Latest Comments by gbudny
Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 11: Forgotten Heresies
12 Feb 2022 at 12:11 am UTC
12 Feb 2022 at 12:11 am UTC
Thank you for the article.
It's embarrassing to me.
Heretic 2 is one of the games that I started playing a few times, but I have never finished it.
It's embarrassing to me.
Heretic 2 is one of the games that I started playing a few times, but I have never finished it.
Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 10: For I Have Sinned
2 Feb 2022 at 11:21 pm UTC
However, it's weird that your articles don't generate bigger interest among Linux users.
On the one hand, many commercial games aren't available for Linux anymore, and a majority of users didn't even care about games released before HIB.
On the other hand, we still don't have a big enough group of users that could be a reason for any company to bring back many forgotten games for Linux. I think about something like GOG with Linux games for Linux users.
Some people recognize old games for DOS or Windows if someone publishes an article about releasing a source code. It's a disappointing situation if I think about all these brave people that published their games to Linux before HiB.
2 Feb 2022 at 11:21 pm UTC
Quoting: HamishJust discovered that the MobyGames page for XEvil has a lot of nice Linux screenshots:I sometimes visit this website to find information about games.
https://www.mobygames.com/game/xevil [External Link]
As does The Ace of Penguins thanks to the same contributor:
https://www.mobygames.com/game/ace-of-penguins [External Link]
Nice to know that I am not alone in doing all this. :grin:
However, it's weird that your articles don't generate bigger interest among Linux users.
On the one hand, many commercial games aren't available for Linux anymore, and a majority of users didn't even care about games released before HIB.
On the other hand, we still don't have a big enough group of users that could be a reason for any company to bring back many forgotten games for Linux. I think about something like GOG with Linux games for Linux users.
Some people recognize old games for DOS or Windows if someone publishes an article about releasing a source code. It's a disappointing situation if I think about all these brave people that published their games to Linux before HiB.
Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 10: For I Have Sinned
1 Feb 2022 at 8:31 pm UTC Likes: 2
1 Feb 2022 at 8:31 pm UTC Likes: 2
Thank you for the article.
I didn't know this game, but it has a rich history.
I have to check it out.
I still have all three games created by Hyperion Entertainment, and two of them I registered on their website. Gorky 17 is a DRM-free game without a key. Shogo was published in a box for the Mac version, which is so weird.
Sadly, they never created any patches for Sin and Shogo. Sin and Gorky 17 also were ported to Linux PowerPC by Hyperion Entertainment.
Sin was almost as good as Soldier of Fortune, but with worse graphics and less addictive. However. it was fun to play it on Linux, and I remember that even liflg.org created a new installer for a Linux version.
I didn't know this game, but it has a rich history.
I have to check it out.
I still have all three games created by Hyperion Entertainment, and two of them I registered on their website. Gorky 17 is a DRM-free game without a key. Shogo was published in a box for the Mac version, which is so weird.
Sadly, they never created any patches for Sin and Shogo. Sin and Gorky 17 also were ported to Linux PowerPC by Hyperion Entertainment.
Sin was almost as good as Soldier of Fortune, but with worse graphics and less addictive. However. it was fun to play it on Linux, and I remember that even liflg.org created a new installer for a Linux version.
Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem is out, run it on Linux with one small change
26 Jan 2022 at 10:05 pm UTC Likes: 3
26 Jan 2022 at 10:05 pm UTC Likes: 3
I like games that Croteam created for Linux even if their early versions were very buggy. I can even spend money on a native game for Linux that wasn't finished or when you don't officially support it.
You can publish one or two versions for Linux, and discontinue it, which is still better than nothing.
Unfortunately, I can't buy a game for Windows, and I don't care how well it runs on Proton, Wine, etc. It's a fun game for Windows users.
However, I use Linux when I play games and rarely Mac. Be SERIOUS about your customers that don't want to use Windows.
You can publish one or two versions for Linux, and discontinue it, which is still better than nothing.
Unfortunately, I can't buy a game for Windows, and I don't care how well it runs on Proton, Wine, etc. It's a fun game for Windows users.
However, I use Linux when I play games and rarely Mac. Be SERIOUS about your customers that don't want to use Windows.
Game devs don't seem convinced on the Steam Deck from the GDC 2022 survey
21 Jan 2022 at 2:26 pm UTC
21 Jan 2022 at 2:26 pm UTC
The main issue with Steam Deck is the fact that developers care about sales figures. Some companies invested a lot of money to port their games to Linux or Mac. It didn't make them rich. We had Steam machines and other devices with Linux support.
The rest of the developers are just observers that remember companies like Corel, Loki, TransGaming, and their involvement in Linux.
