Activision Is Blocking A Game Coming Over To Linux UPDATED

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?

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.

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.

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.

Tripwire the makers of Killing Floor have said that 10% of their sales after posting to Mac AND Linux were to those platforms. That's combined Mac and Linux versions not just Linux.

http://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/red-orchestra-2-and-tripwires-future-titles-to-come-to-linux.2501 

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.

That's great to hear.

Also, apologies for getting the thread off topic :D

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.

That's great to hear.

Also, apologies for getting the thread off topic :D

That would be my fault. :P

I've heard of Garry's Mod, but I don't own it. The name of the game alone put me off - who's Garry? And why do I want a Mod he made? Maybe if he wants my money, he should call it something else, like... Crazytown. Or Rust - that one is on my wishlist at the moment. I'll have a look at Garry's Mod and probably end up adding one to the Linux sales at some point.

On topic though, if everyone who actually wants to play this game would, instead of simply complaining about it, actually put some effort in to let Activision know they're making a mistake, maybe they'll listen. They're not going to do anything if they don't see a demand, that's for sure. With such a small market, though... I suspect it may be futile after all. But at least I've tried.

@ATVIAssist on Twitter, if anyone cares to chime in.

Stuff like this should lead to a huge shitstorm.

So, it turns out somebody posted prematurely and that this isn't *quite* as negative as it sounds. Apparently Linux was never promised to begin with and it sounds like it wasn't specifically being pursued, and the initial concerns were raised by somebody who had assumed that the title in question would be supporting all platforms that the primary focus of the Kickstarter campaign would be targeting (from what I understand, pledge rewards offered copies of additional future titles).

Jane's clarification does insinuate that they have a very defined set of platforms that they're "granted permission" to release on, so it sounds like if Linux support were pursued by the developers at this point in time, then it would be blocked in the way that the initial forum post that sparked this claimed.

   Guys, I've just become aware of this thread. I just want to clarify.

   1. First, we never said MGX would be released on Linux only that Moebius would be. If you look down at the bottom of the kickstarter page it just says MGX is new and still TBD. So there were no promises broken or blocked by either Pinkerton Road or Activision. Keep in mind that from the start we realized that MGX was a game we were working with a publisher on, and we would have less control over. I don't see that as a bad thing. It's FANTASTIC that we are doing the GK1 remake. And that means working with the GK license holder. Also, to reiterate, MGX/GK1 is *not* being funded by kickstarter. That money all went into Moebius (and then some).

   2. Secondly, we are thrilled to have gotten the license to release GK1 on PC, Mac, Apple mobile and Android. There is no anti-Linux conspiracy. We are also not releasing on console either, for example. It was simply a matter of "these platforms make the most sense in the market right now, let's release there and see how it goes". We may be granted permission to do more platforms later, but that depends on how well the game turns out and how it sells.

   I know those of you who are passionate about Linux are disappointed, but there is nothing to be upset at Activision about (or, I hope, me!).

   Jane

Source

I wouldn't be surprised if this is actually MS behind the scenes pressuring game publishers to stay away from Linux. Same as they have been doing with hardware sellers for many years.

QuoteIt's also worth adding a quick note here in case people don't see my clarification later in the thread - Linux was never a platform we were developing for and I simply assumed that it was. Shoot the messenger if you need to, this was entirely a bad assumption on my part.

pls can you add source? Thx

QuoteIt's also worth adding a quick note here in case people don't see my clarification later in the thread - Linux was never a platform we were developing for and I simply assumed that it was. Shoot the messenger if you need to, this was entirely a bad assumption on my part.

pls can you add source? Thx

The source is linked.

   Guys, I've just become aware of this thread. I just want to clarify.

   1. First, we never said MGX would be released on Linux

So the Technical Director doesn't know the actual technical direction of the game?

   Guys, I've just become aware of this thread. I just want to clarify.

   1. First, we never said MGX would be released on Linux

So the Technical Director doesn't know the actual technical direction of the game?

The person who created the thread is Technical Director for a different studio (Phoenix Online). They collaborated with Pinkterton Road Studios on Moebius, but I have no idea if they've been collaborating on the GK title.

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?

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.

Tripwire the makers of Killing Floor have said that 10% of their sales after posting to Mac AND Linux were to those platforms. That's combined Mac and Linux versions not just Linux.

http://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/red-orchestra-2-and-tripwires-future-titles-to-come-to-linux.2501 

My point was not necessarily that Linux would be 10% of sales on all games - although for many titles such as those by Frictional and Wolfire it was actually reported as being a little higher than that -  just that it is very likely that it would be more than 2% of games sales, as Linux users are biased towards purchasing Linux supporting titles more than those using other platforms.

They are trying to thread the needle. Based on a later response, it looks like the Linux port of Mobieus if giving them some trouble (updating licenses, etc.) so I'm guessing that at one point Linux was in the cards but they've cut it to trim some fat. But then every starts piling on Activision, so Jane has to defend their partner while trying not to admit that they are likely going to release a lower quality port.

They are trying to thread the needle. Based on a later response, it looks like the Linux port of Mobieus if giving them some trouble (updating licenses, etc.) so I'm guessing that at one point Linux was in the cards but they've cut it to trim some fat. But then every starts piling on Activision, so Jane has to defend their partner while trying not to admit that they are likely going to release a lower quality port.

The excuse doesn't even really hold water. Jane suggests that they've already updated to "a newer engine" for GK development, which since in the next post suggests that they're upgrading from Unity 3.5 to 4, means that the GK code base already supports Linux (through Unity 4).

I totally understand getting a late port, like how Linux users don't get a test copy of Moebius because it's built on Unity 3.5. But it's pretty poor to suggest that Linux users shouldn't be unhappy with their decisions.

While I did back for Moebius (at the $50 level to support a company that said it was making a Linux game), I certainly won't support them in the future after this behavior. It's feels like announcing Linux support was an attempt at getting funding to push them over the original $400k funding requirement rather than an honest indication of support.

It's them who have to create the market like they do all time and not the other way around. The fact it's they don't want to. Most of the time new markets start by creating a commodity nobody asked for in the first place, but they create it anyway and make it sell. I think they're waiting for others to create that market then jump in to reap the benefits.

I'll have a look at Garry's Mod and probably end up adding one to the Linux sales at some point.

Its in the current humble bundle.

I'll have a look at Garry's Mod and probably end up adding one to the Linux sales at some point.

Its in the current humble bundle.

*sigh* So it is, so it is... I knew that too, I get their emails, but wrote it off because I had no interest in whatever it was, and the other Linux games I already bought a long time ago. But since it's for charity... Guess I'll go ahead and get it now. +1 Linux purchase.

Isn't it weird reading they don't develop for Linux then reading they develop for Android?