bundle Linux, Mac and Windows executables in one package? I have seen some developers do this before so I know it is possible and wonder why more don't do that?
That's not exactly a full solution though, we need gog.com to note if a game has a Linux version and support us on it. Personally I consider them one of our major roadblocks for getting accepted as a major gaming platform considering how big a store they are.
The more places that support us the more people can learn Linux exists too right? That can only be a good thing.
What are your thoughts folks?
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
First of all let me direct you to this wishlist item on gog.com itself which has 11,125 votes on it, I find that crazy that a store like gog.com has that many customers who want to support them with their money if they just put up Linux versions of games. So while you are on that page be sure to give it a vote if you like DRM Free games in a standalone download, no messing around with clients like Steam or Desura.
Now something else has popped up on my email radar recently, I am speaking about Simon Roth the developer of Maia who stated this on reddit in response to a question from one of our supporters FutureSuture;
QuoteI've spoken in person at length about this with them. I can say no more!
That sounds vaguely promising doesn't it? Well I choose to look at it that way anyway.
Personally I think gog.com run a great service for the PC Gaming industry making sure gamers have a place to get games new and old that aren't filled with any DRM, it's really a great store, hell I am even a customer!
I have a copy of Freespace 2 and Theme Hospital from them to use on the open source engines, I would gladly buy more from them too if they only allowed Linux versions up.
Although this did get me thinking, is it difficult for developers to bundle Linux, Mac and Windows executables in one package? I have seen some developers do this before so I know it is possible and wonder why more don't do that?
That's not exactly a full solution though, we need gog.com to note if a game has a Linux version and support us on it. Personally I consider them one of our major roadblocks for getting accepted as a major gaming platform considering how big a store they are.
The more places that support us the more people can learn Linux exists too right? That can only be a good thing.
What are your thoughts folks?
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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JudasIscariot is actually one of the GoG staffers. Good thing to have supporters of the idea within GoG, yes ? :)
I wish they would offer at least the games that are known to have native Linux ports.
I wish they would offer at least the games that are known to have native Linux ports.
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It's not like we are asking for ALL of the Games. They could start with a dozen or so of the popular titles and then do Linux ports of any future releases. Maybe even have a poll to vote on any future releases, right?. ;)
Neverwinter Nights would be a good 1st title I think.
Neverwinter Nights would be a good 1st title I think.
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FutureSuture Aug 10, 2013
It's not like we are asking for ALL of the Games. They could start with a dozen or so of the popular titles and then do Linux ports of any future releases. Maybe even have a poll to vote on any future releases, right?. ;)Does that exist in its entirety on Linux? I bought it before making the full switch to Linux so that would most certainly be a good choice, GOG!
Neverwinter Nights would be a good 1st title I think.
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BioWare released a port around 2003. There are some installers around but I've never been able to install it without errors on Linux. So I would definitely enjoy a working port.It's not like we are asking for ALL of the Games. They could start with a dozen or so of the popular titles and then do Linux ports of any future releases. Maybe even have a poll to vote on any future releases, right?. ;)Does that exist in its entirety on Linux? I bought it before making the full switch to Linux so that would most certainly be a good choice, GOG!
Neverwinter Nights would be a good 1st title I think.
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Me and my friends played the heck outta original NWN (all the official campaigns, and all the interesting multiplayer campaigns we could find at NW vault) so it worked fine with Linux distros of the day. Have not tried installing it in recent years though; what kinds of errors do you get?
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Also like to point out that I signed up for a GOG account exactly to sign that petition, though I now have a few games playable through ScummVM (plus another playable in wine, and another that may not get played because it didn't like my wine) in that account thanks to some kickstarter rewards. Have not directly bought games there yet, still waiting for that Linux support to materialize. How hard would it be to at least support Linux dosbox and ScummVM like PlayOnLinux? They could start selling a bunch of old games with a Linux option that way, and I would consider them interested in having my business.
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BioWare released a port around 2003. There are some installers around but I've never been able to install it without errors on Linux. So I would definitely enjoy a working port.You can just extract the installer archives yourself, it's not that difficult.
Patching up the original release to 1.69 is a bit more difficult, since you need to apply the correct patches in the correct order, and most of the info vanished when nwn.bioware.com went bye-bye some years ago.
The Diamond release is easier there. The GOG release is even already patched, so you only need to extract the archive.
Have not tried installing it in recent years though; what kinds of errors do you get?NWN still runs flawlessly. You just need the appropriate 32bit libraries installed and maybe replace lib/SDL-1.2.so.0 with your distro's. Since ffmpeg/MPlayer nowadays even plays Bink files flawlessly, nwmovies (a hacky thing that hooks into the video playing functions that have been disabled in the original binary) can use that instead of the RADGameTools' own horribly inefficient bink player binary.
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If you have the Diamond edition dvd. The downloads still work, I just checked.
