Not exactly true. Major work for porting ED to OS X is mostly equal to porting it to Linux (both use OpenGL, both have decent OpenGL 4 support in binary drivers). However, devil is in details of supporting particular port. In Linux, there's lot of choice due of supporting general PC line not only Apple built computers, which provides only one interface trough OS X OpenGL implementation.
In result ED will have to work well on both fglrx (AMD Catalyst) and nvidia OpenGL interpreters. They both support OpenGL 4.5 at this point, but they have serious quirks to deal with (AMD being specifically problematic, but they are trying to deal with it now due of pressure from Valve).
Then there's unified Mesa3D/Gallum3D/Noveau/RadeonSI open source effort, getting better each year (this year huge progress). That one is easier though, because Mesa3D is deemed as one of the best standard supporting OpenGL libraries, and it unifies driver interfaces so you have to work with library only and not to worry about specific implementation.
So porting itself would be very easy from OS X to Linux, but most likely nvidia would be only one working without specific issues. Fglrx and Mesa3D would require additional testing and tweaking.
Installing Windows standalone is ridiculously fraught! Where on God's green earth did the desktop go? I can just see a bunch of animated boxes whizzing around with baseball results on then...ah ha, I need to reboot, that seems familiar. Although less Shellshock in here...
Shellshock matters if you run a server. Otherwise it's funny little story to scare children.
I never disputed that the porting effort was minimal. I even commented that it would be easier than a port from Windows. I was explicitly disputing the assertion that one was based on the other. That's a very specific claim, and it's incorrect.
I agree OS X is based on BSD, but about OpenGL implementation and code wise it would be equally hard (or easy) to port from Windows to OS X as from Windows to Linux.
I won't even be a port from Windows. FD have their own abstraction layer over the top of the system HAL so it is more a case of implementation of interfaces than full-on port.
Of course. In this case they will port extend their engine OpenGL ES layer (which they have for iOS) to full OpenGL stack.
In that interview David gives impression what I have now - they know porting to Linux might be like month affair, but they aren't sure about supporting costs, as I mention, Linux have more than one case of OpenGL library to deal with.
These are my thoughts too. Although with the popularity of Ubuntu and Mint I imagine(hope) that it will be considered worthwhile. I am looking forward to getting it to run under Slackware - then I can get the latests version of my longest played game running on the latest version of my longest used OS and my life will be complete.
I might be right in thinking that Ubuntu is the most used distro and would be the target. SteamOS would also be a probable platform as that will gain popularity.
But is there any survey of Linux distribution use in the home?
But is there any survey of Linux distribution use in the home?
Or a router running Linux?
back on topic
Hi,
So, I haven't posted for a while.. waiting for Elite to percolate a bit, and I come back to find lots of mention of Linux still alive and well in the forums!
If only Frontier would make some kind of commitment to Linux, we could go from struggling and failing to get Elite to work on WINE, to helping each other get our rigs ready and support each other running a native port instead!
If only Frontier would notice that there are, and have been, so many efforts and metrics around why their game doesn't work under WINE.
You will never see Apple customers dedicatedly trying to get Elite working on OSX via Cider. They're content to give Apple their money and wait and wait, or worse, give microsoft their money and dual-boot. (Mac people don't *like* windows.)
Linux users aren't so idle, are they?
Linux users and Linux gamers want their space games. what appeals more to those brave enough to fare into the unknown of Open Source operating systems than a SPACE GAME? An ambitious space game, no less.
Even though I appeal to deaf ears, I'd like to once again implore Frontier to reconsider the Linux port BEFORE the Mac port.
If you port to Linux first, you will more likely have an easier time porting to Mac, in no small part this is because you will foster and cultivate a community on your forums that is MORE THAN WILLING to help support themselves, and you at Frontier. Instead of a forum full of Mac users unwilling or unable to help themselves because there is a much smaller tradition of folks supporting each other under OSX. (why bother, it's the ISV's fault!)
