LinuxQuestions.org
Help answer threads with 0 replies.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Software
User Name
Password
Linux - Software This forum is for Software issues.
Having a problem installing a new program? Want to know which application is best for the job? Post your question in this forum.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 11-07-2003, 02:56 PM   #1
wh33t
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Canada
Posts: 920

Rep: Reputation: 61
More of a discussion then a problem


I'm curious...

If its possible to make games that require directx to run on linux, why cant someone just make something similar to directx? I've noticed that only certain games can run on linux.

I'm still new in the linux world. And to tell you the truth I feel a lot healthier in my job, becuase I feel I'm on the right track to leaving windows behind. I'm 20 years old, and I've been the half owner of an internet cafe located on the small island I grew up in since i was 17 years old and just graduated. www.twomutts.ca (website still largely under construction. (incase your wondering about the name, we live on a small island where many hippies and crazy people live. We wanted a name that said computers+technology+sales+internet with out scaring people. So our name for the store was the Two Mutts Computer Room, the name sells the place well) We do everything from Computer repair to complete custom systems, and I'm happy to say that we dont push our sales. When someone comes into the room and is curious about a new computer, we dont sell them what they dont need. This means a lot to me, cause I have hard time being dishonest to people. I find it very hard to sell someone windows XP even when they ask for it. Simply because I know the user is going to come back probably a day later and ask me to fix something that the operating system screwed up itself. Like all those damn virus' and worms that can affect the OS while I'm updating it... Its unbeleivable. Anyways, the point I'm trying to make.

Many of my customers are young people that I've known from school or friends and family of people I know and grew up with. I'd really like to give them linux. Preferably Mandrake Linux, cause its what I just started using and it seems to be the easiest to set up, the easiest to use of the major distros (please correct me if I'm wrong on this). The kids wanna play games. The parents want to write documents, print and scan things and use there digital cameras. How can I get games and other windows apps to run easily on linux? Have them install easily? I have read up on Wine and such, but there still too complicated for those "brought up in the windows world" users. Compiling something and adjust lines in a config file is too much. Our business is quite successful, and my partner and I would be more than willing to donate financial support, bandwidth and webspace to fund an operation to create something like directx that would ease the installation of games, and bring similar performance for gaming to the linux operating system. Please, any feed back, or comments or suggestions. Please let me know.

I dont beleive microsoft is needed for any of our customers anymore, except for gaming. I would love to put a big sticker on the front of our window of Tux, and say we are proudly windows free, and be able to support our customers 110% with linux. So if anyone can help me with my dream, please let me know.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 03:00 PM   #2
jim mcnamara
Member
 
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 964

Rep: Reputation: 36
OpenGL is like DirectX in that it does screen graphics, but it doesn't have a DirectX api interface.

The guys who wrote Doom, Quake, etc. (idsoftware.com) supported OpenGL, so there were linux ports of their games.

Since only about 5% of the gaming market is linux, most game companies do a linux port last, if ever.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 03:03 PM   #3
wh33t
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Canada
Posts: 920

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 61
I understand that some companies such as the guys who made unreal actually have a linux version. But I'm not talking about that. I would never expect every game developer to make a mac version, linux version and a windows version, its not financially worth it to them. I'm sure they'd love to be able to do it, but I'm positive there companines would go bankrupt. I'm talking about a way to make any windows app or game install seamlessly into linux just as if it were windows. Wine comes close is some cases. But I dont want to sell a product that cant do everything they require it too. I guess thats what my problem is.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 03:13 PM   #4
jim mcnamara
Member
 
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 964

Rep: Reputation: 36
Won't work - Wine is as close as you can get.

You can also buy VMWare which lets you run multiple OS'es at the same time.

Emulating another OS or running another OS as a guest operating system is not trivial, especially since Windows is anything but open. Took court action last year to get them to release documentation on about 20 api's they thought were 'private'.

The maibn reason unix runs on so many platforms is because of the microkernel. It is a HAL - a hardware abstraction layer that make all of the appropriate device calls, you can think of it as a "software BIOS".
For example, Intel chips support 4 modes - user and kernel are the two that are used by Windows, the other modes are not used.

