Some brief answers to common questions.

[SinSchism]

These answers are my own opinion, let that be said first and clearly. These conclusions are based entirely on my experience.

Are you only looking for Ubuntu users? Valve probably is looking for Ubuntu/Debian users. They've likely made other options available in the survey to see where future development and package management will need to head.


Will Steam work on XYZ hardware? That's part of the the point of the beta. It's become common place to see beta phases function as just a preview of what's coming. Remember: beta testing is to see what does and doesn't work, as well as figure out what can and cannot work at the given time.


Why do they keep saying 1000 linux users and why Ubuntu? By limiting the beta to a finite number of players using a (mostly) unified software platform, they can sort out basic, fundamental bugs that are indicative of larger problems with their basic software and not smaller issues in distribution differences. Moreover, it allows for easier and faster statistical analysis. Of course, this brings up the following....


But with only 1000 people, they might not find all the bugs!! That's right. That's also not the point. The point is to find some of the more obvious, common bugs and get them sorted so that the smaller ones are detectable.


Will ABC Title work on Steam/linux? Ask the developer if they have a linux version. If there isn't one, figure out what game engine they used. Some engines just don't support linux yet. Some do. There are a LOT of promising titles coming out using the Unity4 Engine that rival some Triple-A titles.


How will we know if we've been given access to the beta? According to a post Frank made on 11/2/12:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Frank:

You will be getting an email indicating acceptance into the limited beta and instructions on getting started.
We are currently in the process of choosing the participants. Stay tuned and thanks for your patience.

If you don't know which email you used for Steam, you may want to figure that out.


What sort of bug tracking will be used during the beta? According to a post made by rickmus on 11/4/12:

Opprinnelig skrevet av rickmus:

It will primarily be via a private forum that the beta participants will have access to.

Which makes sense because that is how Valve has traditionally handled betas (from what I'm given to understand). 1000 users in a forum is easy enough to handle without needing to add the undue complication of getting people to use your specific (and ideally hidden) bug tracker.

In order for them to hide the bug tracker, they'd have to integrate it to the accounts which takes more work than hiding a forum.


Why not just use Wine? Wine forces the usage of Win32 or Win64 DLLs which aren't, themselves, native to Linux. Because of this, the "native" windows experience isn't actually native and, moreover, actually introduces inconsistency and vulnerability to your machine WHILE using more resources than a native port. It also creates a pseudo-filesystem to function between the Win32 structure (C:\) and the traditional *nix structure (/*) which creates undue messiness that many linux users dislike.

The long and short: IT IS NOT NATIVE. It's not a native client and it's not a native game. The point of this all is a native experience.


I can install Braid, Limbo, or VVVVVV but they don't run. Why? These games are currently not supported by the Linux Steam client. For a complete list of currently supported games, see here.


Why does it take so long for a game to be put onto the Linux list for Steam? Well, ask the developer. It is up to them to get the Linux version of their game.

[SinSchism]

I wasn't sure. I've been able to see it.

[Shuudoushi]

If you are NOT using Ubuntu you aren't going to be left out of the beta (At least not for ever.). And thank you MrSchism for making this thread and thanks to the staff for reading it!

[SinSchism]

That being said, there are unofficial testers using the .deb right now. Much of the information in the initial post is outdated.

[Shuudoushi]

Opprinnelig skrevet av MrSchism:

That being said, there are unofficial testers using the .deb right now. Much of the information in the initial post is outdated.

Yes I know. Unlike a lot of people out there (Bug reporters mostly it seems.) I read the whole post and all replies before making a post of my own. And you are right using software you are not supposed to have (Even if from the devs.) is a breach of the ToS and EULA of Steam.Unless the software in question was gained through legit means (I.e. has been posted as an update or full release.) it can (But not often.) lead to your account being removed from the service.

[jpollock]

please send me an email!

[SinSchism]

Opprinnelig skrevet av TASTY crinkled:

please send me an email!

Who? ...and regarding what?

[Shuudoushi]

Opprinnelig skrevet av MrSchism:

Opprinnelig skrevet av TASTY crinkled:

please send me an email!

Who? ...and regarding what?

That's what i would like too know as well. If its in regards to me then I'll have to find the EULA and TOS again. That or they can just google it.

[Frank]

Hey everyone, I updated this post with a new question around supported games. There are quite a few posts in the forums on this issue and the fix will take awhile.
Thanks!

