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GOG.com In Need Of Linux Tech Specialist To Port Games

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With GOG.com heading over to Linux later this year they are in need of someone technically minded with Linux who doesn't mind moving to Poland.

That's the important note, you will have to move over to them to work with them in their offices. The job is all about bringing Windows titles to Linux, so you need to know both systems rather well.

QuoteThe Linux Tech Specialist will assist with porting games from the Windows PC environment over to Linux by creating installer scripts, debugging problems, generating masters and builds, and other elements related to making a game run on the Linux platform. Our keyword is “le’Tech”.

Responsibilities:
Create/fix installer scripts.
Create tools/scripts for specific tasks and platform.
Find workarounds for game problems.
Make sure deadlines are met.
Collect all information required to create a build.

Requirements:
Power user - both Linux and Windows.
Gamer at heart.
Knowledge of what Dosbox and Wine is.
Really good attention to detail (put our keyword in the subject line of your response email).
Solid English.
Good command of an office-type software.
Ability to set priorities in order to meet deadlines.
Ability to keep focused.

What we offer:
A unique opportunity to enter a booming industry and to influence the future of digital distribution.
A competitive salary and a great, laid-back work atmosphere in our office based in Warsaw, Poland.
The chance to work in an international environment.
Access to a health care and sport activities package


Considering it states "Knowledge of what Dosbox and Wine is." we could be looking at Wine ports from GOG. It will be interesting to see the reaction if they do, if it's done like System Shock 2 then great.

Porting old games using Wine is perfectly acceptable as they aren't likely to be updated at all, which means they shouldn't ever break compatibility if they already work. When you consider a vast amount of GOG's library is old games it makes sense.

It was actually posted in our forum here from what looks like a GOG.com rep and I feel it's important to highlight it here.

See the full post on it and how to apply over here. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: GOG, Jobs
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About the author -
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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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29 comments
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Speedster May 28, 2014
The expectation all along has been that dosemu/wine would be used to support old games on GoG, which is their primary focus at "Good Old Games". Having wine officially supported there will be wonderful for Linux users pining after classic games

* who don't want to go around buying windows games, and miss the opportunity of having their $$ count towards the growing Linux gaming market
* who don't want to waste time tinkering to find the right mix of wine version and wine config to play some old game that isn't super popular with fellow wine users
Speedster May 28, 2014
Quoting: km3kIf anyone from GOG is reading, feel free to use my work on getting Return to Zork, Zork Nemesis and Zork Grand Inquisitor running on Linux with ScummVM, Dosbox and ZEngine. http://www.thezorklibrary.com/installguides/

Good work! Those are such fun games :D
Liam Dawe May 28, 2014
Quoting: SpeedsterThe expectation all along has been that dosemu/wine would be used to support old games on GoG, which is their primary focus at "Good Old Games". Having wine officially supported there will be wonderful for Linux users pining after classic games

* who don't want to go around buying windows games, and miss the opportunity of having their $$ count towards the growing Linux gaming market
* who don't want to waste time tinkering to find the right mix of wine version and wine config to play some old game that isn't super popular with fellow wine users

I need a "+ 1 million" button.

For games I just want them to work, I don't want to spend truck loads of time configuring wine if someone can do it for me on a game that will never get ported then fantastic.

And yes, we need our money counted for Linux and not Windows. This is a good stepping stone to show developers and publishers there is money in Linux.
km3k May 28, 2014
Quoting: Speedster
Quoting: km3kIf anyone from GOG is reading, feel free to use my work on getting Return to Zork, Zork Nemesis and Zork Grand Inquisitor running on Linux with ScummVM, Dosbox and ZEngine. http://www.thezorklibrary.com/installguides/
Good work! Those are such fun games :D

Thanks!
Anonymous May 28, 2014
Quoting: liamdaweAnd yes, we need our money counted for Linux and not Windows. This is a good stepping stone to show developers and publishers there is money in Linux.
To what end?

What does it matter?

Think about it for a sec.

