Feral have released the Linux requirements to run Shogun 2 with NVIDIA, AMD & Intel supported

They go where the main money is: Steam. It's going to be as simple as that. It's the same reason for a lot of developers.

How does that preclude them from releasing in other stores, unless they have Steam exclusivity preference? Blaming it on coincidence can go only so far. For developers the reason is usually some hard lock-in, which they fell for. There is no reason to be exclusive otherwise.

The extra work involved in dealing with another store, considering GOG has a smaller user base, likely isn't too worth it.

As others have said, they are likely still bound by the original Publisher, so if the game isn't on GOG, Feral will likely not be able to do it themselves. They would need the Windows version on there too, I doubt they can just do whatever they please.

Selling Steam keys from their own store is completely different, it's still Steam.

There is no conspiracy. I think it's time to take off the tinfoil hat ;)

Read [my post above](https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/feral-have-released-the-linux-requirements-to-run-shogun-2-with-nvidia-amd-intel-supported.9697/comment_id=93795), I explain there why my question is. And it's not about publishers obviously, it's about Feral.

Yes, I did before I wrote my post.
Maybe my post was not as direct as the one from Liam, but...

Money rules the world.

I don't like it but this is reality.

As others have said, they are likely still bound by the original Publisher, so if the game isn't on GOG, Feral will likely not be able to do it themselves. They would need the Windows version on there too, I doubt they can just do whatever they please.

That's why I said above, that I'm not asking about such cases, that would be pointless to ask. I'm asking about why Feral pick only such cases to port. That's already something they choose.


Last edited by Shmerl on 19 May 2017 at 10:05 pm UTC

As others have said, they are likely still bound by the original Publisher, so if the game isn't on GOG, Feral will likely not be able to do it themselves. They would need the Windows version on there too, I doubt they can just do whatever they please.

That's why I said above, that I'm not asking about such cases, that would be pointless to ask. I'm asking about why Feral pick only such cases to port. That's already something they can choose.

Isn't it obvious already? They pick what they think will make money, why does it need to be any more complicated than that? It just so happens games on Steam generally make more than games on GOG.

Money rules the world.

I'm not sure it explains what's going on. More users = more money.

Isn't it obvious already? They pick what they think will make money, why does it need to be any more complicated than that?

Because obviously others are making money just fine by not being Steam only. So what gives? The "money" argument doesn't sound convincing here. Steam makes more money - that's right. But Steam + other stores makes even more. So I don't get the exclusivity. Discarding that (illogical assumption), what remains is either DRM, lock-in, or some deal which requires this exclusivity.

And Feral are always welcome to chime in and clarify the situation to avoid confusion and wrong assumptions on our part.


Last edited by Shmerl on 19 May 2017 at 10:12 pm UTC

As others have said, they are likely still bound by the original Publisher, so if the game isn't on GOG, Feral will likely not be able to do it themselves. They would need the Windows version on there too, I doubt they can just do whatever they please.

That's why I said above, that I'm not asking about such cases, that would be pointless to ask. I'm asking about why Feral pick only such cases to port. That's already something they choose.

Next time , i will to the Feral ' Hey , yo Feral! Shmerl wants you games on GOG , because he is Polish and he has somekind of fanatizm,patriotizm about GOG so he somehow wants you to break main developers or publishers attitude. Don't mind if he is talking about other Drm-free stores ; he only cares about GOG'

Dude , enough of that your GOG loving movements. No matter what we approach you ; you're still trying to blame Feral and somehow Valve itself. Drop it off.

If you are not happy about it ; tell your beloved GOG to care about Linux by porting their titles and Galaxy , not treating us as second class citizens. Maybe after that ; our rising Linux porter Feral can consider that.

or some deal which requires this exclusivity.

I think you are right here.

Next time , i will to the Feral<...>If you are not happy about it<...>

Few things. I find exclusivity approach bad. Put yourself in that situation, and say you like when you are excluded. I.e. for instance when you as Linux user are ignored by Windows only release. Show me one person who thinks that exclusivity is something positive. Surprising thing is, Linux users should probably know this topic in and out already.

Second, I already told Feral about it, so I'm sure they know.


Last edited by Shmerl on 19 May 2017 at 10:23 pm UTC

Next time , i will to the Feral<...>If you are not happy about it<...>

Few things. I find exclusivity approach bad. Put yourself in that situation, and say you like when you are excluded. I.e. for instance when you as Linux user are ignored by Windows only release. Show me one person who thinks that exclusivity is something positive. Second, I already told Feral about it, so I'm sure they know.

You can tell that exclusivity to GOG or any other markets.

And you cannot see is that , Feral is not gonna be able deliberatrely release any other versions. Maybe some day if they choose to port an Aaa title which is available on Gog Windows and if they don't release it on Gog too ; we can be pissed to Feral together.

Next time , i will to the Feral ' Hey , yo Feral! Shmerl wants you games on GOG , because he is Polish and he has somekind of fanatizm,patriotizm about GOG so he somehow wants you to break main developers or publishers attitude. Don't mind if he is talking about other Drm-free stores ; he only cares about GOG'

Dude , enough of that your GOG loving movements. No matter what we approach you ; you're still trying to blame Feral and somehow Valve itself. Drop it off.

If you are not happy about it ; tell your beloved GOG to care about Linux by porting their titles and Galaxy , not treating us as second class citizens. Maybe after that ; our rising Linux porter Feral can consider that.

Hey Leopard,
Shmerl has an opinion and that is justified.
Please don't blame others for their thoughts/interests - this is really childish - and does not help.

