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7 Days to Die Completely Broken For Mac & Linux

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Just a little warning if you were thinking of picking up '7 Days to Die', they just release Alpha 12 which has completely broken Mac & Linux builds.

I haven't been their biggest fan (and it's well detailed in articles here on GOL), but they did eventually release the Linux build and people have been enjoying it.

The problem now, is it appears all testing on Linux (and Mac) has stopped. Proof is in the pudding with Alpha 12 being completely broken on both platforms. Here's what it looks like right now:
image

Something that big with everything being grey, textures not appearing, black boxes everywhere would have been caught if they had a single Linux test machine, as it took me all of 5 minutes to see the bug in action. They aren't the only developer who treats Linux as a second class citizen, I'm looking at you Rust.

Early Access does come with a whole host of troubles if not done by a competent developer, but that "Early Access" excuse wears a little thin with such glaringly obvious bugs that just weren't tested. Remember, no matter what, you have paid for it, so it should work to a certain degree. There's also six pages of people confirming the bug here, so it's not a small issue.

If you were thinking of picking 7 Days up, I would seriously lay off it right now, and I would seriously wait until it exits Early Access. You can find 7 Days To Die on Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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22 comments
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kon14 Jul 4, 2015
QuoteThey aren't the only developer who treats Linux as a second class citizen, I'm looking at you Rust.

Wow, Facepunch finally considers us to be citizens now? :S
Xpander Jul 4, 2015
Garry has already given an update on the situation:

http://playrust.com/devblog-67/
QuoteLinux

Linux is broke. We know and we’re sorry. This isn’t a problem we can fix easily. It’s a bug in the latest version of Unity. They’ve apparently fixed it in their internal builds – but haven’t released the fix just yet, so we’re waiting patiently along with you guys.

We can’t just roll-back to a working version of the game because it would mean rolling back a number of other important fixes if we do. This might seem cruel, twisted, disrespectful to the Linux users. Would we roll back if this was affecting Windows users? Yes. Because they are the huge majority. We sometimes have to prioritise the majority. It sucks, and we know it sucks.

It’s important to say that the game is still in early access, still in alpha, still in active development. We update every week. It’s not going to stay like this.

also hes tweet:
https://twitter.com/garrynewman/status/617001555447934976

QuoteUnity just pushed out a patch for the linux keyboard stuff - so will be fixed on dev asap http://unity3d.com/unity/qa/patch-releases/5.1.1p3


hope 7 days to die devs fix the issues... i was so waiting for the DirtBike and Weather update
AsavarTzeth Jul 4, 2015
Quoting: kon14Wow, Facepunch finally considers us to be citizens now? :S
Well said!


Quoting: liamdaweThe problem now, is it appears all testing on Linux (and Mac) has stopped. Proof is in the pudding with Alpha 12 being completely broken on both platforms. Here's what it looks like right now:
In my opinion there never were any true testing to begin with. I have not tried the later Alpha builds but all initial ones instantly crashed on my system. So I have always considered this game broken & undelivered.

It is too bad I backed it on Kickstarter for 4 copies. I don't know what is worse, this, or not getting a promised port at all. I almost think I prefer no port at all because then they have no excuses.
minj Jul 4, 2015
Sigh. I bought it a week ago.
Samsai Jul 4, 2015
Quoting: minjSigh. I bought it a week ago.
With some luck you could refund it.
Guest Jul 4, 2015
Its fairly mind blowing given the amount of good press Linux has been getting that this happens. I spoke to the Dev of a fairly well received Indie game on steam ( one that total biscuit endorsed )

The Dev in question is a truly responsive developer and was very keen to get the linux version working after a game update he submitted broke the entire thing. Now, the steam community users hub for this game helped him along nicely and even tried to help him install Linux for the first time ever...

..wait.

yes, he released a game only developed on windows, hit the compile for Linux on unity button and that was it

No testing.

In fact, I have seen from a few active devs that their actual computer knowledge ( as in PC ) is extremely limited ( they are not technicians but you kind of imagine they half are ). His machine was pre-built and came with windows, he couldn’t actually install Linux because the machine was on secure boot and microsoft had that locked down tighter than a nuns ..

he almost broke the only PC he had trying to dual boot linux and in the end gave up otherwise the whole game development would of been stopped for everyone.

so yes, devs are building and releasing games for a platform that they have never used and never intend to use just because a game engine has a big 'compile for {insert OS}' button.

frustrating, because it takes less than 10 mins to install ubuntu or a variant on most normal PC's. But most don’t even Try, some don’t even care :| and most are developing on just one or two core machines,

Its not even that they are trying with an old used laptop with ubuntu thrown on which would at least be something.
Crazy Penguin Jul 4, 2015
Quoting: XpanderGarry has already given an update on the situation:

We can’t just roll-back to a working version of the game because it would mean rolling back a number of other important fixes if we do. This might seem cruel, twisted,

Is Garry not aware THAT you actually can roll-back the game?!?!

Just go to Betas-Tab in Properties and select the version you want.
Nanobang Jul 4, 2015
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It is disappointing. It's clear the dev team did not actually run either Mac or LInux ports on their respective machines just to see if all was well.

But I hardly feel abandoned by the devs. It's a new build; it's alpha; there will be patches, I'm sure. I'll just play other things till patches come.

To those of us that simply can't wait for patches, it is apparently possible to revert back to build 11.6. To quote a user in the 7dtd forums at Steam:

"If you can't stand A12 and want to revert t looks like you can do so. Go into the properties for 7 Days To Die, then beta tab, select Alpha 11.6 Stable, it will queue the update. Go into Downloads and run the update. Is working fine for me so far."
(page 4)

It's a holiday weekend in the States, so I don't expect to hear anything about this from the devs until next week at the earliest.
sobkas Jul 4, 2015
Maybe Rust should be rewritten in Rust? :) ;P
RTheren Jul 4, 2015
Can confirm the black boxes too
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