Steam on Linux should integrate with WINE.

[Nyuu]

This is something I think would really make Steam on Linux better. All games that aren't supported natively on Linux could go into a "Wine games" section or something in your library, and you could have individual wine configurations for different games.

Is this a good idea, or am I just dumb?

[Spawn of Totoro]

Wine uses Windows binaries. It could lead to legal trouble. Even if Valve wins in the end, the cost and delay may cause enough damage.

Aside from that, the goal of Steam for Linux and the SteamOS is to remove all dependency on Microsoft. Wine is just a workaround. Linux developers have been trying to get more support for native Linux games. With Valve's push into Linux, that may happen.

Valve seems as they want to remove every aspect of the Windows IP from use with Linux gaming. Wine would also defeat that purpose.

[Nyuu]

I guess you're right, but it's still extremely inconvinient for everyone who wants to play non-linux games. Steam should at least let you download non-linux games and suggest wine to run them or something.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Non-Linux games can be downloaded and used with Wine through the Windows version of Steam (running in Wine).

[Nyuu]

That's what I meant by it's "extremely inconvinient"; downloading a second steam client and having to alternate between the two is very un-fun. Especially when some wine configurations make windows' steam not display any text. Which is bad.

[c4maniac]

I think in the short term this is a problem. Obviously we want windows to not be the be all and end all of games. Lots of things need to change before that happens, I see your point Spawn that we should not work around windows to get windows games on linux. Linux is still in some growing pains for itself and the fact that some publishers have said they want some game engines on linux and its only been a few years now it makes it better for all concerned.

I think, though, this is still true we are dealing with companies and business practices that are in the NFL draft day level money when it comes to game dev and publishing and those out of the windows and EA/activision watershed are just starting to make some head way.

Steam, however, is on the right track. Those game dev houses making it important to include linux as a platform and getting Nvidia driver support finally where we might see a shift to open source and crowd source linux development.

This is just my opinion but I think steam green light is a great platform for that to happen but I see a trend of good games potentially but are in that forever alpha/beta phase. The more games that we see in that trap will be deemed too trivial to even consider.