Right now I run 2 boxes, 1 linux, 1 windows. My main desktop (better hardware) runs windows mainly for gaming. If NS2 is good enough and supports linux then there is a fair chance linux would become my main OS....so yes, I would love to see a linux build.
If a Linux version of NS2 is announced, and there are no reports of some horrible breakage (like performance and network issues with Enemy Territory: Quake Wars) then I buy a special edition.
Just adding a +1 to a linux port. Hell, even just having dev support with making sure it runs well under wine would be great. I've already pre-ordered, but I'd be willing to buy the game a second time for this. Flay deserves more ramen <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
I like the idea of Linux being ported on to other Operating systems, Mac OSX, Linux etc. However if I were the UWE team, I'd be looking at the cost efficiency of gamers who would use each platform as their primary gaming machine.
I don't think it would be worth the time and money porting to linux if their expected primary user base of linux gamers will be <10% (or another arbitrary number which reflects it more accurately). It is great to see such early support from people on the forums wanting it, however in the grand scheme of things on the internets it may or may not be such a great idea forward for time and money. Would be nice to see a website poll or survey perhaps asking people something similar to, "Which would be your preferred platform to play NS2 on?" and then "Which platform are you most likely to play NS2 on?" or something similar; just to engage the current NS2 audience as a whole and make sure that time and money isn't partly wasted.
With my own personal opinion, the market share of gaming is predominantly Windows based with MAC rising slightly since the introduction of Intel support, Bootcamp, EA games cross platform games etc. To me it makes more sense to cater to the largest audience possible, so Windows and MAC and leaving smaller platforms such as Linux to be a case of enquiring in to your own target audience at a later date.
Sorry I sucked the fun out of the post with a fiscal powered answer <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Yes, or it could get you a huge number of new customers. One of the things that everyone I've introduced to linux loves about it is the way you can just browse for software and install it, right there (I'm talking about mint install and the ubuntu add/remove). If a native linux port were made, and a free demo released into the universe repos, you would have a huge number of people going 'this looks cool' and getting hooked. Especially considering the way linux games seem to market themselves almost. You could easily get onto slashdot and many other popular sites with a newsbyte like 'Sequel to award-winning indie game to support linux'
<!--quoteo(post=1710707:date=Jun 6 2009, 08:13 PM:name=ReK)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ReK @ Jun 6 2009, 08:13 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1710707"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Yes, or it could get you a huge number of new customers.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Yes, huuuuuuge...
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It’s only been 2 days since the release of the Linux version and it already accounts for 4.6% of the full downloads from our website. (...) More copies of the game were sold via our website on the day the Linux version released than any other day. This day beat the previous record by 40%. There is a market for Linux games after all <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> <a href="http://2dboy.com/2009/02/12/world-of-goo-linux-version-is-ready/" target="_blank">http://2dboy.com/2009/02/12/world-of-goo-l...rsion-is-ready/</a>
<b>Debunking the Linux-Windows market-share myth</b> <i>Evans Data survey shows that market share isn't judged by the same rules for Windows and Linux</i>
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->There are dozens of reasons why people have underestimated how quickly Linux has been grabbing Windows' market share, but the Evans data confirms one of my pet theories. Windows market share is usually estimated by the units of Windows Microsoft claims to have shipped. This figure is already skewed, because it includes every unsold box of Windows XP sitting on shelves at Best Buy or Circuit City. More significant, however, is the fact that it includes every PC with a pre-installed version of Windows.
Linux market share, on the other hand, is usually estimated based on surveys, number of commercial boxes sold and the number of downloads.
The actual market-share shift from Windows to Linux is obviously more complicated. When someone purchases a PC with Windows pre-installed, and then overwrites that pre-installed Windows with Linux, nobody subtracts "one" from the installed base of Windows and then recalculates the Windows market share. So Windows starts out with a false boost and maintains its illusory market share even as it gets replaced by Linux.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
(...)
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->After much consideration, I chose a nearly flawless diamond. It replaces the cubic zirconia otherwise known as the axiom that Linux is taking more market share from Unix than from Windows. I had long suspected this was a fallacy, and Evans' data confirms my suspicions.
