A developer working on 'X Rebirth' responded to a user claiming they are wasting their time on the Linux version, and it's a great response.
The response in full is here, but copied below:
QuoteIt's not really a question for me, but I can give somewhat of an answer *completely unofficial*.
The simplest short answer is: "steamos will be big, we need to get on the bandwagon".
Somewhat more elaborate:
As you said investment is about the future, and as any developer who's had enough experience will tell you, vendor lock in and third-party-platforms completely between you and the customer mean trouble.
That third-party can dictate all the rules, and you either accept or pack you bags. Sooner or later your margins will get reduced to the absolute minimum that can sustain you.
Basically without freedom you're a slave, that doesn't mean you get beaten with a stick every day, a slave is an asset that gets treated just well enough that he/she can work well.
Of course that's a bit of a stretch. As a slave you couldn't pack your bags and leave, and any such platform-owner isn't immune to competition (either existing or the possibility of one being created).
Linux, SteamOS and Steam is that competition, and it's wise to invest in something to make sure you're not owned in a decade. Note this is a huge simplification, as steam itself is lacking any major competitor right now but whatever;p
Regarding dx12, microsoft has been almost completely ignoring dx and windows gaming for the past couple years, and they would have continued that if it weren't for opengl catching up and going beyond dx11, mantle, and of course Valve announcing their plan.
It's brilliant to see a developer speak up like this, and makes me really like this person.
Thanks for pointing it out, adolson. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
0 Likes
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
Oh he hit the nail on it's head so hard the guy's great grandmah is turning in pain in the grave.
3 Likes, Who?
Great response. Too bad the game was such a bitter disappointment.
1 Likes, Who?
Rare to see people with a long view these days. It's all "What's in it for me today, even if that'll hose me in a year." You'd think with where the climate is going people might be starting to notice the problems with that approach. Kudos to this guy for thinking beyond the end of his nose.
3 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man 8 Jul 2015
This is completely different from that editorial the other day with the one developer basically insinuating that Linux support is a waste of time.
3 Likes, Who?
The future is the Vulkan Api and we all know it..... even Microsoft knows that :P
AMD has stopped Mantle support and said to developers to Focus on Vulkan and Directx 12...
Source 2 engine treats Vulkan as a preferred API, so maybe Valve will simply encourages devs to adopt it over D3D for Steam titles, it can drive API adoption without requiring developers to simultaneously support a new operating system — while simultaneously making it much easier to port to a new OS if it decides to go that route.
We will see about that in the near future....
competition : Vulkan Vs DirectX 12
I am expecting a Gaming War to be happen when Games and especially when AAA Titles start Using Vulkan
If Vulkan proves that is faster/easier/better etc than DirectX 12 then we will have a revolution of Gaming
if Vulkan proves that it runs faster on Linux machines than in Windows then we will have a revolutionary Gaming OS
In case you have missed these Vulkan videos is worth watching them over and over again...
View video on youtube.com
View video on youtube.com
Last edited by wolfyrion on 8 Jul 2015 at 7:01 pm UTC
AMD has stopped Mantle support and said to developers to Focus on Vulkan and Directx 12...
Source 2 engine treats Vulkan as a preferred API, so maybe Valve will simply encourages devs to adopt it over D3D for Steam titles, it can drive API adoption without requiring developers to simultaneously support a new operating system — while simultaneously making it much easier to port to a new OS if it decides to go that route.
We will see about that in the near future....
competition : Vulkan Vs DirectX 12
I am expecting a Gaming War to be happen when Games and especially when AAA Titles start Using Vulkan
If Vulkan proves that is faster/easier/better etc than DirectX 12 then we will have a revolution of Gaming
if Vulkan proves that it runs faster on Linux machines than in Windows then we will have a revolutionary Gaming OS
In case you have missed these Vulkan videos is worth watching them over and over again...
