Just a little warning if you were thinking of picking up '7 Days to Die', they just release Alpha 12 which has completely broken Mac & Linux builds.
I haven't been their biggest fan (and it's well detailed in articles here on GOL), but they did eventually release the Linux build and people have been enjoying it.
The problem now, is it appears all testing on Linux (and Mac) has stopped. Proof is in the pudding with Alpha 12 being completely broken on both platforms. Here's what it looks like right now:
Something that big with everything being grey, textures not appearing, black boxes everywhere would have been caught if they had a single Linux test machine, as it took me all of 5 minutes to see the bug in action. They aren't the only developer who treats Linux as a second class citizen, I'm looking at you Rust.
Early Access does come with a whole host of troubles if not done by a competent developer, but that "Early Access" excuse wears a little thin with such glaringly obvious bugs that just weren't tested. Remember, no matter what, you have paid for it, so it should work to a certain degree. There's also six pages of people confirming the bug here, so it's not a small issue.
If you were thinking of picking 7 Days up, I would seriously lay off it right now, and I would seriously wait until it exits Early Access. You can find 7 Days To Die on Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
I haven't been their biggest fan (and it's well detailed in articles here on GOL), but they did eventually release the Linux build and people have been enjoying it.
The problem now, is it appears all testing on Linux (and Mac) has stopped. Proof is in the pudding with Alpha 12 being completely broken on both platforms. Here's what it looks like right now:
Something that big with everything being grey, textures not appearing, black boxes everywhere would have been caught if they had a single Linux test machine, as it took me all of 5 minutes to see the bug in action. They aren't the only developer who treats Linux as a second class citizen, I'm looking at you Rust.
Early Access does come with a whole host of troubles if not done by a competent developer, but that "Early Access" excuse wears a little thin with such glaringly obvious bugs that just weren't tested. Remember, no matter what, you have paid for it, so it should work to a certain degree. There's also six pages of people confirming the bug here, so it's not a small issue.
If you were thinking of picking 7 Days up, I would seriously lay off it right now, and I would seriously wait until it exits Early Access. You can find 7 Days To Die on Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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They aren't the only developer who treats Linux as a second class citizen, I'm looking at you Rust.
Wow, Facepunch finally considers us to be citizens now? :S
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Garry has already given an update on the situation:
http://playrust.com/devblog-67/
also hes tweet:
https://twitter.com/garrynewman/status/617001555447934976
hope 7 days to die devs fix the issues... i was so waiting for the DirtBike and Weather update
http://playrust.com/devblog-67/
Linux
Linux is broke. We know and we’re sorry. This isn’t a problem we can fix easily. It’s a bug in the latest version of Unity. They’ve apparently fixed it in their internal builds – but haven’t released the fix just yet, so we’re waiting patiently along with you guys.
We can’t just roll-back to a working version of the game because it would mean rolling back a number of other important fixes if we do. This might seem cruel, twisted, disrespectful to the Linux users. Would we roll back if this was affecting Windows users? Yes. Because they are the huge majority. We sometimes have to prioritise the majority. It sucks, and we know it sucks.
It’s important to say that the game is still in early access, still in alpha, still in active development. We update every week. It’s not going to stay like this.
also hes tweet:
https://twitter.com/garrynewman/status/617001555447934976
Unity just pushed out a patch for the linux keyboard stuff - so will be fixed on dev asap http://unity3d.com/unity/qa/patch-releases/5.1.1p3
hope 7 days to die devs fix the issues... i was so waiting for the DirtBike and Weather update
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AsavarTzeth Jul 4, 2015
Wow, Facepunch finally considers us to be citizens now? :SWell said!
The problem now, is it appears all testing on Linux (and Mac) has stopped. Proof is in the pudding with Alpha 12 being completely broken on both platforms. Here's what it looks like right now:In my opinion there never were any true testing to begin with. I have not tried the later Alpha builds but all initial ones instantly crashed on my system. So I have always considered this game broken & undelivered.