Of the developers surveyed, more than 50 percent who now develop primarily for Linux used to develop primarily for Windows. Only 30 percent used to develop for some other Unix or Unix derivative. In case you missed it, the operative phrase is "used to." In other words, this is not a prediction of an emerging trend. It is cold, hard information about what has already transpired, and it withstands the scrutiny of a jeweler's eyepiece.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Also keep in mind that <b>Linux users tend to be a lot more technical</b> (vast majority makes conscious choice to use it, they like to customize stuff etc...). In practice this means <b>these people are a lot more likely to set up Natural Selection servers, write scripts, mods, create maps and so forth.</b> This was the case with Neverwinter Nights 1. And because the bar is set higher, Linux gamers tend to be more mature too.
AsranielJoin Date: 2002-06-03Member: 724Members, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Playtester, Retired Community Developer
There was actually another indie game that had a big boost because of the linux port, but i forgott the name. They wrote a interesting article on theyr blog on how the linux user base, even if much smaller than the windows userbase, really helped them in publicity and also because they are often people with "connections". "many" windows gamers than sometimes use linux also watch linux gaming sites, if a game like NS2 is on all the frontpages of the linux gaming sites, this is a big publicity.
So, if you think about linux don't only think about how many users exist, but the rest that comes with it ( i try to remember the name of that game, it was something with a rabbit or werewolf, fighting.. something like that)
I probably won't be playing NS2 unless it's released for Linux. As much as I love natural selection, it does not make up for how much I hate windows.
@MonsieurEvil: if it takes 1 month to port it to Linux and sales increase as much as for World Of Goo, then wouldn't you say it's worth it from an economic perspective (of course, there's no guarantee for that happening)?
The guy has a graph showing about a half of purchasers are Mac users, and about 5% used Linux. That's quite a lot bigger than the 1% myth. What some older gamers don't realise is that 10 years ago and earlier (when NS1 was released) computer users were more technical on average. Also more introverted. Recent increase in computer user count comes largely from 'softcore' users - your aunt, Joe Average, your dad who's not computer savvy. Such users are less likely to play - or <i>want</i> - anything more complicated than Freecell, Minesweeper, or some flash games. I'm trying to say (and facts are on my side) that <b>Linux percentage is much higher among hardcore gamers.</b>
Some factoids supporting my theory... <a href="http://www.google.com/trends?q=linux" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/trends?q=linux</a>
"OMG ! Linux usage is <i>falling</i> over years !" - said a disinformed troll. But wait...
<a href="http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22microsoft+windows%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22microsof...=all&sort=0</a> Wait, what ? "Microsoft Windows" also becomes less popular with years ? But surely not Mac OSX !
<a href="http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22mac+osx%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22mac+osx%...=all&sort=0</a> Oh, well. "Mac OSX" also falls from usage. Or that's what a complete idiot would deduce. A smarter person might come to a conclusion that newcomers to computer world increasingly less <i>care</i> what operating system they use. They don't <i>know</i> there's a choice. They're not computer enthusiasts, as was often the case in the past. They need a computer to do X and Y, that's it. When a computer gets clogged with spyware and starts working slowly and behaves oddly, they think it "wears out" and buy another one. At my workplace we use computers, everyone has a workstation, and some people even openly declare they don't <i>like</i> computers. It's not usage of Linux, Windows, Mac OS that's falling - it's computer literacy that's falling. ---------------
Back to the article I linked, about Lugaru. The guy brings some interesting points (emphasis mine):
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->From a short sighted, graph reading viewpoint, supporting Mac OS X and Linux directly increased sales by around 122%. However, this seemingly unbelievable number is actually <b>understated</b>. (...) <b>1. It’s good to be a big fish in a small pond</b> As a pretty niche independent game, Lugaru was never covered by PC Gamer, IGN, and other behemoth media publications. However, it was just large enough to get covered in a variety of Mac journals.
(...) 3. Vocal minorities Having a Linux build meant coverage on Slashdot. This of course generated huge interest in not just the Linux version of Lugaru, but the Windows and Mac versions too.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Imagine that. Having a Linux version of a game increases... Windows sales ? Lugaru is a single-player game, the effect would be much bigger for a community game like Natural Selection 2 where people want to bring their friends to.
I think I remember reading something about not turning this in to a flame wars thread for operating systems, however someone has decided to do that?
