As for the missing features, it shouldn't be too hard to provide them with external application, like XQF server browser. It works well, is stable and the source code is available. As long as NS2 is a good game, I wouldn't mind having to use external program at all.
By the way, I encourage anyone who wants a Linux/Mac version to <b>not</b> buy/preorder the game until a Linux/Mac version is announced. Otherwise you'll send the wrong message. You'll be saying Linux/Mac versions are not important because you bought the game anyway. For me there's no dillema - I don't have a windows partition anymore. I don't want it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I wasn't asking, I'm aware of that post, which is why I said they'd have to implement the whole thing again, seeing as for example that server browser is only for linux, and as far as I can tell, it can only get server info on servers that are added to the thing.
then there is the issue of vac, which linux/mac users wud be able to circumvent in that case, which would mean every cheater just installs linux and get's it on, or a personal anti cheat wud have to be invented for those platforms, and you might think vac is a crap anti cheat software (which it isn't), it sure as hell keeps 90% of all hacks out
Ok, VAC is a good point. Unfortunately I don't see many ways to work around that.
Once upon a time I tried playing W:ET on a server with Punkbuster disabled. My friend was having issues with it and was unable to fix it. Long story short, even imperfect cheat protection makes huge difference. There would be at least 1 guy with a blatant perfect aimbot on each server. The only exception were servers with active admins. There it was quite pleasant to play, but admins clearly had hands full of work, kicking someone every 10 minutes or so.
Valve just came out with official announcement of porting Steam to Mac. No word on Linux, but it shouldn't be that much of a long shot after that, right?
<!--quoteo(post=1758150:date=Mar 8 2010, 01:18 PM:name=Draco_2k)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Draco_2k @ Mar 8 2010, 01:18 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758150"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Valve just came out with official announcement of porting Steam to Mac. No word on Linux, but it shouldn't be that much of a long shot after that, right?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, but that doesn't guarantee NS2 will go linux. By the same token, games that have linux clients are already on STEAM and have been for a while. Ala world of go, and soon Heroes of Newerth.
<!--quoteo(post=1758153:date=Mar 8 2010, 11:25 PM:name=BloodyIron)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BloodyIron @ Mar 8 2010, 11:25 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758153"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Yeah, but that doesn't guarantee NS2 will go linux. By the same token, games that have linux clients are already on STEAM and have been for a while. Ala world of go, and soon Heroes of Newerth.
I'm more asking about NS2.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I believe developers said they'd port to Linux sometime after release anyway - either by themselves or via volunteers - this announcement means they won't have to ditch Steamworks in doing so, thus less work for them.
<!--quoteo(post=1758155:date=Mar 8 2010, 01:29 PM:name=Draco_2k)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Draco_2k @ Mar 8 2010, 01:29 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758155"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I believe developers said they'd port to Linux sometime after release anyway - either by themselves or via volunteers - this announcement means they won't have to ditch Steamworks in doing so, thus less work for them.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well I'd like it through steam, but on linux too ;D
<!--quoteo(post=1758157:date=Mar 8 2010, 03:34 PM:name=BloodyIron)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BloodyIron @ Mar 8 2010, 03:34 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758157"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Well I'd like it through steam, but on linux too ;D<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
ditto. Getting steam on linux would be easier if we encourage developers to push Valve as well. So yea UW, let Valve know we want Linux as well.
steam is on the way to linux. According to phoronix.com there is plenty of linux specific code in the windows(!) binaries which can't be for server stuff (because it is in client libs).
Even the source engine will be ported to linux, not by valve but by the devs that make postal 3 (they said they're using source engine and their game will run on linux, native.)
so...a few months from now we should see a running steam client on linux...
If this rumor became true, maybe our beloved Linux will show it's gamer side! And i wouldn't be impressed if Valve itself start porting games like L4D, Team Fortess 2, Half Life, ETC ETC.
At the same time one of the main problems Unknown Worlds were facing on it's plans to port NS2 to Linux, will fade away with Linux Steam Client.
LET IT BEGIN!!
PS: I'll definitely buy some of the Linux ported games just to encorage developers doing the same.
