In a sad turn of events, but not exactly surprising, the President of Blizzard responded to the petition calling for Blizzard to support Linux, the answer is obvious, but what's sad is the response from the petition creator.
Here's the official response to Blizzard not being on Linux:
QuoteI certainly appreciate your passion and enthusiasm around this. Those are some great comments that you have included below, but the numbers just aren’t there right now. Linux usage represents less than 2% of installed desktop operating systems browsing the web, and I would assume most of those people also have access to a Windows or Mac device capable of playing Blizzard games.
We will continue to monitor the growth of Linux, but it is very unlikely that this will be something that we pursue in the near future.
I think we all saw that coming, but here's the sad part, in public directly below this the petition owner said this:
QuoteI am not sure just what the hell Morhaime is smoking but obviously he needs to stop or change to a different plant. How can he say we are under 2% when there is no concrete evidence to prove it. He also can not seem to grasp the fact that the reason why some of use are stuck using Windows is because of Blizzard and not because we love using Windows.
One thing is for sure, I am gonna have to work harder if I am going to break through that thick head of his.
Will keep you posted.
That's a perfect way to make sure Blizzard never respond to that petition again. This also gives them fuel to continue to not support us, if that is the attitude of people who try to represent us.
I think we all need to ask ourselves what Andrew (the petition creator) "is smoking". It was a perfectly reasonable response from Blizzard, and I didn't even expect Blizzard to respond until the petition was much bigger.
Blizzard, we aren't all like this, and please do not think that person speaks for us, as they do not. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Crazy Penguin Mar 11, 2015
Quoting: liamdaweQuoting: Crazy PenguinLOL! Really? We are back on this now? 2% would mean a minimum 2 Million potential Linux customers (based on Steam numbers), which is quite a market share. But what do I care. Blizzards isn't making good games anymore.
*sigh*, going over this argument in IRC right now.
That 2% is an over-estimation, by a lot.
Lots of people (like me), already own their products. You can also be guaranteed a large portion supporting the petition and forum post also already sub to WoW/own other products by them.
The realistic number is far lower.
*sigh* Liam. I'm just joking around about his numbers. He is talking about 2% of the web. Which is a far higher number then 2 Million xD
That the real numbers are different is another story. Also I don't own all products from them. I have WoW and Starcraft 2 and I'm bored to hell with both games. So you can't count me as customer anyway.
Quoting: liamdaweYou need the developers, you need the support staff, you need to pay them, constantly, and not just once too. You also need extra time for Q&A on the platform, so Q&A staff need pay and time too.
That's not an argument. As Blizzard is making a shitload of money alone with WoW, and it is still not Free2Pay. So you have your constant money flow. Remember they had a Client for Linux already in the Beta as they didn't expect such high user numbers and such an high income. Not to talk about the years afterwards where they had the client available. Also they have their products for OSX already which makes it easy to port to Linux.
0 Likes
The answer is simple, time to throw more money at Linux games and ignore non-Linux games. Blizzard has known for a long time what we want, and how to get it. Never forget that Sam Lantinga was lead software developer for Blizzard. They know better than anyone how easy it would be for them to get a Linux port up and running. I think he spent years trying to get them to go Linux internally and he finally got fed up and took Valve's offer when Blizzard turned him down. I'd rather give my money to the people who are giving Linux a real shot at becoming a heavy gaming platform. Valve has earned my trust, video card drivers, good games, full platform equality for Valve's titles, and crucially, bringing in third party developers to port new games. Valve are a wonderful Linux citizen we should embrace them with more money. Hell maybe throw a Blizzard won't sell us games, so take our money Valve blitz on the app store.
2 Likes, Who?
Thank you, Liam, for being such a professional "spokesman" for Linux gaming!
I think the best option to a response like this, is simply to be respectful and prove them wrong. While Andrews point on people staying on Windows because WoW and other games aren't available on Linux is a valid one, that is pretty much the only thing to take away from his comment.
I understand Blizzards point of view from a market standpoint, but I fear that they might be left behind when (not if!) Linux picks up even more. They should also consider that more and more studios already are supporting Linux, either directly or with help from studios porting their games. These studios have the same data as Blizzard, but they arrive at a different conclusion. Why is that?
Blizzard are naive to think that a user of their software would stay on Windows if WoW is the only thing keeping them there. They will change OS, and that would mean that Blizzard loses a user.
My suggestion for Blizzard is to start with something "simpler" like Hearthstone, and carefully monitor the numbers from that experience, and then see if they think Linux is a horse worth betting on. They could even make an "ugly" Wine-port of Hearthstone, or even WoW, since they both seem to work reasonably well with Wine (or am I wrong?).
I think the best option to a response like this, is simply to be respectful and prove them wrong. While Andrews point on people staying on Windows because WoW and other games aren't available on Linux is a valid one, that is pretty much the only thing to take away from his comment.
I understand Blizzards point of view from a market standpoint, but I fear that they might be left behind when (not if!) Linux picks up even more. They should also consider that more and more studios already are supporting Linux, either directly or with help from studios porting their games. These studios have the same data as Blizzard, but they arrive at a different conclusion. Why is that?
Blizzard are naive to think that a user of their software would stay on Windows if WoW is the only thing keeping them there. They will change OS, and that would mean that Blizzard loses a user.
My suggestion for Blizzard is to start with something "simpler" like Hearthstone, and carefully monitor the numbers from that experience, and then see if they think Linux is a horse worth betting on. They could even make an "ugly" Wine-port of Hearthstone, or even WoW, since they both seem to work reasonably well with Wine (or am I wrong?).