It's all well and true people saying I'll buy a second copy just to play on their Linux distro etc. However from a development point of view, a business point of view, you can not guarantee this revenue increase. Meaning as a strategy it would not be viable, as it's not amazingly viable to own two perfectly good copies of a game just because you want it on another machine in the house because you want to be cool. Percentages again are not a great measuring tool, just look at the stock markets for this as people rave about 10% increases after 50% losses, however in reality you have still lost a huge loss in figures.
Linux gaming share is slowly increasing a long with Mac OSX share, this is true however it's not doing so at an alarmingly huge rate. Since 2006, roughly Linux market share has increased by roughly 50%. In reality, in figures, roughly 0.5% or slightly less of the total market share. As a business, I would not be so inclined to include Linux as part of my main stream strategy as it's simply not growing enough.
I can see why Linux users want NS2 on their OS of choice however it's simply not developing fast enough. Your growth of OS share is tiny and okay a few indie studios are putting much more simple, more fun, less serious games than NS2 on to Linux and getting success, you have to look at the bigger picture. I'm simply not against the idea, I'd just like to point out it's unlikely to benefit the NS2 scene and business at all, so don't get your hopes up.
To end an essay of a post I'm going to leave you guys with a link to Internet Browsers market share. If Linux grew like Firefox did since 2006 (for those that don't want to click, Firefox grew roughly 12% in popularity over the time Linux grew roughly 0.5% in popularity over same given period) then there'd be a considerable business interest in NS2 on Linux, in my eyes.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers#Present_to_1999/" target="_blank">Market Share of Browsers 2004-2009</a>
"The guy has a graph showing about a half of purchasers are Mac users, and about 5% used Linux. That's quite a lot bigger than the 1% myth."
ahahahahahahahahaha oh God <b>seriously</b>?! Five percent oh <b>wow</b>! Man UWE had better get <i>right to it</i> for such a <b>large</b> increase in sales <i>clearly</i> ahead of them.
Look, the UWE team already said they wanted NS2 to work on all platforms, so quit worrying so much - if it's viable then they'll do it, and if not, then boo hoo it's not like dual booting is that hard. Linux is primarily a business platform and even if that's slowly changing people already have a UNIX-like operating system for casual use: OS X, which is getting NS2 support near-definitely. All this zealotry about Operating Systems really slaps my ######, kids.
Another thing is that writing portable programs results in better code quality. The code is easier to maintain, there are less bugs and so forth. id Software manages to release Linux versions of their games because they write good quality code. Saying there has to be enough of X to justify developing for X is a red herring fallacy. If a game is done right from the start, the cost of porting to another platform is small.
<b>The Whys and Hows of Porting Software</b> <a href="http://www.pyrogon.com/about/diary/2_26_2002.php" target="_blank">http://www.pyrogon.com/about/diary/2_26_2002.php</a>
re: troll
Yes, dual booting is hard for someone who doesn't want to a) pay for a copy of windows b) doesn't like to waste disk space to redundant operating system.
Game? Linux? Cool. I never heard of this Natural Selection game but a quick look on wikipedia suggests that it's good. I'll take a look but if there's a linux client I'll probably buy it. I friggin hate having to run things through wine.
I think you will have to put 100% priority to linux dedicated server, its the best thing you can do if you wanna have many servers the day of the release. Most of serious servers are in linux machines. It will be easier to port if you dont use any windows header, haha <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
devicenullJoin Date: 2003-04-30Member: 15967Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
<!--quoteo(post=1711012:date=Jun 7 2009, 08:54 PM:name=ebrainte)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ebrainte @ Jun 7 2009, 08:54 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1711012"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I think you will have to put 100% priority to linux dedicated server, its the best thing you can do if you wanna have many servers the day of the release. Most of serious servers are in linux machines. It will be easier to port if you dont use any windows header, haha <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
As we discussed in the dedicated server thread.. a linux dedicated server DOES NOT MATTER. Sure, it would be nice to have, but it's not worth holding the release of the game up for even 1 minute.
<a href="http://www.moddb.com/games/natural-selection-2/news/one-small-step-for-a-man-one-giant-leap-for-mac-kind" target="_blank">This</a> makes me feel all tingly inside.
