System Shock remake heads to Kickstarter, Linux is the first stretch-goal

Yep, won't be backing this unless Linux is integrated into the main campaign instead of a stretch goal. Been burned too much by devs who treat Linux users as low priority. I know it's arguable that it's justifiable given our market share but, with so many other games I could throw my money at, they've got to do better. If they want my support, they have to be more firm about supporting us.


Last edited by BTRE on 28 June 2016 at 9:19 pm UTC

This looks just amazing.

I will keep an eye on this game and definitely buy it the day it releases on Linux, but I have seen enough kickstarters to understand that:

Linux as a stretch goal = Linux as an afterthought = Very unlikely day-1 release (or no release nor refund option at all)

Sorry if I sound cynical, but this has been my experience so far with most projects "using linux as bait" I decided to support (MN9 being the latest example), so I'm out.. That said, I'll be glad to be proven wrong.

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Edit: Asked Nightdive Studios (through the "Contact me" link) for info regarding a potential Linux port on day-1.. If their reply is affirmative (or at least reasonable) I will pledge, otherwise I'll just wait.. Now you can't tell me I didn't gave them a chance.


Last edited by qchto on 29 June 2016 at 12:31 am UTC

HOLY SHIT

I will keep an eye on this game and definitely buy it the day it releases on Linux, but I have seen enough kickstarters to understand that:

Linux as a stretch goal = Linux as an afterthought = Very unlikely day-1 release (or no release nor refund option at all)

Sorry if I sound cynical, but this has been my experience so far with most projects "using linux as bait" I decided to support (MN9 being the latest example), so I'm out.. That said, I'll be glad to be proven wrong.

You may be tempered by the cold realities of _life experience_ but don't let that take your joy away - look at the huge success Linux has had as a platform in the last couple years partially due to people baiting developers into promising "Linux Support".

Every one us us has made a impact by all our actions to help create a lightning rod and it's working. GOL has served as a gaming hub to centralize and perpetuate excitement, and we've started the avalanche.

25% of Steam Games on Linux or 2,500 games is an amazing accomplishment. If you could do one thing to help the future, a worthy cause would be protecting them from closed software systems (not applications) destined to lead to dystopia, greed and corporations forcing users to play their game with their rules their way.

We don't even have to do the heavy lifting and write kernel code, allz we gotta do is play games on Linux, buy them to infuse money into the market, and cause a rukkus drawing attention to how awesome our platform is because our games will run quite probably forever. No N64 cartridge not working on GameCube, no Wii Rom Downloads not transferring to Wii U or whatever... If you buy it on Linux you can use it quite probably forever and with whatever controller your <3 desires -PS3, PS4, X360, XBONE, Wii, etc..

Special thanks for Windows 8 and Windows 10 for doing everything wrong possible to wake up their users to look for other options.


Last edited by ElectricPrism on 28 June 2016 at 9:59 pm UTC

Same thing. I'll back it if they'll move Linux to the base goal, or if the stretch goal will be reached. Since System Shock is a well known name, it has good prospects.

I'll be surprised if they don't raise 1 million, and I won't be shocked if they raise 2 million.

System Shock 2 remains in my top 5 games of all time, the story is amazing, even my Linux rig is named Citadel, I can't wait - but yeah no I'm not buying if it's not on Linux.

My crystal ball says: Will be as always. First the developer promises a Linux version, then is completely surprised that - who thought of THIS - people actually want a Linux version.
Promises Linux version 1 week after release; But no - it's postponed - XBOX One + Playstation + Android + Wii U + Windows 10 App versions are more important; After 1 year there'll be a Linux version with ~40% performance loss; Some time after Linux release, the developer will complain that Linux sales are crappy (Who thought that ~1% of users can actually only be expected to contribute ~1% of sales!!1!!!), Ubuntu always crashes and there will be never a Linux version again.

TLDR: I believe it when I see it.


Last edited by mrboese on 28 June 2016 at 10:12 pm UTC

Not that I would suggest anybody who expects a good timely experience on linux should throw all doubt behind and BACK NOW but it's an Unity3D game after all, it shouldn't be THAT hard for them to push out an okay port eventually...

