Activision Is Blocking A Game Coming Over To Linux UPDATED

Actvision.
Can't think of much they own that i want to play.
Guess this is why people go for indie games.

...MS arn't paying activision behind the scenes are they?

Fuck Actvision they can suck my Dick for all i care

Who was going to provide support and QA resources?

If that was going to be the publisher, then I can understand why they might not want to invest the money and resources. Not very forward thinking but they would hardly be the only publisher of their size with that policy.

There's no money in Linux gaming right now, and what little there is gets spent outside of Linux far, far too often. The Humble Bundles clearly show that "Linux gamers" are so starved for games that they outpay the guys on the other platforms, and still pay far less than the value received. Yes, Linux gamers buy lots of games, even bundles that only have Windows games...... Good job, team, way to really send a message!

Look, if I'm Activision, no way in hell am I supporting any kind of Linux game, in the situation it's currently in, especially when I know that you vote with your wallet, and I get your money either way, no Linux port necessary. I did not forget what happened with the Call of Duty fans  when I ditched the dedicated servers... They all screamed "boycott!" and then trampled each other like the Black Friday cattle do, trying to get the game as soon as I cast my pearls upon the swine. Pathetic. Cha-ching. I'm sleeping on stacks of money, dawg.

Valve has the potential to change the entire gaming landscape forever with SteamOS and Steam Machines, and I hope beyond hope that people show up to cast their vote when the polls open.

Quoting: Quote from adolsonThe Humble Bundles clearly show that "Linux gamers" are so starved for games that they outpay the guys on the other platforms

That notion doesn't hold up when there have been developers have been citing similar revenue share percentages (10% - 18%) outside of Humble Bundle's promotions.

Quoting: Quote from adolsonand still pay far less than the value received

Without knowing the frequency of payment values, there's no way to know whether Linux gamers are generally paying less than the value received, or whether there is a segment with exceedingly low contribution values pulling the average down (same goes for other platforms, potentially to a greater extent since their averages are so low).

Either way, pay-what-you-want promotions can never be a reliable indicator for fixed price point market conditions.

Quoting: Quote from adolsoneven bundles that only have Windows games

This is very true. Even outside of bundles and other sales, there are still plenty of Linux users buying non-native software, creating a differential of two sales (+1 for Windows and -1 for Linux).

This isn't necessarily bad if developers can be convinced to talk about changes in existing player bases rather than fixating on sales. If developers can see porting legacy games as an investment in customer satisfaction and loyalty, then we're more likely to see positive change moving forward (the difference between Valve's outlook on porting their catalogue vs Garry's yammering about not seeing many Linux sales post Linux launch)..

Quoting: Quote from Cheeseness

Quoting: Quote from adolsonThe Humble Bundles clearly show that "Linux gamers" are so starved for games that they outpay the guys on the other platforms

That notion doesn't hold up when there have been developers have been citing similar revenue share percentages (10% - 18%) outside of Humble Bundle's promotions.

I'm not sure what you're referring to. Are you saying that the <2% of Linux gamers on Steam, for example, are accounting for 10+% of the revenue for a bunch of games? So, say, random game, Monaco. 10% of Monaco sales are from the <2% of Linux users?
Or are you saying that other similar PWYW promos see the same type of thing happening as Humble? Because I only used Humble as an example. I have not seen stats from anywhere else. It wouldn't shock me to hear that all of the statistics are skewed, in favor of Linux, on the various indie and bundle sites out there, and non-Steam/GOG/Origin/UPlay digital distribution services. I have a few friends who run Windows, and they don't bother with Humble Bundles or Gamersgate or whatever, even if a game on their Steam Wishlist is available for cheaper-than-dirt. But Linux users flock to that stuff, it seems. (Obviously my sample set is pretty small, but I'd be surprised if it weren't true).

Quoting: Quote from Cheeseness

Quoting: Quote from adolsonand still pay far less than the value received

Without knowing the frequency of payment values, there's no way to know whether Linux gamers are generally paying less than the value received, or whether there is a segment with exceedingly low contribution values pulling the average down (same goes for other platforms, potentially to a greater extent since their averages are so low).

Either way, pay-what-you-want promotions can never be a reliable indicator for fixed price point market conditions.

That's possibly true. I didn't really have a point for including that bit. However, in a lot of cases I've seen some of the top purchases referencing Linux. So, when someone pays $1000 or whatever, for a bundle that is valued at $60, they're overpaying and would be raising the average... Outliers work in either direction, you see. But regardless, without full access to the data, we won't know for sure. And it really doesn't matter.

Quoting: Quote from Cheeseness

Quoting: Quote from adolsoneven bundles that only have Windows games

This is very true. Even outside of bundles and other sales, there are still plenty of Linux users buying non-native software, creating a differential of two sales (+1 for Windows and -1 for Linux).

This isn't necessarily bad if developers can be convinced to talk about changes in existing player bases rather than fixating on sales. If developers can see porting legacy games as an investment in customer satisfaction and loyalty, then we're more likely to see positive change moving forward (the difference between Valve's outlook on porting their catalogue vs Garry's yammering about not seeing many Linux sales post Linux launch)..

True. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't heard many, many times over the years, "sorry, we don't support Linux, but you could try Wine." Sure, take my money! Talk dirty to me some more, non-Linux-supporting publisher!

I hope that Steam Machines really offer up some incentive. I think Valve know what they're doing and have some tricks up their sleeves... Even so, I'm looking at it akin to a new console launch, where the backwards compatibility is non-existent and I have to build a new library from scratch. Only this time will be the last time. And my collection is around 150 games and my system hasn't even launched yet - AND I can play them already on my computer! That's a hell of a launch, if you ask me...