To change mode requires machine-specific calls - that's one thing the HAL does. This lets unix run on all kinds of chips from the alpha to the Z80 (well almost).
 
Old 11-07-2003, 03:19 PM   #5
wh33t
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Canada
Posts: 920

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 61
Well if games can never be installed as easily as they can on windows, with out being first ported to linux, than its sad for me to say that linux will never have a hold on the desktop like windows does. Sometimes even installing games on Windows is too hard for people. Try to image your average 45 yr old dad, trying to play Tom Clancys Rainbow 6- version 3 on linux machine. He drives a bus for a living and is used to clicking the "Next" button a few times to get the game running. If its any more difficult than that to install a game, I personally dont think any average users would try to install one. They dont have the time to come into a forum to find out why its not working. They've spent a long stressful day at work, and want to be on there machines for pleasure. They wont spend time compiling or adjusting values in a config. That makes me sad to hear.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 03:57 PM   #6
Lostman
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 239

Rep: Reputation: 30
It's getting there. Companies like Atari activly support Linux. Look at UT2k3, UTtk4, they all come with a Linux install out of the box. And those are popular games.

you have to give it time. Companies like EA won't push for Linux games untill there is a loud enough calling for it.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 04:06 PM   #7
wh33t
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Canada
Posts: 920

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 61
Of course. It makes sense. Companies have to make money. I was just curious if there was a way to make them install just like in windows. I know time is needed for everything, especially when your developing team is many talented volunteers, but none the less still volunteers. How ever the more time it takes to come up with such a technology is more time for microsoft to secure its hold and poison the minds of unaware innocent individuals that Microsoft is the only operating system that is easy to use, and does everything. I think I might start selling my computers dual booting perhaps...
 
Old 11-07-2003, 04:10 PM   #8
WindowsBurner
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2003
Location: In chaos
Distribution: OpenSuse
Posts: 293

Rep: Reputation: 30
Tell me about it
I spent 2 and a half months looking for a way to get doom,quake,heretic,hexen,
and command & conquer to work on linux(Slackware 8.0).

I finally find Doom Legacy which will allow you to run Doom and Heretic in linux.
After a little compiler trouble with the linux port of quake I finally got that to work.
I never got Hexen or C&C working.

But all troubles will soon be over.I'm starting a game development project (open source & commercial ) for just linux.

But It'll be a year or two before any "real games" are actually produced.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 04:13 PM   #9
wh33t
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Canada
Posts: 920

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 61
Windowsburner. Please email me at Tristan@twomutts.ca. I'd like to hear about your plans for your project. post back in forum in email doesn't go through. my pop server seems to be acting a bit funny... Not sure why. I cant send a message to it from hotmail.com but I can send a message to it from what it seems like anywhere else... Not too sure why thats happening.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 04:27 PM   #10
Lostman
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 239

Rep: Reputation: 30
I tell ya, Most mods are volinteer (sp?). Look at desert combat for BF1942. They all did it for free. Why can't people do it for Linux?
 
Old 11-07-2003, 04:30 PM   #11
wh33t
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Canada
Posts: 920

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 61
Personally I dont get it. I have sooo many friends in It colleges and they live to program. I cannot for the life of me figure out why they love windows so much. Shit. If I could program and make something like directx or something for linux. I'd dedicate my life to it. Makes me angry.
 
Old 11-07-2003, 04:33 PM   #12
WindowsBurner
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2003
Location: In chaos
Distribution: OpenSuse
Posts: 293

Rep: Reputation: 30
I know exactly how you feel
I'm just about to remove windows off my computer permanetly
I was primarily a windows programmer but that stop about 2 1/2 yrs. ago.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Other discussion forum ust General 3 12-27-2004 04:08 PM
Discussion LinuxRam General 5 08-24-2004 06:58 AM
Discussion: Why use C/C++? Strike Programming 106 08-21-2004 02:09 AM
Serious Discussion nbjayme Linux - Newbie 2 09-24-2003 10:49 AM
Questions and Discussion ghight Solaris / OpenSolaris 8 02-12-2003 04:09 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Software

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:26 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration