Games work on Linux?

[Lasthitlarry]

Hey all, just joined up, though Ive been reading helpful hints mainly with computer hardware for a while.

I am a 2 year veteran of computer building and I am addicted to internet forums and games. (All: "Hi Larry")

Anyway, I just downloaded gentoo or some free Linux and was thinking of trying it out, but had one noobie question to ask. (well, a few)

Do games work with Linux? Do I have to buy the Linux version? Do I have to download a Linux update patch or some other? Or are there ways to port it and make it compatible?

I have used windows for as long as I can remember, oh and Dos back in the day, so I MUST ask this or I will never know.

Thanks.

 

[drunk7daysaweek]

Yes they do work..the name escapes me, i think WINE is a program that allows u to use windoze games over linux

 

[bersl2]

Some games have native ports. UT2k4 is what I play right now. Doom3 has a port. Others do too.

The reason why many games do not have ports is because it is not economically advantageous for companies to write ports. The reason why the economics don't work out, by my reckoning, is because many games are written using Direct3D and not OpenGL. These libraries call the same hardware and do the same things.

Therefore, you have the option of purchasing a product called Cedega (formerly WineX), a commercial port of WINE. This provides the libraries to implement the various Windows API calls, so you can run games, with varying degrees of functionality (the more popular the game, the more likely it works). Check Transgaming's website for a compatibility list.

If you ever feel the need to play more simple games, there are tons available.

I personally use LinuxGames.com for my news. Tux Games provides the largest list of (native) games for sale.

 

[D1gger]

There are also some games that work natively on Linux, such as America's Army, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and many others.

 

[P0ldy]

"UT2k4 is what I play right now. Doom3 has a port. Others do too."

And do you have a Windows boot to compare the performance between the two OSes? I'd be interested in hearing what the differences/advantages are.

 

[bersl2]

Originally posted by: P0ldy
"UT2k4 is what I play right now. Doom3 has a port. Others do too."

And do you have a Windows boot to compare the performance between the two OSes? I'd be interested in hearing what the differences/advantages are.

I have a system with a 2 GHz Williamette and Geforce 3 Ti 200 (though an A64 system is being collected piece by piece). The only reason I broke down and actually used the XP home install on my new laptop is because a piece of crap software doesn't work yet under WINE, and I needed it for class.

What I have heard about those two games in particular is that all of the UT games run at least as well, if not better (obviously, a subjective opinion). Doom 3 I know benchmarked not so well, but the reason for this seems to be that the assembly routines were written using a Windows-only calling convention, which was not fully converted until far after all the benchmarks had been done. That's not usually like id. Speaking of which, they keep on almost GPLing the Quake 3 engine source code (which they have done for Doom and Quake 1 & 2), but they also keep making licensing deals, so (understandably) they don't want to be bad sports to the licensors.

Really, I wish there were more business entities like id and fewer like the Borg. The tech world would be so much nicer a place.

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: P0ldy
"UT2k4 is what I play right now. Doom3 has a port. Others do too."

And do you have a Windows boot to compare the performance between the two OSes? I'd be interested in hearing what the differences/advantages are.

Games mostly work better in Windows. A tiny bit faster, maybe, for native Linux games vs Windows games.

It all realy depends.

You have several different 'games types' on linux. You have Free games (free software, not no cost software), most of these are smaller and more old school. Some are nice and modern, but those are the exceptions and they lack the polish that commercial games do.

Stuff like bzflag, flightgear, gl-f117, torcs, scorched 3d, mame, worldcraft, frozen bubble, gl billards, etc etc. Literally hundreds, but some you have to compile yourself...

Then you have big name native linux games. Things like Postal 2 (hehe, I know it's stupid), Unreal Tournament 2003/2004, Doom1/2/3, Quake1/2/3 America's Army, Neverwinter Nights. These are the minority, and quality and finish are the same as Window's versions. Speed varies, but is within a few percentages. Nothing to get excited about.

