I have been hesitant to cover things like petitions and forum posts in the past, especially for Blizzard, but now seems like the best time to really get them to listen to us.
There is currently a petition going to get Blizzard to release Linux client for their games, but Blizzard actually replied to it and asked the owner to create a forum post on their official forum, so they did, and it is gaining some real traction right now.
The original post is here to explain it:
That forum post, now has 9 pages/172 replies rallying support for Linux version of Blizzard games, and with a push from us here maybe we can not only make it truly massive, but help get a better official response.
Unless we show them much bigger numbers, it is still doubtful they will support us official. So let's get it moving shall we GOL readers?
I still maintain my stance that a petition has never given us Linux support for a game, ever. Forum posts directly to developers however do get much better responses, not sure why, but they do.
Personally, I own Starcraft II, but don't play it due to it causing hard-crashes in Wine in specific parts, and I would happily buy all future expansions if it came to Linux natively. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
There is currently a petition going to get Blizzard to release Linux client for their games, but Blizzard actually replied to it and asked the owner to create a forum post on their official forum, so they did, and it is gaining some real traction right now.
The original post is here to explain it:
QuoteI am creating this topic as instructed my Rachel R at Blizzard whom I have been in contact with regarding Bliizzard releasing native clients for Linux.
My petition on change.org now has over 1,300 signatures and continues to grow each and every week. You may check it out at: https://www.change.org/p/blizzard-entertainment-support-please-release-native-linux-clients
To any devs at Blizzard, please release Linux clients. If you are not skill full enough to program for Linux then simply ask the community for help. The community helped Valve 3 years ago when they were coming to Linux and I am sure the community would be willing to help Blizzard, especially since this request has been going on for 10 years now.
Thank you.
That forum post, now has 9 pages/172 replies rallying support for Linux version of Blizzard games, and with a push from us here maybe we can not only make it truly massive, but help get a better official response.
Unless we show them much bigger numbers, it is still doubtful they will support us official. So let's get it moving shall we GOL readers?
I still maintain my stance that a petition has never given us Linux support for a game, ever. Forum posts directly to developers however do get much better responses, not sure why, but they do.
Personally, I own Starcraft II, but don't play it due to it causing hard-crashes in Wine in specific parts, and I would happily buy all future expansions if it came to Linux natively. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Quoting: subDon't forget about macQuoting: STiATAs much as I'd like to see especially games like SC2 on Linux, I'm unsure this is to happen anytime soon. There is a petitition, there is this forum post - and I may even post there, but I don't think Blizzard will ever give us Linux support. I'd say the chance at the moment is 1 %.
It's up to them to prove me wrong.
Well, Newell said (see the GDC interview) Blizzard is a Vulkan supporter.
Why should they support it, if they're not aiming for SteamOS?
If they stick to Windows, they could just stay with Direct3D 12.
Sure, that's not a prove - but a very strong hint if you ask me.
Maybe we see SC2 - Legacy of the Void for SteamOS?
Beta starts in March and Blizzard betas usually take very long until the final release happens.
This could perfectly match the official SteamMachines/SteamOS launch in autumn
and sounds like a good time scale for the GPU vendors to get their first drivers out.
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Yes, Blizzard has supported Mac for a long time. It's possible they will come around. Blizzard is the last giant left. I don't care about Activision, EA, or Ubisoft. Except BioWare games. :/
StarCraft 2 would be my Blizzard game of choice.
StarCraft 2 would be my Blizzard game of choice.
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Quoting: subWell, Newell said (see the GDC interview) Blizzard is a Vulkan supporter.
Why should they support it, if they're not aiming for SteamOS?
If they stick to Windows, they could just stay with Direct3D 12.
They might just go with Vulkan instead of Direct3D for any of their future titles on Windows or they might want to get their future Mac games to support Vulkan instead of OpenGL. Either way, them supporting Vulkan doesn't mean their supporting SteamOS.
Don't get me wrong, I do hope they'll eventually support us at some point and perhaps Vulkan is the beginning of linux/steamos support.
I signed the petition and replied in the bnet as soon as I read about them in reddit. It doesn't really matter whether these petitions prove futile, cause in the end they are not so. Even if they end up not supporting us after them, they're still reminded of us and see there's demand for their games in our platform. I really want to hope they'll pay attention this time :)
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Sure, as I said it's no prove.
BTW, I wonder what Apple does with its Metal API, more or less a Mantle clone IIRC?
From what Newell said, we can expect Apple to support Vulkan.
But since Apple writes large parts of the GPU drivers on their own,
will they really maintain all three big APIs, i.e. OpenGL, Vulkan and Metal?
I don't think so.
BTW, I wonder what Apple does with its Metal API, more or less a Mantle clone IIRC?
From what Newell said, we can expect Apple to support Vulkan.
But since Apple writes large parts of the GPU drivers on their own,
will they really maintain all three big APIs, i.e. OpenGL, Vulkan and Metal?
I don't think so.
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Quoting: subWell, Newell said (see the GDC interview) Blizzard is a Vulkan supporter.
Why should they support it, if they're not aiming for SteamOS?
If they stick to Windows, they could just stay with Direct3D 12.
It's got nothing to do with Linux. The reason for the support is because of Windows XP.
