[plug] Hi all, I'm new here and I thought I'd say hello (nt)

[ElViZ]

Why thankyuo
ElViZ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Theodor Gutmann" <tgutmann at iinet.net.au>
To: <plug at plug.linux.org.au>
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 5:02 PM
Subject: RE: [plug] Loki no longer! :(


> The company that started the ball rolling, however was id. Before Loki
> came along id gave the platform  major credibility by releasing Linux
> versions of the whole Quake series. With Quake 3 Arena the standard
> benchmarking tool, this is an ideal opportunity to pay homage yo idand
> compare the same game native to each platform. And it appears Linux has
> quite a kick in it.
> 
> Given that NVIDIA Linux drivers don't have anywhere near the the amount
> of of human power thrown at them as Windows drivers, these are
> impressive results. Some Hackers need to turn their already over clocked
> cards into molten slag to squeeze an extra 5fps at 1600x1200 in max
> detail.,
> It is also worth noting that Linux was running a number of default
> services including Web, FTP, security and file services while Windows XP
> on the other hand was post AXPOG, optimised and nary an unnecessary
> service to be seen.
> But the average difference of 5 fps is not necessarily a compelling
> reason to get a crash course in Linux just so you can squeeze a few
> extra fps out of Quake. But it certainly should make us wonder -what
> would be possible if NVIDIA invested as much effort into its Linux
> drivers as it clearly spends with its Windows line-up??
> 
> CPU benchmarks show clearly that Linux is more efficient, and this
> directly translates to frames in games- it can also be seen that the fps
> gap between the two platforms grow as the resolution increases: higher
> resolutions require more power: Though Quake 3 Arena is not
> representative of all games, benchmarks do show the potential of Linux
> as a gaming platform, capable of pumping the frames slightly higher than
> its commercial competitor.
> 
> But it does not mean that much anymore. Windows lays claim to the title
> as the standard platform for gaming and there is no point reinventing
> the wheel.
> 
> When games are released they are released for windows, because that is
> where the market is.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Grahame Bowland [mailto:grahame at ucs.uwa.edu.au]
> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 4:20 PM
> To: plug at plug.linux.org.au
> Subject: RE: [plug] Loki no longer! :(
> 
> On Fri, 2002-01-25 at 15:19, Theodor Gutmann wrote:
> > First the obvious question: are there any games for Linux??
> > Yes!!..........lots.
> > Many are ports of popular Windows games such as the Quake series,
> > Civilisation: CTP, Myth, Soldier of fortune, Descent 3, Unreal
> > Tournament and Tribes 2 to name a few- and they install and run  just
> > the same, if not better ( there are benchmarks scores available ).
> There
> > is but one problem with games under Linux- NOBODY BUYS THEM!.
> >
> > Whether it is because Linux geeks are short on cash, or they are so
> used
> > to open source philosophy that buying software is a major hurdle, who
> > knows, but Linux game company Loki filed for bankruptcy protection.
> Loki
> > was the crowning glory of games for Linux, consisting of a group of
> > talented programmers with a solid service to SELL - they'd port
> Windows
> > games to Linux in return for a share of the profits of the ported
> game.
> > All the game company needs to do is hand over the source to Loki and
> > then wait for the cash from the sales to roll in.
> > But the sales DID NOT roll in, Loki ran out of investment capital.
> 
> I don't think it's any of this stuff. The fact is that:
>  - most Linux people have access to a Windows box
>  - it's so much easier to buy Windows games than Linux games
>  - they're only ports of existing Windows games, without any special
>    added features and with introduced bugs/the occasional missing
>    feature
>  - some of the games couldn't multiplayer with the Windows versions
>    of themselve
> 
> So when confronted with the choice of getting the easy-to-install,
> easy-to-buy Windows game or the Linux version that might not work
> completely, most people just opt for the easiest and buy Windows. You
> can't blame people for that. People want stuff to work, people don't (in
> general) care that Linux is free, open, good or right. And Loki's
> software wasn't an embodiment of those principals anyway.
> 
> Perhaps Loki would have sold more games to Linux people if they'd
> actually developed cool new games - then this whole easier option
> wouldn't have existed. Given that RedHat x.x is so easy to find these
> days you might have found people installing it just to try the latest
> Loki demo CD.
> 
> They had nothing to make people want to switch to Linux and buy their
> product, and their was no particular reason someone dual-booting would
> buy the Linux program.
> 
> It might have been more sensible to be a consulting company at first,
> contracting to existing games houses who already have their own
> distribution channels. Given the price of pressing a CD, you might even
> have found a Windows and a Linux version in some boxes. Although perhaps
> that is wishful thinking.
> 
> Have fun
> Grahame
> 
> --
> Grahame Bowland                       Email: grahame at ucs.uwa.edu.au
> University Communications Services    Phone: +61 8 9380 1175
> The University of Western Australia     Fax: +61 8 9380 1109
>                                      CRICOS: 00126G
> 
> 
>