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Re: [News] Petition for Gaming on Linux Launched

  • Subject: Re: [News] Petition for Gaming on Linux Launched
  • From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:45:35 +0100
  • Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy
  • Organization: schestowitz.com / MCC / Manchester University
  • References: <2010511.WMthGTgIVA@schestowitz.com> <2u26o3-dvm.ln1@sky.matrix> <e90fuj$s8e$1@tux.glaci.com>
  • Reply-to: newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • User-agent: KNode/0.7.2
__/ [ thad01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ] on Tuesday 11 July 2006 16:26 \__

> [H]omer <spam@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Done.
>> 
>> However, this would seem to apply mainly to commercial games. There
>> are also initiatives withing the FOSS community to further encourage
>> FOSS game development, such as the Fedora Games SIG (Special Interest
>> Group):
>> 
>> http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Extras/SIGs/Games
>  
> I've heard it argued that high quality games require the commitment
> and resources of major commercial companies, particularly with the
> level of cinematics and music that they now entail, but I'm not so
> sure.  The same was once said about operating systems and office
> suites, but I'm plenty happy with Linux and OpenOffice.
> 
> And I am not convinced that artistic talent can not be attracted
> to open source game projects.  I know plenty of talented musicians
> that would probably contribute music for the exposer.  Even a couple
> of illustrators pop to mind.


Ray's comment actually complements this. There is the issue of /porting/ and
there is the possibility of _proper_ Open Source games. It's a similar
scenario in hardware (e.g. GPU's) where one prefers to ship binaries (the
painless way) rather than disclose the source (trade secrets).


> Furthermore, I've been less impressed with the games coming out of
> mainstream industry lately.  Too much focus on visual effects an not
> enough on innovative game play or storyline.  We are ripe for the
> next ID to pop up and turn the gaming world upside down with
> completely new.  Perhaps it will come from the OSS world?  Time will
> tell.


I very much agree that there is loss of good storylines and no departure from
shoot-em-up-type/RPG perspectives (which benefit tremendously from re-use,
being a curse in this case as it hinder innovation). I sometimes think that
since, as an adult, I cannot enjoy games as much as I used to, there must be
something wrong with the industry. It's hard to measure those things, but
the resistance to Moore's Law implies that on a year-by-year basis, the
improvements are minor. There is also an implementational barrier, e.g.
global illumination, which requires /ad hoc/ workarounds like texture
mapping. No game today can truly blow one's mind. Not like it used to be,
that's for sure. The games industry begins to resemble the porn industry.
Always a petit gal with a nice tan and bleaches hair. Some story all over
again. All they can offer is more polygons (to render a larger bra size).

Best wishes,

Roy


-- 
Roy S. Schestowitz      |    make install -not war
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