+1 for a Linux version, of course. From someone who would NOT buy the Windows version or promote it to friends, on IRC, forums, blog, etc.
<!--quoteo(post=1684238:date=Jul 23 2008, 07:20 AM:name=Flayra)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Flayra @ Jul 23 2008, 07:20 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1684238"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Doing just the dedicated server for Linux would be a lot easier and might be the right thing to do right out of the gate. Later we can (and likely will) port all over the place. This is one of the big advantages with have over using something like Source.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Definately the right thing!
If you release a linux dedicated at the start (and hopefully allow performance testing by end-users) you will gain so much ground! I know a few people that are interested, but want to host/run/play on their on nix server and if there is a linux dedicated available at release... they are definately going to get it!
Also waiting for the Linux Version.. well yeah, i had to install vista because of some MMO's id like to play... forget about wine, i want native games! Imagine if a Windows user has to use a Programm wich makes linux programs work on windows.. unbelieveable.. :D
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
After seeing the response to <a href="http://games.slashdot.org/story/09/07/08/1543203/New-RTS-Based-on-DotA-Offers-Native-Linux-Client?from=rss" target="_blank">this</a> where S2(the guys that made Savage and Savage 2) are making a RTS game and released a Beta Linux Client. I think a Linux client could be given a little more consideration :-) (How this alone got them front page slashdot article is a little beyond me though).
Just to add my 2 cents - I think a linux dedicated server is mandatory. While I would like it client side (I run win 7 as my main OS but own a 1u centos 5.2 server in a datacenter) I think it would really hurt the community if the server was only windows based. A good 50% of gaming servers out there on the market run some variety of *nix, and in the enterprise it is much more stable due to updates. I definately value windows for it's place but in an enterprise OS it requires massive maintenance.
I'm sure a large portion of NS1 server runners ran linux - I know a couple in particular.
<!--quoteo(post=1711012:date=Jun 8 2009, 01:54 AM:name=ebrainte)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ebrainte @ Jun 8 2009, 01:54 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1711012"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I think you will have to put 100% priority to linux dedicated server, its the best thing you can do if you wanna have many servers the day of the release. Most of serious servers are in linux machines. It will be easier to port if you dont use any windows header, haha :p<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I thought Windows Server operates were just as serious. Otherwise my line between reality and imagination is screwed up?
<!--quoteo(post=1716462:date=Jul 9 2009, 11:36 AM:name=locallyunscene)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (locallyunscene @ Jul 9 2009, 11:36 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1716462"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->(How this <b>alone</b> got them front page slashdot article is a little beyond me though).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Not alone. It's more the fact that it's an "RTS based on <b>DotA</b>", which is actually extremely popular.
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1716511:date=Jul 9 2009, 10:35 AM:name=Harimau)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Harimau @ Jul 9 2009, 10:35 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1716511"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Not alone. It's more the fact that it's an "RTS based on <b>DotA</b>", which is actually extremely popular.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I don't really think that the game type made much difference, DotA is still rather niche. Even if it did, the excitement over DotA is its new and uncommon-ness, which FPS/RTS also has due to its difficulty to design well.
Not... really. People just find it fun. <b>Many</b> people. It's popular, people know about it. Seriously, they have tournaments and everything. There's even a song about it. Ahah. It's not new either, it's quite an old (concept and) game right now. It's just constantly revised, new heroes added, tweaks, etc. Another developer, other than S2 games, recently attempted the same thing - Demigod, heard it was a bit of a bomb though. Blizzard seem to have taken a hands-off approach themselves, but somewhere mentioned they'd be 'supporting' the dota community for starcraft 2 -- with the necessary tools to develop it for SC2.
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1716542:date=Jul 9 2009, 12:33 PM:name=Harimau)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Harimau @ Jul 9 2009, 12:33 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1716542"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Not... really. People just find it fun. <b>Many</b> people. It's popular, people know about it. Seriously, they have tournaments and everything. There's even a song about it. Ahah. It's not new either, it's quite an old (concept and) game right now. It's just constantly revised, new heroes added, tweaks, etc. Another developer, other than S2 games, recently attempted the same thing - Demigod, heard it was a bit of a bomb though. Blizzard seem to have taken a hands-off approach themselves, but somewhere mentioned they'd be 'supporting' the dota community for starcraft 2 -- with the necessary tools to develop it for SC2.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> ... You could say the same things about NS; Tournaments, songs, based on older concepts blah blah.
