With Valve On Linux, Has LGP Lost All Relevance?

[gbudny]

c) LGP ports stuff that is mostly irrelevant. They don't port the big names because nobody big trusts a publisher like this. They don't port the small trendy popular indie games because the developers of those *do the porting themselves* (like pretty much all of the humble bundle participants are doing). So what can they publish? a few good games here and there, mostly it's irrelevant stuff nobody really cares about: the market for stuff like software tycoon or some mah-jong clone is ridiculously small.

Can you show me other company which published 19 games to Linux (exception is HIB)?

LGP only published Software Tycoon and NingPo MahJong for Linux. Software Tycoon was ported to Linux by Runesoft and NingPo MahJong was ported to Linux by David Hedbor from Eon Games.

I don't know who ported NingPo MahJong to Linux PowerPC.

[archibald]

a) xorg is crap because it wasn't designed for todays desktop usage. it's big, slow, has a ton of deprecated crap dragging with it, the development pace is slower than the growth of a bonsai tree and we're getting the support for modern graphical features 2 or 3 centuries after other platforms. wayland is finally a step forward and a very welcome one. linux still has some hope if we ditch all the cumbersome antiquated weight that has dragged along all these years.

The linux kernel wasn't designed for today's desktop usage eithect r. Neither was Mesa.

I am probably being pedantic here, but:

"Large": for comparison, please define "large". Ideally comparing it to the size of the equivalent to the same system in Windows or MacOS.
"Slow": compared to what? Using open source or binary drivers? Does a slow open source driver mean that X.org is slow or that the driver isn't very optimised?
"deprecated crap": possibly fair (I genuinely don't know)
"2 or 3 centuries...": rants are weakened by hyperbole.

Your other points may be valid - I make no comment on them.

[gbudny]

I wasn't saying they should port games to the Mac, I was talking more about taking the Mac ports of games, and porting them to Linux, less development time due to reduced workload/Unix porting already done. Plus Aspyr are already talking to the big boys for their Mac licenses, Linux is probably an easier sell to people already making money from another niche platform.

They worked with Runesoft which is specializing in porting games to OS X:

http://www.rune-soft.com/main.php

Now they don't want talk about their new games for Linux:

"Can you share any enclosed information regarding the upcoming LGP game releases?

As everyone knows we have two games we’ve previously announced, being “Bandits: Phoenix Rising” and “Disciples 2: Dark Prophecy”. These two are both very close to being ready and I’ll be making an announcement about one of them in the very near future. Bandits has already had its beta testing run, so it’s going through some final adjustments before it goes gold. Disciples has been with us for far too long and getting it ready for beta is a huge priority of ours. As far as games beyond that go, we have a few exciting, unannounced titles that we’re working on, but I’m not going to let anything out of the bag just yet "

http://www.unixmen.com/interview-with-clive-crous-from-linux-game-publishing/

[gbudny]

are gbudny and larian by any chance working at LGP as they're so furiously defending it?

I don't work for LGP.

[DMJC]

I don't know.

"LG: So it is possible that you could publish games for more than one platform?

Michael Simms: In theory yes, but I, and all of my staff, are linux people at heart. We have no interest in porting games to the mac, or to anything else, and so we dont. Saying that, our latest release, Soul Ride, works on x86, ppc, alpha, and sparc Linux."

http://web.archive.org/web/200507120...com/node/10249

I wasn't saying they should port games to the Mac, I was talking more about taking the Mac ports of games, and porting them to Linux, less development time due to reduced workload/Unix porting already done. Plus Aspyr are already talking to the big boys for their Mac licenses, Linux is probably an easier sell to people already making money from another niche platform.

[gbudny]

Have LGP ever approached Aspyr Media Inc? Have they ever spoken to the companies already porting to OSX? Having just read the article posted above,

I don't know.

"LG: So it is possible that you could publish games for more than one platform?

Michael Simms: In theory yes, but I, and all of my staff, are linux people at heart. We have no interest in porting games to the mac, or to anything else, and so we dont. Saying that, our latest release, Soul Ride, works on x86, ppc, alpha, and sparc Linux."

http://web.archive.org/web/20050712080821/http://www.linuxgazette.com/node/10249

I only have one question for Michael Simms, If you're investing a shit-ton of your own money into Linux gaming, why don't you just write your own games? Porting hasn't been working for the past decade, it might never work. The Humble Bundles are working, they're successfully raising the profile of the platform. Maybe it's a better effort to focus on development of new titles rather than porting?

Michael Simms is now LGP Business Adviser (not CEO).

"LXF: Are you tempted to create an original game?

MS: We do have a couple of original game ideas, one of which is about half complete. It will be a fairly simple game to start off with – we're not a big-budget company. This is completely new, no one knows about this. It's very simple, it's based on Sudoku. But it's an entirely new take on the game. I can't go into details because it's still a few months away, but we're hoping we'll be able to get it out in the next six months."

