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Oh boy, I do love a good rant from a developer. This time it's the C4 engine dropping Linux support (honestly, how many of you have even heard of C4?).
Warning: It's a real rant.
Choice quote from their announcement
QuoteThis decision was made based on the disproportionate cost, both in terms of time and money, that we incur to support Linux relative to a very small return on our investment. This decision was also made to preserve my own sanity since my personal experiences with Linux have been extremely negative and have resulted in huge wastes of time that could have been better spent on more productive tasks. Terathon Software will no longer contribute to the popularity of an operating system that I personally view as inferior in design to both Windows and Mac OS X. Linux has proven to be Frankenstein OS assembled from a disparate array of barely functioning parts with horrible reliability and little potential for future improvement. Time that would have been spent on Linux support will now be used to strengthen our product on platforms with much greater viability.
The comments are just, amazing. One commenter provided this funny image:
And the developer responded with:
QuoteIt's my expert opinion, man.
Oh my, I mean there's being a good developer, and there's being a bit full of yourself.
He has also been dropping gems on his Twitter account:
Finished excision of Linux code from the C4 Engine. Negative 2008 lines. Good riddance.
— Eric Lengyel (@EricLengyel) January 10, 2015I have reached the point where I feel morally obligated to drop all support for Linux.
— Eric Lengyel (@EricLengyel) January 10, 2015Things like this are concerning though, and it is a real issue:
I love it when Ubuntu starts freezing for no good reason right before the login screen. That's high-quality engineering right there.
— Eric Lengyel (@EricLengyel) December 26, 2014I do wonder if it is a hardware or a driver issue, my last freezing issue turned out to be RAM that failed at specific things.
We don't often write about people ranting about Linux, and for one developer making a full bit of kit like C4 it can be time consuming, so we don't have much to say other than "oh well". We still have many more better engines around.
All hail Frankenstein, in Frankenstein we trust. Move along.
P.S. Please try to keep comments reasonable about this topic. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Normally we should look at these Linux hating rants to better see the weaknesses of Linux game development. However, there is absolutely no substance in his post. Some configurations can be painful to install Linux (Windows too), but the rest of his complaints are pure garbageWell, it's partially correct if you were to completely build your own Linux Distro from scratch. Otherwise....
"Linux has proven to be Frankenstein OS assembled from a disparate array of barely functioning parts with horrible reliability and little potential for future improvement."
None of those things are even remotely correct. It's so wrong I laughed when I read it. Linux game development has a lot of short comings, but he doesn't mention any of them.
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P.S. Please keep comments reasonable about this topic.It's in paradox with your article which publicly exposes a fool for the crowd to throw rocks at. There can hardly be anything reasonable in that. :S:
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It's my expert opinion, man.
He should really tell that those novices at Aspire, Feral and Valve!
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It's my expert opinion, man.
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Segata Sanshiro 12 Jan 2015
I don't see how a platform which is overwhelmingly used in every single application (other than home PCs) can be considered to be inferior. My experience with web developers using Windows servers who say Linux is inferior (have met a couple), it's because they don't know how to use it and don't want to be made to feel inferior themselves.
My girlfriend (who I would consider an entry-level user) managed to install Xubuntu on a computer with no help at all and running into no issues. Guess she's more of an "expert" that him.
FYI, the developer that called himself an "expert" (I assume he means it in the same way that Apple Store employees are "geniuses" ) tweeted about his inability to install ubuntu on a computer after a full day of effort.
My girlfriend (who I would consider an entry-level user) managed to install Xubuntu on a computer with no help at all and running into no issues. Guess she's more of an "expert" that him.
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jedidiah_lnx 12 Jan 2015
One thing that struck me as interesting is how this thing seems to be targeted at academic sales and includes source code. It almost seems like the perfect situation for end user contributions in the usual manner of Linux and other Free Software.
I find his inability to install Ubuntu disturbing... quite disturbing.
I find his inability to install Ubuntu disturbing... quite disturbing.
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From the site that shall not be named: "He says too in the future that they may support SteamOS but that they will not let the engine run on Linux in general."
I hope Valve does not let this happen. And for this reason alone, I will endeavor to NEVER give a single cent to any game that uses C4. Basically he's saying, "We want money from Linux gamers in case SteamOS does take off... But otherwise, FUCK YOU, LINUX GAMERS!"
