Blizzard Entertainment Planning A Linux Game For 2013

[Svartalf]

SDL isn't enough these days?

I guess at least OpenGL still has a grip.

What's the biggest issue? Sound? Input? Graphics? Weird file structures?

Input and waaay non-standard directory structures. Sound's adaptable via several routes. OpenGL is more ES, which is the same, but different. Input's the bugabooo. You don't have, typically a mouse. You don't have, typically a joypad or keyboard. You've got a multitouch surface on phones and tablets- and you *MIGHT* have a joypad via Android TV (I have two they handed to me...). The touchpad doesn't work the way many of the games expect input. SDL? It works well enough for some things, but it doesn't all the way compensate for some of what I talk to. Besides...you'd be surprised at how many games DON'T use SDL. At least one of my ported titles uses Allegro- to good advantage. It's not there for that. The one that DID use SDL...well...the studio has a port...it's not out yet because it's not ready for primetime. It's a tech demo. Many of the SDL-ish titles are that way, really.

Fixing that was part of the promise of Ouya. Fixing it is part of the promise of Android TV.

Once you have that hurdle sorted...the filesystem...I think I've an answer there.

[b15hop]

The thing there is this: The real problems is adapting the UI, Input, etc. that is operating from the Android world over to the Linux- or vice versa.

In the end, it's little different than any of the adaptation layers LGP, Myself, or Ryan came up with for making Windows games "go" on Linux natively. Biggest problem for most of it is that it's got a really alien to most everything Linux view of filesystems and the like necessitated by the way you'd need to do a mobile device with their frameworks. In the end, it's pretty much Linux, with some REALLY wierd APIs compared to what you're used to.

SDL isn't enough these days?

I guess at least OpenGL still has a grip.

What's the biggest issue? Sound? Input? Graphics? Weird file structures?

[Svartalf]

Not really : you may gain some time after doing some openGL ES code, but all the rest (networking, sound, user input) are made through the Android APIs, not the standard linux-friendly libraries out there (SDL at the top of the list). You can eventually use some of these through native code capabilitites, but you still have to go through the graphic stack of Android, which is entirely proprietary, and far from Xorg or Wayland compatible.

The thing there is this: The real problems is adapting the UI, Input, etc. that is operating from the Android world over to the Linux- or vice versa.

In the end, it's little different than any of the adaptation layers LGP, Myself, or Ryan came up with for making Windows games "go" on Linux natively. Biggest problem for most of it is that it's got a really alien to most everything Linux view of filesystems and the like necessitated by the way you'd need to do a mobile device with their frameworks. In the end, it's pretty much Linux, with some REALLY wierd APIs compared to what you're used to.

[Morpheus]

I believe this was in reference to the Android tablet port of Hearthstone that Blizzard just released (12/2014). The reason I believe this is because the article mentions a port of one of their titles and that the effort would be a "test" whether the work is worth it. That certainly sounds like they were being careful and didn't want to jump into a Linux port that would be tough without decent return. Hearthstone certainly avoids the danger...

Not really : you may gain some time after doing some openGL ES code, but all the rest (networking, sound, user input) are made through the Android APIs, not the standard linux-friendly libraries out there (SDL at the top of the list). You can eventually use some of these through native code capabilitites, but you still have to go through the graphic stack of Android, which is entirely proprietary, and far from Xorg or Wayland compatible.

[Veske]

Don't think it will matter much but it seems someone has taken it upon him self to do something about this situation: https://steamcommunity.com/linkfilte...-linux-clients

A petition to Blizzard, for them to make their games Linux native. Source: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2262819

Also this interesting detail:

Hello supporters, we have now hit 75 signatures but we still need more so please continue to spread the word about this petition. Remember that the Co-Founder and CEO of Blizzard, Mr. Morhaime is one of the people who receives notification of each signature.

[Polochamps]

I believe this was in reference to the Android tablet port of Hearthstone that Blizzard just released (12/2014). The reason I believe this is because the article mentions a port of one of their titles and that the effort would be a "test" whether the work is worth it. That certainly sounds like they were being careful and didn't want to jump into a Linux port that would be tough without decent return. Hearthstone certainly avoids the danger...

Good point!

[mwpow3ll]

I believe this was in reference to the Android tablet port of Hearthstone that Blizzard just released (12/2014). The reason I believe this is because the article mentions a port of one of their titles and that the effort would be a "test" whether the work is worth it. That certainly sounds like they were being careful and didn't want to jump into a Linux port that would be tough without decent return. Hearthstone certainly avoids the danger...

[Veske]

So.. any news on the matter?

[Illasera]

Ahhhh , I remember been sarcastic, still am, telling myself how much we need some DRM software on linux-based os's.

[ffiil]

Here's hoping it's not WoW, I have a serious weakness for Linux games/ports and will end up supporting -and subsequently playing- it.

heh -me too!

Whilst I remain nostalgic for WoW, I'd prefer it if they made Heros of the Storm multiplatform.