EDIT: There's new evidence from Phoronix: <a href="http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=ODIwNQ" target="_blank">http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news...m&px=ODIwNQ</a>
# figure out the absolute path to the script being run a bit # non-obvious, the ${0%/*} pulls the path out of $0, cd's into the # specified directory, then uses $PWD to figure out where that # directory lives - and all this in a subshell, so we don't affect # $PWD
STEAMROOT=$(cd "${0%/*}" && echo $PWD)
#determine platform UNAME=`uname` if [ "$UNAME" == "Darwin" ]; then PLATFORM=osx32 # prepend our lib path to LD_LIBRARY_PATH export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH="${STEAMROOT}"/${PLATFORM}:$DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH elif [ "$UNAME" == "Linux" ]; then PLATFORM=linux32 # prepend our lib path to LD_LIBRARY_PATH export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${STEAMROOT}"/${PLATFORM}:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH fi
if [ -z $STEAMEXE ]; then STEAMEXE=steam fi
ulimit -n 2048
# and launch steam cd "$STEAMROOT"
STATUS=42 while [ $STATUS -eq 42 ]; do ${DEBUGGER} "${STEAMROOT}"/${PLATFORM}/${STEAMEXE} $@ STATUS=$? # are we running osx? if [ $STATUS -eq 42 -a ${PLATFORM} == "osx32" -a -f Info.plist ]; then # are we running from in a bundle? exec open "${STEAMROOT}"/../.. fi done exit $STATUS<!--c2--></div><!--ec2--> and --> <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7715209/Steam-for-Mac-goes-live.html" target="_blank">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/appl...-goes-live.html</a> <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Valve has also confirmed that it will make Steam available to Linux users in the coming months.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->then there is the issue of vac, which linux/mac users wud be able to circumvent in that case, which would mean every cheater just installs linux and get's it on, or a personal anti cheat wud have to be invented for those platforms<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not sure that having linux/mac versions allows users to bypass anti-cheat. Having an open source anti cheat system is very difficult to acheive, but Valve isn't proposing that. Some binary anti cheat library is no less of a mystery on Linux than it is on Windows, Linux users just generally don't like binary-only software (as if it ends up crashing, the user is unable to try to fix it), but this is all that Valve would be offering.
screen shots of the linux client <a href="http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer.php?id=0x2010&image=screenshot_steam_first_lrg" target="_blank">http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer.php?i...steam_first_lrg</a> <a href="http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer.php?id=0x2010&image=screenshot_steam_second_lrg" target="_blank">http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer.php?i...team_second_lrg</a> <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->These Linux binaries didn't successfully run, but now some independent users managed to get the first Steam client window to appear. Below is the first screenshot of the Steam Linux client provided to us by a Phoronix reader known as Kame. This is part of the window being rendered, but as you can see, Valve is still working away at their Linux client. The client is not yet in a usable state to play your favorite games (at least in the external builds), but you can see that it is coming. You can follow this lengthy forum thread discussing their poking around of the Steam Linux build and today's IRC logs (via #phoronix on FreeNode IRC) as those independent users continued in their exploration efforts (search for mastertheknife within that page as he was the user that managed to achieve this feat).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sheck this out guys, if this is true then all problems reguarding the possibility of having this game run on steam should be solved. <a href="http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=valve_steam_announcement&num=1" target="_blank">Steam for Linux</a>
NS is the only reason I haven't moved to linux permanently, I just can't get it to run reliably for more than a few seconds on my box for some reason...
There is a great interest in Mac comunity too. If they support OpenGL/OpenCL and other standards they could do a fast port from Linux to Mac or from Mac to Linux.
Would be nice to have Mac version on Steam and Linux standalone.
Linux gamers you can try to run Steam (which works very good) and NS1-2 on Crossover Games Linux. I used to play NS1 with it and worked better than native clinet under Windows :) Don't knoe about NS2 beta. Sure having it native, integrated with out OS would be better.
Sorry for bumping this. Just wanted to add I would love to see a Linux version. Would also be willing to pay again (full price) for this version.
As it seems Steam is not coming to Linux in the near future :( so maybe (if its to much work for UWE alone) you could use <a href="http://gametreelinux.com/" target="_blank">http://gametreelinux.com/</a> which seems like an interesting platform to use, <b>if</b> they are going where GameTreeMac is already at.
Comments
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/news/2010/2/spark_engine_questions_and_answers_1" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/news/2010...s_and_answers_1</a>
As for the missing features, it shouldn't be too hard to provide them with external application, like XQF server browser. It works well, is stable and the source code is available. As long as NS2 is a good game, I wouldn't mind having to use external program at all.
By the way, I encourage anyone who wants a Linux/Mac version to <b>not</b> buy/preorder the game until a Linux/Mac version is announced. Otherwise you'll send the wrong message. You'll be saying Linux/Mac versions are not important because you bought the game anyway. For me there's no dillema - I don't have a windows partition anymore. I don't want it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I wasn't asking, I'm aware of that post, which is why I said they'd have to implement the whole thing again, seeing as for example that server browser is only for linux, and as far as I can tell, it can only get server info on servers that are added to the thing.
then there is the issue of vac, which linux/mac users wud be able to circumvent in that case, which would mean every cheater just installs linux and get's it on, or a personal anti cheat wud have to be invented for those platforms, and you might think vac is a crap anti cheat software (which it isn't), it sure as hell keeps 90% of all hacks out
It just takes time. Time they don't have right now.
Once upon a time I tried playing W:ET on a server with Punkbuster disabled. My friend was having issues with it and was unable to fix it. Long story short, even imperfect cheat protection makes huge difference. There would be at least 1 guy with a blatant perfect aimbot on each server. The only exception were servers with active admins. There it was quite pleasant to play, but admins clearly had hands full of work, kicking someone every 10 minutes or so.
Yeah, but that doesn't guarantee NS2 will go linux. By the same token, games that have linux clients are already on STEAM and have been for a while. Ala world of go, and soon Heroes of Newerth.
