NS2 on Linux, Show your intrest Options

[Prefix]

This is a topic for those who would buy a native Linux version of NS2, show your interest!
This topic is started because of the possibilities unknown worlds have with using their own in-house engine.
This thread is not to be turned into a OS fan-boy flame war.

I'll start.

I would defiantly buy a native Linux version of NS2 for my Ubuntu Hardy machine.

[ChromeAngel]

I would also buy a copy of NS2 to run on my Ubuntu Hardy Heron (provided my machine specs supported it).

I would be nice if a license covered you to play one copy of the game at a time regardless of platform or hardware.

[locallyunscene]

I currently run a Windows system, but if NS2 was runnable on Linux I'd have one less major reason to stay on Windows. SC2 would have to be Linux compatible too.

[Private]

I would buy a Linux client.

(I never liked Ubuntu, so I go with Fedora)

Also, I will point out that the deep gameplay that has always been one of the major strengths of NS is likely to appeal to the same kind of persons who actually bother to run Linux.

[Prefix]

@ChromeAngel, yeah, only needing one license would be good, but I only run Ubuntu, so it doesn't matter to me personally.

@locallyunscene, I wouldn't hold your breath when it comes to blizzard and Linux, but anything is possible

@Private, I agree that it would suit a lot of Linux users.

( I liked fedora, but I just love apt to much. )

[spellman23]

I know a couple of people who would like a Linux version. I personally still use Windows.

A fun note is that it's a little hard to setup for Linux since there's several packages out there unlike Windows or Macs where there's a defined up-to-date release. However, given that most Linux users tinker with their OS, I'm sure you can port it out and let them do the tinkering to get it run just right. Mind you, a decent port, just not one specific for Fedora or making sure it runs seamlessly on Hardy.

[Karba]

I don't think a linux version of NS2 was a priority at this moment, but if that happen, it would be great.

[Mr. Epic]

I would also be interested in compatibility with linux. You guys have the chance to ensure NS2 runs on whatever OS, don't lose that chance!

[ChromeAngel]

I don't think a linux version of NS2 was a priority at this moment, but if that happen, it would be great.

Now (or ideally before any graphics was coded) would be the ideal time to plan for the capacity to be cross platform. If it turns out Max has been coding this all in C# using DirectX the odds of it ever seeing a non-windows platform are tiny to non-existent. If however he's been using a cross platform friendly set of tools like ANSI C++ and openGL we at least have a ray of hope for a Linux NS2.

@spellman I hear what you're saying about Linux having lots of distros, but that's really no different than supporting all the NT based versions of Windows (was it 18 different versions of Vista I read the other day?). After all you don't expect your "games for windows" to run on windows mobile or media centre do you?.

Hell, if their was a Linux version it could come on a Live CD with a cut down distro that UWE had tuned to suit their game.

@Prefix & locallyunscene
I heard Blizzard have an OS X version of WoW, so their eyes are obviously open to non-windows based gaming. I get the impression that it's not a massive jump from running on BSD (which OS X is based on) to running on GNU/Linux.

This post has been edited by ChromeAngel: Jul 12 2008, 05:55 AM

[Prefix]

OpenGl and Directx can be used, with options to change between the two, WoW uses either.

[ChromeAngel]

WoW has 300 developers, NS2 has like 5...

[Radix]

If the game will be sold on steam, how would they make a native linux client? You're saying you'd have to wine to get steam to work, but the executable itself would be rewritten to run natively?

[Prefix]

@Radix, the windows version can be sold on steam, but a Linux version could be sold elsewhere - that is to say if they are infact still using steam to sell the game.

Other cross platform games have done this in the past.

This post has been edited by Prefix: Jul 11 2008, 09:35 PM

[Zeno]

Maybe a linux version could bring more players to ns, too?
There are just a few games that run on linux, therefore ns2 would have just little competition. and if a game magazine or a linux magazine writes something about a new multiplayer game that runs on linux it would attrackt some attention. people could mention ns as one of the games available for linux when arguing on forums about how vista sucks (because every forum has such a thread), again raising the popularity. linux-only users couldn't avoid ns when looking for something to play.
then again many ppl would move to linux because there's no reason to stay at windows.

[Prefix]

I agree, sites like http://www.linuxgames.com/ would pick up on NS2 for Linux if there was a native version, and digg would too, which is constantly swarming with Linux users.

Without a doubt, if NS2 was released for Linux, it would be common knowledge for Linux gamers within a week.

Many Linux gamers buy native Linux games when they are made, just because there is a native linux version, to show they support the idea, regardless of the game.

Need more people to post if they are interested! I'm going to digg this thread tbh.

[spellman23]

@spellman I hear what you're saying about Linux having lots of distros, but that's really no different than supporting all the NT based versions of Windows (was it 18 different versions of Vista I read the other day?). After all you don't expect your "games for windows" to run on windows mobile or media centre do you?.

Oh believe me I know exactly what you're talking about. The trick is Windows tends to keep their core stuff the same. Linux allows users to potentially get really deep into even the kernel and change stuff, which is one of its strengths and weaknesses. I have several friends who are addicted to altering Linux. So, linux allows much more variability. Thank goodness for the community making good solid stuff people share, or else nothing would ever get distributed. And obviously it can be done. Look at the Firefox and Wine distros that can work on any of the Linux distros.

The trick is how deep they're into the fortress of code that is Windows. They might not be able to dig their way out and make it a flexible game for Mac and Linux, which would be a shame. About half of my LAN party players only play at the parties because they use Linux and Macs, but we provide PCs for them to use for the games.

[Kassinger]

I'd definitely buy NS2 twice if they sell a Linux version also.

[IronFist]

I simply want to request that future Linux support be kept in mind when making choices. This would include picking OpenGL for rendering.

I don't think it is realistic to expect that NS2 will be released with Linux support, though. Look at Valve with Steam and Source; no doubt these apps are deeply entrenched in Windows, but even with the resources they have available, they appear to be making no moves to Linux-ize Steam or Source. I think this will eventually happen, but the more-or-less a monopoly MS has for Windows is going to keep us waiting a few more years (still, I find Ubuntu's adoption rate by my fellow gamers to be encouraging).

I am hoping that at the best, it will be ported over to Linux after release, but with no official support (I don't think id software supports Linux builds of their games as much as Windows, given the vast array of potential problems that can crop up).

Given that the tools are likely going to be Windows-only, and that there's still the majority Windows-only gamer market to cater to, I don't think it will work like we'd want.

I think Wine may offer hope though, as I've seen some interesting things about compiling directly against their provided API to create Linux ports with little to no code modification. I think picking OpenGL is still extremely important here.

edit: Perhaps you could wrastle over some of the Tremulous community, which seems largely Linux-based

This post has been edited by IronFist: Jul 12 2008, 12:11 AM

[Prefix]

Personally, when I say I'd buy a Linux copy, I don't expect support, because I know the developers will have to make an effort to put it on the linux market.

This post has been edited by Prefix: Jul 12 2008, 12:10 AM

[Max]

Given that the tools are likely going to be Windows-only, and that there's still the majority Windows-only gamer market to cater to, I don't think it will work like we'd want.

Our tools are actually platform independent. We use the fantastic wxWidgets library for all of our user interface work.