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Black Mesa is officially coming to Linux, and the developer confirmed so in a rather delightful way of shooting down an anti-Linux troll in the Steam forums.

You may or may not heard of a user who goes by the username "meraco" on Steam. He seems to be popping up all over Linux support posts on the Steam forum to spread anti-Linux sentiments, this time it was different.

After his usual derailing of a Linux support topic, the Black Mesa developer commented:
QuoteWhat are we arguing about? We're making a Linux port. We think it's totally worth it.

We built Linux and got errors (as we expected). They're not especially complex errors, but there are a lot of them. As soon as we get a stable build we'll push it to Steam for people to test.


It's good to get confirmation (and fantastic to see a troll get slapped down), as previously they were only evaluating a port, but now it is happening.

Note: The best way to shut a troll down is to post like they aren't even there. Don't quote them or reply to them, just keep posting your support of Linux versions.

About the game
Black Mesa is the award winning fan-made re-imagining of Gordon Freeman's landmark journey through the Black Mesa Research Facility. Relive Half-Life, Valve Software's revolutionary debut, and experience the game that raised the bar for the entire game industry all over again! Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can also follow my personal adventures on Bluesky.
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scaine 8 Jul 2016
  • Contributing Editor
  • Mega Supporter
I don't know where is the worst community, if is Reddit or Steam community.

Reddit's way worse in the hate subs, but if you're in a "normal" sub, like /r/linux_gaming, it's positively civil compared to the cesspool of ignorance and bigotry that is Steam. We all like a good argument, but the problem with Steam is that the forum admins are emotionally invested in the topics that they moderate.

I'm sure GoL covered a guy... Lapatop69 or something like that... who closed any thread that mentioned Linux with an arbitrary "You should be using Windows, it's better" comment. I'm reasonably certain that if you looked up the word "bigot" in a dictionary, there was a link to this guy's steam profile. Pretty infuriating.

[Edit: Dude's handle was "Laptop65" and he was the moderator for Mad Max.]


Last edited by scaine on 8 Jul 2016 at 2:00 pm UTC
Teodosio 8 Jul 2016
Great news, the only problem is that this article is a megafeed! :D
josekiller 8 Jul 2016
When it's not Meraco, it's another asshole. Always.
http://steamcommunity.com/app/314410/discussions/0/527274088395356706/?tscn=1467328517
Segata Sanshiro 8 Jul 2016
Everyone please report this clown. A few days away from the Steam forums might prompt him to evaluate his life and seek help.
lejimster 8 Jul 2016
Since I've gone Linux full time, I try not to buy windows only games even the ones that promise Linux support. But I love what these guys were doing and they did say they intended to support Linux in the future so I decided to buy the game while it was in early access as a way of supporting them.

I still haven't played it (even on Wine) as I'm hoping they finish the game and bring it to Linux.
Shutup-Fool 8 Jul 2016
Troll or not, this is a nice way to start a witch hunt...

I've read some of meraco's posts, and I don't see anything to suggest that he/she is a troll. It seems like nowadays people are classified as trolls just because they have a different opinion. And to those claiming this is some anti-linux, MS evangelist, this is one of his posts from that thread:


"Yes, I can confirm this, I have a PS4, XBONE, a windows gaming machine and a linux system. I use the linux system sometimes for a dedicated server for those multiplayer games such as ARK, RUST and Reign of Kings.

I also use it to play games that do support linux. Such as XCOM 2, Kerbal Space Program, Stellaris.

I don't hate linux as some would suggest, But I also do not agree with the subject of Linux spam threads. I refuse to beg for a port. If the game has only windows, thats fine with me. If the game supports Linux then I use it.

But I will not bounce around from thread to thread posting spam in the form of "+1" in a futile attempt to sway developers to make a port. And I certainly will not make false claims that Linux is the future, when clearly it is not.

Not everyone agrees with me, and thats fine.. I don't agree with them, and thats also fine..
There is nothing wrong with posting our viewpoints on the topic. Pro or Con, But there is certainly no need for name calling, profanity or fits of anger because I do not agree with others."

Hardly a reason to report the guy or get him banned is it? I normally expect better from people on this website.
lagh 8 Jul 2016
I usually just ignore users like "meraco". Good to see that
developers do the same.

THERE IS a difference between asking a developer
to support your favorite OS (otherwise you cannot play)
and asking a developer to not support an OS you are
not using (Why would you care?).
thelimeydragon 8 Jul 2016
The topic of this article should have been "Black Mesa dev thinks Linux port is totally worth it" why bring up anyone who has nothing to do with the game. It's unprofessional.
fagnerln 8 Jul 2016
Reddit's way worse in the hate subs, but if you're in a "normal" sub, like /r/linux_gaming, it's positively civil compared to the cesspool of ignorance and bigotry that is Steam. We all like a good argument, but the problem with Steam is that the forum admins are emotionally invested in the topics that they moderate.

I'm sure GoL covered a guy... Lapatop69 or something like that... who closed any thread that mentioned Linux with an arbitrary "You should be using Windows, it's better" comment. I'm reasonably certain that if you looked up the word "bigot" in a dictionary, there was a link to this guy's steam profile. Pretty infuriating.

[Edit: Dude's handle was "Laptop65" and he was the moderator for Mad Max.]

