Steam Officially coming to Linux!

[luciusad2004]

Didn't see any posts about it but thought some people here might be excited.
Steam is officially announced for Linux.

You can follow it at the Valve Linux blog.

[crenn]

When they support debian I'll be quite excited, even more if they allow an ARM platform to run steam to download games ;D

[luciusad2004]

Unless they do something to actively block it I could see it being ported to debian rather quickly, either by valve themselves or the community. Now steam on ARM... I don't see that coming lol.

[Drum Thumper]

Ubuntu is deb based. Can't imagine it'll be all that hard to add the ppa's to other deb based distros.

That said, I recently spent $15 for the L4D series. When this gets released my main computer is getting nuked and paved with ubuntu. Adios Windows!

[PartyLikeARockstar]

This is good news. I have to say Adobe CS is the last thing I need to be Mac/Linux only

[AmEv]

I'm excited, too.

Interestingly enough, the founder of GNU isn't the happiest guy on the block....




He's not happy about the DRM of Steam.

My thoughs:
Steam's DRM is to put annoyances on the app on the definite pirates, they come to the Web site, asking how to fix it. Support requests the proof of purchase. They're unable to come up with it. They get permabanned, poked at, and shown as an "example".


I really find it doesn't get in the way of Average Joe.



And it's REALLY/relatively easy. easy to add mods to Source games. Just not on Average Joe multiplayer....

[DynamoNED]

I'm excited about this! I've got friends who are strictly Linux gamers, and if Valve is doing as well with the port as they are describing here, I might join them: http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/linux/faster-zombies/

To be honest, the main things holding me to Windows in the first place are my games. I already dual-boot most of my family's systems with Win 7 & Ubuntu 12.04 (or Linux Mint), and if I were able to take even most of my games to Linux, I'd never look back, especially with the increasingly strong distaste I'm having with Win 8. (Not just the crappy Metro/desktop sans start button thing, either, though that doesn't help Win 8's case any.)

My only worry, though, is the same one brought up by many of the commenters on Valve's blog: Driver Support. As much as Linus Torvalds may hate them, nVidia's Linux drivers are at least decent, and AMD's are improving but are still very unpolished compared to Windows equivalents.

Still, kudos to Valve for focusing on a Steam Linux port!

[AmEv]

Originally Posted by DynamoNED

To be honest, the main things holding me to Windows in the first place are my games.

...(I)f I were able to take even most of my games to Linux, I'd never look back...

except for the fact that that you're a pretty smart dude.

[luciusad2004]

Originally Posted by DynamoNED

My only worry, though, is the same one brought up by many of the commenters on Valve's blog: Driver Support. As much as Linus Torvalds may hate them, nVidia's Linux drivers are at least decent, and AMD's are improving but are still very unpolished compared to Windows equivalents.

One of the posts sometime during the week mentioned that they were working with Vendors on driver support so this may end up being a good thing for the linux community as a whole.

I can understand the concern from people who want to use only free software, but I suppose they could just not install the packages. I'm ok with using a combination of free an non free software.

[AmEv]

Originally Posted by luciusad2004

I'm ok with using a combination of free an non free software.

Hey, if they make decent software, I'm more than willing to support them.

To a point.



Adobe, for example. No doubt they make good software. But some people decide to get free copies for their use. Making those willing to support them less willing.


However, there are some people that say "I developed this, I'm releasing the source, here you go, if you're willing, here's my PayPal address". I don't mind either way. Because, I'd love to support them, but I'd be low on funds, too.