Valve could create a console that has native games for Linux and a few exclusive titles. They decided to do it differently.
Unfortunately, Valve believes that Proton solves most problems when a game isn't available for Linux. I know that some native games for Linux aren't perfect. However, most of the issues can be sorted out by developers or even users.
I can't say the same thing about Proton or other related projects. I can admit that those are ambitious projects with incredible people. However, the expectations of users and Valve are even higher to support every game with the Proton. It sounds like a dream, and only Microsoft has the potential to do it.
Valve or any other company on this planet can't use Wine to compete with Microsoft. Wine developers will always fall behind Windows developers, and you can't change it.
Finally, I think there is a chance that many people purchase Steam Deck. Maybe they will spend enough money to show developers that Linux is a better option than Mac.
In this case, users have to show that x86-64 is more profitable to invest in than M1. Steam Deck can't compete with Android or iOS.
I saw that some companies dropped support for Linux (or Mac), and they decided to support mobile operating systems like iOS or Android.
The rest of the developers are just observers that remember companies like Corel, Loki, TransGaming, and their involvement in Linux.
Valve could create a console that has native games for Linux and a few exclusive titles. They decided to do it differently.
Unfortunately, Valve believes that Proton solves most problems when a game isn't available for Linux. I know that some native games for Linux aren't perfect. However, most of the issues can be sorted out by developers or even users.
I can't say the same thing about Proton or other related projects. I can admit that those are ambitious projects with incredible people. However, the expectations of users and Valve are even higher to support every game with the Proton. It sounds like a dream, and only Microsoft has the potential to do it.
Valve or any other company on this planet can't use Wine to compete with Microsoft. Wine developers will always fall behind Windows developers, and you can't change it.
Finally, I think there is a chance that many people purchase Steam Deck. Maybe they will spend enough money to show developers that Linux is a better option than Mac.
In this case, users have to show that x86-64 is more profitable to invest in than M1. Steam Deck can't compete with Android or iOS.
I saw that some companies dropped support for Linux (or Mac), and they decided to support mobile operating systems like iOS or Android.
Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 9: Ancient Archaeology
19 Jan 2022 at 5:30 pm UTC Likes: 1
19 Jan 2022 at 5:30 pm UTC Likes: 1
2002 wasn't great for Linux gamers because Loki and Tribsoft were closed.
However, we still had some interesting games like Tux Racer, Unreal Tournament 2003, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Mindrover (LGP), and less popular like Breakout Casino, Bubble Shooter.
Well, maybe you remember other games from that year.
However, we still had some interesting games like Tux Racer, Unreal Tournament 2003, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Mindrover (LGP), and less popular like Breakout Casino, Bubble Shooter.
Well, maybe you remember other games from that year.
Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 9: Ancient Archaeology
17 Jan 2022 at 9:28 pm UTC Likes: 1
17 Jan 2022 at 9:28 pm UTC Likes: 1
Thanks for the article.
I like these games, but they were buggy.
I remember that I played all Serious Sam games (FE - SS2) on Debian Etch, which was a testing version of Debian. It was a long time ago.
I had to use cheat codes to finish these games, which was still better than playing this game on Wine or Cedega. Liflg fixed some bugs in both games for Linux.
In Poland, we had a Polish version of Serious Sam TFE and TSE. By default, Linux installers install only an English version of Serious Sam. I had to copy a few directories to hear Sam speaking Polish, which was weird.
Serious Sam 2 has a much better Linux version.
I have to use clang to build Serious Sam on Linux x86-64:
https://github.com/ptitSeb/Serious-Engine [External Link]
Both versions of Serious Sam work well on Linux x86-64 if you think about the single-player mode. The Citadel was the best level in SS: TSE, and I laughed when I heard a Christmas melody in Land of the Damned.
I like these games, but they were buggy.
I remember that I played all Serious Sam games (FE - SS2) on Debian Etch, which was a testing version of Debian. It was a long time ago.
I had to use cheat codes to finish these games, which was still better than playing this game on Wine or Cedega. Liflg fixed some bugs in both games for Linux.
In Poland, we had a Polish version of Serious Sam TFE and TSE. By default, Linux installers install only an English version of Serious Sam. I had to copy a few directories to hear Sam speaking Polish, which was weird.
Serious Sam 2 has a much better Linux version.
I have to use clang to build Serious Sam on Linux x86-64:
https://github.com/ptitSeb/Serious-Engine [External Link]
Both versions of Serious Sam work well on Linux x86-64 if you think about the single-player mode. The Citadel was the best level in SS: TSE, and I laughed when I heard a Christmas melody in Land of the Damned.