It is too bad I backed it on Kickstarter for 4 copies. I don't know what is worse, this, or not getting a promised port at all. I almost think I prefer no port at all because then they have no excuses.
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Sigh. I bought it a week ago.With some luck you could refund it.
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Its fairly mind blowing given the amount of good press Linux has been getting that this happens. I spoke to the Dev of a fairly well received Indie game on steam ( one that total biscuit endorsed )
The Dev in question is a truly responsive developer and was very keen to get the linux version working after a game update he submitted broke the entire thing. Now, the steam community users hub for this game helped him along nicely and even tried to help him install Linux for the first time ever...
..wait.
yes, he released a game only developed on windows, hit the compile for Linux on unity button and that was it
No testing.
In fact, I have seen from a few active devs that their actual computer knowledge ( as in PC ) is extremely limited ( they are not technicians but you kind of imagine they half are ). His machine was pre-built and came with windows, he couldn’t actually install Linux because the machine was on secure boot and microsoft had that locked down tighter than a nuns ..
he almost broke the only PC he had trying to dual boot linux and in the end gave up otherwise the whole game development would of been stopped for everyone.
so yes, devs are building and releasing games for a platform that they have never used and never intend to use just because a game engine has a big 'compile for {insert OS}' button.
frustrating, because it takes less than 10 mins to install ubuntu or a variant on most normal PC's. But most don’t even Try, some don’t even care :| and most are developing on just one or two core machines,
Its not even that they are trying with an old used laptop with ubuntu thrown on which would at least be something.
The Dev in question is a truly responsive developer and was very keen to get the linux version working after a game update he submitted broke the entire thing. Now, the steam community users hub for this game helped him along nicely and even tried to help him install Linux for the first time ever...
..wait.
yes, he released a game only developed on windows, hit the compile for Linux on unity button and that was it
No testing.
In fact, I have seen from a few active devs that their actual computer knowledge ( as in PC ) is extremely limited ( they are not technicians but you kind of imagine they half are ). His machine was pre-built and came with windows, he couldn’t actually install Linux because the machine was on secure boot and microsoft had that locked down tighter than a nuns ..
he almost broke the only PC he had trying to dual boot linux and in the end gave up otherwise the whole game development would of been stopped for everyone.
so yes, devs are building and releasing games for a platform that they have never used and never intend to use just because a game engine has a big 'compile for {insert OS}' button.
frustrating, because it takes less than 10 mins to install ubuntu or a variant on most normal PC's. But most don’t even Try, some don’t even care :| and most are developing on just one or two core machines,
Its not even that they are trying with an old used laptop with ubuntu thrown on which would at least be something.
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Crazy Penguin Jul 4, 2015
Garry has already given an update on the situation:
We can’t just roll-back to a working version of the game because it would mean rolling back a number of other important fixes if we do. This might seem cruel, twisted,
Is Garry not aware THAT you actually can roll-back the game?!?!
Just go to Betas-Tab in Properties and select the version you want.
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It is disappointing. It's clear the dev team did not actually run either Mac or LInux ports on their respective machines just to see if all was well.
But I hardly feel abandoned by the devs. It's a new build; it's alpha; there will be patches, I'm sure. I'll just play other things till patches come.
To those of us that simply can't wait for patches, it is apparently possible to revert back to build 11.6. To quote a user in the 7dtd forums at Steam:
"If you can't stand A12 and want to revert t looks like you can do so. Go into the properties for 7 Days To Die, then beta tab, select Alpha 11.6 Stable, it will queue the update. Go into Downloads and run the update. Is working fine for me so far."
(page 4)
It's a holiday weekend in the States, so I don't expect to hear anything about this from the devs until next week at the earliest.
But I hardly feel abandoned by the devs. It's a new build; it's alpha; there will be patches, I'm sure. I'll just play other things till patches come.
To those of us that simply can't wait for patches, it is apparently possible to revert back to build 11.6. To quote a user in the 7dtd forums at Steam:
"If you can't stand A12 and want to revert t looks like you can do so. Go into the properties for 7 Days To Die, then beta tab, select Alpha 11.6 Stable, it will queue the update. Go into Downloads and run the update. Is working fine for me so far."
