how many replies will it take to get the "games ported to linux" thread to be worth something to developers?

probably alot...ide say like 1500+

The biggest concern for developers right now should be appeasing Linux server admins. That's the angle that needs to be used to convince them to make ports. There needs to be an active and organized effort to boycott all Linux Dedicated Servers for games that have no Linux client. Otherwise, the installed base of Linux users of like 2-3% (My estimate,... including those who duel boot, since the published figure is like 1%) won't be enough to justify Linux ports.

JaseP, there is an effort:
http://thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/190498263

Do a bit of research into what happened to loki, they were porting great stuff, (I have soldier of fortune from them, it rocks!), they died, no money, why?

Others certainly would not want to follow in their footsteps, so making a business case for porting/writing games for an os that has a reputation for expecting everything to be "free" (as in free beer, not free speech) is a rather hard sell, dontcha think? The paradigm needs to shift...

That's a good point. Though, I think it would be the goal to get the actual developers to port it (getting paid), not some outside folks.

Just ask yourself, how much money have you paid (so far) for linux games? (or for linux itself for that matter) That is the petition that developers will notice...cash.

I've currently paid $50 for linux (a while ago for red hat)...

bought ut2003 (comes with 3 cds, 3rd supports linux)

no others that run on linux that I like (haven't got much of a choice)

the stores I shop at usually carry really outdated versions of linux... so I tend to download distros to try out

Have you seen/tried WineX? It's at Transgaming.com, I highly recommend it, it's only $5 a month, and it works.

ME?!?!?:

Quake 3 Arena: $10 (tin Box Loki Edition)
Terminus: $19.95
SimCity 3000: $10 (Loki Edition)
Return to Castle Wolfenstein: $19.95
Unreal Tournament 2003: $19.95
Descent3: $2 (no joke, Loki Edition)

And those are just the ones that I bought specifically because they run in Linux. I also bought a copy of FreeSpace2 because it was being ported.

Total: $81.85 - and it would have been a lot more... I just got a lot of discounted stuff.

Whoops, I forgot Neverwinter Nights and the Shadows of Undrentide expansion: $79 more...

Well I signed the petition, but my entry didn't appear.

This is only about Valve. There needs to be a growing group of admins who will boycott ALL Linux dedicated servers for games where there is no Linux client. Not just a petition, but a movement, an organization.

They need to be vocal and convince all admins who run Linux servers to shut down all dedicated servers that lack Linux clients. We need to tell the game develpers that our stable, well functioning OS will not be a lap-dog to their success without receiving a "bone".

We need to publish the list of Publishers who fail in this regard (Like Raven/LucasArts, Raven/Activision) and rip into them every chance we get, especially where porting would take a short time (like where the work has already been done, in Quake 3 Arena and Unreal Tournament 2003 engine-based games). At the same time we need to sing the praises of all developers/Producers who DO release Linux clients (Like BioWare/Atari, ID, Epic/Atari, etc.)

Thing is, linux is ALSO fighting aginst Windows server. Take down these dedicated servers and you poke a stick in the arm of developers but makes Microsoft happy...choose what you will.

IMHO the way to do these is to make sure that the quality Linux games out there make a profit. These are businesses we are talking about, they need to stay (or become) profitable. I started the thread here as hopefully if a company is considering a port, a thread with a large number of replies from people who are willing to pay (and especially have paid in the past) may be just what is needed to put the decision over the top.

--jeremy

The M$ servers are not the servers of choice because M$ sucks as a server OS. It's slow, buggy, virus-ridden crap, and developers know this. That's why they release Linux servers. You honestly don't believe that those games could have become as popular as they are without a Linux server do you???

A certain amount of the popularity of those games is based on the "build it and they will come" philosophy. With a stable server being plentiful, the oppurtunity for multiplayer gaming on those titles is easier had. That makes players like a title. I have no problem finding an Unreal Tournament 2003 or Quake 3 Arena server, even though those titles are getting a little long in the tooth. The ability to use a spare machine to set up a server is a boon. "Spare Machines" don't run M$ server OSes. They don't have the horse power.

"(and especially have paid in the past)" -jeremy

YES! This is the exact problem. Many Linux users don't like to pay. The post above me makes reference to the fact that games rely on this "build it and they will come" theory. Well, these people don't have the extra cash for nice servers, and likely don't have the extra cash to buy tons of games. And tons will need to be bought for Linux to be a mainstream OS. Remember Loki? Many don't. Fact is, Linux just dosn't appear profitable, and a company may not wish to waste the man power on a product that may not get out. And use the friggin S key, jeez...