Linux Game

[jmadero]

Now that Ubuntu is out (as well as several other easy to install and use linux distros) how realistic is it that a large group of people could come together to make a killer game that could rival some of the new stuff coming out for Vista/XP? I am a Ubuntu user and would love to see something killer come out that could get the ball moving to freeing people from the windows OS's. For this to be a reality I think the graphics have to be amazing as well as game play and story. If a team of writers could get a fantastic story together could linux developers realistically make a great game with it?

[techieMoe]

Well, you're casting your net a little wide, aren't you? What constitutes a "killer" game? Some would say an FPS, and there have been several high-profile games made by major commercial studios for Linux.

Others would say an RPG. The only one in that category that's been done commercially is the original Neverwinter Nights, but there are countless online and offline RPG games that run on Linux.

What about puzzle games? The casual gamer is by far the majority in the world and there are hundreds if not thousands of casual games like Sudoku, Mahjongg and card games. Frozen Bubble is the stand-out example here.

What about platformers? Games like Super Tux or Dr. Fizzwizzle represent Linux fairly well. Should they be ignored in favor of other genres?

Does a great 3D engine make a game "killer," or does a deep, engrossing story line with many nonlinear branches do the trick? My point is even if a large group of developers got together with the idea to make a "killer game," they'd have to eventually figure out very specifically what that means.

[Oxygen]

This is something I've always wanted to do, but before this kicks off, what game design expirience do you have?

[jan1024188]

Show the Engine design, some more specs....and I might help.

[bigtomrodney]

Man all this talk of games. I am so on for some Tremulous as soon as I get home. Seriously though, I am actually more into playing games now on Linux. It's not a make or break thing but I'm even considering buying the new Quake Wars.

[Oxygen]

Man all this talk of games. I am so on for some Tremulous as soon as I get home. Seriously though, I am actually more into playing games now on Linux. It's not a make or break thing but I'm even considering buying the new Quake Wars.

Best f***ing game ever... doesn't work on my crap ass computer very well but damnit it's sexy!

[jmadero]

Sorry for the long delay, I hate when people post and take forever to respond.

As for the type of game, I really don't think it matters (in terms of between RTS, RPG, FPS, etc...) each has a huge following, it would be more to show off how like minded people can get something really cool done for free and make it function well.

In terms of gaming programming experience I have none, I am not a programmer but would like to be involved in possibly writing a game (in terms of the characters, storyline, etc...). This would be a new thing for me but in general I think I'm pretty creative and capable of coming up with some cool stuff.

I think a game like this would take a wide range of people, from writers, artists, programmers, etc...I am really talking about a Halo of the XBOX or Final Fantasy 7 of the PS. I just think that it's time for Ubuntu to shine in the gaming world, where the video game sites would be like "damn, they are ready".

Maybe I'm just way too naive at this point, just some ideas that came to mind.

[techieMoe]

I think a game like this would take a wide range of people, from writers, artists, programmers, etc...I am really talking about a Halo of the XBOX or Final Fantasy 7 of the PS. I just think that it's time for Ubuntu to shine in the gaming world, where the video game sites would be like "damn, they are ready".

Maybe I'm just way too naive at this point, just some ideas that came to mind.

Well, I do wish you the best of luck, but an undertaking like that will take several years and the population of a small country full of programmers to accomplish. I'm not saying it can't be done, but that's quite a lot of work. Getting that many OSS programmers, writers, designers, etc to agree on a single gaming "vision" could be the most arduous task of them all.

[jan1024188]

I'd like to help you write the Game Engine. My email is: jan1024188@gmail.com

Contact me if interested.

[Oxygen]

graham [at] use-linux.org

Contact me when you like