Valve publishes their own Linux Distribution

[NikolaeVarius]

Oh yeah

Runescape. 12 years. Receiving a massive update soon. Also free.

 

[Red Storm]

Hmm, nice to see there are others out there, but I can't think of any non-MMO other than TF2?

Getting back on topic, It's not like Steam on Windows is going away, it's there. I was glad to see it debut on Mac systems as well even though I don't have one. I look forward to Steam on Linux too because I like having options and if games start moving over to Linux as well (a lot of awesome Kickstarter funded games will be) then I'll be happy cause I can ditch Windows for good. I don't know why me or others wanting to ditch Windows is offensive to some people, but as consumers we should be happy that our options are expanding.

 

[darkewaffle]

NWN was released in 2002 and saw official patches (all free) until mid 2008. D2 just received it's latest update in 2011.

TF2 is basically a F2P MMO shooter lol; I think it's not hard at all to find 'online' games that have been updated ad nauseum, MMO really doesn't have much to do with it. Anything with a substantial multiplayer/co-op/online component will normally see a pretty good support timeline, possible exceptions being online worlds due to the price of maintaining them.

Plus with the exception of holiday events and the robot mode, a lot of the content in TF2 is basically community created that Valve simply rubberstamps as official. They do a nice job of it, but that particular methodology also unloads a substantial amount of the work they would have to do.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Because windows 8 sucks.

Oh really? Is that why I've never had any issues whatsoever with it and it actually loads faster than 7 did? Yeah it really must suck...

 

[Red Storm]

NWN was released in 2002 and saw official patches (all free) until mid 2008. D2 just received it's latest update in 2011.

TF2 is basically a F2P MMO shooter lol; I think it's not hard at all to find 'online' games that have been updated ad nauseum, MMO really doesn't have much to do with it. Anything with a substantial multiplayer/co-op/online component will normally see a pretty good support timeline, possible exceptions being online worlds due to the price of maintaining them.

Plus with the exception of holiday events and the robot mode, a lot of the content in TF2 is basically community created that Valve simply rubberstamps as official. They do a nice job of it, but that particular methodology also unloads a substantial amount of the work they would have to do.

It's only been free to play for the past year and a half, it was sold like a traditional game for years before that. All the DLC was free, and technically still is. Pay for instant gratification is there and there's maybe one or two things that can only be bought last I checked.

 

[Texashiker]

Oh really? Is that why I've never had any issues whatsoever with it and it actually loads faster than 7 did? Yeah it really must suck...

Windows 8 and its crappy interface is why my 63 year old mom called me crying because she could not figure out how to use windows 8 on her new laptop. She went from XP to 8.

After I got windows 7 installed, she was a happy camper.

We have had a start button since 1995, and all of a sudden microsoft wants to change that? Yea, windows 8 sucks.

 

[Red Storm]

Windows 8 and its crappy interface is why my 63 year old mom called me crying because she could not figure out how to use windows 8 on her new laptop. She went from XP to 8.

After I got windows 7 installed, she was a happy camper.

Same with my brother (minus the crying lol). What's funny is that his Asus laptop was actually more expensive to buy with Windows 7 than it was with Windows 8.

I have Windows 8 on my laptop now, but I wish I could go back. The only reason why I haven't is that I'm too lazy to reformat it.

 

[Texashiker]

Same with my brother (minus the crying lol). What's funny is that his Asus laptop was actually more expensive to buy with Windows 7 than it was with Windows 8.

The highlight of moms day is playing facebook games. She is retired, sites like facebook and the games give her a way to stay in touch and keeps her mind busy.

Same thing with dad.

On black friday Walmart had a laptop with an intel I3 and either 4 or 6 gigs of memory for around $400. Mom got her laptop for christmas and could not even use it.

I have Windows 8 on my laptop now, but I wish I could go back. The only reason why I haven't is that I'm too lazy to reformat it.

I used an upgrade version of windows 7, it worked fine without having to format.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Windows 8 and its crappy interface is why my 63 year old mom called me crying because she could not figure out how to use windows 8 on her new laptop. She went from XP to 8.

After I got windows 7 installed, she was a happy camper.

We have had a start button since 1995, and all of a sudden microsoft wants to change that? Yea, windows 8 sucks.

Oh cause clicking the desktop icon is way too hard? What the hell? Or running start8 or something and just booting straight to desktop. That must have been too much trouble for you.

Get over it. Windows 8 is perfectly fine. You have to be utterly borderline retarded to not figure out how to click the big button that says desktop. And you actually had to reinstall an OS to get to the desktop? Hell with all that. Free apps bring desktop up immediately at boot and even have the old start menu there. 20seconds and done...

You guys seriously just want to bitch at microsoft for shit that doesn't even affect you.