View video on youtube.com
View video on youtube.com
Last edited by wolfyrion on 8 Jul 2015 at 7:01 pm UTC
6 Likes, Who?
Segata Sanshiro 8 Jul 2015
Very nice to see! I added the game to my wishlist now and will pick it up when I have less of a backlog of games to play :)
2 Likes, Who?
Very nice to see! I added the game to my wishlist now and will pick it up when I have less of a backlog of games to play :)Have you played any of the previous X games? If you haven't then you might actually wind up liking this. If you have then quite likely you will HATE THIS GAME WITH THE PASSION OF A THOUSAND FIERY SUNS. Everything that people (like myself) loved about X2: The Threat or any of the X3 games is either gone or seriously dumbed down. This game was very obviously built with consoles in mind. On the plus side, it controls great with a XBOX controller.
Last edited by Keyrock on 8 Jul 2015 at 7:52 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Did a developer really just stand up on the behalf of "a better future"? Despite any technical bickering the Linux community can have (technical discussions are healthy, despite all the outside media sneering), those words describe what Linux really means to most of us, even if we got tired of chanting them.
His good faith and long-term view, earns mine. Respected. Will be buying that game after all.
Last edited by Keizgon on 8 Jul 2015 at 8:26 pm UTC
His good faith and long-term view, earns mine. Respected. Will be buying that game after all.
Last edited by Keizgon on 8 Jul 2015 at 8:26 pm UTC
6 Likes, Who?
Consider the source though...EGOSOFT is out of Germany. German tech guys love Linux. Good stuff.
2 Likes, Who?
ElectricPrism 8 Jul 2015
I forgot about X, I got X3 but lately I have a hankering for gorgeous Linux Games like X Rebirth appears to be from the Trailers on Steam.
So I wishlisted it, I seem to be getting into a habbit of buying ~$20-40 games lately, the future of PC Gaming is good! :)
Wishlisted, maybe will buy next check.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 8 Jul 2015 at 9:51 pm UTC
So I wishlisted it, I seem to be getting into a habbit of buying ~$20-40 games lately, the future of PC Gaming is good! :)
Wishlisted, maybe will buy next check.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 8 Jul 2015 at 9:51 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
I'm gonna friggin buy this game for this reply alone.
But it also points out so correctly that Linux gaming == SteamOS. That's where the future - if any - lies.
But it also points out so correctly that Linux gaming == SteamOS. That's where the future - if any - lies.
3 Likes, Who?
mulletdeath 8 Jul 2015
It's too bad the game itself has such poor reviews and doesn't look like my thing, since I too kind of like what this guy has to say.
0 Likes
slaapliedje 9 Jul 2015
For those saying X Rebirth sucks, I can't really comment on that 'cause I haven't played it yet.
But it's not like Egosoft hasn't ported all of the X 3 games (X3: Reunion, X3: Terran Conflict, X3: Albion Prelude) so you can buy those instead for Linux.
I kind of wish they'd port the older ones as well, (X2: The Threat actually has a port, but it's not on Steam, it was done by Linux Game Publishing. Also just realized I have a hard copy of that and X3: Reunion, I forgot they ported that one as well!)
Kind of brings up the (off topic) question of why there are so many games on Steam that have native ports around, but aren't available on SteamOS... I know publishers and all that, but still it'd be nice to be able to not have to do any trickery to get things like X2: The Threat to run, and many others like Unreal (up to 2004?) and iD games, etc.
But it's not like Egosoft hasn't ported all of the X 3 games (X3: Reunion, X3: Terran Conflict, X3: Albion Prelude) so you can buy those instead for Linux.
I kind of wish they'd port the older ones as well, (X2: The Threat actually has a port, but it's not on Steam, it was done by Linux Game Publishing. Also just realized I have a hard copy of that and X3: Reunion, I forgot they ported that one as well!)
Kind of brings up the (off topic) question of why there are so many games on Steam that have native ports around, but aren't available on SteamOS... I know publishers and all that, but still it'd be nice to be able to not have to do any trickery to get things like X2: The Threat to run, and many others like Unreal (up to 2004?) and iD games, etc.