With a Linux port in the wild, and a Linux community in your forums discussing/supporting/relishing the game, you will find the Mac port more easy to accomplish, since you will have established an enthusiastic community interface to help shepherd the Mac community into space.
Like I've said; read your own forums, notice how Linux gamers are ALREADY trying (and failing, and not giving up trying) to get Elite: Dangerous running under Linux. Something Mac users simply CANNOT DO. Why would it make sense to cater to those less dedicated to your own rigorous development efforts? Why ignore or write-off those who try, even though they know you aren't behind them, to enjoy the epic masterpiece you are building.
If that's not the very definition of throwing good will and good money out the window, I don't know what is.
Look around the industry, look at the explosion of Linux games in the Steam catalog, sample the opinions of other game developers who've made the Linux leap. Look at the CONTINUED success of the Humble Bundle's Linux contributions.
You're making a mistake not prioritizing Linux over OSX. You will find supporting an OSX port much more difficult if you do not have a (community sustaining) Linux port under your belt first.
Even if a Linux port doesn't bring in as much money as an OSX port (which is ridiculous, I can build a much beefier Linux gaming rig, for the price of any Mac), you will still save money on developing and supporting the OSX port, your own community would see to that.
Not of any less significance, you will generate much positive press because of a Linux port (seriously, look at the vast vast majority of press any game gets for a Linux port, it's entirely positive (with very very few exceptions)). This Is easily testable. Just SAY ANYTHING AT ALL official in the positive of Linux support, and what will the internet do with your words? I suspect you already know it would make waves.
...Finally, there's still the good will of your player base (which cannot be bought for money) which would enthusiastically back you and support your foresightfulness.
Again, I have 0 expectation that anyone at Frontier will read this, and even less that it'd ever be taken seriously, but I'm no troll, I'm no stranger on these forums, and I am intimately familiar with Elite.
I've been playing Elite games (and their derivatives) since the 80s (starting on the Commodore 64), hell even my domain name is Elite related. I've been a serious Linux gamer for nearly two decades (which hasn't exactly been easy, I admit), and would give anything to play the latest incarnation of (what has traditionally been) my favorite game of all time. Not having used windows in over a decade in a half, I am not about to spend a dime on Windows (nor is pirating an option, who does that help?) that I could spend on my gaming rig's next video card.
There's a reason i've given Star Citizen (literally) TEN TIMES the amount of money i've given Elite: Dangerous.. because their Linux port has been confirmed, multiple times, and will arrive before the Mac port (CryTek willing and the creek don't rise). Please, shut me up and take more of my money.
Once again,
US$0.02++
Hi,
So, I haven't posted for a while.. waiting for Elite to percolate a bit, and I come back to find lots of mention of Linux still alive and well in the forums!
If only Frontier would make some kind of commitment to Linux, we could go from struggling and failing to get Elite to work on WINE, to helping each other get our rigs ready and support each other running a native port instead!
If only Frontier would notice that there are, and have been, so many efforts and metrics around why their game doesn't work under WINE.
You will never see Apple customers dedicatedly trying to get Elite working on OSX via Cider. They're content to give Apple their money and wait and wait, or worse, give microsoft their money and dual-boot. (Mac people don't *like* windows.)
Linux users aren't so idle, are they?
Linux users and Linux gamers want their space games. what appeals more to those brave enough to fare into the unknown of Open Source operating systems than a SPACE GAME? An ambitious space game, no less.
Even though I appeal to deaf ears, I'd like to once again implore Frontier to reconsider the Linux port BEFORE the Mac port.
If you port to Linux first, you will more likely have an easier time porting to Mac, in no small part this is because you will foster and cultivate a community on your forums that is MORE THAN WILLING to help support themselves, and you at Frontier. Instead of a forum full of Mac users unwilling or unable to help themselves because there is a much smaller tradition of folks supporting each other under OSX. (why bother, it's the ISV's fault!)
