[GLLUG] Computer gaming

[Brent Barker]

Another barrier I found for going completely to linux was a symbolic
math program. I have a Windows version of Mathematica, but not a
version for Linux, so I would have to boot into Windows to verify
integrals and things. Recently I found SAGE, a FOSS symbolic math
program that runs on Linux. I would suggest to install that on one of
the demo boxes for the more math-type geeks out there. Check it out at
http://www.sagemath.org/

--Brent

On Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 5:51 PM, Richard Houser <rick at divinesymphony.net> wrote:
> Commercial games running on Linux IS part of Linux gaming.  In fact,
>  many games ship with commercial Linux support, including the Unreal and
>  ID Software lines.  When we say commercial Linux games, that typically
>  means native binaries are available (in some rare cases, it means the
>  vendor maintains an official "port" using wine).  Reading between the
>  lines, duke4 is supposed to support OpenGL, so paired with the source
>  release of duke3d, I would expect a Linux release to happen at some point.
>
>  Like major movies, most modern video games require a ton of development
>  that just isn't feasible on a large scale from a purely OSS philosophy.
>   Often, these titles consume several million dollars in development
>  costs.  The bulk of the work in typical games today is in graphics,
>  animation, levels, etc.
>
>  Some of the community developed games like Planeshift even restrict the
>  use of the graphics and game data files, while still leaving the game
>  engine under a more traditional OSS license.  Crystal-Space is a
>  relatively full game engine that is completely OSS (and available to
>  work with commercial content, etc).
>
>  There really is nothing wrong with content being proprietary (which is
>  the only part that ALWAYS remains proprietary) as long as the underlying
>  code to use it stays open.  ID software (which makes it's money on
>  engine licenses, NOT game sales) typically releases previous-generation
>  engines as OSS once the newer engine is available and has been widely
>  adopted, etc.  3D Realms released the source to Duke Nukem 3D sometime
>  around a year ago (which is why I just bought a copy), and many other
>  companies have been convinced to open source the game engines for
>  previously Windows-only games (freespace, freespace2, avp, etc.).
>
>  With the exception of some titles on my (personal) already supported
>  list (which in general, were before Linux had good 3D drivers), I don't
>  mess around with Windows games through Wine/Cedega/etc.  Even then, I
>  don't have a problem demonstrating other people's Windows games through
>  Cedega as long as the install is relatively straightforward.  Gaming is
>  currently one of the major roadblocks to home users moving to Linux.
>
>  Showing users that they don't need to abandon all their favorite Windows
>  games to make the switch IS important and will only increase the
>  platform market share to the point where the compatibility layers like
>  Wine are only needed for old software.  In such an environment, open
>  engines are much more likely to flourish, consolidate, and eventually
>  displace the commercial gaming engines, preserving the accessibility of
>  the game content and allowing OSS developers to add features or fix bugs.
>
>
>
>
>  Eduardo Cesconetto wrote:
>  > again, I thought we where focusing on Linux gaming, not Linux supporting
>  > commercial games..
>  >
>  > Eduardo Cesconetto | eduardo at cesconetto.com | (517)507-5966
>  >
>  > On Feb 24, 2008, at 4:52 PM, Richard Houser wrote:
>  >
>  >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
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>  >>
>  >> Chick Tower wrote:
>  >> | Maybe next year we can have Duke Nukem Forever.  I read that it's
>  >> coming
>  >> | out real soon now.
>  >>
>  >> I heard that too, but I've also heard this referred to as the third sign
>  >> of the tech. apocalypse,  The first sign already arrived:
>  >> http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/.
>  >>
>  >> Seriously though, if that arrives with Linux support and can run on the
>  >> hardware we'll have, I'll pick up a copy :).  Heck, I've already got the
>  >> theme song for it in Frets on Fire :).
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>  >> =FMeS
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