Gaming on Linux

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bradi

137 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#106643 28-Jul-2012 12:23

Hi,

I've recently made the plunge to a full linux desktop and curious about others experiences with gaming. I know about WINE and am probably going to get CrossOver.

I realise most people probably don't use Linux for gaming ;P, but I really can't bear to be without my games and can no longer buy into the Windows thing... I like computing too much to be limited by an OS I don't control.

So what are your experiences (good and bad) with gaming on linux?

UrbanMyth

122 posts

Master Geek

#663266 28-Jul-2012 13:09

There are some games which wil lplay natively on Linux e.g. Unreal Tournament.

Most use WINE e.g. Elder Scrolls, WoW etc

I don't really do a lot of gaming; have only experimented briefly with them

sidefx

3711 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#663274 28-Jul-2012 13:37

I've tried gaming on linux a few times and some games run really well. Still doesn't match windows, but I'm watching this with interest:

http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/linux/steamd-penguins/

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

rocky289

32 posts

Geek

#663335 28-Jul-2012 16:20

I am also interested in this thread.
I use driving sims, mostly rFactor.
Was wondering how they would go.

bradi

137 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#664258 30-Jul-2012 21:34

Ok, Steam working, only dl'd two games from my library - FlatOut2 runs great, as good (maybe better, prolly just nix bias :P) and Pirates, which was all good until I tried to change the game resolution... then all sorts of wierdness... but DAYMN 800x600 just doesn't cut it on a 24-inch monitor... will report back once I've tried Skyrim.

Daft

12 posts

Geek

#664261 30-Jul-2012 21:36

Personally I tend to avoid gaming on linux, simply because it's much easier to just hold a windows partition and restart the computer occasionally. The only time I really use windows is while gaming.
Each to their own, however.

bradi

137 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#664288 30-Jul-2012 22:11

Yea, I toyed with that, but the whole rebooting thing just to check my mail or browse the net annoyed me. Plus now I run Windows in a VM :), used to be Linux.

Daft

12 posts

Geek

#664443 31-Jul-2012 11:14

Surely you don't find Windows so irksome that web browsing and email are chores. VMs are fine but you'll find performance issues to be hindering.

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bradi

137 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#665089 1-Aug-2012 01:46

Daft: Surely you don't find Windows so irksome that web browsing and email are chores. VMs are fine but you'll find performance issues to be hindering.

Nah, it's more about not wanting to connect my Windows OS to the Internet, I'm tired of the layers of protection you have to slap on (which makes it run like it's in a VM) and my browser and email client both run just as well in Linux. Hopefully I'll get more games working under Linux or Linux versions of games that I like playing as I really just don't want to use Windows.

Turbine

17 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#675200 21-Aug-2012 18:14

My Linux setup runs faster than my Windows, despite X11 and still developing video drivers. Look forward to future Optimisations both in the Kernel and from the proprietary driver developers.

As the alternatives tend to be derived from various builds of Wine, they're preferable due to further development. CXGames is crossover, but I find it runs more games and better than CXOffice.

If you want to play the most hardcore games at a good speed game tree is pretty good, although it's based on older versions of Wine.

I'm really happy how fast my PC is in Linux, I use Debian with LXDE and XFCE4 window manager (for window snapping) and have a cool nice glossy window decoration theme with really nice glossy window components which look better IMO to Mac and especially Windows Vista. The xfce4-appfinder to make up for no search in start menu, Not to mention only using 200MB of ram. The latest version of the AMD/ATI proprietary drivers work really great for gaming. But to be honest, for all new games, it's not worth bothering, However native Linux games like Doom 3, Quake 4, Alien Arena are well worth it. ;)

I do find that some Windows games work faster under Linux than Windows. Games for Windows 9x work great in Linux whereas Windows they either don't run, unplayable, graphically crazy or unstable.

tmadden

97 posts

Master Geek

#675467 22-Aug-2012 13:16

Personally I use PlayOnLinux & Steam which seems to be a good combination, although I've only got a couple of games. I generally check http://appdb.winehq.com before purchasing any games just to be safe.

tmadden

97 posts

Master Geek

#736135 21-Dec-2012 18:52

Steam for Linux is now in open beta here. I've only had a quick play around with it but Team Fortress 2 is available. I've also noticed it puts links to the games you've purchased in the games section of your menu. I can access the Windows games I've purchased but not sure how that'll work. Hopefully they'll just fire up under wine but I'll look into it.

sidefx

3711 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#736147 21-Dec-2012 19:47

tmadden: Steam for Linux is now in open beta here. I've only had a quick play around with it but Team Fortress 2 is available. I've also noticed it puts links to the games you've purchased in the games section of your menu. I can access the Windows games I've purchased but not sure how that'll work. Hopefully they'll just fire up under wine but I'll look into it.

Very nice! If you just want to browse games available initially though, try here:

http://store.steampowered.com/browse/linux/

some good games! I'll have to try it sometime.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

tmadden

97 posts

Master Geek

#736157 21-Dec-2012 20:38

Turns out you just flat out can't install Windows games. It's a shame really because I have a couple from when I was running Steam in WINE and feel having Steam installed twice to be somewhat annoying.