Funny thing about support costs, the big server guys alread do that. Try getting hardware support from HP or Dell if you onstall Debian on your servers (for example) sure, their more expensive ones show support, but the low end ones generally only support Redhat.

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Quoting: sarmad

Quoting: 1xok

Quoting: liamdaweWhat are your hopes for SteamOS/Steam Machines in 2018?

A small AMD-based Steam Machine would be very good for children. But it should also be open, so that e. g. Minecraft runs on it. In my opinion, the games on Linux are better for children than on PlayStation and sometimes even better than on the Switch. Minecraft mods are very popular with children. Most mods do not run on the normal consoles. You don't get to the public Minecraft servers either. For the children, this is just as important as PUBG or CSGO for the elderly.

Basically, I think that something like the Ataribox would be very good. It just shouldn't be from today's Atari.;)

Indeed. I think an AMD steam machine that comes in a reasonable price and allows you to easily install Minecraft would sell well for children (if the company behinds it does proper marketting for it that is). I got a PS4 for my son but most of the time he's playing either Minecraft or LittleBigPlanet. Also, surprisingly enough, there are more couch multiplayer options on Steam than there are on PS4; thanks to all the indie devs. However, compared to a PS4, pairing a Steam Controller is not straight forward on a Steam Machine, so that's an area Valve needs to improve.

Wait, you have to pair a Steam Controller on steam? I don't ever remember doing that, I just plugged it in. Or maybe I did have to do something, but it was so dead simple I don't remember what I did. Also, you can pair up to 4 (I think) on a single dongle stick. Granted with the PS4, I think it was just as easy as plugging in the USB cable.

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Yeah, would be nice if we got a "Yes" or "no" instead of a "we are thinking about it". Game looks good though, will buy it if it is released for Linux.

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Quoting: crt0mega

Quoting: slaapliedjeI still remember the happy days of the mga driver, where it was fully open source, but I think there was a binary firmware to enable multiple monitors (since at the time they were the only ones able to drive more than one screen on a single card.) These days it is fully open source, but sadly only a very few server boards actually have the Matrox video built in.

Ahh. I remember playing NWN on a G400 on Mandrake Linux back then :D

I loved my G400, and the Parhelia was great. Too bad they gave up on trying to compete on 3D speed, otherwise I would have kept buying their cards.

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Quoting: Perkeleen_Vittupää

Quoting: Luke_NukemIf I had one wish in life, it would be to flog all the head honchos of Zenimax and Bethesda with a flexible cane until they admitted that supporting Linux is a worthwhile endeavour.

One wish in this life? As a Linux advocate, i sure appreciate this noble wish.. ...yet if i was to have this kinda power, i'd STILL end all wars first, dammit

Mankind is doomed, wishing for good entertainment is a nice compromise. :P

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Quoting: tuubi

Quoting: slaapliedjeMy 'favorite' thing to see now is a mish mash of languages inserted into scripts. I am in the middle of trying to teach myself python while rewriting this python script that currently uses a perl script/library, and several bash scripts that then run fabric commands....

Where I currently work, I even say a Nagios check that is written in perl, that then calls a bash script to set up the environment, which also calls another perl script, which then runs a bash script...

I am pretty shit at coding, but even I know that is just a jungle of wtf?

I guess that's how the Unix-like ecosystem of "small tools that do one job well" is built. As long as the scripts are well separated and have clean interfaces, it doesn't really matter how they're scripted. But yeah, that could also be a jungle of wtf.

Makes it really hard to troubleshoot, that is for sure.

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Quoting: Guest

Quoting: jens

Quoting: GuestIt restricts the use of my hardware in a technical capacity.

Would you really be able to fully use your hardware if there hadn't been any company with some real resources/money behind it? Hardware was difficult 20 years ago and since then it certainly hasn't been getting easier. Some companies do actively support Linux the way the Linux community prefers it (Intel, recently AMD), others support Linux in a less FOSS compatible way (NVidia). Though it is Nvidia's freedom to do it their way. Being not your best friend doesn't automatically makes you an enemy. (Note: you didn't imply that, that's just a general statement)

Quoting: GuestSo yeah, that's why I want FOSS. Want though, not enforce.