DotA only recently came into its own as a game mode, just after(and in a very similar style to) tower defence. Other than that there's nothing special about it.
"In June 2008, Michael Walbridge, writing for Gamasutra, stated that DotA "is likely the most popular and most-discussed free, non-supported game mod in the world"."
There is at least 1 other RTS that has had a recent release (Aussie dev I think) that was a 'spiritual successor' to Dota that I know of. It has a huge hardcore following.
Comments
My main desktop (better hardware) runs windows mainly for gaming. If NS2 is good enough and supports linux then there is a fair chance linux would become my main OS....so yes, I would love to see a linux build.
I don't think it would be worth the time and money porting to linux if their expected primary user base of linux gamers will be <10% (or another arbitrary number which reflects it more accurately). It is great to see such early support from people on the forums wanting it, however in the grand scheme of things on the internets it may or may not be such a great idea forward for time and money. Would be nice to see a website poll or survey perhaps asking people something similar to, "Which would be your preferred platform to play NS2 on?" and then "Which platform are you most likely to play NS2 on?" or something similar; just to engage the current NS2 audience as a whole and make sure that time and money isn't partly wasted.
With my own personal opinion, the market share of gaming is predominantly Windows based with MAC rising slightly since the introduction of Intel support, Bootcamp, EA games cross platform games etc. To me it makes more sense to cater to the largest audience possible, so Windows and MAC and leaving smaller platforms such as Linux to be a case of enquiring in to your own target audience at a later date.
Sorry I sucked the fun out of the post with a fiscal powered answer <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Yes, huuuuuuge...
<a href="http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8&sample=35" target="_blank">http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-...8&sample=35</a>
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
How about this ?
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It’s only been 2 days since the release of the Linux version and it already accounts for 4.6% of the full downloads from our website.
(...)
More copies of the game were sold via our website on the day the Linux version released than any other day. This day beat the previous record by 40%. There is a market for Linux games after all <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<a href="http://2dboy.com/2009/02/12/world-of-goo-linux-version-is-ready/" target="_blank">http://2dboy.com/2009/02/12/world-of-goo-l...rsion-is-ready/</a>
<b>Debunking the Linux-Windows market-share myth</b>
<i>Evans Data survey shows that market share isn't judged by the same rules for Windows and Linux</i>
<a href="http://linux.sys-con.com/node/32648" target="_blank">http://linux.sys-con.com/node/32648</a>
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->There are dozens of reasons why people have underestimated how quickly Linux has been grabbing Windows' market share, but the Evans data confirms one of my pet theories. Windows market share is usually estimated by the units of Windows Microsoft claims to have shipped. This figure is already skewed, because it includes every unsold box of Windows XP sitting on shelves at Best Buy or Circuit City. More significant, however, is the fact that it includes every PC with a pre-installed version of Windows.
Linux market share, on the other hand, is usually estimated based on surveys, number of commercial boxes sold and the number of downloads.
The actual market-share shift from Windows to Linux is obviously more complicated. When someone purchases a PC with Windows pre-installed, and then overwrites that pre-installed Windows with Linux, nobody subtracts "one" from the installed base of Windows and then recalculates the Windows market share. So Windows starts out with a false boost and maintains its illusory market share even as it gets replaced by Linux.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
(...)
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->After much consideration, I chose a nearly flawless diamond. It replaces the cubic zirconia otherwise known as the axiom that Linux is taking more market share from Unix than from Windows. I had long suspected this was a fallacy, and Evans' data confirms my suspicions.
Of the developers surveyed, more than 50 percent who now develop primarily for Linux used to develop primarily for Windows. Only 30 percent used to develop for some other Unix or Unix derivative. In case you missed it, the operative phrase is "used to." In other words, this is not a prediction of an emerging trend. It is cold, hard information about what has already transpired, and it withstands the scrutiny of a jeweler's eyepiece.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Also keep in mind that <b>Linux users tend to be a lot more technical</b> (vast majority makes conscious choice to use it, they like to customize stuff etc...). In practice this means <b>these people are a lot more likely to set up Natural Selection servers, write scripts, mods, create maps and so forth.</b> This was the case with Neverwinter Nights 1. And because the bar is set higher, Linux gamers tend to be more mature too.