Microsoft clearly intends for Metro to be the premier application environment going forward, yet the only way to publish apps for it is through Microsoft's app store. Sideloading of Metro apps in Windows 8 is only allowed for domain-joined machines in an enterprise environments.

Except the desktop still works...amazing thing that.

 

[smackababy]

Windows 8 and its crappy interface is why my 63 year old mom called me crying because she could not figure out how to use windows 8 on her new laptop. She went from XP to 8.

After I got windows 7 installed, she was a happy camper.

We have had a start button since 1995, and all of a sudden microsoft wants to change that? Yea, windows 8 sucks.

So, Windows 8 sucks because your poor, old mom couldn't figure it out. Oh man! What a great argument. People can't figure something new out, so it is automatically bad. Sorry, but it is quite easy to get out of the Metro UI and continue on using Windows normally. I can't imagine how she must have reacted when they changed from candles to electric light. She must have thrown a fit learning how to flip a switch rather than use a match to light a wick.

 

[cmdrdredd]

So, Windows 8 sucks because your poor, old mom couldn't figure it out. Oh man! What a great argument. People can't figure something new out, so it is automatically bad. Sorry, but it is quite easy to get out of the Metro UI and continue on using Windows normally. I can't imagine how she must have reacted when they changed from candles to electric light. She must have thrown a fit learning how to flip a switch rather than use a match to light a wick.

Like I said...there is a huge button right in the middle of the screen that says "DESKTOP".

 

[darkewaffle]

Windows 8 and its crappy interface is why my 63 year old mom called me crying because she could not figure out how to use windows 8 on her new laptop. She went from XP to 8.

After I got windows 7 installed, she was a happy camper.

We have had a start button since 1995, and all of a sudden microsoft wants to change that? Yea, windows 8 sucks.

Yeah, I hated it when programs started making me use a mouse decades ago, look how that turned out for them!

Mice are now everywhere. Intelligent integration of touch and gestures and movement as input can be one of the most efficient ways to use a computer, people living in a mindset that everything has to be a button to be used is archaic and inefficient. Mouse gestures alone are tremendously useful and one of my favorite features of Opera. I think it's fantastic that we might see more of that sort of functionality throughout Windows and more programs in the future. Yes it's uncomfortable at times and there will be growing pains but it's no different than, say, using new keybindings in a video game or learning to use a DVORAK keyboard. No pain no gain.

Win8 is easy. Normal people however are very timid when it comes to computers. Microsoft should know this, but at the same time I can't blame them pushing forward regardless.

 

[Texashiker]

So, Windows 8 sucks because your poor, old mom couldn't figure it out. Oh man! What a great argument. People can't figure something new out, so it is automatically bad. Sorry, but it is quite easy to get out of the Metro UI and continue on using Windows normally. I can't imagine how she must have reacted when they changed from candles to electric light. She must have thrown a fit learning how to flip a switch rather than use a match to light a wick.

Like I said...there is a huge button right in the middle of the screen that says "DESKTOP".

Win8 is easy. Normal people however are very timid when it comes to computers. Microsoft should know this, but at the same time I can't blame them pushing forward regardless.

As you get older, things are not as easy as they once were.

From your post, I am going to guess neither of yall are in your 30s? Got any gray hair yet? Got kids yet?

If microsoft keeps up with this metro type of sliding interface, my next option and the option for my family members will have to be linux.

Why change stuff like the start button after 17 years? It is simple and it works.

If valve can get their flavor of linux working and stable, I will switch to it.

And please stop with the personal attacks, there is no need in it.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Yeah, I hated it when programs started making me use a mouse decades ago, look how that turned out for them!

Mice are now everywhere. Intelligent integration of touch and gestures and movement as input can be one of the most efficient ways to use a computer, people living in a mindset that everything has to be a button to be used is archaic and inefficient. Mouse gestures alone are tremendously useful and one of my favorite features of Opera. I think it's fantastic that we might see more of that sort of functionality throughout Windows and more programs in the future. Yes it's uncomfortable at times and there will be growing pains but it's no different than, say, using new keybindings in a video game or learning to use a DVORAK keyboard. No pain no gain.

Win8 is easy. Normal people however are very timid when it comes to computers. Microsoft should know this, but at the same time I can't blame them for not giving a crap about people who can't figure out something on the difficulty level of tying shoes or driving a car.

When everyone has touch interfaces on their phones, ipods and tablets it is only natural IMO to bring that type of functionality to the laptop and desktop environment. That's what they did really.

In the future it will probably all be touch with no buttons at all.

BTW: I'm 31 and I taught my 93 year old grandmother to use WIndows 8 with a mouse and no, I didn't even add the start button.

 

[Texashiker]

When everyone has touch interfaces on their phones, ipods and tablets it is only natural IMO to bring that type of functionality to the laptop and desktop environment. That's what they did really.

