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Latest Comments by Nevertheless
The Witcher 3 didn't come to Linux likely as a result of the user-backlash from The Witcher 2
9 Apr 2018 at 9:28 am UTC Likes: 1

Quoting: KallionI was just browsing around for news on gaming & especially Witcher 3 (which I played when I had Windows, that I eventually gave up on), and was led here. I know this is a bit old of a post but felt the need to add in my two cents. In this case, I'm going to look at it from both the personal and corporate "shades" of the developer. They are business owners or work for a business, and running one has its demands. So, here goes:

First and foremost, everything in the world and I mean everything, is relations. If you want to get something done, you need to know how and when to apply a specific method and strategy. In the case of Linux, for a lot of developers, it's a "romantic" relationship. Hence it relies heavily on the personal/gratitude factor. Why? Simple realism. We, as Linux users, are nothing compared to the overall market share. End of story. We don't have the numbers to squeak and scream like Windows users do most of the time. Developers see they have over 90% of the desktop/laptop systems in the world and they have to comply, even if they hate it. They need the income to survive.

For many, Linux is first and foremost an idea, a community that comes together to achieve something better. That's how a lot of people I met see it as. Some of them maneuver around their corporate structure to convince the higher-ups to make things happen for it. However, if we, as Linux users, resort to petty insults and attacks... there goes that bridge.

On the more ruthless business aspect, losing a -registered- 1% of a potential user base means nothing. So, to the people that send out flame/hate emails... know the group you're in. It's simple mathematics. With greater numbers, we get more political clout. Where we are, in the desktop/laptop market, we got nothing. This kind of behavior does undermine the work a lot of distro groups attempt: to bring in more people into Linux. Even I try to bring more people in because I believe in the principles of the platform. Witcher 3 sold 25 million copies. The 15,000 signatures on the GOG for a Linux port is a drop in the ocean.

In any case...

It benefits us much more to go in with supportive criticism and patience to build our user base as a platform than stand at the top of our mountain and shoot poison. At the wrong people. The developers themselves answer to financiers, to shareholders, to distributors/publishers and who knows who else. Those are the ones who directly and indirectly enforce policies.

Also, if a dev loses time with being attacked for trying to support a smaller community, they'll give it up altogether. No, it's not unprofessional on their part. Many of them just try to help, because of a variety of reasons. Bad products are rarely their responsibility. The tough deadlines are not placed by the graphic artists or the coders or even the team leaders. Unfinished products are pushed forward by banks and executives. Those are not the ones who receive the hate emails. It's the smaller people, the very ones who can influence the decision makers by saying "hey, we completed our financial goals for this year, how about we port this to another platform or two and have a better distribution agreement with some extra cash that may bring us some bonuses?" Or something along those lines. They speak the language of the greedy people to get something different/better done. That's how they get the green light to port something. It's not just the gaming industry. I know it happens on a heck of a lot more.

That's the essence of business. That's how we made our world today. Money. As Linux users, we currently don't have the numbers to play the entitlement bravado. A lot of distro makers know that, and so does a decent part (that I know of) of our community.

Linux needs to be supported more. Back-lashing and pushing back will have that exact result: pushing back. It all comes down to what we want. As for the complainers/victims/very-special-snowflakes, I wish them a healthy return to Windows and a long-lasting, loving relationship with EA. For those who know a bit about how the gaming industry works. :)

I remember an old saying:
"In the 80s, gamers compromised, in the 2000's, they demand"
We might consider adding:
"In the 2010s, they cut your head off if they lose 1fps!"

By the way, the "20% slower" is an OpenGL comparison to DirectX. Don't get me started on AMD's proprietary OpenGL speed deficiencies on their latest cards. :huh:

Be well. Peace.
An Arch user.
Completely correct! You cannot force your way with <1% share. It makes people hate you and make fun of you. I'm always shocked when I see Linux users trying to do it.

Story-driven RPG 'INSOMNIA: The Ark' has a new teaser trailer, still coming to Linux
9 Apr 2018 at 6:56 am UTC

Quoting: INSOMNIA_The_ArkIt's hard not to be compared with things, but that's ok :).

PS. here's a piece of OST we pushed online recently:

View video on youtube.com
Wow, that definitely adds an unexpected atmosphere! I like it, although I never seem to get a grip of jazz. There is jazz that comes as dance music, which I really find boring. Then there is jazz, that wildly goes beyond my comprehension, but jazz elements in progressive rock epics are amongst the greatest moments in music I know of..
Of course music might work differently in a computer game anyway, with the players concentration mostly on the game at first... So I'm really looking forward to see and hear more of Insomnia!

RUINER is now in Beta for Linux, it's also an early unlock in the new Humble Monthly
7 Apr 2018 at 7:47 am UTC

Quoting: FeistBought! Only wish I had time to try it out tonight, unfortunatly it'll have to wait until tomorrow. :|
It's more like Sunday... we must be strong!

