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.
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