I am writing this in response to the thread "a thought on linux and gaming". I think it is safe to say we would all like to see more commercial games written for linux or ported to linux. The only reason I dual boot to Windows is because I like games and it can be a pain to get them to run under wine or winex. Very few games are written for linux because its not profitable enough for most companies to do so. Probably only 5% of desktops are running linux. Lets put ourselves in EA's shoes. Why waste time porting a game to linux when only 5% of desktops are running it. Its not profitable enough for them to take the time to do it. So in order to see more games available for linux we need to increase the amount of people who use it.

This can be accomplished, in my opinion, if we can get more businesses to run linux on their workstations. This is realistic because linux is secure to setup a network with, has an excellent office package (open office), is stable (less data lost from crashes), there are virtually no viruses for it, and it is easy to use with KDE or Gnome. This will cause more colleges and high schools to use linux in their business related computer classes, which will cause more people to run linux at home because of compatibility with their job or class.

An increased amount of desktops running linux will make it profitable for companies to port or write games for linux.

So if you are in the position where you can convert your business or school networks to linux you are making companies more likely to write and sell applications for linux. If we all do our part to increase the amount of linux systems out there than more commercial appliclations will be released.

This is all an opinion and I would like to hear others.

Your statistics are abit dated now. About 8% of Desktops have linux on them this has been an all time high for linux. I read linux magazines with letters from happy folks saying how much money their small business is saving because of linux. This will soon become a trend. And with all this Linux stuff going down in Asia, Companies will develop for linux more in the future. What we can do is Purchase every game packaged with a linux installer. and then send emails to these companies to thank them for not forgetting about this. If enough linux users who purchased their software email them, Then im sure they will be more likley to port future games to linux! yay or naigh?

I just thought of something else too. The more applications there are available for linux, the more people will convert to it.

Maybe someone will get a hold of that windows 2000 source code which was leacked and make a uber version of wine off it! lol

Well I am trying to convince my college to switch. See I think there is another way this can be done. I think we get all the gamers who are play games and start e-mailing these companies with out plead to get a version for Linux. I e-mail easports a few days ago about this and have not heard anything from them. But some companies are shaping up, look at UT2004. There will be a Linux version of this and of course there is the demo for it.
You have to look at this because with Linux it is tuffer to do this because of all the different distro's. They would have to include all the libraries but maybe in the future more games will come.

Well it is people like Cliffy B Who ensures that EVERYONE can play his product. which i think is very smart. His software has nice graphics for the dude with the $400 video card, and its graphics can be turned down via software rendering for the poor fool with a 8MB card. And Cliffy B's games come out on every OS. so tell me, what kinda fool isnt goin to buy ut 2004? In my opinon, thinking like this can pay off. Also a thanks to Bioware who ports thier games to linux.