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Latest Comments by Pengling
Surprising probably no one, most people use the Steam Deck as a handheld
8 November 2022 at 10:53 am UTC

These numbers seem similar to the ones that occasionally get reported (officially by Nintendo) about the Switch, which invariably show that the vast majority favour the portable modes. In turn, that lines up with the old adage that a technology catches on if it can fit into users' lives, rather than expecting users to rearrange their lives around the technology*.

*See Rabbit phones ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_(telecommunications) ) versus GSM mobile-phones for a good example of that - driving around to find the few locations where one could make outgoing calls (and only outgoing calls) was not nearly as convenient as having a device which worked anywhere, and could send and receive both calls and text-messages.

Star Labs new StarFighter sounds like a great Linux laptop
5 November 2022 at 2:15 am UTC Likes: 2

Quoting: whizseIf I bought one I would want to name it Kenny.
I was thinking Alex, myself.

JSAUX teasing a clear Back Plate for the Steam Deck
3 November 2022 at 11:33 am UTC

I'm strongly reminded of those snap-on clear covers that seem to get trotted out for every handheld going... (As an aside, those always look brittle to me, especially the ones for larger devices - do people really use them?)

Steam Deck pushed Linux to the highest share on Steam in years
2 November 2022 at 1:20 pm UTC Likes: 1

Quoting: LinasThe difference is that there went a lot of work into making Linux a gaming platform. Whereas Apple keeps undermining their platform. MacOS is the only mainstream platform where Vulkan is not supported, and OpenGL is stuck on version 4.1 (2010), so you are forced to use their proprietary Metal API. Switch to ARM processors is objectively not a bad thing, but it does make the burden of supporting games on macOS even worse, especially when taking into account old games. Not to mention the hostile licensing to even be allowed to develop anything on macOS.
Exactly this - gaming on Macs back then was a terrible moving target (I can't comment on now, but from what I've heard it's gotten worse in a number of ways), and it wasn't all that great even for folks like me who do a lot of retro emulation. As far as I can see, Linux has reached the point it's at quicker than MacOS did entirely because huge efforts have been put into making it gaming-friendly from all over the place.

Steam Deck pushed Linux to the highest share on Steam in years
2 November 2022 at 6:58 am UTC Likes: 4

It's interesting to see how this is turning out over time. I was a Mac user between 2004 and 2008, and the gaming situation (and, as far as I know, percentage) on Mac OS X back then was similar to how it is on Linux now, if not a bit worse - but with even more fighting tooth-and-nail for native game support, because there wasn't a tool like Proton! Having been there for that, I can't help but feel that we've got it pretty good on Linux these days.

Open source kart racer SuperTuxKart 1.4 is out now with Vulkan in Beta
1 November 2022 at 2:40 pm UTC Likes: 1

The last time I played, the feel and weight of the driving wasn't yet on-par with the series that Super Tux Kart so often gets compared to - I'll have to try this out later to see if that's changed.

Get a free copy of Jazz Jackrabbit 2 in the GOG Halloween Sale
1 November 2022 at 2:48 am UTC Likes: 2

Jazz Jackrabbit 2 was and still is an excellent game, and one that was overlooked far too much in its day due to coming along at an awkward time in gaming history that resulted in it being unfairly dismissed. Easily one of the best 2D platformers ever made, and it's long run perfectly under Wine, too (which is another option for this one).

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is another Sony port working well on Steam Deck / Linux
30 October 2022 at 2:40 am UTC Likes: 2

It's interesting to see the sort of support that Sony (and Microsoft) are effectively giving the Steam Deck, since they now don't have to take the risk on creating their own handheld hardware themselves. I wonder if we'll see Ratchet & Clank or Sly Cooper anytime soon?

Valve finally clears up Steam game release dates, also adjusts pricing
28 October 2022 at 1:23 pm UTC Likes: 3

Quoting: Eike
Quoting: Purple Library Guy
Quoting: x_wing1,2% seals taxes (almost sure this one is federal).
Geeze. What if you don't even own a seal?

I wonder if there's any valid excuse for not owning a seal, though.
Seals eat penguins, and I prefer penguins.

JSAUX cancels current Steam Deck Dock with RGB, after competitor pinched it
27 October 2022 at 12:55 am UTC Likes: 1

Don't these sorts of companies with algorithm-generated vaguely-pronounceable names typically rebadge reference-designs and/or generic products anyway? As far as I know, it's not like when factories making brand-name products are making counterfeits outside of work hours.