For those of you not aware, I have been been doing numerous speaking engagements on the topic of Open Source gaming over the last year(s). Part of my goal with these presentations was to address some of the FUD on FOSS games and gaming. As part of these investigations, I got a bit curious (as I usually do) and hence the survey. My primary efforts with the survey were to gauge community perception surrounding FOSS gaming, and open a productive dialog on the issues surrounding it. In many discussions with gamers, friends and fellow LUG members I found some uniform misconceptions relating to FOSS games and Linux as gaming platform. The survey paralleled my efforts with a speech at SCALE, so I went forward gather the FOSS communities collective opinion/wisdom where little to no data existed. The overwhelmingly positive response of nearly 700 users was quite heartening. The misconceptions I tested were along 3 common veins:
1. There are only a few FOSS games.
Sourceforge.net shows nearly 30,000 FOSS games and game related projects. Humorously enough, 95% of actively play FOSS games and 88% agree that there are tons of FOSS games! This was a far cry from the rants I got from friends in the community who claimed otherwise. A heartening fact was that within the FOSS community a full 56% of the survey users had contributed, volunteered or donated to these projects. I know that outside our community this number is much lower because people don’t understand the need to contribute. Only in supporting these projects in the many ways we can (becoming a project member, donating, advocating, etc.) will they thrive. As part of this survey I offered a prize and a $100 donation to the FOSS gaming project of the winners choice. The $100 went to one of my favorite FOSS FPS’s – Nexuiz.
2. Hardware support on Linux needs improvement.
As Linux users, many of us don’t feel as though the hardware vendors see us as a valid market opportunity. Our simple survey stats show that to the contrary we want games on our platform of choice. Nearly 64% Linux a gaming platform and a full 60% think that hardware vendors need to improve support for Linux. Personally, I don’t think that vendors realize how far the Linux desktop has come and the business opportunity we represent. Lets vote with our dollars and make them understand. Support the company’s that support our community!
3. There’s little demand for native Linux games from commercial providers.
A full 90% want to buy commercial games on Linux and 85% would be more likely to buy a game title if it has a native Linux version. Linux users want games on their own terms and I know they can be a profitable segment for these commercial game companies. Arguably this applies mostly to larger commercial game companies and less to the independent ones. Some smaller game companies do deserve recognition for consistently supporting our community and deserve out support in return. 90% use Wine or other compatibility technology to play
Windows games on Linux, that makes me wonder what would happen in 2009 if more games came natively to the Linux platform.
There are many paths to improving Linux’s penetration into the desktop marketplace and gaming could certainly be one of them. We are at such a point with the Linux desktop that its increasingly a ripe gaming platform for the everyday user. The end game, (pun intended) was to open the dialogue to move us forward on these challenges. Personally I believe we, as a community, need to look at Linux Gaming in a new light. Our challenges are less technical ones and more about building and supporting community, rallying industry, improving our business/marketing/PR efforts – to make the changes we need. In my own efforts I am starting a podcast to highlight the many amazing FOSS gaming projects, connect with industry and actively challenge these past assumptions. Now its time for our community to let our voice be heard. Anyone else tired of dual booting?
I would like to thank Full Circle Magazine for their coverage of the survey results in FCM issue 23.
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