Valve confirms their continued support for Linux gaming
4 Apr 2018 at 1:49 pm UTC Likes: 2

Quoting: GuestThey helped test it I think, and also help to fund various areas and initiatives (including LunarG). I suspect that money was used to make MoltenVK open source.
Valve are actually quite active in the Vulkan department - so much so that I don't doubt they have continued GNU/Linux plans.
In a nutshell P.L.G. says: We continue to support Linux, because we believe in open platforms. We did this and this and Molten VK for Linux... Only that Molten VK is in no way directly aimed at Linux. It's a conversion tool from Vulkan to Metal. So if we want to understand what Valves strategy really is, this detail has to fit in.
In my opinion the best explanation is: It's meant to be a pro-Vulkan-multi-platform / anti-DX12-domination tool, and it's aimed to help Linux in the long run. The fact that Khronos announced, that a DX12 / Vulkan conversion tool is to follow just supports that.

Valve confirms their continued support for Linux gaming
4 Apr 2018 at 6:40 am UTC Likes: 10

What I find really interesting is, Valve openly claims authorship (or at least initiative) for the Metal/Vulkan and DX12/Vulkan conversion tools, and they talk about it in a Linux context! That reassures me that Linux really is a very important component of their future strategies!

Story-driven RPG 'INSOMNIA: The Ark' has a new teaser trailer, still coming to Linux
3 Apr 2018 at 4:29 pm UTC Likes: 1

Quoting: INSOMNIA_The_ArkThat's an interesting question. First of all we never wanted to do "Russian Fallout" if it makes sense, and the game doesn't look like one. There are few Fallout related easter eggs but you can easily miss them if you don't know where to look. We have tons of text content and the dialogues really look like dialogues with meaningful lines you can pick as your questions and answers. Basically it feels more like classic Fallouts than the recent ones.
I loved the old Fallouts, but I certainly hope people will look for and find your very own game instead of just compairing it with others!

Story-driven RPG 'INSOMNIA: The Ark' has a new teaser trailer, still coming to Linux
2 Apr 2018 at 8:06 am UTC Likes: 2

Quoting: INSOMNIA_The_ArkHey people! Thanks for covering the news here. Will be happy to answer your questions :).
Hi, thanks for beeing availlable here!
You mentioned working on Linux and Mac versions in your KS updates. Did you have any major issues while you did that? How far did it go?
Can you tell us how many Linux backers Insomnia has?

Valve has removed the Steam Machine section from Steam
1 Apr 2018 at 12:32 pm UTC

Quoting: papajo
Quoting: EMO GANGSTERwill valve still support steamos or do you think it will kill support for it in the distant future
I seriously doubt that valve will, since the only reason for creating SteamOS was as an alternative OS for the steam machines but maybe the community will take over I dont know how proprietary steamOS is and if vavle needs/wants to make the proprietary parts of it opensource but it seems like a plausible scenario.
SteamOS is Debian stable with proprietary drivers and Steam client. There's a custom compositor I think, but that's it. They left it open for a reason.
It's interesting that Atari also talks about the openness of their Linux OS for the VCS device, which is said to be capable of running Steam and GOG games. I wonder if games from the Atari store will run on any Linux PC with controller.
I also wonder if Atari could include better hardware into the device, maybe with an investment by Valve...
Ah.. speculations...

Story-driven RPG 'INSOMNIA: The Ark' has a new teaser trailer, still coming to Linux
31 Mar 2018 at 9:16 am UTC Likes: 1

Quoting: Nevertheless
Quoting: ShmerlI'm a backer and I hope DRM-free release is coming as they promised. In their recent updates they were talking only about Steam.
According to this I'd say GOG is still on.

http://steamcommunity.com/app/783170/discussions/0/1697169163396167381/?ctp=2#c1697169163401462117 [External Link]
Not entirely sure as it seems. Dev says it depends on GOG as well.

https://twitter.com/insomniathegame/status/979941204493205504?s=20 [External Link]

Valve has removed the Steam Machine section from Steam
31 Mar 2018 at 12:33 am UTC Likes: 1

Quoting: tonR
Quoting: NeverthelessI don't think it ever was a device species at all. I don't know what Valve thought of it when they released it, but for me it was a Linux PC with a controller for the living room. That concept is not dead, nor are the Steam Machines sold. Nothing has failed here, because nothing gets abandoned. Owners of a Steam Machine still have got a Linux PC for the living room and 4000+ games to play.
That's my question. What was/is in Valve's people mind when they launched Steam Machine? To promoted Linux? For fun?

I never said failed. Yes, Valve is still making money, Steam Machine or not, but every businesses in this world wanted to maximizing profit to even every single cent. So I'm very curious about the reason of Steam Machine existance.
No you didn't say that! I was not suggesting you did! And you're right, it's an interesting question. Maybe it was tactics, maybe it was bringing an idea to life, one that wouldn't be harmed even if its (this) implementation was not successful. I don't know..