Earth 2160 strategy game released for Linux, powered by Wine

This is exactly where pre-packaged WINE wrapped games are acceptable for Linux. To bring older titles which PCs today have more than ample performance for anyway. I hope to see this happen with more decade+ old games so long as the end result is indistinguishable from a native release for most people.

Of all "wrappers" out there, I wish they all contributed and used wine instead.

69 cents? That's like 1 or half a round at the arcade.

Take my money, if it's terrible meh. If they make a new one on Linux w00t. If it's sweet awesome. It's a 69 cents gamble.

I don't get it: What is so special about that? It is possible to buy the whole game on GOG.com and install a package with PlayOnLinux. Works like a charm with no further problems! Why using therefore two DRM-methods because even Steam points out that there is a third party access needed? The version on GOG has no further restrictions especially when it comes to the singleplayer.

Quoting: throghI don't get it: What is so special about that? It is possible to buy the whole game on GOG.com and install a package with PlayOnLinux. Works like a charm with no further problems! Why using therefore two DRM-methods because even Steam points out that there is a third party access needed? The version on GOG has no further restrictions especially when it comes to the singleplayer.

The point is to make it available to the people who don't want to or don't know how to mess around with PlayOnLinux or WINE. Like with GOG.com's Flatout games, the buyer downloads, installs and runs the game just like with any native title.

EDIT: Also, don't forget SteamOS buyers will expect such a game to work without having to leave Big Picture to install/configure 3rd party translation layers.


Last edited by GustyGhost on 16 February 2016 at 10:17 pm UTC

Getting it later...DarkSouls3 Season Pass got first!

#GoVegan #Steam

Quoting: throghI don't get it: What is so special about that? It is possible to buy the whole game on GOG.com and install a package with PlayOnLinux. Works like a charm with no further problems! Why using therefore two DRM-methods because even Steam points out that there is a third party access needed? The version on GOG has no further restrictions especially when it comes to the singleplayer.

I usually avoid buying games that don't have explicit Linux support. Even if it's a game I can easily run under wine, dosbox or scummvm. I just prefer to support devs that support Linux, and have my purchase counted towards Linux.
But I agree with you on the DRM part. For $0.69 it's cheap enough to not really matter, but on principle, I'm not happy with this. But I was looking through the GOG forums if there was anything about the Linux version, and found this thread where someone has issues with the activation under wine

QuoteAnybody managed to bypass the activation problem on Wine? I installed it succesfully but now I can't get pass the activation screen. I guess I would need to change something in the wine registry but don't know how. I know gog used a hack to get the game running without the need for a key since all the original activation stuff is there. Well if nothing else works I'll try my old retail Earth 2160 key.

The advice was then to contact GOG for the key.
And similar complaints under Windows

QuoteI was thinking, ok, GoG, no DRM, no problem... except it says that I have to register in order to play in other than demo mode. And then I get the "too many activations on different computers" thing, despite this being the only computer I've used for it. Isn't limited activations a form of DRM?

QuoteMy GOG copy of Earth 2160 will do NOTHING without this key! Even the editor will not run without it!
And I'm not happy with GOG's breach of their "yours to keep forever no DRMs" promises on this one!

It sounds like whatever GOG uses to fix the need for an activation key doesn't work 100% reliably either. Of course, it's not a big deal if GOG indeed sends out keys when requested, but you have to know that you have to request a key because you might need it the next time you install the game.
At least that's how I understand those comments, may well be wrong. But these comments make me all the less likely to buy the Windows version on GOG over the Linux version on Steam.
Still, I do hope GOG will get the Linux version at some point.

This is why I consider that SteamOS should include an "official" compatibility layer bundled in the system (some special build of wine made for steamos, that can be activated in the game settings tab), for to play all those 5+ years old games that will never be ported to Linux, but they run well via WINe, like Bioshock 1.

Just bought! =)

Thanks for supporting my platform of choice!

Quoting: ricki42Still, I do hope GOG will get the Linux version at some point.

I just shot them an email regarding a Linux version now that it's on another storefront. Will try to update if they reply.