For me personally, I spend the majority of my gaming purchases on Linux titles, but if a non-Linux title is sufficiently discounted and I really want it, and I can play it with WINE/Proton, then sure... I'll buy the odd "Windows" title. Linux native titles do take high precedence though.

going into steam discussion forums for <insert gamename> and then saying "no tux, no bucks" is not ideal imo. If i was a dev i would just lock this thread and thats it. imo even the "+1" posts are better.

But overall, yeah to support the devs that do proper linux ports is a good thing and should be the main goal imo. I'm also fine buying discounted "windows" game to play with proton/wine - but i don't buy it at full price then, exception was Dirt Rally 2.0 though :D since i just loved Dirt Rally 1

edit: Devs who dont want to make linux ports could just say "No Bucks, no tux" :D

Between helpful and harmful I don't think either applies. I don't think it really matters much in the long run. For me it's mere a matter of value. A native game has much more value to me than a non-native game. I'm willing to purchase a native game even though it is unlikely I'll have time to play it because I appreciate the effort of bringing it to Linux. That's obviously not something I would do for non-native games. A lot I do intend to play at some point. If I can find the time. In practice that means non-native games pretty much get skipped. Too big of a native backlog to worry if something might have enough value for me if it's not on Linux. There'll be some exceptions. For instance, I do intend to play Witcher 3 in the future because I enjoyed the other two. I also bought a couple of games which had later games of the series on Linux. So even though Proton/dxvk is there, I still don't consider non-native games to have enough value.

I always look for native whenever possible, as for Windows I only buy them when they meet certain criteria - Working near or perfectly in Wine and must be heavily discounted, at least 50%.

I do think it's helpful. Voting with one's wallet is the best way for a consumer to affect the market. Of course the impact of a single purchase is minimal, but as long as there are more interesting games being released for Linux than I could ever find time to play, I'm perfectly happy with this policy. Granted, I can see how it is more limiting to people who are into social gaming and multiplayer stuff, but I'm not, so I'm fine.

In any case, if I really wanted a Windows game, I wouldn't mind waiting months or even years for a really high discount. I might get a GOTY bundle of something like the Witcher 3 for ten € or less some day in the future, for example. It'll be just as good then as it is now.

EDIT: I see I'm mostly echoing Ehvis' words here. :)

I think in the age of Steam Play, it has become more important if you care about support. Steam Play spread a small niche across the entire market, so people are buying less Linux supported games now. I've already seen multiple developers talk about Steam Play like it's an actual deployment target, which is problematic for so many reasons...

However, "no tux no bucks/bux" is a ridiculous saying I started hating a long time ago. It tells a developer nothing, unless they're intimately familiar with the Linux community and frankly it comes across quite rude. I'll give you an example: https://twitter.com/AntonHand/status/1155562112057368577

That post spread like wildfire and made Linux gamers look pretty ridiculous. Even if you don't agree that it was rude, it's still too abrupt and idiotic to be useful to get support. We have to help educate those types of people, to get them to stop making stupid posts like that so we end up spreading across developer networks, where they all end up agreeing we're not worth the hassle. Be polite, it's not hard.

It goes back to Marc's article on how to be a good advocate and not come across like an arse.

"No Tux, No Bux" is definitely not something you say to a developer. That would be ridiculous and makes you look entitled. I'm a big proponent for "No Tux, No Bux" and IMO it's purely a policy one applies to themselves and doesn't shove it in the face of devs. It's more helpful to politely ask if Linux plans exist and thank developers when they do ship for Linux.

As for the overall helpfulness, I view that voting with your wallet (just like voting in general) is an important thing to do, even if your individual choices are but a drop in a bucket.

Quoting: Xpandergoing into steam discussion forums for <insert gamename> and then saying "no tux, no bucks" is not ideal imo. If i was a dev i would just lock this thread and thats it. imo even the "+1" posts are better

Quoting: Liam DaweHowever, "no tux no bucks/bux" is a ridiculous saying I started hating a long time ago. It tells a developer nothing, unless they're intimately familiar with the Linux community and frankly it comes across quite rude. I'll give you an example: https://twitter.com/AntonHand/status/1155562112057368577

Quoting: Samsai"No Tux, No Bux" is definitely not something you say to a developer. That would be ridiculous and makes you look entitled. I'm a big proponent for "No Tux, No Bux" and IMO it's purely a policy one applies to themselves and doesn't shove it in the face of devs. It's more helpful to politely ask if Linux plans exist and thank developers when they do ship for Linux.

I'm referring to the idea rather than those exact words. I would never dream of saying that to a devs face lol. It's just a convenient saying for expressing the idea of not buying a game for use in proton. I also edited the original as it seems quite a few people thought I was referring to those exact words.

Quoting: GuestAlso Linux native builds are not always that great of a solution. I already have one game that ceased to work because the OS doesn't ship the same libraries and the devs won't update it so i run the Windows version through proton. I wonder how many of my games will meet the same fate.