wget -c http://nwdownloads.bioware.com/neverwinternights/linux/gold/nwclientgold.tar.gz
wget -c http://nwdownloads.bioware.com/neverwinternights/linux/161/nwclienthotu.tar.gz
wget -c http://files.bioware.com/neverwinternights/updates/linux/169/English_linuxclient169_xp2.tar.gz
mkdir ~/nwn
cd ~/nwn
unzip /media/NW_DIAMOND/Data_Shared.zip
unzip /media/NW_DIAMOND/Data_linux.zip
unzip -o /media/NW_DIAMOND/data/XP1.zip
unzip -o /media/NW_DIAMOND/data/XP2.zip
tar -vxzf ~/nwclientgold.tar.gz
tar -vxzf ~/nwclienthotu.tar.gz
tar -vxzf ~/English_linuxclient169_xp2.tar.gz
./fixinstall
./nwn
wget -c http://nwdownloads.bioware.com/neverwinternights/linux/gold/nwclientgold.tar.gz
wget -c http://nwdownloads.bioware.com/neverwinternights/linux/161/nwclienthotu.tar.gz
wget -c http://files.bioware.com/neverwinternights/updates/linux/169/English_linuxclient169_xp2.tar.gz
mkdir ~/nwn
cd ~/nwn
unzip /media/NW_DIAMOND/Data_Shared.zip
unzip /media/NW_DIAMOND/Data_linux.zip
unzip -o /media/NW_DIAMOND/data/XP1.zip
unzip -o /media/NW_DIAMOND/data/XP2.zip
tar -vxzf ~/nwclientgold.tar.gz
tar -vxzf ~/nwclienthotu.tar.gz
tar -vxzf ~/English_linuxclient169_xp2.tar.gz
./fixinstall
./nwn
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That sounds vaguely promising doesn't it? Well I choose to look at it that way anyway.
I'm usually optimistic regarding such comments, too, but this doesn't mean anything. Sure, he increased interest in Linux by simply asking for it, but it's really not more we can read out of it.
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Being a pessimistrealist, my mind is screaming that this is not a positive quote, but rather just a note that he capitulated to a stone-faced GOG. :P
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FutureSuture Aug 10, 2013
I believe the reason he couldn't say any more about the subject is because of common business practice: Don't bitch about those you do business with.That sounds vaguely promising doesn't it? Well I choose to look at it that way anyway.
I'm usually optimistic regarding such comments, too, but this doesn't mean anything. Sure, he increased interest in Linux by simply asking for it, but it's really not more we can read out of it.
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That's likely, but what's your point then?I believe the reason he couldn't say any more about the subject is because of common business practice: Don't bitch about those you do business with.That sounds vaguely promising doesn't it? Well I choose to look at it that way anyway.
I'm usually optimistic regarding such comments, too, but this doesn't mean anything. Sure, he increased interest in Linux by simply asking for it, but it's really not more we can read out of it.
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FutureSuture Aug 10, 2013
DrMcCoy and I unfortunately share the same point. This developer likes Linux, praises it due to it being easier to develop for than Mac OS, says he's spoken at length about Linux support with GOG, but can say no more. It just sounds like a negative result to me. I hope I am wrong from the bottom of my heart as I am at the forefront of this campaign to get GOG to support Linux, but alas.That's likely, but what's your point then?I believe the reason he couldn't say any more about the subject is because of common business practice: Don't bitch about those you do business with.That sounds vaguely promising doesn't it? Well I choose to look at it that way anyway.
I'm usually optimistic regarding such comments, too, but this doesn't mean anything. Sure, he increased interest in Linux by simply asking for it, but it's really not more we can read out of it.
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I know next to nothing about NWN, but why not try the liflg installers? These guys are so awesome they are actually updating games professionally now: http://liflg.org/?catid=6&gameid=65
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Why is GOG still a topic among Linux gamers?
Don't you get when someone tells you to go fuck yourself and you still want to give him money, desperately trying to awaken affection?
Because no, not even providing a simple package download for available native Linux versions when thousands ask for it, is not a "we're not convinced"-business decision.
It means "We wouldn't want you in here as customers even if it came at no cost for us! Now GTFO of here and take your troublemaker OS with you!"
I don't get it: From Joe Sixpack to these guys, why can't we just help ourselves and have to kiss the arse of every anti-Linux muggle we come across, just to make him believe at last that we too use a cool OS?
Really, stop it! You can get most of the games in question DRM free from half a dozen sources. But no, the one giving you the least respect just has to be it!
Don't you get when someone tells you to go fuck yourself and you still want to give him money, desperately trying to awaken affection?
Because no, not even providing a simple package download for available native Linux versions when thousands ask for it, is not a "we're not convinced"-business decision.
It means "We wouldn't want you in here as customers even if it came at no cost for us! Now GTFO of here and take your troublemaker OS with you!"
I don't get it: From Joe Sixpack to these guys, why can't we just help ourselves and have to kiss the arse of every anti-Linux muggle we come across, just to make him believe at last that we too use a cool OS?
Really, stop it! You can get most of the games in question DRM free from half a dozen sources. But no, the one giving you the least respect just has to be it!
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On the note of Neverwinter Nights, for gentoo/funtoo/whatever users: http://gpo.zugaina.org/Search?search=neverwinter
Always worked on the first shot for me, just needed the game data somewhere, and I had to enter the keys on first run. Having a few extras (like the CEP) available through the package manager doesn't hurt, either.
Always worked on the first shot for me, just needed the game data somewhere, and I had to enter the keys on first run. Having a few extras (like the CEP) available through the package manager doesn't hurt, either.
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Really, stop it! You can get most of the games in question DRM free from half a dozen sources. But no, the one giving you the least respect just has to be it!
Well, you made me curious. What is the alternative to GoG these days? Honestly I haven't the foggiest. Is there anyone else that carries the games that they have in their catalogue?
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What is the alternative to GoG these days? Honestly I haven't the foggiest. Is there anyone else that carries the games that they have in their catalogue?eBay :P
(Where else would you still get those shiny old big boxes anyway?)
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IIRC, GOG had an interview last year (when they released games for MacOS) where they explained that they'd like to support Linux, they've looked into it but at the time they didn't have a proper solution for distributing the games because of the various distros which have several packages formats and such.
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IIRC, GOG had an interview last year (when they released games for MacOS) where they explained that they'd like to support Linux, they've looked into it but at the time they didn't have a proper solution for distributing the games because of the various distros which have several packages formats and such.
One can always make up excuses for not doing something. Valve does not seem to have that problem and Linux games downloaded through the Steam client are distro agnostic. Developers don't need to touch the packaging system of any distribution.
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