If I'm a developer, and I make a Windows game, let's call it Cool Shooter, and you buy it and play it in Wine. I got your money. I don't give a shit what platform you run it on, I care that I got your money. OK, so you bought it through GoG as a "Linux" game. I can now see that some Linux gamers gave me their money even though I didn't bother with Linux.

The time comes to make the sequel. Cool Shooter 2, let's say. I code it with DirectX for Windows because Linux users bought it last time with zero effort on my part.

And what happens? They buy it again.

The only incentive for a developer to support Linux is MONEY. id had the warm fuzzies for a while, but even they abandoned us. So, keep buying Windows games and running them with Wine. It really doesn't matter to devs if you use Wine, so long as they don't have to make any efforts and you keep opening your wallets.

"Oh, but the devs will probably do native after seeing Linux dollars roll in."

No, they won't. There is NO REASON TO. You buy the Windows versions anyhow. They get the money either way.
omer666 May 28, 2014
Well, I think something has not been covered in the previous comments.

There is really a great opportunity there by having games running on Wine with official support. Whereas I prefer native ports by far, for older games the matter is different. The other reason is that it is a great opportunity to see a professional developer actually contribute to Wine. Whether they will or not, that's another story.
Speedster May 28, 2014
Quoting: Anonymous
Quoting: liamdaweAnd yes, we need our money counted for Linux and not Windows. This is a good stepping stone to show developers and publishers there is money in Linux.
To what end?

The time comes to make the sequel. Cool Shooter 2, let's say. I code it with DirectX for Windows because Linux users bought it last time with zero effort on my part.

Ok I'm the leader of a team of devs who made Cool Shooter 1. Last time we based it on Windows-only CoolEngine, but we heard all the cool kids are going cross-platform. As much as we used to sneer that Linux gamers don't exist, being all windows gamers ourselves, some of the money in our pockets now going into Cool Shooter 2 says that perhaps we were wrong. Maybe cross-platformness is actually a feature, like these engine makers are trying to claim, and it should count at least a little bit when we choose the next engine?
FTW May 28, 2014
Quoting: AnonymousFuck Wine. If they want any of my money, they had better have clear labeling on what is a real port, and what uses Wine or DOSbox or any other kind of not-an-actual-port "technology".

Honestly, you want a native port of 10-20 year old games? That's like the majority of games on gog. At this point you could play those games on a toaster anyway, it's just about stability.
Anonymous May 28, 2014
Quoting: Anonymous
Quoting: liamdaweAnd yes, we need our money counted for Linux and not Windows. This is a good stepping stone to show developers and publishers there is money in Linux.
To what end?

What does it matter?

Think about it for a sec.

If I'm a developer, and I make a Windows game, let's call it Cool Shooter, and you buy it and play it in Wine. I got your money. I don't give a shit what platform you run it on, I care that I got your money. OK, so you bought it through GoG as a "Linux" game. I can now see that some Linux gamers gave me their money even though I didn't bother with Linux.

The time comes to make the sequel. Cool Shooter 2, let's say. I code it with DirectX for Windows because Linux users bought it last time with zero effort on my part.

And what happens? They buy it again.

The only incentive for a developer to support Linux is MONEY. id had the warm fuzzies for a while, but even they abandoned us. So, keep buying Windows games and running them with Wine. It really doesn't matter to devs if you use Wine, so long as they don't have to make any efforts and you keep opening your wallets.

"Oh, but the devs will probably do native after seeing Linux dollars roll in."

No, they won't. There is NO REASON TO. You buy the Windows versions anyhow. They get the money either way.

Steam for Linux is a working reason for Linux games. I actively buy from steam, but only games for Linux to show them there is money in Linux. I have not purchased a non Linux game in over 10 years (when I switched to Linux). I may be the exception to the rule, but I don't think I'm the only one.
Anonymous May 28, 2014
This wine thing could actually work if they reported and solved problems with wine as regards running games. Wouldnt bother me if wine was used it runs great for me
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