ARK: Survival Evolved full release delayed until the end of August

Probably a good thing, honestly this developer should really get Vulkan out to all platforms so they can at least deal with the performance issues, in particular Linux is really chugging with its OGL build, and is particularly bad at 1440-2160p resolutions (you know the future since we aren't all at 1080p still).

Also can't you just host the server yourself or MUST you pay for a server?


Last edited by TheRiddick on 1 August 2017 at 6:11 pm UTC

Quoting: TheRiddickAlso can't you just host the server yourself or MUST you pay for a server?

Hosting it ourselves still includes a cost. Having it with a host whose job is to run game servers is much easier, takes all the annoying system management away. It wouldn't be much cheaper to host it ourselves through some cloud hoster, considering the amount of resources it needs.

Ok, well for 2-3 players on the server I'd thought a Dual Core CPU would be enough, but I guess you still have all these dinos running around being simulated in a stupid fashion.

Quoting: TheRiddickOk, well for 2-3 players on the server I'd thought a Dual Core CPU would be enough, but I guess you still have all these dinos running around being simulated in a stupid fashion.

It's not just the CPU, it's all of it. RAM, HD space and so on. When it comes to RAM, you need about 6GB for it minimum to run smoothly from all the posts I've seen. Any hosting provider giving that much RAM tend to charge a bit. It actually works out cheaper overall to use a dedicated ARK server place.

Yes, I keep forgetting your not like the chap over at Phoronix, not much spare hardware laying around no doubt. That fella has a server basement full of sleeping hardware waiting around for a benchmark to happen once a month :)


Last edited by TheRiddick on 1 August 2017 at 6:57 pm UTC

Quoting: TheRiddickYes, I keep forgetting your not like the chap over at Phoronix, not much spare hardware laying around no doubt. That fella has a server basement full of sleeping hardware waiting around for a benchmark to happen once a month :)

Well, it's not just having the hardware at home, but having a connection good enough to handle all the downloads we do for games here, the livestreaming, add in the additional electricity overhead for another always on unit and so on. It's just easier and cheaper to use a dedicated provider.

Quoting: scaineYou only have to look at the Leaving Lindow developer to realise that we're lucky to have games like Ark and Rust at all!

This situation boils down to the harsh reality of trying to make money - their priority will always be their largest customer base. But yeah, I'd like a bit of consideration as a paying customer. Right now, it can feel pretty unfair at times.

I disagree with that first statement. Grossly oversimplifying the past 6 years of hundreds of thousands of people's efforts to make linux emerge as a gaming platform was not luck.

If you recall, Microsoft made poor decisions with Windows 8 which caused Gabe Newell to become distressed and invest in Linux to secure Valve's future. Also people like Liam Dawe have spent thousands of hours writing articles and spearheading the news efforts of gaming on Linux. And finally others have spent countless hours improving MESA, convincing game developers we're worth it, and buying and playing, and creating Linux Steam Groups, etc...

I'm sorry I just really resent calling all of our collective efforts "Luck", It wasn't easy for me to convince Black Mesa devs and other game devs that Linux is worth the time. It took a lot of calculated and reasonable conversations which lasted for days and days each.

I'm not mad I just hope that that sediment that "we're lucky" dies. Cold hard investment of money, time, resources, etc... has made gaming on Linux what it is today.

Additionally, Ark is on Linux because Unreal Engine is on Linux because Unreal devs were also concerned about Windows 8 invasion of privacy and locking down apps to Windows Store & Microsoft Signature Required to distribute and install. Again - not luck at all.

( I used to spend hours a day for probably 4+ years on the linux & gaming community, I fundamentally believe that open source is required for the prosperity of the future and a world without it would be a very sad and terrible place. )


Last edited by ElectricPrism on 1 August 2017 at 8:17 pm UTC

Quoting: TrumpI dislike the devs of Ark and Rust. Both seem like assholes that do not consider Linux users even worth their time.

Sadly a lot of EA developers seem to be this way. It's a big reason I stopped buying EA games. Just not worth the headache.

I want to say, I am very thankful for the GOL Ark server, and I still do Patreon for that reason as well as principle, and I will still contribute to GOL because of that and more. That's not to say I will stop contributions if the ARK server goes down.

But I have some confessions.

I did go back to Win10 (still have my Linux Part for development things) precisely because I got a Vive, and I was not willing to sacrifice the VR experience because SOME developers who claim to be Linux compliant do not start the dev process with that in mind. Some do, and it is evident in their quality of product.

And because I was already in Win, I retried ARK on the GOL server. What a difference, my card actually performs.

The other confession I have is, today I got the Steam survey when I logged in, and was excited! Then realized I was on Win when it happened... I completed it. sorry.

I still have hopes for the nix gaming, but the performance isn't there. I realize by non-participation, I am making it worse for dev incentive in a small way....

damnit