"many" windows gamers than sometimes use linux also watch linux gaming sites, if a game like NS2 is on all the frontpages of the linux gaming sites, this is a big publicity.
So, if you think about linux don't only think about how many users exist, but the rest that comes with it ( i try to remember the name of that game, it was something with a rabbit or werewolf, fighting.. something like that)
@MonsieurEvil: if it takes 1 month to port it to Linux and sales increase as much as for World Of Goo, then wouldn't you say it's worth it from an economic perspective (of course, there's no guarantee for that happening)?
<a href="http://blog.wolfire.com/2008/12/why-you-should-support-mac-os-x-and-linux/" target="_blank">http://blog.wolfire.com/2008/12/why-you-sh...os-x-and-linux/</a>
The guy has a graph showing about a half of purchasers are Mac users, and about 5% used Linux. That's quite a lot bigger than the 1% myth. What some older gamers don't realise is that 10 years ago and earlier (when NS1 was released) computer users were more technical on average. Also more introverted. Recent increase in computer user count comes largely from 'softcore' users - your aunt, Joe Average, your dad who's not computer savvy. Such users are less likely to play - or <i>want</i> - anything more complicated than Freecell, Minesweeper, or some flash games. I'm trying to say (and facts are on my side) that <b>Linux percentage is much higher among hardcore gamers.</b>
Some factoids supporting my theory...
<a href="http://www.google.com/trends?q=linux" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/trends?q=linux</a>
"OMG ! Linux usage is <i>falling</i> over years !" - said a disinformed troll. But wait...
<a href="http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22microsoft+windows%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22microsof...=all&sort=0</a>
Wait, what ? "Microsoft Windows" also becomes less popular with years ? But surely not Mac OSX !
<a href="http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22mac+osx%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22mac+osx%...=all&sort=0</a>
Oh, well. "Mac OSX" also falls from usage. Or that's what a complete idiot would deduce. A smarter person might come to a conclusion that newcomers to computer world increasingly less <i>care</i> what operating system they use. They don't <i>know</i> there's a choice. They're not computer enthusiasts, as was often the case in the past. They need a computer to do X and Y, that's it. When a computer gets clogged with spyware and starts working slowly and behaves oddly, they think it "wears out" and buy another one. At my workplace we use computers, everyone has a workstation, and some people even openly declare they don't <i>like</i> computers. It's not usage of Linux, Windows, Mac OS that's falling - it's computer literacy that's falling.
---------------
Back to the article I linked, about Lugaru. The guy brings some interesting points (emphasis mine):
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->From a short sighted, graph reading viewpoint, supporting Mac OS X and Linux directly increased sales by around 122%. However, this seemingly unbelievable number is actually <b>understated</b>.
(...)
<b>1. It’s good to be a big fish in a small pond</b>
As a pretty niche independent game, Lugaru was never covered by PC Gamer, IGN, and other behemoth media publications. However, it was just large enough to get covered in a variety of Mac journals.
(...)
3. Vocal minorities
Having a Linux build meant coverage on Slashdot. This of course generated huge interest in not just the Linux version of Lugaru, but the Windows and Mac versions too.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Imagine that. Having a Linux version of a game increases... Windows sales ? Lugaru is a single-player game, the effect would be much bigger for a community game like Natural Selection 2 where people want to bring their friends to.
It's all well and true people saying I'll buy a second copy just to play on their Linux distro etc. However from a development point of view, a business point of view, you can not guarantee this revenue increase. Meaning as a strategy it would not be viable, as it's not amazingly viable to own two perfectly good copies of a game just because you want it on another machine in the house because you want to be cool. Percentages again are not a great measuring tool, just look at the stock markets for this as people rave about 10% increases after 50% losses, however in reality you have still lost a huge loss in figures.
Linux gaming share is slowly increasing a long with Mac OSX share, this is true however it's not doing so at an alarmingly huge rate. Since 2006, roughly Linux market share has increased by roughly 50%. In reality, in figures, roughly 0.5% or slightly less of the total market share. As a business, I would not be so inclined to include Linux as part of my main stream strategy as it's simply not growing enough.