Hopefully when this hits GNU/Linux, Vulkan support in Unity3D is there as an option. GOL did a news post on it after all. :-)

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/unity3d-has-plans-to-support-vulkan-in-the-next-quarter.7251

You may be tempered by the cold realities of _life experience_ but don't let that take your joy away - look at the huge success Linux has had as a platform in the last couple years partially due to people baiting developers into promising "Linux Support".

Every one us us has made a impact by all our actions to help create a lightning rod and it's working. GOL has served as a gaming hub to centralize and perpetuate excitement, and we've started the avalanche.

25% of Steam Games on Linux or 2,500 games is an amazing accomplishment. If you could do one thing to help the future, a worthy cause would be protecting them from closed software systems (not applications) destined to lead to dystopia, greed and corporations forcing users to play their game with their rules their way.

It's a two way effort needed to crack the dreaded chicken-and-egg problem. Valve and others have done an excellent job in building out initial infrastructure for high profile games and we, as gamers, need to meet them somewhere in the middle. So pushing commercial Linux games has been a personal goal of mine. I initially went with Mint in part to help boost the numbers of the already biggest(?) distribution and have urged friends/family on board as well. That was back in early 2015 and just in that year alone I've witnessed growth that I couldn't ever have imagined.

If you (reader) are somebody who is still dual booting Windows for convenience, I urge you to go cold turkey 100% Linux and help us all.

More than it being a stretch goal (which it will reach for sure), it's more Linux being considered a second-class citizen by some developers and people who pledge end up getting it months and months after other platforms.

I won't back this simply because I'm done with crowdfunding, but I'll certainly buy it if and when it comes out for Linux.

I thought it was originally going to be on Linux in the first place, on their Made With Unity page it says " Platform(s) Linux, Mac, TBA, Windows, Xbox One".
Linux just being thrown on as a stretch goal is kind of disappointing...

I backed the game earlier tonight. I will cancel my backing if the Linux stretch goal isn't met by the last day. That is my plan. I would prefer that Linux was a higher priority to them. I wish that there had of been a Linux version of the demo. However I can't ignore the fact that I enjoyed the demo, that I think this will be a good game and that they say they are willing to make a Linux version if a goal is met.

My main concern is that they have brought 28 of their 44 games on Steam to Linux but only 4 of their 13 games on GOG to Linux. Doesn't make me very comfortable as a DRM free buyer.

I backed it just because I want it to exist.

Even if a Linux version comes to be, I doubt my machine can run it. I refuse to use proprietary drivers any more, and only use Intel as a result.

Maybe in 5 years Intel will catch up enough for me to play this, but meh. I want this to be.
Is it a gamble? YEP! That's what kickstarter is: gambling.

I'm willing to roll the dice here. This game matters, and should be more widely experienced.

It's only me, or having Chris Avellone doing something in every single new game that is been developed these days is becoming annoying? Honestly I don't like his writing, "Fallout: New Vegas" was boring, "Wasteland 2" boring too, same "Icewind Dale" back in the days or "KOTOR II". Surely he knows how to add a layer of complexity to a game's world, but this usually contributes to make the game boring and the kind of game that throws choices at your face too much explicitly.

My crystal ball says: Will be as always. First the developer promises a Linux version, then is completely surprised that - who thought of THIS - people actually want a Linux version.
Promises Linux version 1 week after release; But no - it's postponed - XBOX One + Playstation + Android + Wii U + Windows 10 App versions are more important; After 1 year there'll be a Linux version with ~40% performance loss; Some time after Linux release, the developer will complain that Linux sales are crappy (Who thought that ~1% of users can actually only be expected to contribute ~1% of sales!!1!!!), Ubuntu always crashes and there will be never a Linux version again.

TLDR: I believe it when I see it.

It smells like Carmageddon. Still burned deep by that one.
I'll join the "waiting for the release to be here" train.
I've got more than enough good games waiting for me to play with them anyway.

I've just tried playing the demo under Wine, but there are some DX11 dependencies and all I get is the company logo and then a white screen!

It's only me, or having Chris Avellone doing something in every single new game that is been developed these days is becoming annoying? Honestly I don't like his writing, "Fallout: New Vegas" was boring, "Wasteland 2" boring too, same "Icewind Dale" back in the days or "KOTOR II". Surely he knows how to add a layer of complexity to a game's world, but this usually contributes to make the game boring and the kind of game that throws choices at your face too much explicitly.

...This game was written in 1994.