Someday I commented on a post in /r/linux_gaming about emulators, one guy said that emulators runs exactly same on Windows and Linux considering the CPU side, and I said that isn't 100% true at least with AMD CPU (this based on my experience), and received a lot of downvotes and sarcasm.
opera 8 Jul 2016
I agree with Shutup-Fool. Read some posts of that meraco guy and I see no reason that he should be reported, banned or whatever.
Liam Dawe 8 Jul 2016
  • Admin
The topic of this article should have been "Black Mesa dev thinks Linux port is totally worth it" why bring up anyone who has nothing to do with the game. It's unprofessional.

The topic of the article is whatever I feel it should be.

I have come across meraco and his repeatedly derailing of posts time and time again, he's a lowlife who seems to search specifically for Linux support posts to counter them. There is no need to do this and it is trolling behaviour because he obviously gets a kick out of pissing Linux supporters off.

It is not unprofessional to have an opinion on your own website, jeezus.

Edit: wrong word used


Last edited by Liam Dawe on 8 Jul 2016 at 3:55 pm UTC
thelimeydragon 8 Jul 2016
Yes you can say whatever you want on your own website. He is free to state whatever he wants on public websites. However I don't expect to see some articles that target 1 individual who has no influence on anything.

It is still not professional to target and accuse some random individual. If they really are a troll? Why does it matter? It's not like he/she is going to care. If anything would get a kick out of it. Yes your site was a personal blog however it's grown beyond that now and some professionalism is needed especially if you want to communicate with game developers and be allowed to review games. One day some game dev may see a post like this and think.. "I don't want to be associated with a site that makes topics like this" and just ignore you.
Liam Dawe 8 Jul 2016
  • Admin
Yes you can say whatever you want on your own website.
Bingo.

It is still not professional to target and accuse some random individual. If they really are a troll? Why does it matter? It's not like he/she is going to care. If anything would get a kick out of it. Yes your site was a personal blog however it's grown beyond that now and some professionalism is needed especially if you want to communicate with game developers and be allowed to review games. One day some game dev may see a post like this and think.. "I don't want to be associated with a site that makes topics like this" and just ignore you.
You're really missing the point and making a fucking mountain out of what was more of a "haha yay we win" type of article.

Try to look on the bright side eh.

Yes your site was a personal blog however it's grown beyond that now and some professionalism is needed especially if you want to communicate with game developers and be allowed to review games. One day some game dev may see a post like this and think.. "I don't want to be associated with a site that makes topics like this" and just ignore you.
The site growing is great, but it doesn't mean I'm going to change who I am to suit everyone. "You can't please everyone" is a very real thing, clearly.

If a post like this turns away a developer, so be it, I'm not going to change being happy that a developer completely ignored what I class as an obvious troll to confirm a Linux version is well worth it.
niarbeht 8 Jul 2016
How to not have heard of "meraco"? What a sad individual, I would love to have him doxxed.

No. Bad. Bad Al3s. Bad. No biscuit.
lucifertdark 8 Jul 2016
The best way to deal with him is to ignore him, don't reply to anything he says, he'll get bored when no-one rises to his bait.
TheGZeus 8 Jul 2016
Everyone:
Every time meraco posts crap, just link to this article.
Win/win.
I ignore him. While he has changed his tunes at certain times especially when he has been beaten by someone at his own game, he does actively look for threads and has told Developers on multiple occasions that they should NOT make ports even when for some games, the ports have already been announced by the devs.

I repeat this. He tells the devs WHY they should NOT make ports. I've never seen him do this for any of the other platforms he claims to be using.

That being said, I support Liam and his article. I think that there is no issue with him mentioning this particular troll. He's so well known for his antics that he didn't even need an introduction. Not a single one of you even asked who he is or seemed not to have some knowledge of him. Infamy comes with the level of trolling he engages in.

PS : Meraco calls this site the Linux hype site. I've never seen Liam posts any facts or even fiction that hypes up Linux based software distributions.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/359870/discussions/0/364040961451794886/?l=norwegian&ctp=5

THIS IS A LINUX HYPE SITE -------> http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/

Just do a search for Meraco in the discussions section. Based on the default view, i get 45 pages worth of search results with every single one being associated with him trolling the Linux community. I've never seen him comment on anything other than such threads. Also, he admitted freely in this latest Black Mesa thread that his target isn't the community but instead, game critics and game devs.

If you want professionalism, I recommend www.redhat.com

It's different from the Fedora project.


Last edited by [email protected] on 8 Jul 2016 at 4:57 pm UTC
Liam Dawe 8 Jul 2016
  • Admin
"the linux hype site"

LMAO, meraco is sometimes a source of golden remarks, maybe we should make that our new slogan.
"the linux hype site"

LMAO, meraco is sometimes a source of golden remarks, maybe we should make that our new slogan.

LOL Liam. It's true that no form of publicity is bad publicity.

But i personally find his behavior disgusting tbh. I don't even consider him a troll anymore.

If someone, stands on his or her head, to try and deny others from adopting or exploring something, i feel that it's childish behavior. It's like trying to prevent knowledge sharing just to keep your own cookies in the jar. It goes against the whole concept of open source software.

It's probably why so many people take issue with his behavior. They find it disgusting too.

To everyone : Liam's article did primarily state that he's happy to see such a port with Meraco being a side mention so don't slam him for his expression of personal opinion.


Last edited by [email protected] on 8 Jul 2016 at 5:01 pm UTC
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