Thanks a lot for coming up for your principles, but not trying to force others do to so.

(Just going to put reply here because mobile phone)
Indeed, drivers are complicated stuff these days, and hardware borders on insane. But recent work should allow full performance with open code, or show that it's possible. But something like gallium-nine can't exist on blobs without the company's say-so, which I don't like. That's really all.

And forcing open source I disagree with. I try to use words like encourage, or want, instead of force/must, because ultimately the choice should always be up to the user, and things aren't black & white.

Actually I think people here in this thread should be congratulated. Debate and discussion, without turning sour.

On a note of past hardware, I still recall the pure speed that was r200. Ok, it had a few issues, and hardware (and software) was far less complex back then, but wow did UT fly on r200 drivers!

I still remember the happy days of the mga driver, where it was fully open source, but I think there was a binary firmware to enable multiple monitors (since at the time they were the only ones able to drive more than one screen on a single card.) These days it is fully open source, but sadly only a very few server boards actually have the Matrox video built in.

Speaking of old things and drivers. AMD is the hero of retro operating systems for sure. Since most things are open for it, operating systems like AROS and Amigas have drivers with acceleration instead of being stuck at vesa modes.

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Quoting: g000hI feel it is a little unfair to call this game "grindy". Yes, by nature of arcade shoot em ups, you keep on repeating a level until you complete it (without dying). In that regard it can be considered "grindy", but it is not grindy in this genre.

It is an improvement on Sky Force: Anniversary, with 15 levels instead of 9 (although I might be missing secret levels on each game). It is hard in my opinion (harder than SF: A). The multiple different ships and technicians in the newer Sky Force: Reloaded are a nice addition, improving the core game. Once you have unlocked each new level you can replay whichever level you fancy, at each of the difficulty levels (also you need to unlock those too). It gives you plenty of diversity in the game.

This is, in my opinion, one of the finest examples of Shoot Em Up Arcade game you'll ever have the pleasure of playing.

Also, I now own a Steam Controller, and while it is easy enough to set up gamepad buttons to correspond to key presses, I find the XBOX 360 gamepad which just works immediately with no messing around, is preferable.

The game runs great in 4K too, even on a lower spec graphics card, e.g. GTX 970 4GB. You'd expect that on a 2D game.

Played close to 25 hours of SF: R so far, and haven't managed to unlock beyond level 11 (out of 15) yet. SF: A - I've unlocked all the levels (but not completed them all on "Insane" difficulty yet).

Highly highly recommend this game (if you like this style).

I consider it a grind when they have requi rements like "don't get hit" on a level to be able to unlock a new level.

Or that they extend the number of hours to play by making you play the same levels over and over again. If the game is fun enough (this one), the grind can be excused. When it is boring (Diablo 3), then it should not be. Bith Jydge and this game are a lot of fun, but they do have the exact same unlocking of levels mechanism.

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I wouldn't even say ppa is acceptable. The problem is the mentality between the other operating systems and most Linux distributions.

For example, I install Windows 10, it (mostly) detects the hardware quite well now and it is usable as a basic OS out of the box, then you have to either hunt online for the applications you want, or start buying them from the Windows store or digital or physical stores.

Macs are similar. Linux, depending on your hardware is either an out of box experience with everything working, or a pain in the butt if you have one of those wifi cards that are problematic. And of course due to thw licensing of nvidia drivers, they are pretty much never just installed when the hardware is detected. Granted, it is usually just a command or two away, but ususually you have to look something up. Most average people are too lazy. Only real way for it to take off as a proper competition is to get more manufacturers to pre-install it and some quick documentation on how to get software.

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My 'favorite' thing to see now is a mish mash of languages inserted into scripts. I am in the middle of trying to teach myself python while rewriting this python script that currently uses a perl script/library, and several bash scripts that then run fabric commands....

Where I currently work, I even say a Nagios check that is written in perl, that then calls a bash script to set up the environment, which also calls another perl script, which then runs a bash script...

I am pretty shit at coding, but even I know that is just a jungle of wtf?

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