[quote=14]

Quoting: Appelsin

Quoting: 14A bit off-topic, but it's rPi-relevant:
I was in the same boat, kinda. Had a Pi lying around, with no real use for it. Then a friend showed me Pi-hole [External Link]. Network wide ad-block. Highly recommended.

This is a cool tool, but it doesn't look unique to the Pi. I have a rack-mount server with quite a few virtual machines in my house, so the Pi doesn't really have an advantage here either. Cool suggestion though. Maybe I'd run that in a VM.

True, it's not something unique to the Pi, as there are many ways of achieving the same result, both via the router itself (at least LEDE/OpenWRT afaik) and a server/VM. But if we look at it from a general point-of-view, I would say the Pi does have an advantage in that it's very low cost, not to mention low effort. I also think "most" poeple are more likely to have an unused Pi lying around than having a server :)

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Quoting: 14

Quoting: GrabbyI was looking for an excuse to buy a Raspberry Pi...now I have one :P

Yup. I might buy my first Pi because of this. I've borrowed friends' before, but I never bought one because I wouldn't have put it to use.

A bit off-topic, but it's rPi-relevant:
I was in the same boat, kinda. Had a Pi lying around, with no real use for it. Then a friend showed me Pi-hole [External Link]. Network wide ad-block. Highly recommended.

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Quoting: KimyrielleMicrosoft will probably make them make console games. That's the only thing they care about.

I don't think they'll be forced to make console games specifically, but they do have the whole "Xbox and Windows is one platform" project going on, so the console angle is ofc very real. Compared to PS4 and Switch, the Xbox is flopping (in the minds of share holders and money people), not to mention that Steam more or less owns game sales revenue on one of Microsoft's platforms. Add to that Steam making Linux a viable option for gamers, you're all set for Microsoft to turn to their playbook of tried-and-true anti-competitive tactics.

They're buying developers so that they can force them to release exclusively for the trainwreck that is Windows Store (and Xbox). Let's not forget that they pounced on Ninja Theory too, earlier this year.

Quoting: KimyrielleThe question therefore is not really about Linux support, but if they will still make games worth buying in the first place. I wouldn't hold my breath, tbh. I am not aware of any example in industry history where a big studio bought a smaller one and still had it make great games. Big business culture and creativity don't mix all that well.

Sadly, this is a very plausible outcome. Bioware was supposed to "operate as they've done" after EA rolled 'em up into their printing press. Viceral Games too. But CEOs don't care about games or quality, only money and marketshare. That's why Dead Space became Dead CoD, and Star Wars 1313 was canned because "gamers want ongoing online services, not (semi-)linear games", or so they've tried to tell us for the past 10 years. Btw, God of War 4 says hi [External Link], EA.

/small rant :whistle: :wub:

Edits: typos ._.

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Bad news indeed.

It's really a shame — no strike that — it's actually just sad the way these large companies go around buying out all the smaller studios, only to ruin them with Big Gaming's sole focus on chasing the current fad to milk the hype. If their new Overlords don't destroy the games outright with ingame currencies (fee2pay) and all the other en vogue "features", I see it as 99% certain that Pillars of Eternity 3 will be a Windows Store Exclusive, and certainly riddled with DX12.

As long as both studios retain a certain amount of freedom, I think we should be okay for future titles.

I suspect they retain their freedom under Microsoft, just like Bioware retained freedom under EA ;)

Again, I would be happy to be proven wrong in my cynicism.

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Wow. This is a prime example of how not to do DLC.

4 euros isn't that much, in terms of, say, cup of coffee. But to pay 4 euros for five new units, in a strategy game. I'd call it petty. And yes, that goes for the "faction" packs in Civ VI too.

If you want disgruntled customers and fans, this is a proven way to go about it.

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Quoting: liamdawePeople buy the new Call of Duty/Battlefield/x sequel all the time, why is it any different to picking up an expansion to extend a game you already love, with even more to love? By doing so, you get to spend even more time with something you enjoy, the developers continue to work on it with free content on top of expansion and it ends up as a win for both sides.

So much, this. It's strange that it's OK to sell what is essentially [last year's game] + [1 new stuff] year after year, but keeping a great game alive with a lot of expansions isn't.

Could Paradox have conjured up one, or even two games out of [Stellaris base game] + [expansion + DLC]? Likely, yes. But they don't. Imo, this is a much more honest way of selling games. Not to mention that it does shine a pretty strong light on the gaming market in general, especially the "AAA" portion.