Assuming everyone has a smart phone and/or tablet.

 

[Red Storm]

When everyone has touch interfaces on their phones, ipods and tablets it is only natural IMO to bring that type of functionality to the laptop and desktop environment. That's what they did really.

In the future it will probably all be touch with no buttons at all.

The reason why phones and tablets rely on touch screens is because they are mobile devices. My laptop and desktop are not mobile devices, nor are they touch screen capable, so what MS did by forcing the interface on traditional computers is not natural.

 

[smackababy]

As you get older, things are not as easy as they once were.

From your post, I am going to guess neither of yall are in your 30s? Got any gray hair yet? Got kids yet?

If microsoft keeps up with this metro type of sliding interface, my next option and the option for my family members will have to be linux.

Why change stuff like the start button after 17 years? It is simple and it works.

If valve can get their flavor of linux working and stable, I will switch to it.

And please stop with the personal attacks, there is no need in it.

Good luck teaching them Linux if they can't figure out how to get out of Metro UI.

 

[Skel]

Tell that to their TF2 team, still updating the game nearly six years after release. Show me one other big name company that does that.

Most companies that have a title that is still used as much as TF2 would have released a new version of it. It's a bit of a stretch to say it's because of how awesome they are. If CoD didn't release a yearly update odds are it'd still be patched.

As far as the Linux thing, I think it's a good thing for Valve to pursue a OS, most companies that make them for consumers are migrating to a mobile device than a solid PC. There's a gap there that Valve can fill, it really depends on how the other companies decide to go. It's not a major game changer as it's just as interesting as all the other attempts by Linux makers to court gaming. The only thing Valve can really do to shift the paradigm is to force developers using Steam to create a Linux version if they want to distribute via the marketplace, of course if they did that then they'd be just as bad as MS. The interesting thing is having an OS is a huge task. Valve would be on the hook to keep it working, which is more than just recompiling someone else's packages.

I think the issue of PC Gaming is a bit bigger than an OS issue. Most larger devs are going console to ease the trouble shooting process (though they claim piracy too, but that's a bit much IMHO) without killer applications no OS is going to do well.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The simple fact is that Gabe Newell is a crybaby and he felt slighted by Microsoft and said things prior to Windows 8 release that didn't even happen. Microsoft didn't erect a huge wall barring anyone from installing games. Now he needs to validate his previous complaints somehow.

 

[Texashiker]

The simple fact is that Gabe Newell is a crybaby

Your credibility is slipping with every post.

Gabe, steam, valve,,, have given gamers something companies like ea, id and activision never could or would.

Gabe is a visionary. If he says he is going to bring steam to linux, then I hope he holds true to his word.

 

[smackababy]

Your credibility is slipping with every post.

Gabe, steam, valve,,, have given gamers something companies like ea, id and activision never could or would.

Gabe is a visionary. If he says he is going to bring steam to linux, then I hope he holds true to his word.

What exactly visionary has he given us again? Steam? A content distribution platform? Oh man! The vision. He must have been the first person ever to decide to host other people's software for them and take a small cut. What has Gabe done that John Carmack couldn't do? Exactly... EA, Activision, and the like have given gamers a stable stream of games. They have paid developers to make the games, while they make them. Sorry you love Valve so much you're willing to let Gabe blow smoke up your ass all day. The rest of us aren't.

And I stated before for anyone to give me ONE good reason why Windows 8 was not a good operating system and nobody has done that yet. Most likely because your opinion was based on what Gabe spat out of his fat mouth and hasn't retracted yet. He did the same thing with the PS3, but he later had to retract that as well.

 

[theevilsharpie]

Except the desktop still works...amazing thing that.

You assume that the desktop will remain open and not locked to the Windows store (as in Windows RT). That's not a guarantee.

 

[Texashiker]

What exactly visionary has he given us again? Steam?

The hate for steam and gabe is,,, palatable.

If you have to ask, then your not very much of a pc gamer.

 

[smackababy]

The hate for steam and gabe is,,, palatable.

If you have to ask, then your not very much of a pc gamer.

Sure, I'm not. Please explain to me now what exactly Gabe has given us with his almighty powers. A game with a physic engine? Yay! I can stack boxes now to build a see-saw. So enlighten me how much this great man has done for me.

 

[Texashiker]

Sure, I'm not. Please explain to me now what exactly Gabe has given us with his almighty powers. A game with a physic engine? Yay! I can stack boxes now to build a see-saw. So enlighten me how much this great man has done for me.

No matter what I tell you, it is going to be wrong.

How do you cover 15 years of advances in gaming in a couple of sentences?

I will tell you this, no company has done more to advance PC gaming (as a whole) then valve.