In all honesty my response to this is to usually download the old lib from an older distro repo and then put it in the game folder and set LD_LIBRARY_PATH although this is more annoying. That being said you still bought the game Linux native so it doesn't really apply. Currently I only use proton for games I bought before switching to Linux or games that are free/were acquired in bundles. I think proton is great at least for playing your game backlog but I'm on the fence about paying for a game specifically for use in proton.

Quoting: GuestHowever, as other people already said in this thread, I never say these exact words to the devs when we talk about possibility of Linux support. The "No Tux - no bux" for me is just a sound name for the policy that I follow when choosing a game to buy, and also a nice slogan to say in front of fellow Linux gamers, but never to the devs/pubs or their representatives. You have to be respectful and polite in negotiations like these.

I'm only referring to the policy, I cleared that up in an edit as a lot of people seemed to have the impression I was referring to the statement.

How about "No Free, (Libre) no Fee"?

If a FOSS game dev made a good standalone game for one of the Id Software engines or other libre engines and had all libre scripting, I'd buy a nice boxed collectors edition with replicated discs, a soundtrack, a poster and a premium strategy guide.

If you think my views are too unreasonable, that's probably what most game devs think of "no tux, no bux". Though in all seriousness, I'd rather have a "No free, no fee" movement.

My personal approach is "No code, nothing owed."

My approach:
If I can't play your game on Linux based OS, I won't buy the game.
If I can play your game on Linux based OS, but my purchase registers as a Windows sale, I most likely won't buy your game.
If I can play your game on Linux based OS and my purchase registers as such, I might buy your game.
If you made the effort to support Linux based OS specifically, it is more likely I will buy your game even if it isn't a must buy for me.

Yeah, I’ve bought games I had no interest in just because the dev supported Linux. I realise it makes no sense.

To me, it's neither. Personally, I don't follow that mantra. If a game works with Wine/Proton/Emulator and I fancy playing the game I end up buying it anyway. The fact that certain companies decide not releasing the game for our platform does not mean people that work in it have the same ideas that the company as a whole. Of course, I give more priority to native games but I do not limit myself more than necessary.

Ideally yeah I agree with this stance, but personally I don't always apply it, and for my side is a bit more complicated.
I don't mind buying some Windows only games released some years ago, but they have to be DRM-Free (and out of Steam).
I prefer buying a Windows DRM-free game on GOG than buying a native title on Steam, and I know a lot of people don't agree with this and/or really understand that position.
DRM is a nonsense, whatever OS, software, file you use, period. Same with Free software, right now I think I'm at 98% (If I don't count games of course).
"No tux, no bucks" is not harmful if you don't spam forums about it IMO. But I don't really like devs who ask the community about it and sometimes gives hopes for nothing. Just adding a +1 in a thread like some of us do is nice.

In the end, Linux games releases could help a lot for Linux adoption in general. Even if it's still proprietary games, if majority of people were using a nearly 100% Free software OS that would be better in many aspects!

Sorry to be a bit off topic!

I don't consider it harmful, but it is mostly... inconsequential.

"Voting with your wallet" is only a good idea if you are rich.

All it takes is one rich asshole with an agenda to outvote all Linux players of a game (let's say, someone with a Windows-only store that wants to get exclusive games by giving money to developers). Or even some slightly more affluent Windows gamer dude that pre-orders a more-than-full-price deluxe edition, paying several times more than I ever would. I buy relatively few games, almost always on sale, and with regional prices.

Even if you argue for strength in numbers... we aren't a majority. If we all banded together in a well-organized boycott, it would be a tall order to reduce sales by a few percent points. Not meaningless, of course, but I'm not sure if worth the effort. Heck, the visibility from being boycotted might get them more Windows sales than they lose.

My perception of the value of a game (and thus, likelihood to buy) is already affected by Linux support (and many other things). I won't buy a game I can't play. I am less likely to buy a game that has inferior support or requires too much effort. I don't need to discipline myself to not buy Windows-only games, because I already have a good reason to not do it. But if somehow a game is still worth buying despite not having native support, I will buy it. I won't hold back from doing stuff out of some delusion that I will make a difference for a big corporation.

Quoting: CyrilIdeally yeah I agree with this stance, but personally I don't always apply it, and for my side is a bit more complicated.
I don't mind buying some Windows only games released some years ago, but they have to be DRM-Free (and out of Steam).
I prefer buying a Windows DRM-free game on GOG than buying a native title on Steam, and I know a lot of people don't agree with this and/or really understand that position.
DRM is a nonsense, whatever OS, software, file you use, period. Same with Free software, right now I think I'm at 98% (If I don't count games of course).
"No tux, no bucks" is not harmful if you don't spam forums about it IMO. But I don't really like devs who ask the community about it and sometimes gives hopes for nothing. Just adding a +1 in a thread like some of us do is nice.

In the end, Linux games releases could help a lot for Linux adoption in general. Even if it's still proprietary games, if majority of people were using a nearly 100% Free software OS that would be better in many aspects!

Sorry to be a bit off topic!

Given you're talking about free software I assume that nvidia card is from a while ago and you haven't had a chance to upgrade.

I would add a third option to the poll: Useless.

Quoting: dubigrasuI would add a third option to the poll: Useless.

I'm not sure I can edit a poll