Linux version?

[borsook79]

After a Mac version, how about the Linux one? I know that the dev team is very small but there is a company that does such conversions (http://www.linuxgamepublishing.com/), so it could be released in the same manner as Mac version. Maybe you should contact them? Just a tiny suggestion

[IainMcNeil]

Thanks - we'll check it out.

[timjohn]

Thanks - we'll check it out.

I FULLY support this and will happily pay for a Linux version... there is no competition for this genre in the Linux repositories, and the target audience (Linux users) is generally more mature, intelligent and interested in this type of gaming than the common or garden Star Wars type gamer. You could corner this market overnight!

[adherbal]

the target audience (Linux users) is generally more mature, intelligent and interested in this type of gaming

I can't help but think it's also the audience that would excel at cracking and illegaly sharing software

[borsook79]

the target audience (Linux users) is generally more mature, intelligent and interested in this type of gaming

I can't help but think it's also the audience that would excel at cracking and illegaly sharing software

I wouldn't think so. True, a linux gamer usually has to use cracks as most copy protection checks do not run under WINE or Cedega, but it does not mean they do not legally own them. In general I rather think opposite - since a typical linux user has a legal system and most applications it is more appealing to pay for the games too, whereas a Windows user often start from "pirating" windows itself, MS Office and then naturally proceeds to games. BTW One could try and run some statistics by looking at game torrents and comparing the percentage of linux clients with windows ones... though it would be highly imprecise of course.

[timjohn]

After a Mac version, how about the Linux one? I know that the dev team is very small but there is a company that does such conversions (http://www.linuxgamepublishing.com/), so it could be released in the same manner as Mac version. Maybe you should contact them? Just a tiny suggestion

Have you tried CEaW in Wine or VirtualBox? The demo gets to the login screen without a problem, but then needs a serial no. Once I've got mine, I will try to get it running. As so much is Java-based and the graphics are all *.png, I thought that it had been developed in Linux!

[timjohn]

the target audience (Linux users) is generally more mature, intelligent and interested in this type of gaming

I can't help but think it's also the audience that would excel at cracking and illegaly sharing software

Without turning this into a general Linux philosophical discussion, Linux users are the last people who are accustomed to cracking software. The entire underlying principle of Linux is based on "free" software (as in free speech) in other words, open source, shared software.

Try Ubuntu and the huge repository of free software to get a feeling for what I'm referring to...

Anyway, lets get back to simulated strategic warfare and the other important things in life

[timjohn]

I have the CEaW demo running successfully in Sun VirtualBox 1.6 under Ubuntu 8.04.
It runs with no discernible difference to native XP except that the Tutorial messages flash up a little slowly. I am waiting for an activation code as I have already installed my registered version on 2 PCs and the VirtualBox generates a new virtual machine with its own fingerprint.

A short step away from a native Linux version?

[farjumper]

The funny thing that it already works on Linux. You can try to start the game in that way (you need to be in game root directory, where Commander.exe is located):

Code: Select all

$ java -Xms500m -Xmx900m -Xss10m CEAW 9100

Moreover, probably it works on any platform that supports Java. And the sad thing that the formers don't want to do any steps toward the Linux community. :(

So CEAW is yet another great game that hates Linux users.

[timjohn]

The funny thing that it already works on Linux. You can try to start the game in that way (you need to be in game root directory, where Commander.exe is located):

Code: Select all

$ java -Xms500m -Xmx900m -Xss10m CEAW 9100

Moreover, probably it works on any platform that supports Java. And the sad thing that the formers don't want to do any steps toward the Linux community.

So CEAW is yet another great game that hates Linux users.

Thanks! Where/how did you install it? And what happens when the Activation code is asked for?

I am playing quite happily with my registered version in VBox, but I'd prefer to play natively in Ubuntu.

I don't think that the developers hate Linux users... I've had great response from Iain and others at Slitherine. It's just business and market share which limits what can be done.

[farjumper]

You can't do this if you use an original version. (For example it executes launcher.exe when it starts. In Linux this is impossible.).
I just wanted to show that there is no need to worry linuxgamepublishing team because everything for Linux platform supporting is already done. And the question is not in the possibilities but in the wishes.

[IainMcNeil]

It's really an issue of time. We have so much going on right now that we just have not had time to follow this up. We'd love to have Linux users playing our games.

[Redpossum]

the target audience (Linux users) is generally more mature, intelligent and interested in this type of gaming than the common or garden Star Wars type gamer.

since a typical linux user has a legal system and most applications it is more appealing to pay for the games too, whereas a Windows user often start from "pirating" windows itself, MS Office and then naturally proceeds to games.

I vehemently object to these sorts of biased, bigoted, slanderous, unsubstantiated statements. This is nothing but blatant, unsubstantiated OS chauvinism.

And these attitudes are exactly what I refer to when I use the term 'Nix Nazi.

By what right do these people come here and slander a whole class of honest gamers, untold tens of millions of us, simply because of our choice of OS?

