The Best PC Game Platform ever could be the (GNU)niversal Linux Operating System
As an avid GNU/Linux user and IT Professional, I have personally observed how versatile this magnificent Operating System can be.
GNU/Linux drives a multitude of different hardware ranging from embedded devices, to various types of networking devices, to small computer systems, to servers, to supercomputers, and beyond.
GNU/Linux truly is a Universal Operating System, not only because it can be installed on just about any type of hardware, but also because of the freedom(in license) it offers to use, modify, and redistribute it to humans everywhere.
So, today while having a "trip and bump my head" moment, I thought of an idea that would make it possible to deliver more games to more users than ever.
Here's the idea: All PC Games should first be built to work with the GNU/Linux Universal Operating System. Then, since it is relatively easy, the game would simply have an installer that would install GNU/Linux on the host platform and to enable the gamer to be played on the host. An example of this "GNU/Linux installed as a program" system is already being used in Ubuntu, it's called wubi (Windows-based Ubuntu Installer). The wubi enables users to install GNU/Linux as a program into the Windows OS.
Since GNU/Linux is Universal, this could open up the game to just about any platform because the user would simply use the game installer to install GNU/Linux along with the game to their system.
Running games in this fashion would put an end to the need for PC game makers having to port their games to different host Operating Systems because all games would be built to work in the GNU/Linux Universal Operating System.
Using this type of system would revolutionize the PC gaming industry, and broaden the market for the game because it could run on many different types platforms. Increasing the availability of the games would equate to increased sales of the games. It's sort of like the example of RAMBUS RAM vs. SDRAM. Since SDRAM was a more open standard than RAMBUS, more hardware mfgrs were able to make SDRAM and so it became cheaper and more widely used to the point that it snuffed out RAMBUS alltogether. Another example would be Henry Ford's mentality of making cars more affordable and selling many more cars than when they were only available to the rich.
This method of making games would also help to protect gaming systems from becoming obsolete, which would be beneficial for both the gamer and the game maker.
Imagine the possibilities that can become reality if games weren't tied to one specific Operating System and instead were run from the GNU/Linux Universal Operating System.
So perhaps GNU/Linux should be renamed to (GNU)niversal Linux Operating System.
Go Freedom!! Go GNU/Linux!!
Shannon VanWagner
|
blog |
website |
digg |
Click here for the digg.com article
Also shared the idea with:
Mark Shuttleworth
Collabra
Dell Ideastorm
here
