End of the Clones
"We can do anything except games" might be the lament of a Linux fan who has to turn on a Windows computer just to play a computer game. In this issue, we explain why that could change soon.
Linux Games
|
© John Spangle - 123RF.com
One thing that Linux is not, is a gaming platform … yet. Common Windows games often won't run at all or will run only with the help of Wine. This situation can present problems for newcomers and often harms game performance.
Moreover, the choice of high-quality games is limited for Linux users. If you look at the Linux games listed in Wikipedia [1], you'll currently find fewer than 500 entries – including some that have been around since the 1990s (e.g., Heretic). On other platforms, at least 10 times that appear annually.
After perusing the list, other things become clear. Titles such as Hedgewars, Teeworlds, and WarMUX have one thing in common: they're all clones of the Windows classic Worms, where worm-like creatures blow each other up with comical weapons. The Worms clones are not alone. Others clones include Lincity-NG, Freeciv, FreeCol, Widelands, UFO: Alien Invasion, SuperTux, and Tux Racer – clones are everywhere you look. But, are there any original, new ideas? Negative.
[...]
Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).
Buy this article as PDF
Express-Checkout as PDF
Pages: 2
Price $0.99
(incl. VAT)
(incl. VAT)
Buy Ubuntu User
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Related content
-
Free and commercial game engines
The appearance of new game engines with Linux support gives rise to hope that more games will start to appear in Linux versions. The free game engines are also getting better.
-
News
-
The state of gaming on Linux
Commercial game companies big and small, as well as various distributors, are starting to recognize Ubuntu as a viable gaming platform.
-
Five commercial games
The Ubuntu Software Center provides some exclusive game titles that are not yet commercially available or on the Internet. We take a look at five especially interesting games from different genres.
-
3D games with and without Steam: Ark, Cities: Skylines, and 0 A.D.
Linux systems are well suited for use as a robust platform for computing work and software development. When it comes to gaming, however, most people prefer Windows. Current 3D games with and without Steam support show that this is no longer the case.