Linux version possible?

[Teal]

I like this game, it's charming and I would totally grab it. But I would really like to run it natively on Linux. Is Linux version planned?

[NotRandomEnough]

引用自 Suros#：

The only cases where I don't wait for native is when the game has minimal deps, minimal/software rendered graphics, and is known to work perfectly with WINE. That's a case where a port would achieve essentially nothing.

I disagree with that; having a port adds another notch on the stats for Linux where it would otherwise only count for Windows. In all cases a native port should be sought, even if it's through a wrapper.

[Suros:/#]

引用自 Helping Hoof：

I disagree with that; having a port adds another notch on the stats for Linux where it would otherwise only count for Windows. In all cases a native port should be sought, even if it's through a wrapper.

I suppose you do have a point. Now that Linux is extremely user friendly, a native program means not having to know how to configure WINE to execute it. I frequently forget to consider the ones that aren't into tinkering around with their computers now that I'm immersed in users that are.

[Nezchan]

I've said it before, Linux is what's called a developing market. We haven't traditionally been marketed to by game companies, but with Linux being easier for a novice or non-hobbyist to use than ever we're seeing more and more people make the switch. Game companies aren't (usually) staffed by idiots, and they largely know that the Windows market is saturated. So where do you branch out to find new customers? Why, those untapped markets that hadn't traditionally gotten much attention, of course!

Add to this the develpment of tools like Vulkan and cross-platform engines like Unity (or GameMaker in this case) that make the process cheaper and easier, and of course Steam embracing Linux in the form of SteamOS, it's not hard to see that fabled 1% figure (already inaccurate for a number of reasons covered here) begin to shift over the next few years.

[Pocket]

Except we don't want people to have to resort to whatever advanced geekery it takes to install a fan-made port of a game. Installing Steam under WINE so they can actually buy and download the Windows version, then probably a bunch of command-line junk to get the engine port working and then manually transferring the game data where it needs to be... People who know how to do that are probably already using Linux as their primary OS.

The audience we need to reach out to is people who expect buying and playing a game to be as easy as it already is on Windows. That's the only market Linux has the capability to expand into. And growing Linux's market is the primary concern here — not growing the games' market to the 1% of users who already run Linux.

Valve got invested in Linux because they're afraid of what Windows is turning into, and want its users to have an alternative without having to give up PC gaming. So do I. I want to live in a world where there's literally no reason left for me to keep using Windows. But until literally all of my games are available for some other platform, that's not going to happen.

[SilasMortimer]

引用自 BobTheJanitor ✝：

引用自 Missingno. 2: Deadly Airport：

Ah yes, the GNU Public License license.

It's like when someone says RIP in Peace.

Actually, GPL stands for "General Public License", not "GNU Public License". If you want to be technical it's the "GNU General Public License". And GNU stands for "GNU's Not Unix", so it's recursive anyway.

Just a little nitpick, as long as you're nitpicking.

[NotRandomEnough]

引用自 BobTheJanitor ✝：

What are the odds AAA studios start releasing under GPL, considering they love to keep all their engines propietary and secret?

I don't know about them being released under GPL, but I would consider Paradox having made quite a big mark, and most of their games (especially the newer ones) support Linux. Not sure how AAA they are by now?

[NotRandomEnough]

引用自 BobTheJanitor ✝：

If it's stable, developer could just patch in the port as official. GPL, it's beautiful. Of course, it's a labor of love, but so is modding in general.

It seems we all have different approaches to the user problem, and that's great, help come to the best proper solution.

Which GPL? GPL2x? GPL3x? Are you with Richard Stallman on what GPL should be the right one?

[adolson]

引用自 Helping Hoof：

The "no tux, no bux" slogan comes to mind there.

The slogan I coined via my avatar? I'm acutely aware of it. ;)

[Lambda Fairy]

引用自 BobTheJanitor ✝：

... considering each version will support all future versions...

I agree with the rest of your comment, but this part is incorrect. GPLv2 and GPLv3 are *not* compatible by default. If you want to stay forward compatible, you have to write "or (at your option) any later version" in your source files. Most projects do this, but some (e.g. the Linux kernel) do not.

(Source: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.en.html#VersionThreeOrLater)

[Psycoskunk]

Yay! I can play finally play Undertale on Linux. Thank you Toby. :)