With a Linux port in the wild, and a Linux community in your forums discussing/supporting/relishing the game, you will find the Mac port more easy to accomplish, since you will have established an enthusiastic community interface to help shepherd the Mac community into space.
Like I've said; read your own forums, notice how Linux gamers are ALREADY trying (and failing, and not giving up trying) to get Elite: Dangerous running under Linux. Something Mac users simply CANNOT DO. Why would it make sense to cater to those less dedicated to your own rigorous development efforts? Why ignore or write-off those who try, even though they know you aren't behind them, to enjoy the epic masterpiece you are building.
If that's not the very definition of throwing good will and good money out the window, I don't know what is.
Look around the industry, look at the explosion of Linux games in the Steam catalog, sample the opinions of other game developers who've made the Linux leap. Look at the CONTINUED success of the Humble Bundle's Linux contributions.
You're making a mistake not prioritizing Linux over OSX. You will find supporting an OSX port much more difficult if you do not have a (community sustaining) Linux port under your belt first.
Even if a Linux port doesn't bring in as much money as an OSX port (which is ridiculous, I can build a much beefier Linux gaming rig, for the price of any Mac), you will still save money on developing and supporting the OSX port, your own community would see to that.
Not of any less significance, you will generate much positive press because of a Linux port (seriously, look at the vast vast majority of press any game gets for a Linux port, it's entirely positive (with very very few exceptions)). This Is easily testable. Just SAY ANYTHING AT ALL official in the positive of Linux support, and what will the internet do with your words? I suspect you already know it would make waves.
...Finally, there's still the good will of your player base (which cannot be bought for money) which would enthusiastically back you and support your foresightfulness.
Again, I have 0 expectation that anyone at Frontier will read this, and even less that it'd ever be taken seriously, but I'm no troll, I'm no stranger on these forums, and I am intimately familiar with Elite.
I've been playing Elite games (and their derivatives) since the 80s (starting on the Commodore 64), hell even my domain name is Elite related. I've been a serious Linux gamer for nearly two decades (which hasn't exactly been easy, I admit), and would give anything to play the latest incarnation of (what has traditionally been) my favorite game of all time. Not having used windows in over a decade in a half, I am not about to spend a dime on Windows (nor is pirating an option, who does that help?) that I could spend on my gaming rig's next video card.
There's a reason i've given Star Citizen (literally) TEN TIMES the amount of money i've given Elite: Dangerous.. because their Linux port has been confirmed, multiple times, and will arrive before the Mac port (CryTek willing and the creek don't rise). Please, shut me up and take more of my money.
Once again,
US$0.02++
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Whilst I agree with a great deal of your sentiments , FD have their hands tied to produce an OS X version before Linux ... it was a kickstarter stretch goal. Having said that it does not appear to me to be too improbable that Elite Dangerous will appear eventually in a Linux form. Public commitments are a heavy weight about your neck .
.linux port would be awesome.
games are the only reason i still have windows installed.
if ED (and some other games) would run with linux: bye bye microsoft.
So +1 from me
games are the only reason i still have windows installed.
if ED (and some other games) would run with linux: bye bye microsoft.
So +1 from me
You've obviously never heard of Paul the Tall. OK, no Elite Dangerous wrapper, but why bother when FD are making a native port?
It might not be that difficult...
The major sticking point for using Wine is the launcher. Whilst I think it is unlikely we'll see a Linux port for a long while, I wonder if some kind soul could make a non .Net version of the launcher.
We could then at least see if the game will run on Wine.
The major sticking point for using Wine is the launcher. Whilst I think it is unlikely we'll see a Linux port for a long while, I wonder if some kind soul could make a non .Net version of the launcher.
We could then at least see if the game will run on Wine.
...which is now over 700 Linux games...
http://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/steam-now-has-over-700-linux-games-what-a-milestone.4404/