I hope Valve does not let this happen. And for this reason alone, I will endeavor to NEVER give a single cent to any game that uses C4. Basically he's saying, "We want money from Linux gamers in case SteamOS does take off... But otherwise, FUCK YOU, LINUX GAMERS!"
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Well that is unfortunate. From what I have gathered the guy just basically rage quit. I'm really curious what his issues were as I don't see anywhere he has outlined them. The only thing I see was a tweet complaining about ubuntu freezing before login.
Oh well.. it is unfortunate to lose the engine for Linux, but at the same time it doesn't seem like we are losing much if anything.. I don't see a single one of those games available for Linux now and the only one to mention Linux was his own game "The 31st" which doesn't look at all interesting based on the clip I just watched.. so move along.. nothing to see here.
Oh well.. it is unfortunate to lose the engine for Linux, but at the same time it doesn't seem like we are losing much if anything.. I don't see a single one of those games available for Linux now and the only one to mention Linux was his own game "The 31st" which doesn't look at all interesting based on the clip I just watched.. so move along.. nothing to see here.
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linux_gamer 12 Jan 2015
Which percentage of Games/Applications runs with C4 engine? Probably 1% if you round favourable.
I personally view the C4 engine inferior to Source, Cry, or Unreal Engine
I personally view the C4 engine inferior to Source, Cry, or Unreal Engine
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https://mobile.twitter.com/EricLengyel/status/552672506016825345
Ubuntu is an ancient african word that means "I can't configure Debian".
EricLengyel is an ancient word that means "I can't install Ubuntu".
Ubuntu is an ancient african word that means "I can't configure Debian".
EricLengyel is an ancient word that means "I can't install Ubuntu".
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I never heard of C4 before, but removing support for one of platforms in face of customers that already paid sounds like jerk move. I especially love that There is no danger whatsoever of Mac OS X support being dropped, it sounds so... trustworthy :)
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thelimeydragon 12 Jan 2015
I have no words...
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I can install Ubuntu on a Nexus 4. I had no idea that would qualify me as a programmer experienced with Linux and ARM. The expert had spoken! I am programmer now!
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From the site that shall not be named: "He says too in the future that they may support SteamOS but that they will not let the engine run on Linux in general."
If it runs on SteamOS, it will run on Linux. I'm always baffled how people like this developer can be able to create games and a game engine on one side but have such a limited view and be unable to understand and cope with slightly different concepts such as Linux on the other side.
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Why are we giving this developer any attention? Not every piece of software needs to be cross-platform. Never heard of the engine, never heard of these games. Such a tragedy...
Like seriously, a child could install an OS (any). If a "educated" person like this can't even perform basic entry level tech support, god knows how abysmally designed his engine is. There are a plenty out there (free and commercial), and ones with big names, might I add, like Unity actually changing their mind to support Linux because they know statements like that are farce.
Like seriously, a child could install an OS (any). If a "educated" person like this can't even perform basic entry level tech support, god knows how abysmally designed his engine is. There are a plenty out there (free and commercial), and ones with big names, might I add, like Unity actually changing their mind to support Linux because they know statements like that are farce.
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I don't know if you guys just put up brave faces or really don't care, but this news really depressed me.
I kinda expect to see Linux support growing, not getting smaller.
It's not a big blow I know, but a blow nevertheless at least for Linux perception in general. Another good occasion for trolls to start ranting about Linux being so crappy that developers start ditching it etc.
Not so good publicity.
I kinda expect to see Linux support growing, not getting smaller.
It's not a big blow I know, but a blow nevertheless at least for Linux perception in general. Another good occasion for trolls to start ranting about Linux being so crappy that developers start ditching it etc.
Not so good publicity.
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LinuxGamesTV 13 Jan 2015
The best is, he tried only Ubuntu. The other thing was wrote here too: if the engine runs in SteamOS, it runs on other Distributions too. The Dev don't not realy knows what Linux is and whats a Distribution is.
No Tux, no Bucks.
No Tux, no Bucks.
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I just read this post by Juan Linietsky on the Godot Engine forums, although not directly related to C4, it shows the stark contrast between the two engine leaders. This is the kind of guy I want to support. Unfortunately, he doesn't charge for Godot but instead gives it away under the liberal MIT license, and donations are not accepted anywhere that I could find... I guess he does it all for the fun of it.
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At least Linux is not obsolete like Windows is.
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