I'm more asking about NS2.
I'm more asking about NS2.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I believe developers said they'd port to Linux sometime after release anyway - either by themselves or via volunteers - this announcement means they won't have to ditch Steamworks in doing so, thus less work for them.
Well I'd like it through steam, but on linux too ;D
ditto. Getting steam on linux would be easier if we encourage developers to push Valve as well. So yea UW, let Valve know we want Linux as well.
Even the source engine will be ported to linux, not by valve but by the devs that make postal 3 (they said they're using source engine and their game will run on linux, native.)
so...a few months from now we should see a running steam client on linux...
If this rumor became true, maybe our beloved Linux will show it's gamer side! And i wouldn't be impressed if Valve itself start porting games like L4D, Team Fortess 2, Half Life, ETC ETC.
At the same time one of the main problems Unknown Worlds were facing on it's plans to port NS2 to Linux, will fade away with Linux Steam Client.
LET IT BEGIN!!
PS: I'll definitely buy some of the Linux ported games just to encorage developers doing the same.
EDIT: There's new evidence from Phoronix: <a href="http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=ODIwNQ" target="_blank">http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news...m&px=ODIwNQ</a>
<!--c1--><div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><!--ec1-->#!/bin/bash
# figure out the absolute path to the script being run a bit
# non-obvious, the ${0%/*} pulls the path out of $0, cd's into the
# specified directory, then uses $PWD to figure out where that
# directory lives - and all this in a subshell, so we don't affect
# $PWD
STEAMROOT=$(cd "${0%/*}" && echo $PWD)
#determine platform
UNAME=`uname`
if [ "$UNAME" == "Darwin" ]; then
PLATFORM=osx32
# prepend our lib path to LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH="${STEAMROOT}"/${PLATFORM}:$DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH
elif [ "$UNAME" == "Linux" ]; then
PLATFORM=linux32
# prepend our lib path to LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${STEAMROOT}"/${PLATFORM}:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
fi
if [ -z $STEAMEXE ]; then
STEAMEXE=steam
fi
ulimit -n 2048
# and launch steam
cd "$STEAMROOT"
STATUS=42
while [ $STATUS -eq 42 ]; do
${DEBUGGER} "${STEAMROOT}"/${PLATFORM}/${STEAMEXE} $@
STATUS=$?
# are we running osx?
if [ $STATUS -eq 42 -a ${PLATFORM} == "osx32" -a -f Info.plist ]; then
# are we running from in a bundle?
exec open "${STEAMROOT}"/../..
fi
done
exit $STATUS<!--c2--></div><!--ec2-->
and --> <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7715209/Steam-for-Mac-goes-live.html" target="_blank">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/appl...-goes-live.html</a>
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Valve has also confirmed that it will make Steam available to Linux users in the coming months.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It would be a plus if the same Registration Key would work cross system (a bit like Steam PC/Mac licenses.)
I'm not sure that having linux/mac versions allows users to bypass anti-cheat. Having an open source anti cheat system is very difficult to acheive, but Valve isn't proposing that. Some binary anti cheat library is no less of a mystery on Linux than it is on Windows, Linux users just generally don't like binary-only software (as if it ends up crashing, the user is unable to try to fix it), but this is all that Valve would be offering.
<a href="http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer.php?id=0x2010&image=screenshot_steam_first_lrg" target="_blank">http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer.php?i...steam_first_lrg</a>
<a href="http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer.php?id=0x2010&image=screenshot_steam_second_lrg" target="_blank">http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer.php?i...team_second_lrg</a>
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->These Linux binaries didn't successfully run, but now some independent users managed to get the first Steam client window to appear. Below is the first screenshot of the Steam Linux client provided to us by a Phoronix reader known as Kame.
This is part of the window being rendered, but as you can see, Valve is still working away at their Linux client. The client is not yet in a usable state to play your favorite games (at least in the external builds), but you can see that it is coming. You can follow this lengthy forum thread discussing their poking around of the Steam Linux build and today's IRC logs (via #phoronix on FreeNode IRC) as those independent users continued in their exploration efforts (search for mastertheknife within that page as he was the user that managed to achieve this feat).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl1yRpy8eBo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl1yRpy8eBo</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl1yRpy8eBo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl1yRpy8eBo</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
hahaha :D
Would be nice to have Mac version on Steam and Linux standalone.
Linux gamers you can try to run Steam (which works very good) and NS1-2 on Crossover Games Linux. I used to play NS1 with it and worked better than native clinet under Windows :) Don't knoe about NS2 beta. Sure having it native, integrated with out OS would be better.
If someone can get NS2 to run under wine, i would very appreciate a how to :)
Would also be willing to pay again (full price) for this version.
As it seems Steam is not coming to Linux in the near future :( so maybe (if its to much work for UWE alone) you could use <a href="http://gametreelinux.com/" target="_blank">http://gametreelinux.com/</a> which seems like an interesting platform to use, <b>if</b> they are going where GameTreeMac is already at.
posted from within ubuntu