Then you have independant games and smaller game makers which most often make multiple ports for their games. These are my favorite...
Lore, Vendetta, Bridge constructor set (it's fun, actually), marble blaster. Stuff like that. Cheap, not made by assholes, and fun.


Then you have the native windows games that work thru Wine and Cedega. (Cedega is a commercial version of Wine)

The free version of Wine has very beta DirectX 9 support and can run some newer games like Worlds of Warcraft, and Pirates!. But this is for only people who know what they are doing, at this point.

Cedega offers commercial support and often game makers work with Cedega to make sure that it works in Linux. They deal with CD copy protection and stuff like that. Otherwise you'd have a hard time installing most games without Windows.

Right now I have a copy of Cedega I installed thru 'Point2play' for my game Sid Meier's Pirates! (which I loved playing the original versions years ago)

You can play newer titles like World or Warcraft, Half Life 2 (and STEAM) Sims 2, and so on and so forth.

Not all games work, working games are rarely 100%. And Cedega costs 5 bucks per month, minimally 3 months. But you can keep on using it when it runs out, you just can't get any new updates.


Wine and Cedega, are NOT emulators, they are programming libraries that create a Win32 API enviroment inside Linux. There is a performance penalty, but only because it's not as nicely done as Windows own Win32 support. (and won't ever be).


For Applications in general you have option of using Wine or using something like Win4lin, which will run Windows 9x operating systems at near native speeds inside Linux, so that applications that won't work in Linux you can use without having to dual boot. Probably not that usefull for newer games, though.



For Gaming on Linux right now, there is plenty that you can do to occupy your time and have fun. But it's only worth it if you want to use Linux for other reasons (price, Freedom, politics, stability, security, etc)

There are some hardware considurations...

Best hardware setup is a Via or Intel motherboard. Nvidia video card, Audigy (not Audigy LS!) sound card (or possibly a envy24 or envy24ht-based card).

Don't bother with 'onboard' raid0/1 setups. Linux software raid is faster and more stable (those onboard raids are like the winmodems of raid hardware) and Raid 0/1 on a desktop is mostly a waste of money.

Stuff like that.

The linux game tome. Massive database of Linux games.
Tux games. Sells Linux-compatable games.
wine application database, database of apps and wine compatability.
icculus.org is the homepage of a big Linux gaming guy.
Linux Gamers dot net Linux gaming news, and some howtos.
Linuxgames dot com Linux gaming news and community stuff. Like above.
linux militia like above
GarageGames Maker and reseller of independant games. Many with Linux/OS X versions. Recently released Dark Horizons: Lore, which is a massive online multiplayer mixed in with first person shooter... haven't had time to try it out yet. (games are around 20 bucks and you can install them on multiple machines thru downloads.. keep honest though. You want them to keep on making good games. )
Transgaming makers of Cedega (formally WineX). This is there game database. Only realy pay attention to games with 4 or 5 stars. 3 stars is borderline, depending on the game and bugs.

so on and so forth. You can find more information from google.com.

Linux for newbies can be very frustrating, but once you have it setup and are familar with it it becomes as easy as Windows. Takes a LOT of adjustment though.

See my sig for a link to good guides, they can be usefull for understanding what is happenning when you do stuff in Linux.

 

[heedoyiu]

hey one question half life 2 any get it to work with linux?

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: heedoyiu
hey one question half life 2 any get it to work with linux?

You have to use Cedega. It's 5 bucks a month for at least 3 months... they'll have help and instructions on their website/forums.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: heedoyiu
hey one question half life 2 any get it to work with linux?

Sometimes it's just better to dualboot if you want to play games and run Linux at the same time. You don't lose any performance, doesn't cost you anything more, and you spend less time looking up on the web on how to get a game port to work properly. (unless it's natively ported of course)

 

[Malak]

Games are made for Windows. If you want to game, dual boot, plain and simple.

 

[Hyperblaze]

I've got a question...if you are new to linux...why would you want to install gentoo on your first try? Unless you want to learn how to swim in the ocean so to speak?

 

[jamesbond007]

I'm a red hat guy, but you gotta start somewhere, right? Mandrake is a very easy one too.