3 Likes, Who?
"...most of those people also have access to a Windows or Mac device capable of playing Blizzard games..."
True. But I still don't see any reason why should a Linux user buy a Windows/Mac game. The only reason why I buy games is to support Linux game developers.
True. But I still don't see any reason why should a Linux user buy a Windows/Mac game. The only reason why I buy games is to support Linux game developers.
0 Likes
Kallestofeles Mar 11, 2015
The way I see it, in a nutshell, here's where we stand.
You can dual-boot to windows, that would give no reason for the devs to even start thinking about porting to Linux, unless if they're indie devs with a liking towards Linux. Or really support Valve and their decisions.
Should you decide to really support the Linux numbers, one must cut himself from the Windows-only titles. That however is more easily said than done as most gamers have that 1-2 titles that they are really into and will not let go that easily. This is kind of what happened to me. I still have a windows partition, confession, but rarely ever boot into it. Yet there are some times when I just feel like I want the full potential of my hardware I have purchased and OpenGL just won't cut it with its driver overhead... so I get one game and complete it under windows. This however is bad, as the statistics would show win as the marketshare.
Basically, for Blizzard, no wonder they won't make the native ports, there's just no need for them from their standpoint. And given that the OpenGL is what it is at the moment, there's no real reason to start the work until Vulkan has proven itself. Again, from my opinion of Blizzard's standpoint.
We need to wait with patience, hope for Vulkan to develop correctly, people to implement it and show its potential. Then, if the performance is what it should be, people will start moving to Linux, the numbers will increase over time and then, there might be a possibility of seeing a native Blizzard game port.
Those are just my ramblings... ignore if you will. :)
You can dual-boot to windows, that would give no reason for the devs to even start thinking about porting to Linux, unless if they're indie devs with a liking towards Linux. Or really support Valve and their decisions.
Should you decide to really support the Linux numbers, one must cut himself from the Windows-only titles. That however is more easily said than done as most gamers have that 1-2 titles that they are really into and will not let go that easily. This is kind of what happened to me. I still have a windows partition, confession, but rarely ever boot into it. Yet there are some times when I just feel like I want the full potential of my hardware I have purchased and OpenGL just won't cut it with its driver overhead... so I get one game and complete it under windows. This however is bad, as the statistics would show win as the marketshare.
Basically, for Blizzard, no wonder they won't make the native ports, there's just no need for them from their standpoint. And given that the OpenGL is what it is at the moment, there's no real reason to start the work until Vulkan has proven itself. Again, from my opinion of Blizzard's standpoint.
We need to wait with patience, hope for Vulkan to develop correctly, people to implement it and show its potential. Then, if the performance is what it should be, people will start moving to Linux, the numbers will increase over time and then, there might be a possibility of seeing a native Blizzard game port.
Those are just my ramblings... ignore if you will. :)
0 Likes
If you care about linux gaming please stop buying/playing windows games(including blizzards one).
No wine no dual booting no virtual machine only native clients and increase money flow to developers which cares about you and linux gaming. It's simple as that.
No wine no dual booting no virtual machine only native clients and increase money flow to developers which cares about you and linux gaming. It's simple as that.
0 Likes
I just realised we weren't talking about EA, in which case, there's hope!
And yes, Blizzard supporting Linux would be great! They do have some world e-sports class games which I played =P
And yes, Blizzard supporting Linux would be great! They do have some world e-sports class games which I played =P
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I very much expected this. Though, a hint of a marketshare when they consider re evaluating would would have been nice, I guess we gotta' go with what we get. I still think it is not the best way to evaluate a potential customer number out of web browsing statistics (I think valve could tell them pretty well the number of potential rpg/mmorpg/rts players inlinux).
But the market changes, maybe we will see them change their mind in future. At least they say that they are watching and are willing to re-evaluate in future.
But the market changes, maybe we will see them change their mind in future. At least they say that they are watching and are willing to re-evaluate in future.
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One thing all linux gamers have to be aware of:
Companies doesn't give a sh#$ if you want to abandon Windows for linux.
If you are still using Windows and Buying their games that's enough for them.
The same to those who use wine.
WE ALL should use linux only (if possible) and buy linux only games. Cause again, companies just doesn't care if you want to change to linux...
If with the current policy they ALREADY GOT YOUR MONEY what's the point really?
Companies doesn't give a sh#$ if you want to abandon Windows for linux.
If you are still using Windows and Buying their games that's enough for them.
The same to those who use wine.
WE ALL should use linux only (if possible) and buy linux only games. Cause again, companies just doesn't care if you want to change to linux...
If with the current policy they ALREADY GOT YOUR MONEY what's the point really?
4 Likes, Who?
I don't really care if Blizzard doesn't want to support Linux. Unless they were porting their older games to Linux like Diablo II, Warcraft III, or maybe Starcraft even though I'm not a huge fan of Starcraft. WoW is really unappealing to me, as are most of their other newer games.
Even then, if they don't ever bring their older games to Linux, other people will eventually. Like the Freeablo project:
https://github.com/wheybags/freeablo
And another one I've got my eye on, the Falltegeist project, a crossplatform rewrite of Fallout 2's engine:
https://github.com/falltergeist/falltergeist
For now, Diablo II runs well in Wine, I've even setup a server and played with people over the internet and it worked great.
Even then, if they don't ever bring their older games to Linux, other people will eventually. Like the Freeablo project:
https://github.com/wheybags/freeablo
And another one I've got my eye on, the Falltegeist project, a crossplatform rewrite of Fallout 2's engine:
https://github.com/falltergeist/falltergeist
For now, Diablo II runs well in Wine, I've even setup a server and played with people over the internet and it worked great.
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