Question about linux and games

[Sempron]

Hey all,

i aint been here for a while

So i have a question which i would appreciate if you guys could answer it for me.

We all know Linux is much much better than windows,Its more reliable,Safer etc....but what ive never been able to understand is why havnt the developers of linux made it so we can run all windows games on linux?

Why is it they cannot do that without using that codega thingy i heard of?

Personaly i and i think alot of people would switch streight over to linux if they could play games on it.

Im a keen gamer so windows is realy the only Os i can stick with if i want to continue gaming on

[Javasnob]

It's because Windows games are dynamically linked, and since the required DLLs are only present on Windows, it's a problem. The Wine and Cedega projects are doing a great job implementing Windows system calls and other Windows-specific functionality in their respective projects, but since Windows is closed-source, it's not the easiest thing in the world to do. The reason the GNU/Linux team (those who work on the kernel and the base utilities of the OS) doesn't work on that is simple: a) The Wine/Cedega team's already working on something that does the job, and b) they have much better things to work on.

So, if you're a good programmer, head on over to the Wine/Cedega team and give em a hand! =P

[{-n()rx-}]

Hi, I dont know an aweful allot about games or how theyre developed really.
But from what I do understand, is that games are developed under certain rendering 'techniques', Such as DirectX or OpenGL (excuse me if im completely wrong), DirectX being run by m$ and OpenGL, well, Open.
Games running on different platforms has nothing to do with the platform, but rather the game, and its compatibility with the platform.
So when a mainstream game making organisation decides to write a game, they have to decide whether to re-write the whole game under something that would be compatible with Linux, or whther theyde make enough money with just the Windows people.
Thus certain games (like Unreal 2004) will run on Linux, as it has been written to do so, as well as with Windows, and others, like most others, wont run on Linux, as the company has decided that there wouldn't be enough of an increase in profit for the effort.
If I am completely wrong, please correct me, or if someone would like to expand/correct on any point I'v made, I'd love to know more.

[benjamin20]

you are mostly right. it is true that it costs money to port the game, however, it depend on what libraries you use, if they use opengl/sdl and gnu c++ compiler with open source/standard libraries, than porting iss very minimal work.

many games coming out now are written for engines that are cross platform. the problem comes in technical support. linux is like the wild west of computers os's. theres so many different variations that can be done that technical support is dificult and often ignored. some choose to not suport linux at all while others give well tested binaries and not give dedicated tech support like they do for windows or mac. most linux people dont mind the lack of tech support because of the power of internet.

EDIT: also rmember that it takes time to make a video game, some take as much as four years to make. so think of what situations were like four years ago when planning stages were being done.

four years ago linux wasn't as user friendly as it is now. there was a lot of nice feature missing, and 3d driver support was just happening. thats probobly a huge factor right there, why make a game for linux if there are only a few gfx cards that are even supported well. now nvidia has excellent drivers and ati is coming along, so you should start to see a, pickup in game support in the next few years.

[Sempron]

ahh i undertstand why now.

thanks a bunch guys for your time in explaining