Anyhow, I don't know this Garry guy or what games he worked on. But he sounds pretty whiny. I'm assuming that the port came sometime after the Windows version... And I bet most of the Linux users who know who he is and wanted his game had already bought it. What he learned from that, is what Activision already knows. If his games are good, I'd be willing to buy them. Maybe I already own them/it and I don't even know. Hopefully he'll make some more Linux money via Steam Machines.

Quoting: Quote from adolsonI'm not sure what you're referring to. Are you saying that the <2% of Linux gamers on Steam, for example, are accounting for 10+% of the revenue for a bunch of games? So, say, random game, Monaco. 10% of Monaco sales are from the <2% of Linux users?

Yes, it is very probable that 2% percent of Steam's user base can account for over 10% of purchases on certain games. If that does not make sense to you, I suggest you brush up on your statistics. Linux users are prejudiced to buying Linux supporting games more than users of other platforms, obviously.

Quoting: Quote from adolsonAnd I bet most of the Linux users who know who he is and wanted his game had already bought it. What he learned from that, is what Activision already knows. If his games are good, I'd be willing to buy them. Maybe I already own them/it and I don't even know.

Your entire suggestion here is that most Linux users buy non-native games. Which may very well be true, but you have done very little to back up that assertion, other than mentioning Humble promotions where most of the people involved were probably trying to make a statement to the developers or to the Humble Bundle people more than anything else, through misguided means or not.

I for one do not do this, or buy non-native software in general, so if you are basing your opinions on just a few anecdotes from people you know my actions still have equal weight compared to theirs. Unless you have a broader field of evidence to show.

Quoting: Quote from adolson

Quoting: Quote from Cheeseness

Quoting: Quote from adolsonThe Humble Bundles clearly show that "Linux gamers" are so starved for games that they outpay the guys on the other platforms

That notion doesn't hold up when there have been developers have been citing similar revenue share percentages (10% - 18%) outside of Humble Bundle's promotions.

I'm not sure what you're referring to. Are you saying that the <2% of Linux gamers on Steam, for example, are accounting for 10+% of the revenue for a bunch of games?

I wasn't, but it's certainly possible (I was questioning your interpretation of Humble's stats).

Quoting: Quote from adolsonI have not seen stats from anywhere else.

I was referring to individual developers who've talked about their sales figures. People like Frictional, Wolfire, Hemisphere and so forth (sadly, publishing data isn't the norm - most devs don't seem interested in talking about their experiences and outcomes). I don't have time to hunt up URLs at the moment, but they shouldn't be too hard to find.

Quoting: Quote from adolsonOutliers work in either direction, you see. But regardless, without full access to the data, we won't know for sure. And it really doesn't matter.

Yup, that was the point I was making :D

Quoting: Quote from adolsonTrue. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't heard many, many times over the years, "sorry, we don't support Linux, but you could try Wine." Sure, take my money! Talk dirty to me some more, non-Linux-supporting publisher!

Oh, I definitely wasn't meaning to say that Linux users should feel comfortable buying non-native software (in most cases, it's probably in our best interests to not do so), just that it's a reality that there are many who choose to and that doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing for the rest of us.

Quoting: Quote from adolsonI hope that Steam Machines really offer up some incentive. I think Valve know what they're doing and have some tricks up their sleeves...

I think they're probably heading in a good direction, but new ground is potentially being broken here - I suspect a lot of their future approach to Steam Machines will be reactive rather than planned. Valve have some great talent onboard and do some amazing things, but they often seem "flighty" and maybe a little unfocused.

Either way, they've definitely shone a spotlight on Linux in a way that hasn't been done before, making us and the issues involved with supporting our platform more visible to people who'd otherwise have never bothered considering Linux support and that's super positive.

Quoting: Quote from adolsonEven so, I'm looking at it akin to a new console launch, where the backwards compatibility is non-existent and I have to build a new library from scratch. Only this time will be the last time. And my collection is around 150 games and my system hasn't even launched yet - AND I can play them already on my computer! That's a hell of a launch, if you ask me...

Definitely, although I'd argue against the "build a new library from scratch thing". There are heaps of console users who already have Steam accounts with games on them, and for those that don't Steam's selection of free-to-play titles makes Steam as a platform accessible in a way that no other console platform is.

Quoting: Quote from adolsonAnyhow, I don't know this Garry guy or what games he worked on.

A little project called Garry's Mod - I think it's been in the Steam top 10 games by player count since they started publishing stats. He uses the Source Engine, and has been fairly close to Valve (usually getting early access to Source Engine builds and I believe was the first mod and third party Source title on Steam). He's renown for being "cheeky", and I think that his comments regarding Linux are just a part of his normal behaviour (whether that's acceptable is a side issue, I just don't think he's targeting Linux/Linux users specifically - everybody cops flack from him).

At any rate, GMod is a good example of what I was talking about as it's hugely popular and I don't think there are really very many gaming oriented Steam/Linux users who didn't already own it when Wine was our only option.

OT:About Garry

thats how he is. But Actually he's pretty dedicated about the linux port. at least with its new baby (Rust). whenever someone reports a bug on their forums about linux he's answering pretty fast and pulling the logs and pushing to other devs.


about Activision

F*** you Activision

...Actually i dont remember any Activision game in the past 5-6 years that i really wanted to Buy/Play

Looks like ill be staying away from Activision games from now on.