Steam for Linux

[keefy]

They are looking for experienced linux users primarily.

http://www.valvesoftware.com/linuxsurvey.php

Get testing and report back here how it is.

[Fijiandoce]

steam gaming on Linux is apparently faster



linux only runs OpenGL right? so i assume most AAA titles wont appear there anytime soon if at all given the rumours about next gen
indie haven though

[Rekmon]

steam gaming on Linux is apparently faster


linux only runs OpenGL right? so i assume most AAA titles wont appear there anytime soon if at all given the rumours about next gen
indie haven though

Yeah you won't be seeing native DirectX titles on linux, unless somebody writes an "adapter" which I assume MS will come crashing down on like 20 ton boulder. Cloud gaming though......

[keefy]

ITs titbits

[Varsh]

linux only runs OpenGL right? so i assume most AAA titles wont appear there anytime soon if at all

Well all Unreal Engine 3 games are OpenGL and OpenAL compatible from the off so that's already a lot of games that can run natively on Linux, all that's required is for the developers to compile the executable for Linux. There's already many Indie games that use UE3 on Linux so I can't see why developers can't take advantage of this if they already have everything done and ready. And yes it really is that simple.

[Tyrannicide]

Yea, I've been using Linux for years and run Wine. What it boils down to is if it is a big title game, the Wine developers go into maniac mode to get the games to work, or the community works to develop patches and figure out settings to get games to work. Only a couple games I ever wanted to play that wouldnt work.

Steam running natively will help with getting games to work natively too. It would be a big push. I've hoping as it would be a lot smoother to run natively than via wine. On a mdeium level machine I can run most games at high settings and have near flawless performance.

[keefy]

Which Linux distro do you guys use? I am loking to start testing this Linux thing, its been a while since I last tried it because back then my asound card wouldnt work along with my wireless network card, the latter I do not need I use wires now.

[Tyrannicide]

Which Linux distro do you guys use? I am loking to start testing this Linux thing, its been a while since I last tried it because back then my asound card wouldnt work along with my wireless network card, the latter I do not need I use wires now.

I'm running Linux Mint 13 "Maya" with the MATE desktop environment (a fork of Gnome 2.x) as Ubuntu stuck with Gnome 3 and Mint is Gnome without the wannabe apple bullshit.

All those sound and wireless cards issues have pretty much been sorted out long ago. A lot more support and forward movement nowadays.

- I upgraded from Mint 10 w/ gnome 2.x to 13 with MATE a couple weeks ago.

[admartian]

I'm running Linux Mint 13 "Maya" with the MATE desktop environment (a fork of Gnome 2.x) as Ubuntu stuck with Gnome 3 and Mint is Gnome without the wannabe apple bullshit.

All those sound and wireless cards issues have pretty much been sorted out long ago. A lot more support and forward movement nowadays.

- I upgraded from Mint 10 w/ gnome 2.x to 13 with MATE a couple weeks ago.

Or rather is Apple is Linux without the open source capability.

[Varsh]

I'm also trying out Linux Mint but instead of MATE I'm using Cinnamon. Currently running it through VirtualBox and it runs very nicely indeed.

[Tyrannicide]

I'm also trying out Linux Mint but instead of MATE I'm using Cinnamon. Currently running it through VirtualBox and it runs very nicely indeed.

Cool. How do you find Cinnamon? I stuck with MATE as it felt more Gnome 2.x.


Also Admartian, Ubuntu went Apple, not Apple going Linux without Opensource. ubuntu went astray as did the Gnome development team, hence more people are switching to Mint and it is become the more popular Distro.

[keefy]

Is it possible to install via a USB stick? I have no discs at the moment.

[Tyrannicide]

Is it possible to install via a USB stick? I have no discs at the moment.

Yes linux is. If you are on Windows, go to:
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Just grab the .iso from whichever distro's page you want. Speed will depend on the quality of USB drive you use. Great way to learn to use it.


Only need about a gig of space.