Windows XP will never support DX12, Windows Vista and 7 might not either (although the later not getting support is unlikely). Blizzard games are net cafe favourites, and keeping the licensing requirements (and subsequently costs to the cafes) lower is important. It's much like the opposite of a Microsoft-published game (when they used to do that) Halo on PC required DX10 (although didn't show much for it). Vista was new and rubbish, but I'm sure some people installed Vista for the game. Take every Blizzard game, every Valve game (but notably even the recent ones), LoL, Quake Live - what do they have in common? They all have XP as a minimum requirement. DirectX 9.0c. An ancient (2004) API.
Vulkan could bring modern graphics to those machines.
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Quoting: neffoQuoting: subWell, Newell said (see the GDC interview) Blizzard is a Vulkan supporter.
Why should they support it, if they're not aiming for SteamOS?
If they stick to Windows, they could just stay with Direct3D 12.
It's got nothing to do with Linux. The reason for the support is because of Windows XP.
Windows XP will never support DX12, Windows Vista and 7 might not either (although the later not getting support is unlikely). Blizzard games are net cafe favourites, and keeping the licensing requirements (and subsequently costs to the cafes) lower is important. It's much like the opposite of a Microsoft-published game (when they used to do that) Halo on PC required DX10 (although didn't show much for it). Vista was new and rubbish, but I'm sure some people installed Vista for the game. Take every Blizzard game, every Valve game (but notably even the recent ones), LoL, Quake Live - what do they have in common? They all have XP as a minimum requirement. DirectX 9.0c. An ancient (2004) API.
Vulkan could bring modern graphics to those machines.
If the target really ist just WinXP - which I doubt - they could just use OpengGL 4.x for modern graphics features, couldn't they? AFAIK the drivers are available.
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Quoting: neffothis makes even less sense, than a linux port will happen soon. why blizzard should do this for an outdated windows?Quoting: subWell, Newell said (see the GDC interview) Blizzard is a Vulkan supporter.
Why should they support it, if they're not aiming for SteamOS?
If they stick to Windows, they could just stay with Direct3D 12.
It's got nothing to do with Linux. The reason for the support is because of Windows XP.
Windows XP will never support DX12, Windows Vista and 7 might not either (although the later not getting support is unlikely). Blizzard games are net cafe favourites, and keeping the licensing requirements (and subsequently costs to the cafes) lower is important. It's much like the opposite of a Microsoft-published game (when they used to do that) Halo on PC required DX10 (although didn't show much for it). Vista was new and rubbish, but I'm sure some people installed Vista for the game. Take every Blizzard game, every Valve game (but notably even the recent ones), LoL, Quake Live - what do they have in common? They all have XP as a minimum requirement. DirectX 9.0c. An ancient (2004) API.
Vulkan could bring modern graphics to those machines.
btw. thanks for posting this here.
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Quoting: fishxzthis makes even less sense, than a linux port will happen soon. why blizzard should do this for an outdated windows?
I guess neffo is right.
~90% of the market still uses windows XP. But their hardware is being upgraded. The result is ppl with very new GPU's featured locked by the API. That's how windows force/forced gamers into new Windows versions.
Why Vulkan not openGL? Well why not? The new API is a great promise for improvement. Blizzard is know to have games that work in low or high price PC's, if this API can increase this range even more AND give more performance to their games I really don't see why they shouldn't invest on it.
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Quoting: subIf the target really ist just WinXP - which I doubt - they could just use OpengGL 4.x for modern graphics features, couldn't they AFAIK the drivers are available.
Yes, which is what UE4 does (it still runs on XP). You missed my point though.
The advantage right now is that DirectX works out of the box. The implementation of DirectX is by Microsoft, not the hardware vendors (unlike OpenGL), which means it's a slightly more reliable target. Have you not used the AMD drivers? (Or Intel for that matter.) DirectX 9.0c is a better target to aim for at the moment, even if it's holding back those games visually.
But despite all that, the fact that you said OpenGL is an option there kinda proves my point about Vulkan. Vulkan a means to keep XP machines playing games and bringing in money.
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Quoting: neffoQuoting: subIf the target really ist just WinXP - which I doubt - they could just use OpengGL 4.x for modern graphics features, couldn't they AFAIK the drivers are available.
Yes, which is what UE4 does (it still runs on XP). You missed my point though.
The advantage right now is that DirectX works out of the box. The implementation of DirectX is by Microsoft, not the hardware vendors (unlike OpenGL). Have you not used the AMD drivers? (Or Intel for that matter.) DirectX 9.0c is a better target to aim for at the moment, even if it's holding back those games visually.
The reason that Direct3D (mostly) works out of the box, is that hardware vendors put lots and lots of money in the development of their drivers. The hardware vendor (NVidia, AMD) implement the important bits in the driver not Microsoft. Microsoft only does the specs of the Direct3D API and a bit more.
I have a AMD 7950 HD. And yes, the Windows Direct3D 9,10,11 drivers are excellent. The OpenGL implementation not so much, mainly lacking performance at this time. However, the main reason is the amount of work/money you put into the development. I see a good chance for improvements with Vulkan.
Yes, maybe you have point. I still doubt it.
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