In same time Frontier Developers with "that other space sim" "Elite: Dangerous" just rolled out their OS X version with Mono for launcher and OpenGL 4.1 for actual game (it's C++ with engine wrapper). I run a campaign for making a plea to FD to make ED Linux version https://www.change.org/p/frontier-developments-plc-port-elite-dangerous-to-linux-desktop [External Link]

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Way to go Feral!

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One thing surprises me though - how little fucks they give indicates that they don't even mention Heartstone which was released on Android and doing Linux port would be like month's job - peanuts money for Blizzard.

But yeah, nice to finally know. No time spent on Blizzard games for last ten years, and this seem won't change much. Phew.

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Quoting: keikiThe answer from them in % already proofed that they already made up their mind before the petition. Liam you were sadly right that a petition usually has no effect.

Blizzard has always been about high profits. That's how company been running since runaway success of of WoW. They haven't risked for anything. And Linux port is a risk - both tech wise and business wise.

Small and medium game companies are so much easier to convince because they need goodwill of community AND they are just more accessible. I supported petition, but I also thought that Blizzard have already everything planned out and they really don't care about their potential customers - because they have shitloads of people playing Hearstone on iPads while siting in WC. Sad but so true.

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Yes, I think for Linux gaming to be any success we must press on numbers and also just being good supportive community. Let's work on our strengths and let's not fret on things which haven't yet to pass.

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Quoting: liamdawe

Yes I understand the developers at Blizzard are mere mortals, but the mere mortals at Techland, Aspyr and others have much more heart for their cause; which is something this blog should emphasize if anything.

We give everyone equal footing. No developer is above or beneath another simply because they don't feel we make business sense just yet.

I think if it was developer responding - first, answer would be less "screw you, you are not registering on our greed radar" and petitioner's response would be less toxic as well. However, it was president and it was full on "you are niche and you will stay niche" mode. I don't approve his answer. But I can easily see what triggered such comment from petitioner. He needs to apologize if he wants to do any good. But I understand how he feels.

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As for market share....I really don't know....either we can't measure our numbers predictably or we are still around 1% as all web statistics show. Even if we are specific market, it is PITA for companies to access when there's much easier targets around.

Edit: But also I would like to point out that Blizzard is just very bad example. This company has changed their views and is greed mode at this moment. They won't waste even little money on something obscure as Linux port because their shareholders might not approve it.

As for petitioner - he needs to apologize, shrug it off and move on. Blizzard got under his skin. It happens.

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That fallout is very saddening. True, Blizzard's CEO answer hurts, and I guess that triggered such response, but I would just shrug it off, drink cool water, take a walk and then post something. Life is life, and there's so much else we can do with Linux gaming before falling into despair like this.

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