(page 4)
It's a holiday weekend in the States, so I don't expect to hear anything about this from the devs until next week at the earliest.
1 Likes, Who?
Mäh, it doesn't run for me on Linux since a few months. Crashes upon startup. Couldn't be bothered to fix this so far. (Yes I did give them a bug report)
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Mäh, it doesn't run for me on Linux since a few months. Crashes upon startup. Couldn't be bothered to fix this so far. (Yes I did give them a bug report)
Not that you should have to but have you tried editing the 7DaysToDie.sh ? For me making sure it launches the 64 bit version worked.
I realize that there had been deserved contention with these developers over this very game. I am also disappointed with the fact that this was not caught before release of the patch. However is been out what a second whole day and hadn't gotten fixed yet? Seriously seems petty to me. Give them some time to have a chance to fix it. I mean many other games have officially released with glaring issues and we didn't jump on criticizing without at least a grain of salt of understanding. I mean this is an patch that came out two days ago on an alpha game, it broke things. That's to be expected. I dunno I think it would be one thing to say fyi to Linux users looking to update to alpha 12 is not working well right now and tall about that, but bad mouthing them at this point just seems like perpetuating any bad blood. As a consumer when I read articles about devs bashing Linux or Linux sales I feel less inclined to support them I can only imagine how as a developer I would feel reading this article.
I know they took there time getting the port out in the first place and that there is some history. The port is out now and it sometimes breaks on updates (for me it had only been the launch script except most recently). I just think that we should acknowledge that they are trying to support us and incourage progress rather then chasing devs away.
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We have ARK: Survival Evolved where the devs constantly release new builds for Linux. :)
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Why do such people even release for linux?
If I support a platform, I support it.
If 5 people buy it on that platform, I must ensure that these 5 people can play.
Easy workaround: Don't support that platform.
No game is better than paying for a broken game.
Also that Rust dev needs to read a tutorial on how to be respectful on social media.
He wrote many disrespectful things that just made me close that tab.
Great negative-example, thanks :)
Last edited by Zanval on 5 July 2015 at 11:58 am UTC
If I support a platform, I support it.
If 5 people buy it on that platform, I must ensure that these 5 people can play.
Easy workaround: Don't support that platform.
No game is better than paying for a broken game.
Also that Rust dev needs to read a tutorial on how to be respectful on social media.
He wrote many disrespectful things that just made me close that tab.
Great negative-example, thanks :)
Last edited by Zanval on 5 July 2015 at 11:58 am UTC
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marcelomendes Jul 5, 2015
I'm done with Unity since my last refund (Son of Nor). Most of the devs don't use Linux and doesn't care, it is just a checkbox for them. I'm also done with Early Access in general, with few exceptions (Ark), because they use this (EA) as excuse to delay fixes for Mac/Linux prioritizing the Windows users. I think linux users should stay away of Early Access, and specially if it is a Unity based game.
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i think came up with a sorta work around on the Linux boxes; to get around graphics issue. enter DM mode and set graphics to debug mode. you can see the none rendered buildings. the black panels only turn white tho so not perfect but maybe more usable.
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Crazy Penguin Jul 6, 2015
I think linux users should stay away of Early Access, and specially if it is a Unity based game.
Why should they? Because some "funny pimps" have no clue about game development? But I can't blame them this time for it, as the bug seems to be in the Unity engine :/
Last edited by Crazy Penguin on 6 July 2015 at 9:19 am UTC
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This might seem cruel, twisted, disrespectful to the Linux users.
I think Garry STILL doesn't understand what we felt was disrespectful.
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It can be forgiven since its early-access, its in alpha afterall, what I would expect is to see efforts from them in looking for a way to fix it for the next update.
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Crazy Penguin Jul 7, 2015
We have ARK: Survival Evolved where the devs constantly release new builds for Linux. :)
Which means what? ARK for Linux isn't out for two weeks now. Sure they have to push out fixes every day xD
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