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OpenGL isn't dying, that's for sure. Why? Because DirectX (D3D specifically) exists only for Windows. OpenGL is an open protocol and as such it has been ported to dozens of platforms, including even mobile phones. Also lots of the high-end CAD applications and modeling tools use OpenGL.

As long as D3D isn't available for any other platform than Windows then it will never be able to push OpenGL completely off the board.

As for OpenGL's merits..well, I can't really compare as I have never done any D3D programming but I find OpenGL a pretty solid protocol and quite pleasurable to work with.

True, opengl is still alive and kicking. The difference in features with directX is minimal.

Anyway, concerning games, nowadays, unless you're re-creating your own 3d engine, you will probably use (licence) an existing 3d engine with a higher level api and never deal directly with opengl or directx wich are more a hardware interface than something that helps making applications (think scene management, animation techniques, effects, camera/screen management, capabilities management etc.).

See http://www.ogre3d.org for an example of current 3d engine (not to mix up with a game engine). It can use opengl or directx via pluggable renderers and thats transparent for the programer (and the user).

Some closed source engines are like that too, for example, Renderware was indifferently using opengl or directx, depending on what was the best for the platform.

GNU GPL is the #1 license by far used in the free and open source world. However X related software have been using the more permissive MIT X11 license and OpenGL is now under this license (effectively) rather than GPL.

OpenGL is still the best solution for cross platform vendor neutral royalty free graphics and not just for games but for CAD/CAM applications as well.

Distributions have been aware of this issue and it would have been quite bad if SGI hadn't done what they did. So good job SGI!

(emphasis mine in above quote)

WRONG. DirectX has been the king of GAMES. Most professional graphics packages still use OpenGL due to its cross-platform ability.

Each has strengths. DirectX seems to have moved forward a lot quicker due to support from hardware manufacturers (which is in part due to MS keeping the spec up to date with technology).

OpenGL does lag behind in terms of what current hardware supports, however it should not be overlooked. For example any 3D software for a platform other than windows will use OpenGL. Its still a strong API. Plenty of games still use it too, for example doom 3 (i'm sure there are more recent examples but i'm not much of a gamer).

What exactly does OpenGL lack when it comes to hardware support? When ATI or nVidia release a new piece of silicon, why is it that the demos showcasing the new features are always written in OpenGL? Ever hear of OpenGL extensions? 6 months later, and Direct X may get the feature if ATI/nVidia loby Microsoft enough for it.

So tell me again why you believe that OpenGL doesn't support the latest features implemented in silicon?

"Plenty of games still use it too, for example doom 3 (i'm sure there are more recent examples but i'm not much of a gamer)."

Grand Theft Auto 4, Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, Far Cry 2, Gran Turismo 5, etc etc. For more brevity: basically any game running on the Playstation 3.

Games using it on the OC are becoming a little sparse, unfortunately. But the Playstation 3 shows that Opengl need not lack too badly in the looks department.

Where does it say that it is being released under GPL? Please point me to it as I don't see explicit reference to it.