Quoting: SabunMy only question is why they only port it up to DirectX9 functionality (Aspyr did the same). Is it currently not possible to fully implement DX11 features in OpenGL smoothly?

XCOM doesn't use DX11 features on Windows, the game uses DX9 on Windows and we match the graphics exactly on our Mac and Linux versions. Mac and Linux don't have hardware support for PhysX (software only) but that does not effect the visuals of the game.

We have shipped a couple of games now with some DX10/11 level effects (but not all) on the Mac but haven't had the opportunity to do so on Linux. In theory all of DX11 can be supported if your graphics cards support the full OpenGL 4.4 specification. This does mean the open source mesa drivers would need to be improved a they are missing OpenGL 4.0+ but the closed source drivers for Linux appear to have all the support needed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa_(computer_graphics)#Software_architecture [External Link]

That said there is a big difference between the drivers saying something is supported and it being usable and bug free when used in a game. :) I guess we will find out when we get to the first DX11 based Linux port :)

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Thanks for all the kind words, we're glad you're all enjoying XCOM. :)

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Quoting: Half-Shot

Quoting: DerRiddaSo Astro, what exactly is the problem with updating your free-of-charge operating system from a 32bit to a 64bit install? Even if you think that these days everything should still be released in 32bit you must know that it is only a matter of time before 64bit completely replaces 32bit, so you will have to do it eventually, why not now?

He could be using 32bit hardware, which is a problem in itself because there is no way in hell he will be able to play this on that.

Thanks for offering Astro assistance, it's the one thing I have really been impressed by the Linux community is the spirt of trying to help one another. :)

Astro first contacted Feral about 32bit in a Steam thread requesting 32bit support, Astro told us he has an Intel i7 CPU with 16GB of RAM installed. He cannot upgrade to 64bit for a number of reasons which unfortunately means he cannot play XCOM as his machine does not meet the software requirements (his hardware easily meets the requirements). Sometimes people have custom setups that cannot easily be upgraded and I suspect Astro might have one of these systems.

Astro on Steam thread - "It doesn't metter. It's only 32 bit system and it can't be 64 bit one for many reasons. I'm only asking a 32 bit build here, not anything else."

A Linux user on Steam asked if they could help him upgrading and Astro replied that:

"I'm pretty much experienced linux user. Please, don't waste your time. I can't reinstall my x86 and I don't want to have a dual boot linux system."

http://steamcommunity.com/app/200510/discussions/0/522730535890277198/#c522730700398367277 [External Link]
http://steamcommunity.com/app/200510/discussions/0/522730535890277198/#c522730699987966472 [External Link]

Hopefully in the future the reasons for Astro not being able to upgrade right now will be resolved and he will be able to upgrade and take advantage of 64bit. I think it would be a good idea for everyone to not to question Astro's reasons for not upgrading, Astro's request did result in some unpleasant comments about 32bit and the thread slowly turned in to a 32bit vs 64bit war which had nothing to do with XCOM and I think it would be good if we avoided the same thing on the GamingOnLinux comments. :)

Astro has made his decision and has his reasons for doing so, lets respect his decision and move on. As tempting as it is to carry on I think we should perhaps leave the 32/64 bit debate alone as it has run it's course.

We can leave the comments section to focus on other aspects of XCOM Linux.

Edwin

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Quoting: MilaniumActually I am making my switch to 64-bit now. My Laptop does not have a 64-bit sticker and I always thought that you need some kind of AMD CPU that supports it. Never thought that Intel i5 is also able to understand 64-bit so it probably was quite stupid to install 32-bit OSes on it. Would have been great if Steam/2k Games support could have told me that instead of "have you tried turning it off and on again".

Please note for XCOM Linux support (and Mac) you should contact Feral Interactive linuxsupport [AT] feral interactive [DOT] com. Valve and 2K don't develop or publish the game on Linux so you sometimes get the standard checklist responses. :)

Hope you enjoy XCOM!

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Hi All,

Just wanted to say I have really enjoyed reading your thoughts and feedback so far. It's clear Linux users can be just as passionate (if not more so) about their platform as I have experienced with Mac users :)

I thought now would be a good time for me to throw some oil on the waters before things get too heated. Everyone on this forum are here because they want Linux gaming to get better, we all might have different views and methods on how to best do this but when it gets down to it we all just want more games on Linux.

The rule I always use when posting on behalf of Feral or posting as myself is to read the post as if it was sent to me not written by me. That way you usually can tell if your personal viewpoint or passion on a subject is effecting how you wanted to make your point :)

I like to end a post on a positive note, so with that in mind lets all think back and realise in the last month we have had some new AAA games on Linux with the promise of more to come in the future. I remember a decade ago I had TuxRacer on my machine and that was pretty much it so things are definitely heading in the right direction :)

Edwin

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Quoting: Samsai

Quoting: Astro

Quoting: edddeduckferalI don't want to turn this comments page into a debate on 32/64 bit OS, the last time I saw this happen on the Steam forums it got out of hand with people taking sides and nothing constructive is gained from it.

It's how you treated customers I didn't like. Personaly, I'm not sure if I want to play XCOM even if it will be ported on 32-bit OS. If there was explanation back then instead of almost complete disregard and agreement among the other who said that 32-bit OS users are just a bunch of loosers and it's cool don't pay attention to them, I'd have said nothing.

Where have they ever said that they agree that 32-bit OS users are losers? They were very clear that they only supported 64-bit operating systems and IMO they have treated their customers with proper respect. How can you say they have disregarded you and been silent when one of them has been here chatting with you?