1 Likes, Who?
The old LGP ports of X2 and X3:Reunion don't work any more, they were based on what are now out of date libraries and since LGP disappeared off the map they were never fixed. Egosoft themselves re-ported X3: Reunion, as well as ported Terran Conflict and Albion Prelude, to make them work on modern systems.
As far as X: Rebirth having horrible reviews, that's because the game was utterly broken upon release, plus it put off the vast majority of Egosoft's long time loyal fans.
The game worked with a controller and that's pretty much it. Flightstick control was completely broken (that's totally unacceptable in a flight/space sim), you had to go through layers of menus to do anything, the game crashed constantly, and it ran like dog**** on pretty much any hardware. Now, since then Egosoft, to their credit, have released a plethora of patches, as well as free additions. Flightsticks now work, keyboard shortcuts work so you don't have to go through layers of menus, combat targeting actually works, and the performance is decent.
However, the game still remains a hollow, dumbed down shell of what X used to be. For some people that might actually be a blessing, as the earlier X games have a fairly steep learning curve and their complexity can be a turn off to some, so the more casual, dumbed down nature of X: Rebirth might appeal to some. As a long time fan of the series and a lover of the depth and complexity of the earlier games, X: Rebirth tore my heart out of my chest, stepped on it, lit it on fire, then scooped up the ashes and flushed them down the toilet. It felt like the worst betrayal.
What I'm saying is: If you're down for something simpler and more... streamlined, then X:Rebirth might be to your liking. If you want depth and complexity, but at the cost of a steep learning curve, then get X3: Terran Conflict (and maybe Albion Prelude too [Albion Prelude requires Terran Conflict])
Last edited by Keyrock on 9 Jul 2015 at 1:28 am UTC
As far as X: Rebirth having horrible reviews, that's because the game was utterly broken upon release, plus it put off the vast majority of Egosoft's long time loyal fans.
The game worked with a controller and that's pretty much it. Flightstick control was completely broken (that's totally unacceptable in a flight/space sim), you had to go through layers of menus to do anything, the game crashed constantly, and it ran like dog**** on pretty much any hardware. Now, since then Egosoft, to their credit, have released a plethora of patches, as well as free additions. Flightsticks now work, keyboard shortcuts work so you don't have to go through layers of menus, combat targeting actually works, and the performance is decent.
However, the game still remains a hollow, dumbed down shell of what X used to be. For some people that might actually be a blessing, as the earlier X games have a fairly steep learning curve and their complexity can be a turn off to some, so the more casual, dumbed down nature of X: Rebirth might appeal to some. As a long time fan of the series and a lover of the depth and complexity of the earlier games, X: Rebirth tore my heart out of my chest, stepped on it, lit it on fire, then scooped up the ashes and flushed them down the toilet. It felt like the worst betrayal.
What I'm saying is: If you're down for something simpler and more... streamlined, then X:Rebirth might be to your liking. If you want depth and complexity, but at the cost of a steep learning curve, then get X3: Terran Conflict (and maybe Albion Prelude too [Albion Prelude requires Terran Conflict])
Last edited by Keyrock on 9 Jul 2015 at 1:28 am UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man 9 Jul 2015
I wonder what his basis is for claiming that "SteamOS will be big".
0 Likes
slaapliedje 9 Jul 2015
Challenge accepted! Now I need to see if I can get X2 to work. In the past I haven't had many issues getting older games working under newer distributions.
Edit; managed to get X2 to work just fine, downloaded and applied all the patches located here;
http://files.holarse-linuxgaming.de/native/Spiele/X2:%20The%20Threat/Patches/
Though apparently I have to calibrate my Xbox 360 controller... This was running in Debian 8.1 amd64.
Last edited by slaapliedje on 9 Jul 2015 at 4:09 am UTC
Edit; managed to get X2 to work just fine, downloaded and applied all the patches located here;
http://files.holarse-linuxgaming.de/native/Spiele/X2:%20The%20Threat/Patches/
Though apparently I have to calibrate my Xbox 360 controller... This was running in Debian 8.1 amd64.