[Al@rm]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Frank:

Hey everyone, I updated this post with a new question around supported games. There are quite a few posts in the forums on this issue and the fix will take awhile.
Thanks!

Thank you for new information. I have 2 questions:
1 - will that page be updated regulary?
2 - I understand, that porting win (mac) games for linux (like tf2 or l4d) takes a lot of time. But what about games which have linux version, but can't work with Steam for Linux yet? How do you think, how much it takes to adapt them? Does valve team help developers to do it faster?

[play3man]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Frank:

Hey everyone, I updated this post with a new question around supported games. There are quite a few posts in the forums on this issue and the fix will take awhile.
Thanks!

Hi, I have Intel GPU (4500M) and I still getting Black Screen on TF2. When I tried run Windows version of the game, it works just fine. Is problem in my (unsupported) Intel graphic or it's just a bug (in Steam or drivers..)?

[SinSchism]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Frank:

Hey everyone, I updated this post with a new question around supported games. There are quite a few posts in the forums on this issue and the fix will take awhile.
Thanks!

Thanks, Frank. I was trying to compile a list of games who's complaints were rolling in.

Opprinnelig skrevet av 3.50Al@rm:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Frank:

Hey everyone, I updated this post with a new question around supported games. There are quite a few posts in the forums on this issue and the fix will take awhile.
Thanks!

Thank you for new information. I have 2 questions:
1 - will that page be updated regulary?
2 - I understand, that porting win (mac) games for linux (like tf2 or l4d) takes a lot of time. But what about games which have linux version, but can't work with Steam for Linux yet? How do you think, how much it takes to adapt them? Does valve team help developers to do it faster?

Regarding the second question in your post: it is as much up to the game's developers as it is to Valve. They need to provide the linux version of their game. It doesn't take very much to prepare them for Steam, to be honest. Valve actually has people who function as reps/advisors to help streamline that aspect (I remember reading something about this on a developer site). Valve won't really go hunting them down if they don't provide it; the company will just lose out until they do.

Opprinnelig skrevet av play3man:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Frank:

Hey everyone, I updated this post with a new question around supported games. There are quite a few posts in the forums on this issue and the fix will take awhile.
Thanks!

Hi, I have Intel GPU (4500M) and I still getting Black Screen on TF2. When I tried run Windows version of the game, it works just fine. Is problem in my (unsupported) Intel graphic or it's just a bug (in Steam or drivers..)?

Have you updated to the latest version of Mesa?

[Frank]

[3.50]Al@rm - The support page will be updated as needed (when new games arrive in the Linux store); treat it as the "official" list of Steam for Linux games.
As for when new 3rd-party games arrive in the store that is completely up to the developer. I know that there are several ports in progress (existing and new games) and when we get approval from the developer we'll get them into the Linux store as soon as possible.

[play3man]

Opprinnelig skrevet av MrSchism:

Opprinnelig skrevet av play3man:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Frank:

Hey everyone, I updated this post with a new question around supported games. There are quite a few posts in the forums on this issue and the fix will take awhile.
Thanks!

Hi, I have Intel GPU (4500M) and I still getting Black Screen on TF2. When I tried run Windows version of the game, it works just fine. Is problem in my (unsupported) Intel graphic or it's just a bug (in Steam or drivers..)?

Have you updated to the latest version of Mesa?

I have in my sources ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates PPA. System informations from Steam:

Video Card:
Driver: Intel Open Source Technology Center Mesa DRI Mobile Intel® GM45 Express Chipset x86/MMX/SSE2

Driver Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.1-devel

[Shuudoushi]

Opprinnelig skrevet av play3man:

Opprinnelig skrevet av MrSchism:

Opprinnelig skrevet av play3man:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Frank:

Hey everyone, I updated this post with a new question around supported games. There are quite a few posts in the forums on this issue and the fix will take awhile.
Thanks!

Hi, I have Intel GPU (4500M) and I still getting Black Screen on TF2. When I tried run Windows version of the game, it works just fine. Is problem in my (unsupported) Intel graphic or it's just a bug (in Steam or drivers..)?

Have you updated to the latest version of Mesa?

I have in my sources ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates PPA. System informations from Steam:

Video Card:
Driver: Intel Open Source Technology Center Mesa DRI Mobile Intel® GM45 Express Chipset x86/MMX/SSE2

Driver Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.1-devel

You need to latest drivers. The open source ones you have are quit old...

[play3man]

And where can i download latest drivers ? :)