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RE: Linux distributions dedicated to running games just know them now!
Over the years there have been a few gaming focused Linux releases. Most notable were GameKnoppix (or something similarly named) and variations of PC LInux OS.
The problem is that there are not a lot of good games available for Linux. I am not saying there are NONE, just not a lot. This is a catch 22 for both gamers and developers as neither will show up till the other is there already in force.
I agree, Linux have a long way to go before it can be a gaming system.
This is a problem that many potential challengers to Windows have suffered. Gamers buy expensive graphics cards, sound cards, etc. Gamers drive the overall computer market - no one is buying new computers to run Word or Excel faster.
While it is great that Linux has alternatives to many of the Microsoft office programs - 99.99999% of those Linux alternatives are also on Windows - very few are exclusive and therefore a reason to switch to Linux as a business professional.
The problem with offering alternatives to Microsoft Office programs is, Linux is repeating the steps that Microsoft tread decades ago. That means Windows is decades ahead of where Linux is even thinking of being.
I understand there are new games coming to Linux, which is great, but how many are exclusive and how many are "groundbreaking"? Apple has a problem here, they tried to fix a couple of decades ago but failed miserably at.
The biggest problem that Linux has is also its greatest strength. There is no central "leader" telling developers to work on this or that within Linux. People fix something, add something, change something etc, they often release their own "flavor" of Linux (in my eyes, further muddying the waters for potential users). This is something I thought Ubuntu was going to be able to fix but for the most part, Canonical was not met with open arms by the Linux community at large. This is a problem as far as I am concerned. While Microsoft has in fighting among the various dev teams, they all have the same end goal which is very important when creating something as large as an operating system.
My point is, if Linux developers are going to repeat the steps of Microsoft then the platform is never going to surpass Windows because Microsoft will be ahead with new stuff, more games, more apps, more whatever.
Linux for me isn't gaming system at all, and I think it shouldn't compete with windows at that (but I'll be happy if it could gain more gaming developers).. As I see it... Linux is a system for developers and tech savvy guys who love open source and trying new things. with total freedom that following a leader (like Microsoft/Apple) can strict.
Linux is good to have as a USB system.
thanks for this comment, but i think that linux is the best for developers also for gamers too
I am not trying to argue which is better, just saying it is a catch 22 for both sides. Gamers run Windows because that is where the games are and developers support Windows first (sometimes only) because that is where gamers are.
We need a paradigm shift in computing for Linux to become more popular than Windows in this regard.
Microsoft was smart in marketing and in development. Back when they started pushing Windows they started with businesses because of the higher mark up they could achieve. This gets people using Windows, it gets them needing a computer at home (which would be compatible with the work computer) so they buy a Windows machine.
All work and no play makes things boring. Microsoft saw this and developed games (although really basic ones) and included them in Windows.
The point is, Microsoft was in the right place at the right time to conquer the computer world. This also points out a huge flaw with Linux as there is no one definitive version that companies can develop for which complicates development.
While each computer setup could be slightly different with Windows, the underlying base install of Windows is pretty much level across the field. Not so with Linux. You can end up in dependency hell rather quickly by attempting to upgrade a small feature or program on your computer.
I personally prefer Linux over Windows but for the most part, I have to keep a Windows install available for gaming and usually end up writing my articles while in Windows because it would become quite a waste of time switching back and forth just to write something.
I see Linux growing to hold more market share but it is going to be a long hard road. People are less computer users today and more "smart device" users. This is where Linux can rock - it already powers Android and to an extent iOS and has successfully forced MIcrosoft out of the mobile market, for now.