Buck Up And Drive! is a retro-racing delight now on Steam
13 Jan 2022 at 9:49 pm UTC
13 Jan 2022 at 9:49 pm UTC
It looks like a fun game for Linux.
It's such a shame that a first car simulation for Linux isn't available for sale anymore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzA5EvmYck8 [External Link]
Someone published a demo version of Odyssey By Car for Linux:
https://archive.org/details/odysscar_demo [External Link]
I know that an author released the new version of this game only for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=odysscar.android [External Link]
It's such a shame that a first car simulation for Linux isn't available for sale anymore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzA5EvmYck8 [External Link]
Someone published a demo version of Odyssey By Car for Linux:
https://archive.org/details/odysscar_demo [External Link]
I know that an author released the new version of this game only for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=odysscar.android [External Link]
Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 8: Shovelware with a Penguin
12 Jan 2022 at 10:51 pm UTC
12 Jan 2022 at 10:51 pm UTC
I found out that someone created the unofficial port of Raptor for Linux:
https://github.com/skynettx/raptor [External Link]
"Based on the reverse-engineered codebase from Raptor Call Of The Shadows by nukeykt"
I remember that in 2004 Linux magazine (they still exist) released a CD that contained 500 games. Back then, I didn't have an internet connection, and I had been using Linux for two months. I bought it, inserted a CD, and I quickly realized that was a collection mostly of open source games. Racer was one of the exceptions. Most of it I couldn't install because they were source packages. It was a disappointing experience.
https://github.com/skynettx/raptor [External Link]
"Based on the reverse-engineered codebase from Raptor Call Of The Shadows by nukeykt"
I remember that in 2004 Linux magazine (they still exist) released a CD that contained 500 games. Back then, I didn't have an internet connection, and I had been using Linux for two months. I bought it, inserted a CD, and I quickly realized that was a collection mostly of open source games. Racer was one of the exceptions. Most of it I couldn't install because they were source packages. It was a disappointing experience.
Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 8: Shovelware with a Penguin
11 Jan 2022 at 12:09 am UTC Likes: 4
11 Jan 2022 at 12:09 am UTC Likes: 4
You can use ScummVM to play Hopkins FBI on Linux - I know it sucks!
Below is the interesting fact about the Linux version of Hopkins FBI
"That's right. Whereas in the Linux version you are just shown a map and can select from various destinations, it looks like the PC version forces the player into a first person shooter and makes them battle their way from area to area. I've gotta say that whilst overall the game is fairly good, it's no longer just merely weird.. it's down-right freaky. :) Needless to say, there's every likelihood that we won't be implementing it. We'll likely just use the existing Linux version code, and provide a similiar map image as the Linux version."
http://dm-notes.blogspot.com/2012/11/hopkins-fbi-linux-completable.html [External Link]
Probably, they did the same thing with Hopkins FBI for OS/2 and BeOS.
Raptor is a great game, but sadly a Linux version is not available anymore.
It would be difficult to convince Scott Host or DotEmu to release a Linux version of Raptor:
Original Raptor creator Scott Host is planning on releasing a new Enhanced Version.[10] It will initially be available on Nintendo Switch, but he has plans to bring it to Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Android, and iOS. It will not be available on Windows or Mac as DotEmu owns the Windows/Mac rights. However, some of his Patreon patrons will have access to beta versions on Windows and Mac.[11]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raptor:_Call_of_the_Shadows [External Link]
Who owns the rights to a Linux version of Raptor?
Below is the interesting fact about the Linux version of Hopkins FBI
"That's right. Whereas in the Linux version you are just shown a map and can select from various destinations, it looks like the PC version forces the player into a first person shooter and makes them battle their way from area to area. I've gotta say that whilst overall the game is fairly good, it's no longer just merely weird.. it's down-right freaky. :) Needless to say, there's every likelihood that we won't be implementing it. We'll likely just use the existing Linux version code, and provide a similiar map image as the Linux version."
http://dm-notes.blogspot.com/2012/11/hopkins-fbi-linux-completable.html [External Link]
Probably, they did the same thing with Hopkins FBI for OS/2 and BeOS.
Raptor is a great game, but sadly a Linux version is not available anymore.
It would be difficult to convince Scott Host or DotEmu to release a Linux version of Raptor:
Original Raptor creator Scott Host is planning on releasing a new Enhanced Version.[10] It will initially be available on Nintendo Switch, but he has plans to bring it to Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Android, and iOS. It will not be available on Windows or Mac as DotEmu owns the Windows/Mac rights. However, some of his Patreon patrons will have access to beta versions on Windows and Mac.[11]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raptor:_Call_of_the_Shadows [External Link]
Who owns the rights to a Linux version of Raptor?