Is there any progress report/todo list? How much of the game does this implement and how is left to implement?

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Quoting: HalKadoI think Kristian hits the nail on the head, Metal existing on the mac is not an issue, its the lack of Vulcan that hurts.

Although I'm not sure where all the concern in the thread about lack of OS X support is coming from? Are we assuming it would make linux development more attractive if the OSX market share was compatible? As someone who is heavily invested in the Apple eco system I'd love for gaming to come to Mac but I also am not under any illusion its a big untapped market. The API is not the limiting factor, OSX needs a big improvement in hardware to become a serious gaming platform. I love my macbook and am typically on it 8+ hours a day, but its used for presentations, spreadsheets, web browsing, music and videos etc. This is what apple has focused on and the product reflects that.

Yeah, Apple seriously needs to provide beefier hardware in order to be a relevant factor in gaming.

As far as Metal goes, its biggest strength is probably iOS, which is a less fragmented platform than Android.

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Yeah, I absolutely, wholeheartedly support Vulkan. I just wish Apple, Sony and Nintendo would all add Vulkan support to their platforms, which would mean that all major platforms except the Xbox One would have Vulkan support.

Edit:

On another note I am surprised no anti-trust authorities have done anything about DirectX. If MS had to open up DirectX, things could be quite different.

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It is the absence of Vulkan on Mac OSX and not so much the presence of Metal that I see as a potential problem.

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Quoting: natewardawg

Quoting: KristianIt might also kill Vulkan. Without Apple Vulkan only brings older Windows versions, Linux and Android. Older Windows versions is a shrinking market and Android is irrelevant for graphically intensive, AAA games. I am afraid that without Apple, Vulkan adoption will not be able to drive Linux gaming.

On the contrary, it might just kill Apple. Vulkan and DirectX 12 APIs are so close that graphics will be practically a cinch to port to Linux, but not Metal. Pretty much all AAA games are made for Windows and therefore will be much easier to port to Linux than Mac making return on investment possibly much higher on Linux even if the numbers are lower. This could make it far less likely to get Mac ports of games.

Why would a development studio add Vulkan support to their game and/or engine if it already supports DX12 and they have zero intentions to support Linux? As far as I can tell they wouldn't tend to do so.

Now as others point out, yes older Windows versions provide a reason. But that reason will dissappear.

Android won't bring Vulkan support to the latest COD, Battlefield, GTA or Assassin's Creed games.

OpenGL had the same benefits as far as being cross platform goes, yet DirectX completely dominated.

In fact Vulkan is LESS cross platform than OpenGL, having lost Mac OSX, how can that do anything but hurt Vulkan?

Do you guys really see many games receiving Linux versions due to Vulkan, that wouldn't have otherwise?

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Quoting: liamdaweMetal is likely one reason why Blizzard's new Overwatch game is Windows only. Older OpenGL and Metal likely doesn't have the features they want. Not having Vulkan could be a really bad decision for Apple.

It might also kill Vulkan. Without Apple Vulkan only brings older Windows versions, Linux and Android. Older Windows versions is a shrinking market and Android is irrelevant for graphically intensive, AAA games. I am afraid that without Apple, Vulkan adoption will not be able to drive Linux gaming.

Instead of "Hey we are using Vulkan any way for Macs, we should do a Linux version" we might see: "We want our game on Linux, maybe we should support Vulkan".

The latter attitude will lead to fewer Linux games than the former, a greater proportion of which will use OpenGL or a DirectX -> OpenGL or DirectX -> Vulkan translation layer.

How can Vulkan lead to greater Linux adoption in the game industry without an independent reason to use Vulkan?

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Quoting: sarmad

Quoting: Mountain ManI'm still of the opinion that this whole VR craze is going to be another short-lived novelty like 3D televisions and motion controls (other than the Nintendo Wii) once people realize that it doesn't meaningfully enhance their gaming experience. Professional applications, yes, but entertainment? I don't see it.

I agree. VR will boom once headsets become as small and light as sunglasses, not with this bulky headsets.

That would defeat the entire purpose.

This comes down to a factor mentioned by ObsidianBlk earlier: "VR most definitely DOES add a "meaningful enhancement" to the gaming experience. With the environment all around you, and (visually) nothing to distract you, you most definitely feel like part of the world in which you play."

VR headsets need to completely block out the outside world, therefore they can't be as small as sunglasses. Something as small as sunglasses wouldn't be a VR headset.

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Quoting: TemplateR

Quoting: MacabreHeart

Quoting: TemplateRWhat is the difference between SDL and X11?

One is a complete windowing system that is based around a 20-something year old design (x11), one is a toolkit that can generate windows and handle input for multiple windowing systems and is substantial more modern in it's design (sdl)

That means, that SDL is much better then X11?

SDL and X11 aren't competing projects. As has been mentioned SDL sits at a higher level of abstraction. SDL is one way of using, among others, X11. This means that Unity will more easily support various new technologies. It is up to the developers of SDL to support stuff like X11, Wayland, Mir, etc. So that if SDL adds supports for things like that, then the developers at Unity don't have to worry about that.

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Quoting: Mountain ManI've said it before an I'll say it again: The only developers who deserve my money are ones with a finished product to sell. I will never support Kickstarter or "early access" or any other crowd-funding scam.

Crowdfunding campaigns are NOT inherently scams. Plenty of people and companies have collected funding through crowdfunding platforms, spent the money on developing/making the goods and/or services the crowdfunding campaigns were for, released or launched those products and/or services and delivered all the backer rewards.

Even if you fail/go bankrupt that doesn't automatically mean you were scamming people. Failure, bankruptcy, bad business decisions and the like are a normal part of business.

That being said, there are certainly scams out there and so your decision may well be wise.

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"- C#"

Can't you develop using C# in both UE4 and CryEngine V. Certainly you can in the latter. Plus UE4 has the Blueprint system.

"- Assets"

As far as I can tell there are lots of assets for UE4 and CryEngine V.

"- You don't really have to care about the build-system etc. Everything's GUI"

Is this different with CryEngine V and UE4? Do you have to care about the build system with those?

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