Quoting: niarbehtHonestly, if Microsoft published their own runtime for Linux, giving effectively Wine-style functionality but more... work-y, I'd probably pay $30 or $40 for that.

No way. That could so easily end badly for Linux.

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So, I'm, like:

Open source is good! Yah! :D
But Microsoft is bad! Boo! :S:

I really have no idea what to think of this.

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Quoting: Shmerl

Quoting: Mountain ManBefore Steam for Linux was launched, commercial games were almost never released for Linux. AAA releases were especially rare.

Humble Bundle started pushing Linux gaming before Steam, and quite successfully. They encouraged developers of commercial games to make Linux ports. So let's give credit where it's due. Their initial bundles always required developers to produce Linux versions to participate. Only later they started slacking, and limited it to their periodic indie bundles only.

Humble Bundle woke some people up to Linux gaming, but it wasn't the revolution that Steam for Linux has been.

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Quoting: AimelaI'm curious, how was gaming in Linux before 2013? I only became aware that Linux was anything more than a CLI OS(as in, completely lacking any GUI elements) in the second half of 2013 and installed Ubuntu for the first time in October of that year, after Steam had officially started supporting linux.

Before Steam for Linux was launched, commercial games were almost never released for Linux. AAA releases were especially rare.

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It is quite amazing how far we've come in a relatively short amount of time. I just hope Valve stays the course, because it wouldn't have happened without them, and Linux gaming, at least at this point in time, probably wouldn't survive without them.

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Quoting: apocalyptech

Quoting: ZaxthNo projects on Kickstarter have to deliver to you what they promise, it's like a charity, you can't demand anything from them after giving them money.

That's... actually not the case. From the Kickstarter TOS at https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use [External Link] :

If a creator is unable to complete their project and fulfill rewards, they’ve failed to live up to the basic obligations of this agreement. To right this, they must make every reasonable effort to find another way of bringing the project to the best possible conclusion for backers. A creator in this position has only remedied the situation and met their obligations to backers if:

* they post an update that explains what work has been done, how funds were used, and what prevents them from finishing the project as planned;
* they work diligently and in good faith to bring the project to the best possible conclusion in a timeframe that’s communicated to backers;
* they’re able to demonstrate that they’ve used funds appropriately and made every reasonable effort to complete the project as promised;
* they’ve been honest, and have made no material misrepresentations in their communication to backers; and
* they offer to return any remaining funds to backers who have not received their reward (in proportion to the amounts pledged), or else explain how those funds will be used to complete the project in some alternate form.

The creator is solely responsible for fulfilling the promises made in their project. If they’re unable to satisfy the terms of this agreement, they may be subject to legal action by backers.

Now, I'm not sure how often or successfully that kind of thing has been challenged in court, but you ARE entitled to refunds if a creator defaults on their obligations.

It would be extremely difficult if not impossible for someone to hold a Kickstarter project accountable to these terms to the point that they effectively offer zero protection for the consumer.

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Quoting: ZaxthThis is why, when I consider pledging for a Kickstarter, I have to remind myself: The moment money changes hands and the receipient is under no contractual obligation, then you as a consumer, loose all power over them.

No projects on Kickstarter have to deliver to you what they promise, it's like a charity, you can't demand anything from them after giving them money.

I've been saying that for a long time. It's a donation, not a pre-order.

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Awesome! \o/

This is a terrific game and perhaps the best entry in the Total War series.

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A common recommendation for Windows is to do a complete reinstall at least once a year. I never did because I know how to maintain a computer, but for the average user, Windows is so easy to gunk up that a complete reinstall is often the only recourse.

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Quoting: PixelPi

Quoting: Mountain Man

Quoting: PixelPiAnd even though he does everything under Linux and has enormous knowledge, he plays exclusively under Windows, which in turn does not mean that he might not log in with his Steam Client on Linux from time to time, maybe for testing something.

It's not everyone's pleasure to fight with problems, when someone just wants to play.

I don't understand this anecdote. Playing games in Linux has not given me any more problems than my years of playing games in Windows. The times it doesn't "just work" are the rare exception rather than the rule.

I had problems so far with: Bioshock: Infinite, Deus: Ex, Total War, Metro 2033, Mad Max, Tomb Raider and some more. Tearing in nearly every Game. Sound issues a lot. Have until now found a solution for every problem. I never played under Windows but all my problems were Linux related. Also many Games are simply not available for Linux.

Sounds like you have something mis-configured then. The tearing issue is a long-standing problem for Nvidia cards in Linux (it existed long before Linux was a viable alternative to Windows for gaming), but the solution is ridiculously easy and has been around for just as long. Here's the latest Gaming on Linux article about it:

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/how-to-an-update-on-fixing-screen-tearing-on-linux-with-an-nvidia-gpu.8892

I can't comment on sound issues because I've never encountered any for as long as I've used Linux. Ever. My sound card is a Sound Blaster Audigy that I've had for over 15-years, and it has always "just worked" in Linux, and it sounds great, so I've never seen any reason to upgrade.

I've never had to do anything special to make a game work in Linux beyond the occasional routine problem solving that you have to do even in Windows, but that's par for the course for PC gaming. If people want truly trouble-free gaming then stick with consoles.

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