Personally, I feel "Open Source" is anathema to Microsoft. Open Source is to Microsoft what the poor are to most nations... they do all in their power to minimize it, mostly ignore it, and pray most don't even notice it's there.

That said... why would a company like MS want GitHub? I feel it might have something to do with the number of high profile public and private repos utilizing GitHub. Microsoft would now be able to more directly integrate their developer tools with GitHub, which, I feel, would be their way of making these developers more dependent on the Microsoft toolsets in the long term.

I'm probably overly paranoid in the short term. Long term, though...

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There are a lot of issues with VR that's going to keep it from mainstream for quite some time, IMHO

I bought a PSVR when it was released. It looks very nice and functions well enough, but... even after owning it over a year... it still suffers from positional drifting. I've asked others that own a PSVR and most of them say they suffer the same thing. No matter what I do, where I position the sensors, etc, drifting is not a matter of "if", but "when" and how extreme when it does happen. This is the entry level dedicated VR.

For me... a Linux guy... Occulus died the moment Facebook bought it. I bought and loved the Occulus DK1 prototype and it worked fairly well on Linux. After facebook bought it, Linux support all but died. Valve hasn't done much better, with the exception that they never actually promised Linux would have the VR (or did they?). Windows (of course) gets both these devices, but Occulus further ruins it by initially attempting to gate off it's content. Beyond even that, I still think the requirement for the rigs needed to run these VR bad boys are beyond even intermediate gamer level of cost.

So... given that dedicated VR for Linux is basically back to the whole "reverse engineering Windows-only libraries" of half a generation ago, MY dream of Linux VR has all but died. Maybe OpenHDM will have some significant strides and I can comfortably connect my PSVR to my computer... but I suspect that's going to be quite some time yet.

In terms of entry level VR via the Phone-as-a-HUD (PAAHUD? lol) setup... it's decent enough, but one still needs a fairly expensive phone... also... (having an expensive phone with Daydream) the f'ing drifting issue is still f'ing there! Oh... and did I mention the peripherals. Not nearly as bad as the dedicated VR devices, but still...

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Quoting: tmtvl

Quoting: ObsidianBlkIDK... while it's good to hear that Steam Marines is making profit from Linux, even after some time, I still have to wonder how much MORE profit they might have made via Linux had they released it at the same time as Windows.

Yeah, their Linux share might even be 5.1%! They'd pull in a whole $20 more.

Why the snark? Seriously. If you have a reason why you think what I said was wrong or that my idea that releasing a game at the same time wouldn't truly matter, then, by all means, explain.

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IDK... while it's good to hear that Steam Marines is making profit from Linux, even after some time, I still have to wonder how much MORE profit they might have made via Linux had they released it at the same time as Windows.

I honestly think these developers/publishers shoot themselves in the foot by releasing Linux versions months or years later (after hype, excitement, or even memory of their game has significantly dimmed). Then, these same "late to Linux" devs FINALLY release, then look at their sales numbers and say "hey... selling on Linux sucks!". It almost feels like they WANT to MAKE it look like Linux users don't bother with their games.

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I bought this a little while back and it can be both a very interesting game and, at times, tedious... but I've enjoyed it. My problem is I really don't get a feeling for scale in their build system (unless that's changed recently). I can't tell if I'm building too big or too small... I'm probably just not noticing a number somewhere, lol.

Worth a play for sandbox players, in my humble opinion!

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Quoting: liamdawe

Quoting: rustybroomhandleProtip for devs: There's ALWAYS demand for Linux builds. It's not an indicator of how well it will sell.

If you'd be ok with 1% Linux sales and ecstatic with 5%, then port it. That's the likely range you are looking at.

Correct. However, I still think it's a nice idea to show developers who want a little push that there is some form of demand.

To play devils advocate to this statement, the fact THIS site even exists should show developers there's "demand".

Truthfully, though... I generally feel insulted when developers "wait to see if there's demand". This kinda statement suggests to me that they REALLY DON'T WANT TO, buuuut, if they claim they're "thinking" about it, and never do, then they can simply blame US for the lack of a port. "Oh gee, I was really thinking I WOULD develop a Linux version, but, but, the community didn't DEMAND it, sooo... what's a poor little developer like me to do?!" Pfft.

I have far more respect for developers that either say "we don't have the funds" or "we'll revisit Linux after the initial release" or even "we have no plans for Linux right now". At least the onus is on THEM and they're generally upfront about their intent.

Anyway... that's my two cents.

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Quoting: TcheyI much prefer itchio over Steam, the client is better, smoother, easier, cleaner, faster, lighter, opensourcer...

I don't like GoG much because the lack of Galaxy on Linux and some others events, i feel they don't care bot Linux.

Humble is a nice Store, they still have plenty of Linux games, but i don't use it that much outside of the bundles, and i dom't buy many bundles as it tend to have games i already have, or games i don't want.

I don't see what Kongregate will have that the others don't have already, and without Linux support, even worst.

But...

More stores would mean more players in a small terrain, and maybe push the others to improve even more.

Maybe.

So... Steam, Itch.io, GOG, and Humble Bundle
Let's not forget EA's Origin and Ubisofts... thing... F&^k is I can remember.
So, there's SIX digital distribution stores.

Sure... let's add more stores and turn THEM into the shovel ware they, themselves, often sell.

IDK... Perhaps this new contender will make something of themselves... doubt it, though.

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I don't bother with Windows, personally (outside of needing to use it at work), but, I don't think Window's S Mode is of any real issue. The problem is MS has been slowly (and clumsily, most of the time) sliding Windows, and its user base towards a locked in OS. Microsoft is using general user psychology to keep them in MS's own ecosystem (read, store) for as long as possible. They'll let everyone know there's a "free" way out of this lock in, but they know the vast majority won't bother, giving them a numbers win as "evidence" the lock in is what people want.

On the gaming side... MS is tying Windows and XBox together as much as they can. Their new XBox Game Pass (Netflix for XBox games, essentially) is, admittedly, attractive and most definitely another method to lock Gamers into Windows even more.

The truth is... Steam freakin' dropped the ball HARD with Steam OS. They released something only arguably functional that, at this point, only Linux gamers even know still exists as a thing. It definitely doesn't feel like Value has gone out of their way to push "Steam OS" game development. On top of that, as a user mentioned in a post above, Steam OS is NOT an OS as Windows is. Steam OS is for competing with the likes of PS4, XBOne, and Switch, not Windows itself.

The worst part... if it happens... will be Microsoft buying Valve. It seems this is currently under consideration by MS, and IF it happens, that will be the biggest blow to gaming on Linux. Steam will get integrated into the Windows store (and, eventually abandoned on Linux). Steam OS will most definitely be shelved. There will no longer be ANY promotion of Linux as a gaming platform from Value-MS. Sure, there will be some Linux-positive outliers for a time, but, without any BIG name promoting the platform in ANY way... poof.

That's my opinion.

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This looks pretty awesome, but I'm wondering if its always from the perspective of a vehicle. If it is, I'm not sure the game would hold my interest for long.

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As neither the Oculus nor the Vive supported Linux at the time, I bought the PSVR. I still say, VR is gorgeous and has huge potential (even excluding games) IMHO.

That said, as much as I'd LOVE to get a Vive, it's just still too much! My PSVR sits on a shelf more often than I'd like as it is, I don't need two VR sets doing this... though... I do like playing with WebVR, soooo... *ponders*

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