By what right do they impugn our honesty, and state that we are criminally inclined, simply because we use Windows?

"Linux users) is generally more mature, intelligent and interested in this type of gaming" they say. Based on what data? It seems to me that this is an outrageously hateful, bigoted, rude statement to come from people who are more mature and intelligent. I would have thought that with maturity would come tolerance, forebearance, and observation of common courtesy, but apparently I was mistaken.

After all, I am immature and unintelligent.

I am also greatly offended, and angered in no small measure.

[farjumper]

It's really an issue of time. We have so much going on right now that we just have not had time to follow this up. We'd love to have Linux users playing our games.

Wow! Thanks, guys! In that case sorry for my expression about your attitude to linux users... I'll be looking forward to linux related news.

[timjohn]

As I said, farjumper, there is goodwill and intent! perhaps some Linux programmers could contact Slitherine?
Thanks Iain!

[borsook79]

since a typical linux user has a legal system and most applications it is more appealing to pay for the games too, whereas a Windows user often start from "pirating" windows itself, MS Office and then naturally proceeds to games.

By what right do these people come here and slander a whole class of honest gamers, untold tens of millions of us, simply because of our choice of OS?

I'm not going to touch the first quote as it was not mine - but to answer your question - by the right of facts. I said that many Windows users pirate their operating system, basic applications and then games. To be exact I used the phrase "windows user often" -this is a fact whether you like it or not. While there is piracy involved with commercial applications for Linux, the percentage of illegal copies used vs legal ones is much lower than with similar software on windows. We can discuss reasons for that, and surely "intelligence and maturity" have nothing to do with that, but these are facts, and being offended by them is a bit strange....

To come back on topic - both CEAW and CNAW work perfectly well under Wine 1.0 (and maybe other versions, I did not test them) with too small quirks - fonts were a bit too big and performance dropped a bit in full screen but it was very fast in window.

[timjohn]

the target audience (Linux users) is generally more mature, intelligent and interested in this type of gaming than the common or garden Star Wars type gamer.

since a typical linux user has a legal system and most applications it is more appealing to pay for the games too, whereas a Windows user often start from "pirating" windows itself, MS Office and then naturally proceeds to games.

I vehemently object to these sorts of biased, bigoted, slanderous, unsubstantiated statements. This is nothing but blatant, unsubstantiated OS chauvinism.

And these attitudes are exactly what I refer to when I use the term 'Nix Nazi.

By what right do these people come here and slander a whole class of honest gamers, untold tens of millions of us, simply because of our choice of OS?

By what right do they impugn our honesty, and state that we are criminally inclined, simply because we use Windows?

"Linux users) is generally more mature, intelligent and interested in this type of gaming" they say. Based on what data? It seems to me that this is an outrageously hateful, bigoted, rude statement to come from people who are more mature and intelligent. I would have thought that with maturity would come tolerance, forebearance, and observation of common courtesy, but apparently I was mistaken.

After all, I am immature and unintelligent.

I am also greatly offended, and angered in no small measure.

How strange.
I will reply as the first quote is from my posting.
Firstly, apologies if my remark caused you so much offence.
Secondly, I suggest that you read the entire sequence of posts once you have calmed down. The sequence starts with a simple request. Not a threat to Windows or any other OS. I merely supported the request to indicate that there are more Linux users who would be interested in a conversion. My statement is based on the fact that with under 2% of market share, Linux users do not represent the common, average computer gamer. Nor do you have to worry much about us as a threat to Windows. I was specifically pointing out that Slitherine had an opportunity in a limited market.
As a Naval Captain, running the Naval Command & Staff College Wargaming Centre for 3 years I have had some experience in this domain.
I specifically used the word "generally" meaning that there are many Linux users who are perhaps more serious computer users, that using the Linux command system requires intelligence and that strategic level wargaming is hardly the domain of every kid on the block. I don't see these being ported to Playstations in huge quantities.
Anyway, I am not a Linux Nazi... I just prefer its stability and open source philosophy.

[Redpossum]

Borsook, you allege these things to be true, but you offer no evidence that they are. Which means you are still making unsubstantiated accusations of criminal proclivities against a largely innocent body of gamers, and this is wrong.

Timjohn, I said nothing about any threat to anyone or anything. But you made and are still supporting allegations of inferior intelligence and lesser maturity against a group of gamers of whom you know nothing.

If you were a regular member of this community you might realise that there are several hundred (at least) mature gamers here at Slitherine, many of us in our 30's and 40's, I'm nearer to 50 myself. Most of us go back 30 years or more to the classic wargaming days. Most of us have been using computers since the early days of Apple, before the PC existed. I go back to the big iron myself, dumb terminals connected to DEC mainframes running VAX/VMS. You're not dealing with teenagers here at Slitherine, sir.

As far as you being a captain in the USN, I respect that, and I am grateful to you for choosing to serve your country in this way. But that won't stop me from disputing with you when I think you're wrong

[IainMcNeil]

This seems to be getting a bit out of hand so I'm going to close this thread. Let's all be nice