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Here is the latest instalment of Steam's Hardware Survey, as usual we do our monthly thing and compare it and talk about it and make sure you know not to use it as a hard figure.
Linux Results For August 2013
Ubuntu 13.04 64 bit 0.40% -0.03%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 64 bit 0.15% -0.05%
Ubuntu 13.04 0.12% -0.01%
Linux 64 bit 0.10% 0.00%
Linux Mint 15 Olivia 64 bit 0.08% -0.01%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 0.08% -0.03%
Total: 0.93%
Last Month: 1.06%
Things to note
The Other category may contain a few of the smaller Linux distro's like Fedora, Gentoo and Arch for example.
Other 0.67% -0.06%
Especially when before the main stats did contain quite a few more Linux distro's it's safe to assume some of the % is Linux as well.
There is this long bug report on Valve's github where a fair few users are stating they have never even seen the survey under Linux. I am one of them, yet I am logged in everyday.
Just be aware these results will probably not be that accurate as we don't know how they do their percentage results, they could be rounding up, rounding down or truncating the percentages. So a 0.5% could actually be nearly 0.6% as it could be 0.59% but they could do no rounding and simply truncate it.
Also it won't be every Steam user (it's a survey not a full statistic) so it can be as simple as not actually showing the survey to many Linux people. Let's face it we know they don't survey 100% of their user base, only a small fraction of it, so bear that in mind as well. Personally I am still yet to see it under Linux so it's not counting me that's for sure and I am logged in every day!
Also to note is that Linux is apparently only sitting at around 1.28% of the worldwide desktop share anyway according to Net Applications. Their reporting should also be taken lightly too since it's all using web-based counters.
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.
Linux Results For August 2013
Ubuntu 13.04 64 bit 0.40% -0.03%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 64 bit 0.15% -0.05%
Ubuntu 13.04 0.12% -0.01%
Linux 64 bit 0.10% 0.00%
Linux Mint 15 Olivia 64 bit 0.08% -0.01%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 0.08% -0.03%
Total: 0.93%
Last Month: 1.06%
Things to note
The Other category may contain a few of the smaller Linux distro's like Fedora, Gentoo and Arch for example.
Other 0.67% -0.06%
Especially when before the main stats did contain quite a few more Linux distro's it's safe to assume some of the % is Linux as well.
There is this long bug report on Valve's github where a fair few users are stating they have never even seen the survey under Linux. I am one of them, yet I am logged in everyday.
Just be aware these results will probably not be that accurate as we don't know how they do their percentage results, they could be rounding up, rounding down or truncating the percentages. So a 0.5% could actually be nearly 0.6% as it could be 0.59% but they could do no rounding and simply truncate it.
Also it won't be every Steam user (it's a survey not a full statistic) so it can be as simple as not actually showing the survey to many Linux people. Let's face it we know they don't survey 100% of their user base, only a small fraction of it, so bear that in mind as well. Personally I am still yet to see it under Linux so it's not counting me that's for sure and I am logged in every day!
Also to note is that Linux is apparently only sitting at around 1.28% of the worldwide desktop share anyway according to Net Applications. Their reporting should also be taken lightly too since it's all using web-based counters.
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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I haven't seen this survey for 3 months.. and I am daily Steam user..Same here. I am a daily user and have not seen a survey once...
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I really think that Steam numbers are pretty irrelevant for any estimations. For example, did the percentage of Steam games with Linux versions increase or dropped last month? Did the percentage of Linux gamers who are annoyed by DRM drop or increased last month? All those factors can effect this survey. It barely reflects the actual amount of Linux gamers out there, which seems to be only growing.
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If you look at Valve's presentation about porting games to Linux you'll notice they mention what I think is their real goal: Chinese market. Valve states that most of chinese PC's have hardware caped by DirectX (which would not happen with OpenGL).According to an interview or presentation a few monthes ago (don't remember which one; maybe the presentation at SIGGRAPH), they have another market in sight: Android. Linux "desktop" is a transitional system for adapting Source to Android as it was easier to do it that way. I just hope that the transition will last and developers will continue to port their titles to Linux when Steam hits Android (as a gaming platform, not the mobile chat & store that is currently available).
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Me and my son have both never seen this survey and we use steam since it started on linux.
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Qantourisc Sep 3, 2013
Noo raise raise ! Also very nice for them to not collect data from the users without there permission.
But also a downside for our states.
But also a downside for our states.
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I've gotten the survey two days ago, on Sunday - which was the 2nd time I got it.
I think the transition is slow too, because not many see the benefit in now porting old titles, a lot of engine creators just started looking into a Linux port (Crytek in example).
I'd think if a game is released for Mac, a port to linux on the current abstraction levels engines give, a linux port will not cost a game company a lot even for AAA titles. They'd need to sell a few thousand copies, which is even in linux very likely.
I think the transition is slow too, because not many see the benefit in now porting old titles, a lot of engine creators just started looking into a Linux port (Crytek in example).
I'd think if a game is released for Mac, a port to linux on the current abstraction levels engines give, a linux port will not cost a game company a lot even for AAA titles. They'd need to sell a few thousand copies, which is even in linux very likely.
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Can't remember the last time I had a survey either.
In any case, we're seeing the Steam survey numbers drop yet we're also seeing more and bigger games coming to Linux. Doesn't really add up does it?
In any case I'm fairly optimistic. I've been Linux-only for a good year or so now and I've been happy, I hope it all keeps chugging along nicely.
Valve's work has already been very beneficial IMO, but the big advancements won't happen overnight.
In any case, we're seeing the Steam survey numbers drop yet we're also seeing more and bigger games coming to Linux. Doesn't really add up does it?
In any case I'm fairly optimistic. I've been Linux-only for a good year or so now and I've been happy, I hope it all keeps chugging along nicely.
Valve's work has already been very beneficial IMO, but the big advancements won't happen overnight.
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Qantourisc Sep 4, 2013
There's to ways to win a war blitzkrieg or slow advancement.
But since all game developers in the world aren't going Linux only, I guess it's up to the slow path :/
SilverH might have a point about China: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9241429/China_has_a_massive_Windows_XP_problem?pageNumber=1
But since all game developers in the world aren't going Linux only, I guess it's up to the slow path :/
SilverH might have a point about China: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9241429/China_has_a_massive_Windows_XP_problem?pageNumber=1
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I don't see a reason to doubt these numbers that much. I'm sure Valve knew that desktop Linux is not that big when they started this anyway. If they're realistic they know that the growth is going to be pretty slow too but having a large library of Linux games should really help.
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Games and performance is what will bring people over, both of which have increased greatly thanks to Steam. We do have quite a lot to thank Valve for, quite a few projects have been quick to improve because of Valve.
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Projectile Vomit Sep 6, 2013
I've never seen this survey. I'm on Steam at least once a day.
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Great! Once I start Steam on Windows then the Survey pops up! Yeah! Since Beta I haven't seen any survey on Linux, and now this. No wonder that the Linux numbers are dropping :(
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