Last edited by slaapliedje on 9 Jul 2015 at 4:09 am UTC
1 Likes, Who?
I wonder what his basis is for claiming that "SteamOS will be big".
It's a fair prediction based on how much time, effort and money valve is wasting in this project.
Imagine something like a Skyscraper, ok? You can't say for sure "it is going to be huge" if it isn't being build.
On the other hand... as you see the market throwing HUGE amounts of money and work into it you know, at least, that the project SHOULD be something big.
I've been saying this since ever. THIS IS A LONG TERM MOVE. A INVESTMENT.
If you think you're going to put money today to get it tomorrow you really don't get it.
Lastly, I really think some dev's are trying to milk everything they can from their unsuccessful projects by trying to link their game sells to the Linux/SteamOS success (if my game isn't doing well the platform sucks). This is despicable at best.
Last edited by amonobeax on 9 Jul 2015 at 4:12 am UTC
0 Likes
Wishlisted! People are complaining that's it's too simple and Arcade like. Sounds perfect to me...I don't like these over complex never ending simulations, but I love space games
0 Likes
slaapliedje 9 Jul 2015
Well, considering how game development usually works, what maybe 2-3 years for the big games? And SteamOS itself isn't even 100% released as a final, and Steam for Linux was only released slightly over 2 years ago, and already has a few 'AAA' titles out for it, and over 1000 games... I'd say it's doing pretty well already!
Compare that to the Playstation 4. It's been out since November of 2013 (Steam for Linux Feb 14th 2013) and it has 337 playable games for it. And when people say 'but it has X amount of AAA games!' it really doesn't have a lot of them, since I bought mine I have been trying to find some games that are exclusive to it, or somehow are better on the PS4, only really found Bloodborne and Last of Us remastered (which came with the system) most other exclusive titles have had 'meh' reviews. A lot of those games are the same 'indie' games you can get on Steam.
Guess it has the Call of Duty games, which won't / aren't on SteamOS, and some people are into those. My current library on Steam with Linux support is listed at 401 games already. So yeah, I'd say SteamOS is going to be a pretty huge success. I think the only real downside of it would be controller supported games, I've noticed some games that aren't listed as 100% controller supported generally work 99% of the time with a controller, so there is that. Hopefully (and from all I've seen it does) the Steam Controller can help alleviate the jump from keyboard/mouse to controller for a lot of games.
Plus, who knows what the future will bring with the VR headset and more studios jumping on board (I'd say if someone as hated as EA would jump on board, we'd have it made, I have seen a few Ubisoft games drizzle into the Linux library, so who knows how far they'll take that with/without uplay....)
Compare that to the Playstation 4. It's been out since November of 2013 (Steam for Linux Feb 14th 2013) and it has 337 playable games for it. And when people say 'but it has X amount of AAA games!' it really doesn't have a lot of them, since I bought mine I have been trying to find some games that are exclusive to it, or somehow are better on the PS4, only really found Bloodborne and Last of Us remastered (which came with the system) most other exclusive titles have had 'meh' reviews. A lot of those games are the same 'indie' games you can get on Steam.
Guess it has the Call of Duty games, which won't / aren't on SteamOS, and some people are into those. My current library on Steam with Linux support is listed at 401 games already. So yeah, I'd say SteamOS is going to be a pretty huge success. I think the only real downside of it would be controller supported games, I've noticed some games that aren't listed as 100% controller supported generally work 99% of the time with a controller, so there is that. Hopefully (and from all I've seen it does) the Steam Controller can help alleviate the jump from keyboard/mouse to controller for a lot of games.
Plus, who knows what the future will bring with the VR headset and more studios jumping on board (I'd say if someone as hated as EA would jump on board, we'd have it made, I have seen a few Ubisoft games drizzle into the Linux library, so who knows how far they'll take that with/without uplay....)
0 Likes
Patreon
PayPal
How to set, change and reset your SteamOS / Steam Deck desktop sudo password
How to set up Decky Loader on Steam Deck / SteamOS for easy plugins
See more from me