Valve: Linux More Viable Than Windows 8 for Gaming

[ThePitt]

In a presentation at Ubuntu Developer Summit currently going on in Denmark, Drew Bliss from Valve said that Linux is more viable than Windows 8 for gaming. Windows 8 ships with its own app store and it is not an open platform anymore.

Some other points from the talk:

• Steam client is running nicely on Ubuntu and many developers have approached them with good game products.
  
• Cooperation with Canonical has been good.
  
• Ubuntu is preferred platform as it has a large user base and good community support with a strong company like Canonical behind it.
  
• Linux has everything they need: good OpenGL, pulseaudio, OpenAL and input support.
  
• New Source engine games will be available for Linux.
  
• No firm time frame for Steam Linux release, but soon.
  
• Copy protection is up to the game publishers.
  

Drew announced that anyone with a Launchpad account attending UDS will be given Steam access through a beta key.

http://www.ubuntuvibes.com/2012/10/valve-linux-more-viable-than-windows-8.html

[Lord Method Man]

Windows 8 ships with its own app store and it is not an open platform anymore.

Literally stopped reading right there. This stuff is beyond nauseating at this point. Just stop, Valve.

[Arceles]

Literally stopped reading right there. This stuff is beyond nauseating at this point. Just stop, Valve.

Windows is not what it used to be.... is becoming slowly and apple-esque platform, but if they indeed could push gaming into ubuntu... I'm soooooo much switching from windows 8 to ubuntu as my entertainment os, working os can be windows 7.

[Dashel]

Awesome, I want Ubuntu hats!!

[Noir Angel]

Depends on your point of view. At the moment Windows 8 is not a closed platform, but if like me you see the evidence that there's progress towards making windows a closed platform, Valve are probably right. Games work better when you aren't limited by completely arbitrary restrictions like those placed in Apple and Microsoft's app stores. And Ubuntu being open source, Valve could even influence it at the API level if they so wished which provides the potential to completely tailor their games and the OS to each other. As it is though I don't see Windows 8 as being any more or less viable for gaming than Windows 7, however providing support for other platforms is always positive in my book.

[spudtrooper]

They're wasting their money with Steam on Linux.. Even if Steam gives Windows 8 the finger, that doesn't stop steam partners from publishing direct and gaining access to the Windows 8 Marketshare.

BTW, Why isn't Valve ripping on OSX/Apple with the same hostility?

[Dot Matrix]

Wait. I just installed an app from the Internet this morning. What's that about a closed platform? Shut it, Valve, no one cares anymore.

[Lord Method Man]

Someone please provide a list of Windows 7 programs that will not run on Windows 8 because it is a "closed" platform.

[Dashel]

Besides the point, you of little reading comprehension.

Because that has never been a hallmark of the Apple or 'purpose built device' ecosystem (thanks derp). Seems people forget that MS won the desktop wars (and gaming) through openness and modularity vs the 'it just works' proprietary bull**** from Apple that they seem to be adopting.

[spudtrooper]

Someone please provide a list of Windows 7 programs that will not run on Windows 8 because it is a "closed" platform.

True, they could publish Steam istself through the Windows 8 marketplace.. (or at least as a link like the other win32 apps currently there)

[f0rk_b0mb]

Shut it, Valve, no one cares anymore.

I care. I probably have 300-400 $ of games with them.

Someone please provide a list of Windows 7 programs that will not run on Windows 8 because it is a "closed" platform.

Valve is referring to "Metro" apps. It's a closed platform. The desktop you can install whatever the you want.

[ahhell]

Windows is not what it used to be.... is becoming slowly and apple-esque platform, but if they indeed could push gaming into ubuntu... I'm soooooo much switching from windows 8 to ubuntu as my entertainment os, working os can be windows 7.

:rolleyes:

Good luck with that.

I have basically no respect left for Valve. They can go **** themselves.

[Athernar]

Literally stopped reading right there. This stuff is beyond nauseating at this point. Just stop, Valve.

Maybe if you didn't immediately throw your toys out of the pram, you'd notice that's an edit by the OP. The original article says "Windows 8 ships with its own app store and it is moving away from an open platform model."

I've re-read the article twice and see no reference in it to 8 being closed. Just closing.

[Dot Matrix]

Valve is referring to "Metro" apps. It's a closed platform. The desktop you can install whatever the you want.

So then Windows is still an open platform, no? That includes the option to install Valve?

[spudtrooper]

I care. I probably have 300-400 $ of games with them.

Why do you care then if Valve can't sell metro apps when the existing apps all work? (and wouldn't work under linux btw..)

Valve is referring to "Metro" apps. It's a closed platform. The desktop you can install whatever the you want.

It's a competing platform.. not closed.. anyone can get in and develop apps for it for free. (i'd call consoles closed platforms..)

[123456789A]

Windows 8 more viable than Steam for gaming.

[Noir Angel]

I care. I probably have 300-400 $ of games with them.

I have a lot of games with Steam as well. If the primary platform those games are developed for becomes closed it's a big concern for all PC gamers.

[f0rk_b0mb]

wouldn't work under linux btw

They would have to be ported. So basically all Source games, Humble Bundles, Serious Sam, and many more games are in the process of doing so.

So then Windows is still an open platform, no? That includes the option to install Valve?

The desktop version of Windows, yes. If Microsoft didn't want to let an app in the store, it doesn't have too, which is kind of bull. They also take a chunk of money from devs, which is unfair to them.

[giantpotato]

I'm just going to wait for the results of the November Steam Hardware & Software survey. Maybe then Valve will realize a big portion of their userbase has no problem using Windows 8.

[Noir Angel]

Whether their customers are prepared to use it isn't their issue, it's the freedom Microsoft are giving developers that Valve have the problem with. Most people don't even seem to be interested in trying to understand the point Valve are making they just fly off the handle the moment anyone says anything negative about Microsoft.

[+DKAngel Subscriber²]

valve would be silly not to cater for the windows 8 market

[giantpotato]

They also take a chunk of money from devs, which is unfair to them.

So instead of a chunk of money going to MS, It'll go to Valve instead? How is that any less "unfair".

[spudtrooper]

They would have to be ported. So basically all Source games, Humble Bundles, Serious Sam, and many more games are in the process of doing so.

Which they could port those games to WinRT and probably get larger marketshare than from steam.. especially on linux of platforms.

The desktop version of Windows, yes. If Microsoft didn't want to let an app in the store, it doesn't have too, which is kind of bull. They also take a chunk of money from devs, which is unfair to them.

Microsoft doesn't charge royalties for desktop apps linked from marketplace. The royalty fees for "metro" "modern" "winrt" apps/games are also minimal since microsoft provides the entire platform/ecosystem/distribution and monetization for you - the very same thing that Steam is charging its clients for. (steam isn't free for publishers either.. they make their money by taking a cut)

[FloatingFatMan]

The desktop version of Windows, yes. If Microsoft didn't want to let an app in the store, it doesn't have too, which is kind of bull. They also take a chunk of money from devs, which is unfair to them.

How is that ANY different to what Valve do with Steam? They don't put games on their store they don't want, and they take a cut of every sale, just like MS are doing with the Windows 8 store. Gabe is just throwing his toys out of the pram because MS, unlike EA with their Origin store, have the muscle to affect his bottom line.

[Jazirian]

The desktop version of Windows, yes. If Microsoft didn't want to let an app in the store, it doesn't have too, which is kind of bull. They also take a chunk of money from devs, which is unfair to them.

Let's not forget that if Valve doesn't want to let an app into its store, it doesn't have to. Valve also take a chunk of money from devs, as do bricks-and-mortar retail stores; that's because distributing software costs money.