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/bringing-windows-games-to-linux-622659?artc_pg=2

"Besides porting, are we going to see any original LGP creations in the future?

Prior to my arrival at LGP, Michael had already started on one original creation – a puzzle game. I’m sure now that I’ve taken over the running of LGP, Michael will have more time on his hands to complete this, which will of course be published by LGP. We have a few other ideas between us and I’m very sure that in the future we’ll see several original LGP games."

http://www.unixmen.com/interview-with-clive-crous-from-linux-game-publishing/

[Larian]

are gbudny and larian by any chance working at LGP as they're so furiously defending it?

a) xorg is crap because it wasn't designed for todays desktop usage. it's big, slow, has a ton of deprecated crap dragging with it, the development pace is slower than the growth of a bonsai tree and we're getting the support for modern graphical features 2 or 3 centuries after other platforms. wayland is finally a step forward and a very welcome one. linux still has some hope if we ditch all the cumbersome antiquated weight that has dragged along all these years.

b) if you don't present yourself professionally, you need to sell yourself with the overall high quality of your work. LGP certainly hasn't been strong on either of these. if you don't have a legendary reputation to justify a 10 year old website design, you're never going to attract new customers

c) LGP ports stuff that is mostly irrelevant. They don't port the big names because nobody big trusts a publisher like this. They don't port the small trendy popular indie games because the developers of those *do the porting themselves* (like pretty much all of the humble bundle participants are doing). So what can they publish? a few good games here and there, mostly it's irrelevant stuff nobody really cares about: the market for stuff like software tycoon or some mah-jong clone is ridiculously small.

d) the "hdd-incident" which is a proof of complete unprofessionalism or blatant lying

LGP, good riddance. i vote for desura and steam!

I can't speak for gbudny, but no, I don't work for LGP in any way. Nor am I defending anybody. I'm just asking reasonable questions - why would you want to see a game porting studio fail? It's completely the wrong way to look at things. I want to see LGP get its act together, not fail. That way everybody wins. They're on our effing side, you know.

[zerothis]

Yes, and With Valve On Linux, and Electronic Arts has lost all relevance as well.

(just thought I'd try jumping the gun also)

[dolo]

not

are gbudny and larian by any chance working at LGP as they're so furiously defending it?

a) xorg is crap because it wasn't designed for todays desktop usage. it's big, slow, has a ton of deprecated crap dragging with it, the development pace is slower than the growth of a bonsai tree and we're getting the support for modern graphical features 2 or 3 centuries after other platforms. wayland is finally a step forward and a very welcome one. linux still has some hope if we ditch all the cumbersome antiquated weight that has dragged along all these years.

b) if you don't present yourself professionally, you need to sell yourself with the overall high quality of your work. LGP certainly hasn't been strong on either of these. if you don't have a legendary reputation to justify a 10 year old website design, you're never going to attract new customers

c) LGP ports stuff that is mostly irrelevant. They don't port the big names because nobody big trusts a publisher like this. They don't port the small trendy popular indie games because the developers of those *do the porting themselves* (like pretty much all of the humble bundle participants are doing). So what can they publish? a few good games here and there, mostly it's irrelevant stuff nobody really cares about: the market for stuff like software tycoon or some mah-jong clone is ridiculously small.

d) the "hdd-incident" which is a proof of complete unprofessionalism or blatant lying

LGP, good riddance. i vote for desura and steam!

[DMJC]

At what point did I ever state that I want LGP to fail? Also, Icculus.org is not trying to be a linux game porting company. It is a place where a person with a very substantial resume happens to put some projects online. Ryan works as an employee not as a business partner with a lot of these companies. His resume has references from many AAA game development houses he's worked for in the past, he delivers binaries for distribution on the internet, or to be boxed with games by the companies selling them, most gamers don't even know he exists (except for people who look deeper into the linux gaming scene).

Totally different situation to LGPs when it comes to dealing with these companies. Ryan can say, I've worked on Descent 3, I've worked on UT, Deus Ex 1, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, and other various titles when he's dealing with these companies. Most HR departments are only looking for a resume/experience, so it's more than good enough, as an employee he's fantastic. That said though, when you're a company looking to do business with other companies. Especially where you are going to be representing the corporate face of a company. You HAVE to be brand-concious, you have to dot your i's and cross your t's and yes you have to wear a suit, and look the part. It's just the nature of doing business. LGP need to redesign their site, put on their suits, and get down to business. You wouldn't trust your CIO/CFO position to someone who can't properly dress themselves properly every morning. Why the hell would you trust your brand to that either?

Have LGP ever approached Aspyr Media Inc? Have they ever spoken to the companies already porting to OSX? Having just read the article posted above, I only have one question for Michael Simms, If you're investing a shit-ton of your own money into Linux gaming, why don't you just write your own games? Porting hasn't been working for the past decade, it might never work. The Humble Bundles are working, they're successfully raising the profile of the platform. Maybe it's a better effort to focus on development of new titles rather than porting?