I think that, as much as we may be disappointed to see good ports still getting a 20 to 30% performance hit when compared to Windows running DirectX, we may as well note that performance running OpenGL is way better on Linux. So the real problem is not drivers or the efforts put in the port, but the fact that games are ported from an API to the other.

There's nothing new in these facts actually, and there's no wonder why so many people are waiting for Vulkan so eagerly, as it's the best chance we've got to avoid such annoyance in the future - but that's only if Vulkan actually succeeds as a reference cross-platform API.

Game engines have always been developed with technical challenges in mind, and several tricks are used in order to render what the devs have on their minds on actual computers, some of which rely for a great part on the API it's been originally coded. In some cases like the famous Carmack's Reverse, it relies on OpenGL and we get sometimes better performance than Windows, but games we get to play nowadays rely heavily on DX9 or DX11 technologies and that's why, among other things, many games are having a hard time with multi-threading on Linux.

The reason I am writing all these things you most probably already know is that some comments seem misleading to me. Yes, I was one of those who were very unhappy with the Witcher 2 port when it was released for example, but the game was actually unplayable.

The 20 to 30% performance hit you see here has nothing to do with companies not working hard enough to bring a decent gaming experience to Linux users. It has nothing to do with being entitled to anything. It has to do with technical constraints nobody can do anything about until multiplatform development and/or Vulkan becomes attractive enough for developers.

That's what happens in that case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eab2UI1Iq2w [External Link]

View this comment - View article - View full comments

On my rig last update improved performance a great deal.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

With all the "literature" about ports I got to read lately, I'd argue that nobody really knows what's going on. I mean, so many people state on Steam that this or that game is a port (even on Windows) for so many crazy reasons - like mouse sensitivity problems or aspect ratio (true story).

So if you look closely, many players consider any game released on computer (no matter the OS) after 2010 is a port from console. Are Linux ports ports of Windows ports or are they ported straight from console? Is the PS4 version a port of the XBone version (or the contrary)? In that case, is the Linux port a port of the Windows port ported from the PS4 port ported from XBone (It could carry on like this for so many hours...)?... And we're lucky that there aren't that many different platforms these days...

So where's the truth?... Well as soon as the game's available and is good enough (game-wise and bug-wise), I don't care :p

View this comment - View article - View full comments

It launches and plays great on my Fedora 23 box. But it froze on quitting the game...

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: rea987How about cross-platform multiplayer? Has anyone tried it? There is no indication of cross-platform multiplayer in the store page.

It is cross-platform by design because it uses the Windows binary.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: gojulWell if it is the same as Eador : Legacy of the Master Thief or even Baldur from GoG I just skip them, not working well unfortunately

I indeed had some bugs with Earth 2160, but it's nowhere as bad as Eador, which promised a Linux port to begin with and just released the game bundled with Wine without even checking if it was compatible at all, or contributing to the project. Also I bought Flatout 2 from GOG and had no problem whatsoever, they've been doing great as far as Wine wrapping is concerned.

[Edit]: I read a bit quickly, I think you mean Eador: Masters of the Broken World, don't you? (A game I now call Eador: Masters of the Broken Port)

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: neowiz73looks like the reviews so far indicate SF5 being a real flop. seems like nothing works even on windows... kind of reminds me of the latest Batman game. Game companies releasing way to early and then on top of that charge full MSRP for subpar quality plus release DLCs for the full game. the state of gaming in the AAA market is nutts to put it lightly.
I'll just have to wait for the super mega - all included deal for $30 after everything is fixed :P
Seriously though, no arcade mode? no trial mode... then the online multiplayer network is having lots of issues. ( that is absolutely no way to release a game) Capcom is about as bad as EA at this point.

Yes, a real disappointment.
Hopefully, the Linux/SteamOS launch will be the game's "real" launch ;)

[Edit]: "The ‘cinematic’ story mode (presumably something along the lines of recent Mortal Kombat games) won’t be here until June. Basic features, such as spectator mode for multiplayer lobbies and a suite of character-specific combo challenges—both of which were in Street Fighter IV at launch all those years ago—won’t be available until March. What remains is by turns intoxicating and infuriating, a marvellous fighting game wrapped up in a truly miserable framework—especially for the single player."
Source: http://www.pcgamer.com/street-fighter-v-is-a-long-disappointing-way-from-being-finished/ [External Link]
See? By the time it reaches Linux it's feature-full and as polished as an SNK title :D

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: adolsonwhen Valve is directly involved

Valve are well known for taking their time and delaying things as well.

Quoting: hidekinI have a hori real arcade pro 3 SA , it's awesome for fighting games ;-)

Great choice, maybe the best arcade controller around nowadays, but quite pricey ^_^

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: chimpy

Quoting: omer666

Quoting: BillNyeTheBlackGuy

Quoting: omer666P.S. : I tried some KOF not long ago on a Steam Controller and it was the worst vs fighting experience I had since the XBox 360 and its crappy cross. To be fair, I think it's the only thing this controller can't handle. I think it's time for getting an X-Arcade...

Set the left touch pad as touch. I had no problem doing moves like Clark's running three or Geese's raging storm after that. The dpad is still better though.

I did this as well, but as a vs fighter player, I need much more physical response than this. If you know about a great gamepad in that respect, I'm taking any serious suggestion. But in the end, I know I'll be getting an arcade stick. I'm looking at X-Arcade but at some cheaper Sanwa-based solutions as well.

Not a serious suggestion, but i remember the last gamepad with a truly great dpad was the Sega Genesis 6 button arcade controller. Street Fighter 2 was awesome with that controller.

Yes, there was an official SEGA Saturn USB controller some years ago but nowadays it is pretty much overpriced.
See: http://www.ebay.fr/itm/OFFICIAL-USB-SATURN-PADS-WHITE-JAPANESE-CONTROLLER-CONTROL-STREET-FIGHTER-PAD-/281891190048?hash=item41a2063520:g:VMAAAOSwCQNWeAyG [External Link]

For that price I'd rather pick an X-Arcade any day. Oh and I doubt the cheap copies we find all over the internet are worth the expense...

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: BillNyeTheBlackGuy

Quoting: omer666P.S. : I tried some KOF not long ago on a Steam Controller and it was the worst vs fighting experience I had since the XBox 360 and its crappy cross. To be fair, I think it's the only thing this controller can't handle. I think it's time for getting an X-Arcade...

Set the left touch pad as touch. I had no problem doing moves like Clark's running three or Geese's raging storm after that. The dpad is still better though.

I did this as well, but as a vs fighter player, I need much more physical response than this. If you know about a great gamepad in that respect, I'm taking any serious suggestion. But in the end, I know I'll be getting an arcade stick. I'm looking at X-Arcade but at some cheaper Sanwa-based solutions as well.

View this comment - View article - View full comments