As someone who is and has been quite invested in the RUST game (700+ hours play, on Linux), here is my point of view on different things:

1) When I bought the game (some 2 years ago) I got it on sale, so I've had incredible value for my money (Equivalent to 700 hours for $8). Based on this, first I'm thankful to the developers for giving Linux a chance, and second, even if Linux loses the opportunity to play any more I won't be requesting a refund.

2) It is upsetting that Facepunch might completely drop Linux support, but at least it is working for now. Also, if the EAC problem for Steam Play (Proton) gets solved, then there might be an opportunity to play it on Linux even if there is only a Windows version.

3) The monthly wipe - It is quite a good thing in my opinion. It enables the developers to release new features into the game, and there have been stacks of cool things added and balance changes made over the past 2 years. It means that you get a fresh map, other players build bases in different positions, you get to try building a different base design.

3) I actually have been playing the game during the recent "support being dropped" period. Masochistically, I played through the first 3 weeks of April, with the graphical glitches making it extremely hard to do anything. The game worked but whenever the player character used an item, the glitch would obscure the view of the game world. As such, I was wandering around without a weapon or tool in my player's hand, and when I did use a weapon or tool, I was playing blind. In the Last Week of the April Wipe, someone in the Linux community (not Facepunch) released a non-official patch that fixed the "blindness" problem, and the game was okay after this.

4) RUST has just (less than a day ago) had the New Wipe (fresh start) on all the servers. The recent updates have incorporated a partial fix and the game is playing okay under Linux. I have been playing it myself (about 4 hours so far), and there is a bit of graphical slowdown and some weird graphics issues (rainbow colours on some objects), but nothing like as bad as the previous "blindness" problem (April 2019). It is certainly playable, and I expect I'll be going with it some more over the next 4 weeks.

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The trailer is promising. Liking the artwork and atmosphere.

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I've been following this little discussion and I predicted what your point of view was going to be, prior to this clarification you provided. Pitching in with my own view-point, and sharing it for consideration.

Yes, Steam does (to some degree) place the need to use their mandatory client in order to be able to access (i.e. download) and it is needed to play some of the games. BUT, as you've mentioned already in passing, it is possible to use alternative downloaders to perform the download and then you're able to play the DRM-Free game files without Steam client. That is, you are not tied down to the Steam client for all games, and in fact it is the game developer who is deciding if they want their game to be DRM-Free or not (and Steam client is just assisting them one way or the other).

So, assuming the game developer releases their game on Steam DRM-Free and then you have that game title downloaded via alternative downloader or via the official Steam client. Then you have a DRM-Free copy of the game files to backup and store however you desire, they are not tied to the Steam client and you don't need to use the Steam client to access them. Again, it is only the game developers who want to push DRM onto their games where Steam client facilitates this.

You mentioned that Steam client is "always-online", but this is not really true. Apart from when you are forced (by the game, e.g. playing a multi-player game across the internet) you can play your game via the Steam client, entirely offline. Steam client actually has an Offline Mode switch to allow you to select Steam to be offline, and still gain access to your titles for playing when not on the internet.

The point you made about supporting Windows-exclusive Game Developers by buying their games, and then playing those games by Proton. It isn't supporting Linux Game Developers, doing this, but it is making Windows-exclusive Game Developers a bit more aware of the Linux market-share. It also makes Valve aware, and as they release statistics then the rest of the world is aware.

If the Linux market-share is perceived to be large enough, then it could encourage these Windows-only developers to make more consideration of Linux in their current and future titles.

My own feeling is: If I am so keen on a Windows-exclusive game that I am willing to buy it, at least my purchase is counting towards helping the Linux platform, both in demonstrating Linux market-share and presence. Though, like you, I fiercely support Linux Game Developers and the vast majority of my purchases are direct from Linux-supporting Game Developers. What I mean is that a lot of my Game Purchase Decisions are based on whether the game is on Linux, and if it isn't on Linux then I am very unlikely to buy it (i.e. Only in exceptional cases).

Moving on to an additional point, which might cause a little offence, but it is a good visualisation tool:

Who is the better Linux supporter? The Linux Gamer who buys 99 Linux-supporting Game Titles and 1 Windows-exclusive title (which supports Linux market-share statistics because they play the game on Proton) *OR* The (hard-line) Linux Gamer who buys 50 Linux-supporting Game Titles. Sorry, it's a bit of a trick question, heh - The better supporter is the one who bought the more games from Linux developers.

Quoting: Alm888

Quoting: Mountain ManYou misunderstand: if you buy and play a game via Proton, it is counted by Steam the same as if you had bought a native Linux version of the game.

