GNU/Linux and Commercial Game Developers

I have created a poll on our shopping site with a proper question that would interest commercial game developers and commercial game marketers.?(2010.08.27: Due to a site upgrade problem this poll no longer exists. A new poll will be created in the future.) Then refer all questions about commercial games on GNU/Linux to this article and the poll. Once some place can show some serious numbers, hundreds of thousands, to the commercial game people then they will be interested in the GNU/Linux gaming market.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of open source games that are already native on GNU/Linux. Unfortunately the commercial gaming market lags behind open source game development when it comes to GNU/Linux. Some people using GNU/Linux want the commercial games too. This article is an attempt to assist a move in the direction of GNU/Linux in the commercial gaming market.

I recently participated in a Digg posting on Digg.com titled, "Would U Use Linux fulltime if it supported mainstream games?". I dislike the use of "U" in place of "You", it causes my eyes to ache. Despite that I cast my vote in favor of the meaning behind the post. I would like to see more commercial game developers create native games for GNU/Linux. The problem with that Digg title is something I commented about on Digg. I will copy that here:

The problem with this question from the perspective of commercial game developers is it is backwards. A corporate "bean counter" (accountant) could not care less if developing games for Linux causes more people to use Linux full-time. He does not care what operating system is used as long as he can show a profit on the books. What a bean counter is going to care about is whether or not the company he represents can make a profit from selling to Linux users. The question would be better phrased something like, "Would you be willing to purchase commercial games for Linux if they were developed for Linux?", the answer to that question would definitely interest the bean counters that have the ears of the corporate "suits" (management).

My personal commitment is to never buy a commercial game that is not available natively for Linux. If I have to run a game under WINE or with Crossover then I am not going to spend my hard earned dollars for that game. For example I bought Unreal Tournament 2004 and Quake 4 specifically because I like the genre and both have a native Linux capability. If more people take this stance and are willing to say so in public on the 'net then that might make a difference. However, as long as people will keep buying game titles that are Microsoft based and keep using WINE or whatever to run them on Linux then there is no incentive for the corporate game developers to make Linux based games. As long as there is a large Microsoft installed base that will buy these games developed for Microsoft based systems then the game developers will keep grinding out the Microsoft based titles and ignoring "alternative" operating systems.

As I have said before, I do not need these games. The game developers do need my money if they are to stay in business. This is where all Linux users must make a similar decision because that is what will get the interest of corporate game developers / marketers.

My firm conviction is that commercial game developers and game marketers really have no idea how many GNU/Linux "gamers" there are that would buy their products. There is no way to get hard "market share" numbers for GNU/Linux users, especially home users that would buy games. Because of this these commercial game developers and marketers are reluctant to commit resources, which require money, into developing games on GNU/Linux for the GNU/Linux gamer.

If one is keeping around a Microsoft based operating system just to play games then one is contributing to the problem. I am convinced that if GNU/Linux gamers insisted on GNU/Linux game titles rather than being willing to compromise just so they can play some Microsoft based game, like Crysis for instance, then this situation would begin to change in favor of GNU/Linux.

Instead of using WINE or keeping a Microsoft OS around go buy some titles that were developed for GNU/Linux and let the game developers and marketers know, "We are not going to take it any longer." Or continue using WINE or a Microsoft box and continue to be part of the problem rather than the solution to getting commercial games developed for native use under GNU/Linux.

Here is one suggestion I have for a commercial game developed with the GNU/Linux gaming community in mind. If you have not tried Tribal Trouble then get the GNU/Linux demo and check it out. If you like it then pay for the GNU/Linux version and let Oddlabs know you want more GNU/linux game titles. If you have suggestions for commercial game titles for other readers to purchase that are developed for GNU/Linux then post a comment with your suggestions. Please only refer to games that can run natively on GNU/Linux.

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