Regarding the Feral GOG situation. Many developers release their games on both GOG and Steam. True the GOG sales are probably a fraction of the Steam sales, but it's just icing on the cake. Why not cast your net far and wide? If you've already gone through the trouble of porting a game to Linux, why wouldn't you release it on GOG? I don't believe it costs anything to put the game up on GOG right? Your revenue is all based on sales.

Saying that Steam is where the money is does not provide the full answer for why Feral ports are exclusive to Steam. Not saying it's right or wrong, there's probably a good reason. Money might be the primary reason, but surely not the only one.

Next time , i will to the Feral ' Hey , yo Feral! Shmerl wants you games on GOG , because he is Polish and he has somekind of fanatizm,patriotizm about GOG so he somehow wants you to break main developers or publishers attitude. Don't mind if he is talking about other Drm-free stores ; he only cares about GOG'

Dude , enough of that your GOG loving movements. No matter what we approach you ; you're still trying to blame Feral and somehow Valve itself. Drop it off.

If you are not happy about it ; tell your beloved GOG to care about Linux by porting their titles and Galaxy , not treating us as second class citizens. Maybe after that ; our rising Linux porter Feral can consider that.

Hey Leopard,
Shmerl has an opinion and that is justified.
Please don't blame others for their thoughts/interests - this is really childish - and does not help.

Man , his attitude is childish too. He looks for a conspiracy ; which there is not.

He thinks that Feral can break the main publishers attitude about GOG ; it is not simple as that.

Next time , i will to the Feral<...>If you are not happy about it<...>

Few things. I find exclusivity approach bad. Put yourself in that situation, and say you like when you are excluded. I.e. for instance when you as Linux user are ignored by Windows only release. Show me one person who thinks that exclusivity is something positive. Surprising thing is, Linux users should probably know this topic in and out already.

Second, I already told Feral about it, so I'm sure they know.

I totally understand you.

But for me GOG and the other stores are no option for me.
Let me explain...
I'm a Linux networkadmin and care alot about security... also private.
I don't do facebook, twitter, ebay, paypal, buy online with creditcard, use smartphones,...
You can find me at different bug-trackers of different opensource projects where I send patches or report bugs - "mesa" for example.

BUT STEAM/VALVE sell gift cards at my gas station - thats why I prefer Steam most.
Steam has enough money/manpower to do this.

So you see... different people/porters have different interests/goals.

I am so excited to see this game again! I am counting down the days.

Props to them for supporting as far back as 6000 series AMD (or was it still ATI at that time? ha). I would love to see how old hardware this game will run that is not officially supported. Maybe I can resurrect my dead youtube channel for some zombie hardware fun.

But before any such thing, the title would need to go DRM-free. I regret breaking my rule and buying TW:Warhammer only to find out it doesn't even have cross platfrom multi and now it is just cluttering up my library with nobody to play with.

something something about that's where the money is at

You know where the money is at? Consoles. Windows. Maybe Feral should just ditch Mac/Linux niches and pursue the *real* markets like the rest of the industry?

"GOG is DRM because you need to sign into an account" - Leopard, probably

I think you have a fundamental misunderstanding of what DRM is. We will always need to have a means of first acquiring the software. But once you have a copy of that game, what you do with it should not be dictated by phone-home mechanisms or prison warden "clients".

As soon as gaming becomes a self-sustaining market on Linux, I will be kicking Steam off of my machines. But until then, I must consider Valve an ally.


Last edited by GustyGhost on 20 May 2017 at 4:53 am UTC

Before Valve started supporting Linux I had exactly ONE game that worked in Linux, I now have nearly 800.

How many Feral ports are for games that have been available on GOG as Windows only games? If the answer is None you have your reason why Feral only offer Steam keys.

another total war sigh

I'm asking about why Feral pick only such cases to port. That's already something they choose.

May I ask why you are phrasing it like this? Is there an indication that Feral chooses for themselves which games they port? I mean, they are like a translation studio: They add a language to an existing game, so to say. They can't just grab a game, translate it and sell it where they want.

Or do you mean that Feral has more contractual offers than they could handle and they are deliberately only picking ones with Steam DRM? That would be pretty cool, just because that would mean that the Linux market is so big, that Feral and Aspyr can't even handle all the requests. But I doubt that.

I'd rather we didn't have drm. But Valve have made it possible for me to have enough games on Linux that I really can jump ship. Which bearing in mind the way Microsoft are going with hardware support and the virus malware situation, I'm incredibly happy about. And these guys need to make money.

This was the first TW game I did not buy, having got to the point in 2011 that I would rarely buy Windows software; so I look forward to playing it.

I would guess that CA, or more likely SEGA, have contracted Feral to do the whole TW catalog, either as work for hire ( a specific fee or fees ), or on a royalty basis, which obviously disappoints @fabry92! But it makes sense for porting houses to do several games that have similar technology, as it lessens the cost per title. All their work will be the result of negotiations that probably do not allow them to choose to release the title wherever they please; they are not likely to be in the situation where they can simply "pick" which titles they port.

I am not personally bothered about games using some form of revenue protection, so long as it is non-intrusive. Computer games have always used a variety of methods to minimise casual fraud. Early ones made you enter codes obtained from physical game content, or use difficult to copy "key" floppy disks of CDs; later ones used fairly nasty virus-like mechanisms. The encrypted binary method offered by Valve ( used only at the discretion of the developer, these games do not ... http://steam.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games ), has never caused me any issues, and is certainly a far better than the old copy-protection schemes.

Any easily copied product has had the issue that, if people perceive they can get something for free, many will do so. DRM and other forms of protection will not disappear until that problem becomes insignificant.