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Nice article. I still think Linux is miles away from gaming if compared to the Windows OS. WINE and similar software is not something that would interest a cassual gamer and those with more knowledge would have a dual boot for games if neccessary so I agree that these kind of programs don't do much good to Linux gaming.

I think you should include some John Carmack's (id) comments from slashdot which he posted some time ago regarding Linux & games, because many people (particularry Linux fanboys) still think Linux is fit for games and how thing will change to good for Linux.

Here are some of his discussions, you can check the link for full thread:


"It has been pretty clearly demonstrated that the mac market is barely viable and the linux market is not viable for game developers to pursue. Linux ports will be done out of good will, not profit motives. From an economic standpoint, a developer is not making a bad call if they ignore the existence of all platforms but windows."


Some later replyied with:

"I think it's only been established that Id didn't do well with the Linux gaming market (Admittedly, that's NOT a good thing) and it's been pointed out repeatedly by myself and others what went down with the sales of Quake III:Arena- and it wasn't because you did a bad game or did bad by us. (On the contrary, you and the great people at Id given us all KINDS of things- including the initial 3D support for the ATI RagePRO, etc.)

When you lag the release of the game by a bit, offer a way for Linux users to buy the Windows version and then "convert" it to the Linux version, and have a situation of mixed quality support of 3D (Some of the blame can be laid at the community's feet for that- some of it can be laid SQUARELY at the feet of the chip vendors...) sales are going to be most certainly in the toilet. One has to wonder how many of the sales for the Windows SKU were really impatient Linux users. You're never going to know- because there's no way for you, or any of the other management there at Id to know for sure because you didn't have a framework for keeping track of the "conversions" in place (Should you have? I'm not so bold as to say you should have- but it would have helped to know for certain that the Linux market was a washout at that time or not. I tried to buy it at the rollout for Linux, to no avail- and in Dallas, one of the larger markets...)

I don't think anybody would blame you for not seeing Q3A on Linux as a success or viable for gaming- I sure wouldn't and I completely understand the position you're taking on this. I just don't see it the way you are because I'm seeing different data points."

With Carmack replying with:

"All linux games sales EVER don't add up to one medium selling windows title. We are one of the creditors that aren't likely to see money that Loki owes us, so we have some idea just how grim it is.

That isn't saying that it can't change in the future, or that doing linux ports isn't a Good Thing, but it isn't an economic motivator at the present time."


Just get over it. Microsoft has DX and the vast majority of (game) developers and I also don't see this changing in 5+ years future.