I'd suggest you get that refund and completely ignore the game. This conversation is simply going nowhere.

Astro as you mentioned above some others people in the Linux community were very vocal in support of 64bit and dismissive of 32bit support and the thread on Steam did get heated. However we have always tried to keep above the architecture wars and just explained what level of support we offer for XCOM dispassionately without taking any sides. We have never had anything against 32 bit OS's or people who want to use them however in terms of XCOM the game will not support 32 bit systems.

I hope you get your refund processed by Valve (let us know if you have any issues and we can see if we can help) and I hope you will still consider playing/buying the next Linux game we bring to the platform.

Edwin

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Quoting: Astro

Quoting: edddeduckferalTo put this into perspective one of our Linux testers has over 750+ hours of gameplay on XCOM Linux. To make sure a game is tested and is up to the quality that is deserves that takes quite a lot of time and effort. I am not saying 32 bit would need the same testing again but it wouldn't be minor given all the hardware configurations and features that need testing :)

You do your job from begining to the end or don't do it at all. Half-working port isn't what people waiting for.

We stated that the game had a minimum specification that required a 64 bit OS. The game works perfectly well on supported hardware and software. I understand from your many posts in this forum and others that you expected 32 bit support and are extremely upset that your 32 bit OS isn't supported but that doesn't mean the port has a problem. It just means 32 bit isn't supported.

Quoting: Astro

Quoting: edddeduckferalIt's not impossible but supporting 64 bit and 32 bit however it is a lot more work if you want to give full and official support to the 32bit platform. Given the comments and feedback so far only a very small number of users have 32 bit based OS's and are unwilling to update to 64bit to play.

I personaly saw a lot of surveys that says there're only 0.1% of linux users in the whole world. But you've ported XCOM anyway. And now you're talking about "a small number of users" because of surveys said so. No, that's not true. That's just what you want to believe in and beeing in that unpleasant and awkward situation you're tring to look like a reasonable man.

We have been reading every email and post in as many forums as possible to get feedback on the title, including from yourself we have had only a small number of people ask about 32 bit support so far compared to the large number of happy gamers on 64 bit.

I know you are of the opinion all software should be 32bit supported and our decision to openly support only 64 bit only with XCOM has upset you greatly. We have always tried to help you, we offered advice on how to request a refund when you missed the Ubuntu 64bit requirement on the Steam store page and we also have offered to answer any questions you might have on 32bit/64bit if you send us an email with them all in to help you understand why we developed a 64 bit version.

I don't want to turn this comments page into a debate on 32/64 bit OS, the last time I saw this happen on the Steam forums it got out of hand with people taking sides and nothing constructive is gained from it.

If you do have reasons and information about 32/64 bit or any other feedback please send it to us. We know you might not be happy with our decision on 64 bit but we are interested if you (or anyone else) have any thoughts and feedback about XCOM or our future porting decisions.

Edwin

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Quoting: GuestThanks for the extensive answer, Edwin. I wasn’t thinking that you’d need to test the 32 bit version thoroughly, but I suppose there could be some differences, yes… (Slower VP8 decoding perhaps?) Or even compiler bugs.

Happy to explain :) The 32 bit and 64 bit versions of drivers libraries etc are very very similar but often just one small change can cause a cascade that ends up in a game bug. To be sure that everything is OK and for us to be happy to say "Feral support this setup" we need to be sure and that take time and effort. We want to give Linux users that great experience out the box and to do that you need to pay attention to detail and test and test and test to make sure you have done all you can.

No game is perfect but you should always aim to be as close as possible :)

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Quoting: GuestWhile I don’t mind personally, I find it strange that they didn’t build the game for 32 bit too. It should be very easy (I suppose the game already works on Windows 32 bit so there shouldn’t be any technical problem) and they are losing one third of Steam Linux users.

The fact the game compiles in 32bit on Windows doesn't mean it you get a releasable product on 32bit Linux straight away. Compiling a build is just one stage of the process of supporting a different hardware platform. You need to test the title extensively to make sure no 32 bit specific issues exist, you need to deal with dependencies and test 32 bit versions of libraries & drivers which could have different bugs and performance to the 64 bit versions this all takes up time on top of the "select 32bit and compile" stage everyone thinks about. :)

To put this into perspective one of our Linux testers has over 750+ hours of gameplay on XCOM Linux. To make sure a game is tested and is up to the quality that is deserves that takes quite a lot of time and effort. I am not saying 32 bit would need the same testing again but it wouldn't be minor given all the hardware configurations and features that need testing :)

It's not impossible but supporting 64 bit and 32 bit however it is a lot more work if you want to give full and official support to the 32bit platform. Given the comments and feedback so far only a very small number of users have 32 bit based OS's and are unwilling to update to 64bit to play.

Never say never but I think 32bit of XCOM is unlikely but this does have a big upside, it means we can spend all that development and testing time we would have spend on 32 bit on other Linux games and future updates of XCOM. :)

Quoting: GuestContrary to what the interview says, this is the first time I’ve seen a 64 bit-only game. On the contrary there are many 32 bit-only games.

It might not be true yet on Linux (likely due to the less complex nature of many of the games released so far) but on the PC and console 64 bit is becoming more and more the default with 32 bit starting to be dropped.

The jump over hasn't gotten massive yet but with the next gen console games coming out in the coming year for PC I think 64 bit will become more and more the standard for future gaming.

Quoting: GuestEdit: thanks for NOT creating a “.feral-interactive” directory in $HOME! :D

Glad you noticed, we try and do everything the right way following standard Linux conventions. If you have any feedback where we could do anything better let us know.

Edwin
Feral Interactive

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