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Are GOG.com About To Support Linux?

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So I recently did an article titled "Will Gog.com Ever Support Linux On Its Store?", well looks like that may be coming true soon enough folks.

Thanks to an email from FutureSuture that I got today which details a new opening in staff at gog.com titled "Senior Software Engineer - Desktop", first notice it's for "Desktop" not for servers, now look at what is inside;

Responsibilities:
    Shape and develop next generation of multi-platform desktop software, experienced by millions of users every month.
    Take charge of an existing team, plan and schedule tasks.
    Take part in hiring new talent.
    Stay up to date with all emerging new technologies.

Requirements:

    Proficiency in C++ with proven experience.
    Experience in developing rich desktop applications heavily oriented on excellent UX.
    Technical knowledge of popular operating systems: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux.
    Network experience, especially HTTP.
    Experience in multi-platform development.
    Fluency in spoken / written English.
    
So pure speculation here (but backed up by the bold bits) It to me looks like they are going to make a push onto Linux in the near future doesn't it? Notice how technical knowledge of Linux is a Requirement.

There could be some really great news on the horizon for Linux and DRM Free!

You can find the post this all came from here, which shows they will be recruiting.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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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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helsiniki_harbour Aug 15, 2013
Quoting: Kristian
Quoting: Quote from liamdawe
Quoting: Quote from Quote from KristianThey want a great UX for server software their staff has to use because they care about their staff. Seems pretty obvious to me, like I said on their forums they will support Linux when pigs fly in a frozen hell with a church in it.
I honestly hope you are wrong.

I think gog.com would be great for Linux.
Couldn't get a better match than GOG. But they have a blindspot as far as rational decision making about Linux goes. Linux isn't getting a fair chance from GOG. They have different standards for arguments pro-Linux support than they have for arguments against. Any and all arguments against no matter how absurd will be considered a huge obstacle, while no argument for support will be considered good enough, no matter how good they may be.

Well, they argumented pretty reasonable. Infact, I love linux, but supporting linux (especially binary) is a mess.
CC Aug 15, 2013
Liam, you need to forget about Phoronix. A good portion of your comments here and elsewhere seem to mention that site, and I think you're doing yourself a disservice. Phoronix is a shit site, especially when it comes to gaming news, and it looks terrible in general if you ask me. Just do what you do best. As someone who recently found this site, I can say it's the best one currently on the web when it comes to the topic at hand, and I think anyone else can see that plainly. No need to be preemptively defensive or on the offensive. Let the other guy fade into obscurity - or at least let your readers be the ones to naturally defend your honor if/when needed.
Mike Frett Aug 15, 2013
Yeah nevermind Phoronix Liam, It's not worth the grey hairs. =p Even though I know it burns you up the way they don't give proper credit, It burns me up too.

As for this, I'm thinking Servers. But the throw off from that is "multi-platform desktop software". After that "experienced by millions of users every month" which begs the question: Where is this multi-platform software? Note the present tense.

Could they possibly be talking about Steam or Desura?. Those distribution platforms match up with the language noted here. Perhaps they are planning to release some of their wares to Steam or Desura?.
Shmerl Aug 15, 2013
FYI: GOG is going to be recruiting on GDC.

Quoting: Mike FrettPerhaps they are planning to release some of their wares to Steam or Desura?.

I got a feeling they are planning to create a better distribution service which offers incremental updates, to compete with Steam in the convenience aspect. Though I'm sure they'll do it in a way that won't compromise DRM free part of it. I.e. they'll still ship standalone installers / patches and whatever.
Liam Dawe Aug 15, 2013
Quoting: ShmerlFYI: GOG is going to be recruiting on GDC.
This is linked at the bottom of the article, it's the source ;)
Shmerl Aug 15, 2013
Quoting: liamdawe
Quoting: Quote from ShmerlFYI: GOG is going to be recruiting on GDC.
This is linked at the bottom of the article, it's the source ;)
Ah, missed that link :)
Vince Aug 15, 2013
Quoting: KristianThey want a great UX for server software their staff has to use because they care about their staff. Seems pretty obvious to me, like I said on their forums they will support Linux when pigs fly in a frozen hell with a church in it.
Ouch! You sound pretty unhappy with GOG. Since you're so convinced that they'll never support Linux, may I ask what your motivation is to still stick around that place?
n30p1r4t3 11 years Aug 15, 2013
Quoting: liamdaweIt seems that even when I state "pure speculation" people still compare my articles to Phoronix :(, maybe I need to make a massive banner stating "this could be completely untrue".

The Could in the title is enough warning. :)


And I myself believe that GOG has not supported Linux yet for the same reasons many developers haven’t: the overwhelming amount of distributions. I think it would be best if GOG focused on the basic .sh approach with the dependencies for all major distributions listed on the download page (debian, Ubuntu, arch, etc.). That way they could minimize support to making sure you have the dependencies installed rather than maintaining 50,000 different builds for every distro under the sun.
Kristian Aug 15, 2013
Quoting: Vince
Quoting: Quote from KristianThey want a great UX for server software their staff has to use because they care about their staff. Seems pretty obvious to me, like I said on their forums they will support Linux when pigs fly in a frozen hell with a church in it.
Ouch! You sound pretty unhappy with GOG. Since you're so convinced that they'll never support Linux, may I ask what your motivation is to still stick around that place?

Well I am not really unhappy with GOG. I have more than 400 games on their after all. That would be a pretty weird way to demonstrate being unhappy about them! I would LOVE if they would support Linux. But that is basically their only negative at all. If they added Linux support (and maybe a few other things such as an optional client and proper forum software) they would basically be THE best digital distributor on the face of the planet. 

But unlike say Humble Bundle Inc they have NEVER claimed to be Linux/cross platform supporters. They have made the same kind of promises so the situation is different. As someone who has to use Windows I can't really boycott something JUST because Linux support is lacking, in particular it would be hard to boycott a company that does so much good. 

Just look at what they did with The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition. Also they support mod tools. I am a huge advocate for mod tools. So for reasons like that I would say that the GOG situation is complicated. But overall I still very much consider them good guys. I just have some pessimistic tendencies and I am going overboard NOT to get too excited. 

Call it 3D Realms forums regular syndrome if you want... all those years hearing magazines hype their next cover followed by people in the DNF forums starting threads speculating that it wold be DNF(Which I ended up enjoying as one of only three FPS games I have completed from beginning to end(What can I say, I suck as a gamer), the others being Quake 1 and Bioshock Infinite).

I am on a mission to keep my personal excitement levels down, way way way down.

Edit:

For the record: I am perfectly happy with GOL, including this article. It is nothing like Phoronix. I enjoy GOL as a site and a community immensely.

Edit2:

My motto basically is: "Always expect the worst thing you can imagine, then stretch your imagination beyond the breaking point to envision an even worse scenario and except that instead. Reality will probably still be far worse than you excepted".

Your exam? Expect to fail it. Your friends and family? Expect them to die. Your job? Expect to be fired. You get the picture. 

Edit3:

If you haven't noticed I am prone to exaggeration and hyperbole but I stand by my basic message. It is how I live my life.
Lord Avallon Aug 15, 2013
It would be very good!
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