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Gratuitous Space Battles joins Steam Linux but beware!

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Okay so Gratuitous Space Battles now shows up on Steam for Linux and the SteamDB shows it as working. Just be aware it's the Humble Bundle version and has not received any updates since then and might not in future.
image
A link popped up on reddit here a while ago to point out the developer was looking into adding the HIB build of the game to Steam.

To quote the developer on this:
QuoteHi, I'm the developer. I don't actually know anything about linux at all, so the port for HIB was done on contract by a third party developer. This is why it has not been updated (because it involves hiring a contractor again for each update). If I was familiar with linux, I'd happily update the linux build and put it on steam, but I foresee all kinds of anger if the linux build is out of synch with the windows/mac build.

It seems he has decided to ignore the annoyance by giving us the outdated build anyway?

What are your thoughts folks? I have reached out via email to the developer for their comments on this.
Edit > Here is what the developer had to say:
QuoteHi there! The plan is to update the linux build if it proves popular,
but right now I don't really have any data on that until I see steam
sales showing that people are playing it on linux. I have to get a
third party contractor to update the linux build, and although I don't
care about making money from it, I'd rather not actively lose any :D

But hopefully that should all be possible :D

Cheers!

So he needs to see lots of new sales to consider updating the build!


Update
It's now on Steam, so hopefully he can see with lots of new Linux sales it is worth it!
The developer has stated the DLC does not work with it so don't buy the DLC! It won't work, he is working on getting the DLC removed from the Linux store page. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Misc
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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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12 comments
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Sabun Mar 7, 2013
I honestly don't mind, he seems like a nice developer. I even tried the Steam version and made a small gameplay video here (it just covers the tutorial):
View video on youtube.com

The game runs flawlessy (on singleplayer offline). It even detected my screen settings off the bat, and enabled everything in Ubuntu 12.10 64Bit. I haven't tested it with online gameplay, so I don't know about that. I do know it runs smoothly, and seriously the 2D animations in this game are awesome.

The only con is that the gameplay style of Gratuitous is not to my liking. It's a plan-then-watch kind of strategy game. I'd have loved to control the ship units myself and have them attack what I want. Heck, if there were space bases, that would be even cooler. If there is a way to control the units myself, let me know!

On an unrelated note: The developer behind Harvest:Massive Encounter is really not cool. I can't even get that game to work in 32bit, which is the only thing he aimed for! Feel like I wasted my money on Harvest...
Anonymous Mar 7, 2013
Unit control was added in a later version.
Sabun Mar 8, 2013
Really? So does that mean Linux users don't have access to unit control because we don't have the updated version?
Liam Dawe Mar 8, 2013
Quoting: SabunReally? So does that mean Linux users don't have access to unit control because we don't have the updated version?
I tested the original HIB build and it did not have that.
Ba7a7chy Mar 8, 2013
Wait, so we cant control in Linux but if I'll play this on windows ill have the newest version with controls ? if so I consider this broken :(
Sabun Mar 8, 2013
That's a crying shame. At least the developer is transparent about it. I can understand it's not easy financially for him, since he's an indie developer. Still grateful he even decided to have a Linux port made :)
Guest Mar 8, 2013
Quoting: SabunAt least the developer is transparent about it.

Indeed, he's already said a few times that he doesn't have any experience with Linux so he has to have some indication that it's worth the effort to contract the port.

Still, sure would be nice to have the DLC's and updates.
Liam Dawe Mar 8, 2013
Quoting: Ba7a7chyWait, so we cant control in Linux but if I'll play this on windows ill have the newest version with controls ? if so I consider this broken
Basically yes.

I hope the developer does make enough to get it updated I really do since these are one of my favourite types of games and the graphics are great too.

Also it's now on Steam properly.
tweakedenigma Mar 8, 2013
The best way to get this fixed is for us to buy the game. I can understand the frustration a lot of us have with stuff like this at the moment, although we are close to proving it is worth the effort there is still some work to do. And nothing speaks quite as loud as money.
Anon Mar 8, 2013
I do hope he'll get enough to port this over with the updates, and add proper Steam support. Or maybe even have enough incentive to do the port himself in the future!
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