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Quoting: amatai

Quoting: AppelsinI'd wager assimilation rather than protection. As for protection, I suspect it's more a case of "if we can't steal 'em, noone else will get to either."

But they get tons of money from patent attack on Linux (directly or via patent troll, look for intelectual venture founded by Gate & co).
Maybe its war between services but assimilation is the most likely, Linux is no longer a threat, why?

They are sticking their noses into more and more Linux centric services, foundations and whatnot. Thus they can influence the internal politics of those. And while they might make money from patent attacks, they could realise that being on the inside and preventing other companies from possibly stealing and licensing technologies they rely on, they'll rather "protect" them to keep using them. Note, that I'm only specualting in a very cynical state of mind here :D

Quoting: jens

Quoting: AppelsinAnd no, I'm not giving Microsoft the benefit of the doubt. We'll see, the day they kill off DX, open source it, and merge what ever aspects of DX that might be worth keeping into Vulkan, and makes Excel/MSOffice available on Linux natively. Then we'll talk about Microsoft having actually turned a new page, instead of putting make-up on the good 'ol pig :)

I guess you know that your demands are completely unrealistic. It is perfectly cool that you'll never trust Microsoft's moves regardless of what they do. Please just state it like this. ;)

Yeah, I'm under no illusions that it'll actually happen anytime soon, and if it does, 99.99% certainly not for the "right" reasons ;)
Nevertheless, I'm a bit relucant to say "never", since there are moves they could make to actually show that it's more than a marketing scheme (or at least make a very convincing show of it). If they were to actually "love open source" by making (non-gimped) Office available on Linux, open DX --> merge to Vulkan, then I'd be inclined to think that "yes, maybe Microsoft actually want to redeem themselves. At least, their actions are pointing in that direction, so yeah, OK, I'll give them a chance."

What I'm getting at is "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". I could come to "trust" Microsoft if they were willing to show their good intent in a spectacular way, but marketing slogans and posturing only deepens the mistrust and feeling og ill intent. Unrealistic? Yes. Night impossible? Yes. Completely and utterly impossible? No.

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Does this mean we can firmly put the "Embrace, extend, and extinguish" phrase to rest and replace it with Embrace, extend, and protect?

I'd wager assimilation rather than protection. As for protection, I suspect it's more a case of "if we can't steal 'em, noone else will get to either."

And no, I'm not giving Microsoft the benefit of the doubt. We'll see, the day they kill off DX, open source it, and merge what ever aspects of DX that might be worth keeping into Vulkan, and makes Excel/MSOffice available on Linux natively. Then we'll talk about Microsoft having actually turned a new page, instead of putting make-up on the good 'ol pig :)

We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.

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Quoting: GuestVery appealing price, a quick glance at the reviews some people say it's very short and no replay value, but some games don't need infinite replay value and an 80 hour long experience.

Ugh, I so agree. Buzzword "Replay value" usually consists of unlocking a new difficulty and gated content. Unless there's a story one was particularly taken with, I can't really see the appeal of "replay value". Assassins Creed is likely the modern gaming industry's definition of replay value. And the 80 hour playtime boils down to lots of busywork and "open world" chores. /sigh
The only games I've ever played more than the initial playthrough was Zelda Ocarina of Time, Majoras Mask, and the Mass Effect trilogy (story, story, story, and semi-linear gameplay <3).

Looks like an interesting game, and at a very fair price. High probability to be added to my library :)

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Quoting: Alm888So, in case Valve in fact gets somewhere with its small WINE trick…

How long will it take for Microsoft® to sue WINE and Valve® for copyright infringement regarding Windows™ API and unlicensed DirectX™ implementation?

After all, WINE was tolerated only as long as it was relatively useless. I dobt Microsoft® will allow someone to chew off some 20…30% of its market share with basically its own API.

Exactly this. I've been thinking of this for some time now; Microsoft will very likely not allow any competition to become---competitive. They've not excatly got the best track record of ethical and fair conduct in such regards.
The moment MS see any kind of impact to their [numbers], they'll at least do what they can to break compatibility. And with DX being the main tool they have to lock down game development to their platform, I suspect there'll be some kind of attempt at striking out against Vulkan if it starts to gain momentum.

Call me tin-foil, but I have very little faith in MS playing any kind of fair game when their monies/monopolies is at stake.

PS: I would, however, very much like to be proven wrong! :D

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