[BoyBettaKnow]

Do you mean install the OS onto a USB or just the installer?


BBK. Tapatalking

[keefy]

I was meaning install from USB to hard drive but that link seems useful I might just do that.

[Tyrannicide]

I was meaning install from USB to hard drive but that link seems useful I might just do that.

Yes, the way it works is you create a Live USB (instead of Live CD) and you can play around with it, but you can also install the OS from the USB as well. Essentially you get to your desktop, you can test it out and it will have an install icon on the desktop, use that and make sure to select custom install. From there set to only your harddrive (by default it may want to also use the USB stick as the filesystem)

[Tyrannicide]

Well, I found the Linux.deb file out there, Steam installs fine and lets me login...but since I don't have a beta account for it, it shuts itself down :/

[Varsh]

Cool. How do you find Cinnamon? I stuck with MATE as it felt more Gnome 2.x.

It's been a long time since I've used Linux properly and I'm just trying to get to grips with it again. I'm going to try out MATE and also the new Ubuntu distro *gasps*.

[Tyrannicide]

It's been a long time since I've used Linux properly and I'm just trying to get to grips with it again. I'm going to try out MATE and also the new Ubuntu distro *gasps*.

lol good luck. For those used to the old Gnome desktop, mate is a lot better fit than cinnaom. Met some IT guru's who hated Cinnamon. Let me know how Ubuntu goes!

Best thing is screwing arounf with virtualbox's of everything. They run fine and you can see if you like/hate it without going through the full install and data xfer process.

Well, MATE 14 RC is based on Ubuntu 12.10!

Reason I'm staying with Mint 13, Long Term Support..right up to 2017!

[Varsh]

Already using VirtualBox, so much better than VMWare and Microsoft's offering.

Downloading Ubuntu and Mint MATE now so I'll give that a play with over the weekend. Cinnamon is a bit weird admittedly and I think the last time I used Linux I was using XFCE so I'll soon see how it goes.

[HellsJester]

I am not familiar with Linux at all so i fear the change over.
I wish Valve would just make a OS for gamers (maybe team up with Google or something) so i wouldn't have to buy a Microsoft product ever again.

[Centurion]

Is it possible to install via a USB stick? I have no discs at the moment.

This is probably what you're looking for:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/univers...easy-as-1-2-3/

[Tyrannicide]

I am not familiar with Linux at all so i fear the change over.
I wish Valve would just make a OS for gamers (maybe team up with Google or something) so i wouldn't have to buy a Microsoft product ever again.

You see, the problem with Valve making their own gaming OS is just not logical or economical. Even if they worked with Google to do so.

What you miss is, they would still need full OS functionality..you know, full web use, multimedia and everything. Turning, say Steam, into a full OS would then require substantial working. You have compatibilty, security and reliability issues and so on. It would be like making another Unix based system. MicroSoft wouldn't allow a Windows clone and if Valve made their own, programs would then have to also alter games to work on Windows and Valve's own OS, because it would be different Core-wise. Look at the Linux community, look into how many people work to maintain and develop existing OS's, updates, ensure compatibilty and so on. It would require a full inhouse team, which means money.

There is a lot more to it than just making a simple OS. Hell, it is easier for Developers using the Unreal Engine to just make Linux executables and prioritize the code for opengl. Hell, it would be easier for all developers to build their games to work on select linux based systems where gamers could dual boot free systems, say having ubuntu or Debian based as the primary target for developing games to work on - have to select one major base OS as so many distro's vary significantly enough it is not practicle to make games for every single one with there little differences, etc.

End rant...lol

Varsh, let us know your thoughts on everything you try!

[Tyrannicide]

Bump/Update.

Valve has expanded the Steam for Linux beta. I was just accepted to it and they plan to keep adding more.

Team Fortress comes free with it...If there are any good deals I will pick up some other games.

[Varsh]

Yeah I was accepted a few days back, unfortunately Ubuntu sucks under VM so I'm just going to install Mint Mate as I haven't tried that yet and see if that works.