No need to delay, really. Much of the work of porting to Linux would already have been done by porting to the Mac. They're much more like each other than either is to Windows. If additional funding came in, then they wouldn't need to divert resources away from the core development, either. They could hire in more.
In principle there's no reason it couldn't be ported to Linux. Mac OSX is basically BSD Linux running on hardware designed for Windows. (Or at least the last time I pulled apart OSX Tiger that what was I found). Provided you have the right kernel and libraries I can't see it being a huge deal.
WOW !
That really is a fair bit of arrogance you just splashed around there and Im not quite sure for who's benefit ??
If you find the subject distresses you or makes you ill at ease, then look away instead of pretending to be something you're not, unless of course you actually are a Thargoid,
in which case I'll get me coat ! i.e. 15% are Linux which still makes Windows the money spinner as you say..
Speaking as a non-programmer I would have guessed that porting from Mac to Linux would be easier than Windows to Mac, so on that assumption it's doable.
But Andy's statement was more about why are we still talking about this I think. If the following is assumed to be correct:
1. There will be a Windows version
2. There will be a Mac version (stretch goal easily reached)
3. A Linux version has been requested by some community members, with the thoughts that it should be possible on the grounds that Mac and Linux are very similar.
What else need be discussed about this other than the +1s etc?
But Andy's statement was more about why are we still talking about this I think. If the following is assumed to be correct:
1. There will be a Windows version
2. There will be a Mac version (stretch goal easily reached)
3. A Linux version has been requested by some community members, with the thoughts that it should be possible on the grounds that Mac and Linux are very similar.
What else need be discussed about this other than the +1s etc?
I would very much like to see Linux version of ED alongside with Mac. Since Frontier is already developing Mac version, it wouldn't be very hard to also add additional ifdefs in code for Linux. OS specific parts of code are in just several low level systems like window management, data persistance, timer, multithreading... I think the most expensive part of it would be testing the game on Linux.
That actually makes a lot of sense!
Put together a decent costing for how much it would cost to create the Linux version and then put it to the Linux users to see if they want to fund it. Obviously you'd have a few people who have pledged already but I'm guessing they have Windows or Mac or wouldn't have bothered pledging when nothing was guaranteed for Linux. Perhaps Frontier could factor in "free upgrades" for those who've paid already. But it does seem like a "nothing to lose" option - Kickstart it and if the demand is there, sorted! If it's not, perhaps we can finally kill all these "giv ma tha linux" threads.
I must confess that I have only skimmed this thread but I just wanted to voice an opinion.
Currently I am running Win7. I have only briefly played with Win8 and it doesn't feel like an improvement so far. I was thinking about whether I could do everything I currently need to do under Linux (and a lot cheaper) and the answer was yes. Except for one very important application, Elite: D. I was so surprised I paused my wife and came to type this message.
If(when?) Elite: D is launched for Linux, I will migrate to a Linux based system (after all you can always run a virtual Windows if you need to).
Currently I am running Win7. I have only briefly played with Win8 and it doesn't feel like an improvement so far. I was thinking about whether I could do everything I currently need to do under Linux (and a lot cheaper) and the answer was yes. Except for one very important application, Elite: D. I was so surprised I paused my wife and came to type this message.
If(when?) Elite: D is launched for Linux, I will migrate to a Linux based system (after all you can always run a virtual Windows if you need to).
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Quick correction here - Mac OS X is BSD UNIX. It is not Linux. It is what Linux has been getting closer to over the years, and is much older. They do not share any heritage. Linux might have bits of BSD UNIX code in it, because their licenses work in that direction. BSD UNIX does not have any Linux code in it.
Just needed to clear that up before somebody gets confused.
WOW !
That really is a fair bit of arrogance you just splashed around there and Im not quite sure for who's benefit ??
If you find the subject distresses you or makes you ill at ease, then look away instead of pretending to be something you're not, unless of course you actually are a Thargoid,
No I even partly agree. There is arrogance in fandom. It then just fanboyisme of OS just like xbox360 fans vs PS3 fans vs Nintendo flamewars etc. Those who stick to one platform. And are very mark loyal. And act and behave very anti.
As a true gamer its about te games where you just comply to having the right platform. So for PC games windows is more a must have unless your a fan and limit youself of games.
Exclusives are on all of them so a true gamer has all of them depending on the favorite games they play. Except those to small platforms.
There noting wrong with windows, what wrong is the hate of fans from the alternatives.
The game industry is like this. The whole PC market is by some seen as dead by most as a after thought. The proof of that are that most ports are a cheap crap job. And if so the only the largest userbase windows get supported. Otherdev do release on every console platform but no PC. Like Some starwars games.
And you can boot different OS's on the same machine. So no mac or no linux native game isn't problem. Because if you hate avoid windows you limit yourself for the large bulk of PC Games. That no preference but fandom to hate of a OS limiting yourself.