I can see why Linux users want NS2 on their OS of choice however it's simply not developing fast enough. Your growth of OS share is tiny and okay a few indie studios are putting much more simple, more fun, less serious games than NS2 on to Linux and getting success, you have to look at the bigger picture. I'm simply not against the idea, I'd just like to point out it's unlikely to benefit the NS2 scene and business at all, so don't get your hopes up.
To end an essay of a post I'm going to leave you guys with a link to Internet Browsers market share. If Linux grew like Firefox did since 2006 (for those that don't want to click, Firefox grew roughly 12% in popularity over the time Linux grew roughly 0.5% in popularity over same given period) then there'd be a considerable business interest in NS2 on Linux, in my eyes.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers#Present_to_1999/" target="_blank">Market Share of Browsers 2004-2009</a>
ahahahahahahahahaha oh God <b>seriously</b>?! Five percent oh <b>wow</b>! Man UWE had better get <i>right to it</i> for such a <b>large</b> increase in sales <i>clearly</i> ahead of them.
Look, the UWE team already said they wanted NS2 to work on all platforms, so quit worrying so much - if it's viable then they'll do it, and if not, then boo hoo it's not like dual booting is that hard. Linux is primarily a business platform and even if that's slowly changing people already have a UNIX-like operating system for casual use: OS X, which is getting NS2 support near-definitely. All this zealotry about Operating Systems really slaps my ######, kids.
<b>The Whys and Hows of Porting Software</b>
<a href="http://www.pyrogon.com/about/diary/2_26_2002.php" target="_blank">http://www.pyrogon.com/about/diary/2_26_2002.php</a>
re: troll
Yes, dual booting is hard for someone who doesn't want to a) pay for a copy of windows b) doesn't like to waste disk space to redundant operating system.
BEST IS ###### SUBJECTIVE.
As we discussed in the dedicated server thread.. a linux dedicated server DOES NOT MATTER. Sure, it would be nice to have, but it's not worth holding the release of the game up for even 1 minute.
+1 for a Linux version, of course. From someone who would NOT buy the Windows version or promote it to friends, on IRC, forums, blog, etc.
Definately the right thing!
If you release a linux dedicated at the start (and hopefully allow performance testing by end-users) you will gain so much ground! I know a few people that are interested, but want to host/run/play on their on nix server and if there is a linux dedicated available at release... they are definately going to get it!
Also waiting for the Linux Version.. well yeah, i had to install vista because of some MMO's id like to play... forget about wine, i want native games! Imagine if a Windows user has to use a Programm wich makes linux programs work on windows.. unbelieveable.. :D
I'm sure a large portion of NS1 server runners ran linux - I know a couple in particular.
I thought Windows Server operates were just as serious. Otherwise my line between reality and imagination is screwed up?
Not alone. It's more the fact that it's an "RTS based on <b>DotA</b>", which is actually extremely popular.
I don't really think that the game type made much difference, DotA is still rather niche. Even if it did, the excitement over DotA is its new and uncommon-ness, which FPS/RTS also has due to its difficulty to design well.
It's not new either, it's quite an old (concept and) game right now. It's just constantly revised, new heroes added, tweaks, etc.
Another developer, other than S2 games, recently attempted the same thing - Demigod, heard it was a bit of a bomb though. Blizzard seem to have taken a hands-off approach themselves, but somewhere mentioned they'd be 'supporting' the dota community for starcraft 2 -- with the necessary tools to develop it for SC2.
It's not new either, it's quite an old (concept and) game right now. It's just constantly revised, new heroes added, tweaks, etc.
Another developer, other than S2 games, recently attempted the same thing - Demigod, heard it was a bit of a bomb though. Blizzard seem to have taken a hands-off approach themselves, but somewhere mentioned they'd be 'supporting' the dota community for starcraft 2 -- with the necessary tools to develop it for SC2.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
... You could say the same things about NS; Tournaments, songs, based on older concepts blah blah.
DotA only recently came into its own as a game mode, just after(and in a very similar style to) tower defence. Other than that there's nothing special about it.
There is at least 1 other RTS that has had a recent release (Aussie dev I think) that was a 'spiritual successor' to Dota that I know of. It has a huge hardcore following.