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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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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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pb May 28, 2014
Quoting: TuxiIt seems there are comming a lot of wine ports on gog ;-)

Finally! Obviously none of the old games are going to get native Linux client, but if they run well in DosBox or Wine, and GOG will provide a perfectly scripted package ready-to-play, then I'm all in. :-)
Arienreth May 28, 2014
Quoting: pb
Quoting: TuxiIt seems there are comming a lot of wine ports on gog ;-)
Finally! Obviously none of the old games are going to get native Linux client, but if they run well in DosBox or Wine, and GOG will provide a perfectly scripted package ready-to-play, then I'm all in. :-)

YES! A million times yes!

People wanting native ports from GOG.com don't understand how this things happen, nor do they understand the GOG.com business model.

I for one just want to buy games that work, period, don't care if it's on wine or whatever. We need a install base, the native porting will came after. First you need a foundation before you build a roof to stop the rain coming in...
BillNyeTheBlackGuy 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".

You need to think realistically here. Porting a bunch of old games will take a lot of resources and money. I mean, Valve is still doing the portal 2 Linux beta and CS:GO doesn't look like it's anywhere near a Linux release. Should I point out that Valve is a billion dollar company?

GoG is filled with a bunch of old games that can run on a toaster. Trying to port all these games natively would be a tremendous task.
dude May 29, 2014
I am not worried about the wine thing. This job is obviously for porting the large back catalog of old games that they don't have the source code for. The successful applicant won't be working on the witcher 3.
Mnoleg May 29, 2014
If a game is using wine or dosbox, I would prefer this information to be available. If all the stores I buy games from started publishing wine ports without warning, I would panic. However, as long as the use of these technologies is restricted to old games in the GOG store, I will consider it as a nice improvement.

That said, today I wouldn't pay for windows or msdos software. While I love wine an dosbox, I had some bad experiences with incompatible software. However, if GOG proves they can hide the compatibility layers and provide a trouble-free experience with their ports, I will reconsider my position.
Anonymous May 29, 2014
Quoting: AnonymousThe 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?..
Cool Shooter 2 uses Direct3D 11, 12 or higher and doesn't work under Wine so no Wine port and no money from linux
tuxisagamer May 29, 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.

A huge chunk of the games on gog are 10, 15, even 20 years old. The source may very well be gone for the original developer.
DaVince May 29, 2014
Quoting: predator8bitKnowledge of wine? I have a bad feeling about this...
Why? Pick the Wine version a game is reported/tested to work best on, include that in your game package, and you'll have a release that uses Wine and yet will not likely break or have weird glitches...
E911 May 30, 2014
System Shock 2 isn't a good canidate for testing out WINE's abilities as it was released in 1999 when graphics libraries and programming wasn't nearly as complex as today.
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