The dev industry don't have a problem with W8 but only those who must share there online buying target audience and the dev that go for there online distibution solution. So its a natural bussness reaction on new competition wich is not relevant for gamers. Its W8 appstore vs origin vs steam vs etc.
I do look also to alternative and used all of them except Mac and want to see some succesfull alternatives like OS2warp and BeOS Wich didn't made it.
Also as a gamer I am against exclusives unless they use the uniek features or type of game that do excels on that platform. But if a userbase is small I also expect less support from the industry. And I don't boycot platforms by dening myself of any games on them to play.
So it realy nice that frontier do want to go crossplatform on all PC platforms and even more. But it more the exception then what is the norm.
I have al major game platforms. But more a triple A gamer. No smartphone or tablet gamer. I do not game on my iPhone and iPads. I stick to windows because I am a gamer and the alternatives are somewhat limited bij game releases.
Then again, as a non-true gamer it's about opportunity.
I'm not a gamer. My computer is there for other reasons entirely. I'm nearly forty years old, married, with a cat and a mortgage. My priorities lie elsewhere. So, I'm not going to buy a copy of Windows (which would, realistically, require a new computer) in order to play any computer game.
It would be nice to play Elite: Dangerous, but the simple fact is that for a certain demographic it won't be worth the bother.
In my own case, I don't even know the names of games that aren't for Linux. They don't crop up on my radar at all, any more than the names of Windows text editors do. I wouldn't choose a different OS in order to use a better text editor, and I wouldn't choose a different OS to play a better game. I don't rate gaming as important enough. I only paid attention to this one because of the fun I had playing Frontier back when I owned a DOS computer, and because I'm on the Pioneer dev team and folks have been talking about it.
If Elite: Dangerous comes out on Linux, I'll probably buy a copy (if a friend or relative doesn't buy me a copy first). If it doesn't, it'll just fade from my thoughts.
No names (so please don't assume this is written about you), but I sometimes wish that forum posters would read and absorb the entire thread up to date before posting.
I'm going to paraphrase and summarise my previous contributions:_
There has been a very lively debate on the Kickstarter forum on this topic; FD are well aware of the support base and have promised to investigate it as a possible future expansion; they see the best way forward as a PC game, followed by a Mac version; since all this is well established and known to anybody who has been following this topic for any length of time, the only viable reason for bringing it up again is to continue the lobbying process (which people are more than welcome to do IMHO).
This is not patronising or condescending: it is simply a statement of the facts. I personally dislike lobbying as a process, and when the time comes for the DDF to begin it's work, such lobbying is unlikely to affect my opinion. I had hoped that this view would come through in my posts, but apparently not.
I've now stated my case - twice - and have taken up more time on this thread than I meant to. This will most likely be my last post here.
I'm going to paraphrase and summarise my previous contributions:_
There has been a very lively debate on the Kickstarter forum on this topic; FD are well aware of the support base and have promised to investigate it as a possible future expansion; they see the best way forward as a PC game, followed by a Mac version; since all this is well established and known to anybody who has been following this topic for any length of time, the only viable reason for bringing it up again is to continue the lobbying process (which people are more than welcome to do IMHO).
This is not patronising or condescending: it is simply a statement of the facts. I personally dislike lobbying as a process, and when the time comes for the DDF to begin it's work, such lobbying is unlikely to affect my opinion. I had hoped that this view would come through in my posts, but apparently not.
I've now stated my case - twice - and have taken up more time on this thread than I meant to. This will most likely be my last post here.
The problem with discussion on the Kickstarter is that it only includes those who are funding the game's development, and excludes those who will be customers purchasing the game later. There will be fewer Linux-only users funding the Kickstarter (and therefore able to voice opinions there) because it's not a Linux product. Any Linux users funding the Kickstarter are probably dual-booting Windows users, and don't have to push for a Linux version to play the game.
So, there will be lobbying. Lobbying here is, in fact, about the only way that Frontier Dev could get any indication of how prepared the Linux community would be to buy their game. It's not like lobbying doesn't work. Steam wouldn't have been released for Linux if Linux users had simply kept quiet.
So, there will be lobbying. Lobbying here is, in fact, about the only way that Frontier Dev could get any indication of how prepared the Linux community would be to buy their game. It's not like lobbying doesn't work. Steam wouldn't have been released for Linux if Linux users had simply kept quiet.
Only way, really? I say, put it to a new Kickstarter - "Linux version of Elite : Dangerous" - let the Linux users put their money where their mouth is! If it doesn't get funded then Frontier have their answer and can safely ignore Linux knowing it wouldn't even have paid for itself... if it IS funded they have their answer too, but importantly they also have the money for it and, by extension, the commitment to do it.
What he said, can we end this thread now?