Well, let's talk about "misunderstanding", if you insist. :|
For starters, I won't use Steam until it drops its mandatory client and becomes officially DRM-free. And no, alternative downloaders and games which are "DRM-free on Steam" (i.e. can be launched without the client after being downloaded via the client) won't do. So, in my case, Proton™ isn't even a consideration, and that is not negotiable. Period.

But let's pretend I wasn't so against Valve® and its always-online DRM.

In that case, for all intents and purposes the ones purchasing a Windows-exclusive game must be considered a Windows gamers. Their believes, aspirations and desires are irrelevant: they are giving the money to a company that makes Windows-exclusive products. And that is what truly matters. "Useful idiots", according to the classic. :P
The fact that those Linux-wannabe players prefer to suffer and attempt to misuse the Windows-exclusive game, trying to launch it on Linux… Well, that doesn't matter in this harsh world of hard cash and profit. In fact, this even more preferable: the company is officially relieved of all support obligations (if something doesn't work -- not their problems. A user has violated the terms of contract by not complying to the system requirements). Rumor has it, Sony actually sells its consoles at loss, hoping to recoup in game licenses' sales. If Linux users to start getting their PlayStation games without the console itself, that would make Sony very happy panda. :D

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A few comments from my corner:

No, I will not be buying it at this price point. Had it been closer to PSVR pricing, then my interest would have perked a bit, but only if there was something very compelling to play with it.

You're going to need a beast of a PC to properly take advantage of this headset, and I expect you'd want RTX2080Ti and top end processor, e.g. Ryzen2, Ryzen3, Intel 8th or 9th gen 6-core i7. So, if you don't already have those, then add that to the overall cost.

Personally, I'm disgusted with the cost of premium smartphones, although I do see those purchases as being a LOT more useful in day-to-day usage for the people that wasted their money on them, than the use that people will make of a VR system costing a similar sum.

It wouldn't surprise me if this is released at this high a price point to sponge money off early adopters, and it won't be long before it is on 50% discount (not unlike many games titles also purveyed by Valve). Of course, when it is 50% cheaper, people will already be thinking "Wow what a massive saving I'm making on this premium kit" and that will likely help to draw in more takers.

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Quoting: KimyrielleIt's so hilarious how the gaming industry operates as if proper project management wouldn't be a thing. I don't get it how you can plan multi-platform deployment - and then write Windows-only software instead of developing a multi-platform game from the get-go. Forcing you to put a lot of work into porting the thing later. With the realistic possibility of running into all sorts of trouble, e.g. when your Windows only game is using Windows-only middleware you figure out 3-4 years later isn't even available for the other platforms. Not that that ever happened, or so.

That...makes no sense, but neither does burning out your devs in 100 hour work weeks, to keep unrealistic deadlines in about 100% of all projects you ever start.

The gaming industry is strange...

I'd add some more context to this: Good developers are hard to find to fill vacancies, partly because gaming sector doesn't pay as well as financial sector. So, in gaming development you're often struggling with just enough developers to get the job done. And then management are constantly pushing for progress (as you just suggested - "unrealistic deadlines") and so all the extraneous things (Linux, multi-platform deployment) go out of the window. They just concentrate on the core development. Also, seeing as most devs are coding using Visual Studio + Game Engine (Unity, Unreal, etc) they are already very Windows-centric. On top of that, developer burn-out is a big thing too. Start a job, get over-worked / under-paid - and then move on to the next opportunity ("greener grass").

It's one of the reasons that more indie games tend to have Linux support from the get-go. It's a very small team, often just one developer working for him/herself. They can make the game to their own schedule.

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That's not a game, it's pure masochism. Reminds me of this: Trap Adventure 2.

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It is certainly interesting, and looks fairly inspired by Enter The Gungeon, Nuclear Throne game play and Enter The Gungeon style of artwork.

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Quoting: subI was talking about the related GOL articles - not GOG.

Whoops! My mistake, sorry.

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Quoting: subHey Liam, thanks for this service!

Would you mind linking to the most relevant GOL article of the individual games if it's not too much work?

(Ofc) They are sometimes very helpful with the replies from the community.
Be it to encourage a buy or staying (far) away with the current hardware configuration.

I did notice that Liam already linked the GOG Indie Week Sale list in the article, and practically all the GOG games being mentioned (Sunless Sea, etc) are already in that list. It is just the tiniest bit of work for the reader to go to the list and then jump to the specific game.

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I spotted Fluffy Horde in the current sales, at 80% discount (Nice!). It seems a very interesting, relatively casual game with a style/look which is similar to Kingdom: Classic. After watching some game play on youtube, I decided it'd be good for a few hours play.

If you are interested, I suggest picking it up soon because I think the offer expires in the next few hours.

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