Telltale Games

Tchernobog · 09/21/2010, 12:55 pm

A big +1 for native GNU/Linux support; if they port the Telltale engine, I'm given to understand, most of the Telltale games should run on Linux at once. That isn't to say it's easy, though.

I think the biggest problem is that they use DirectX instead of directly some OpenGL-based framework. The news from today, however, speak of a Linux port of DirectX 11 to run above Gallium3D.

I guess that porting isn't so bad as it sounds. Economically, once you did it once, it should be possible to maintain it without going mad; the real problem is a) testing, b) packaging, c) making sure your libraries don't disappear overnight, due to some new backwards-incompatible release (much less likely it happens on Windows or Mac OS X) - you probably want to static-link to them.

However, even considering the poor state of hardware acceleration support for Linux, it would be difficult for Telltale to say "it's not us, it's your crappy drivers" if the port wasn't up on par with the Windows one. That's bad.

I think that on the long term, the most economically interesting way to make some money out of a Linux port, would be to opensource the engine. I mean:

Do not distribute the Telltale tool.
Put the Telltale engine under the GPL, so that business rivals could not exploit it without releasing source code for all the improvements that could be ported back to the original engine.
Make a marketing campaign about this. Mostly, the GNU/Linux community would tam-tam this out by itself, since it would mean a lot for us. We're always looking for "good" companies releasing source code under the GPL. Thus, free publicity for Telltale.
The community would be responsible for keeping the port compatible; to package it, to make it compile on a pletora of distribution, to improve it to run better on existing hardware.
Free bugfixes.

After this, why would you still buy the game for Telltale? But why, the artwork. The plot. The puzzles. That would still remain of propriety of Telltale, and could not be reproduced without permission.

Many GNU/Linux users would immediately be interested to buy a game from a "good" company; most of us passed nights compiling ScummVM when it was still a beta project, just to run The Secret of Monkey Island again, while on Windows XP it didn't start properly (the Italian version, at least, didn't). Don't underestimate the passion that links GNU/Linux users to adventure games! There are many of us interested.

Really, a half-working port to be opensourced seems the best thing in my opinion, all things considered. After all, here in hell we all run Linux, and that's a huge userbase (there are more people here than in heaven!). ;-)

Cheers!
Matteo

flying sheep · 09/26/2010, 02:12 pm

ok, without reading the whole thread, here are some facts i like to post here, because they come up every time someone talks about a linux port of some windows game:

linux isn’t the text-only operating system with geeky green letters nobody understands, if you don’t want it to be. especially the KDE desktop is graphically very advanced.
linux sure comes in different versions (called “distributions”), but xp and vista are far more different than fedora and debian regarding binary compatibility (meaning “stuff that runs in linux x most likely runs in every other one”)
if a 3D application is already ported from directx to opengl (3d api) and from windows to mac (system architecture), the main deal is done. linux uses opengl, too (like mac) and is a unix-like (like mac, unlike windows).*
a linux port wouldn’t hurt any of the windows users

*of course developing something in opengl from the start is the best choice, because the features which would require e.g. directx 10 or 11 (only for vista or 7) are available in opengl 4 (every windows, linux or mac os), too. there are no disadvantages except there are some more directx developers than opengl developers (microsoft really pulled off a good advertising campaign here)

Sloshy45 · 11/13/2010, 04:40 pm

Sorry for the bump :P.

Personally, all that I care is that it works flawlessly in Wine. The only problems I have with the telltale games are the launcher; if they switched the windows launcher to be natively implemented or Qt or something, I'd have no problems. That said, if they can port their games to Mac, there's barely any effort from there to make a native Linux port; Macs and Linux are practically cousins in terms of the technologies they use: CUPS, OpenGL, etc.

Sofox · 11/26/2010, 04:25 pm

I'd really love for Telltale games to be ported to Linux. I switched to Ubuntu a few months ago, and anytime I want to play a Linux game it's an unsatisfactory choice between an unreliable Wine or a slow boot into Windows XP.

robotman5 · 11/26/2010, 06:13 pm

would be nice to have a linux port.

mikeossur · 12/25/2010, 02:54 pm

Yes I think that there are. 30 million people use Linux world wide. Most computer geeks use Linux or Apple. Windows is strictly for N users.

mikeossur · 12/25/2010, 02:57 pm

yes

mikeossur · 12/25/2010, 03:07 pm

I am not convinced of that. There are a lot of Linux users including myself that have held off from buying these games in hope that they might create a Linux port. Unfortunately it seems the people running Telltale have not caught on or have some miss guided idea about Linux. Many Independent game makers have Linux ports because there is a market out there. 30 million users to be exact. Many computer geeks have switched to Linux or at least use them as servers and second machines if not first like my self. I just don't want to have to set up a Windows box or do some Wine hack for these games. Maybe Telltale will me nice enough to help with ScummVM support and port these games

mikeossur · 12/25/2010, 03:20 pm

IDSoftware Quake games have always worked perfectly on any distro (including 64 bit) I have used. Prey Runs great. So does Unreal 1,2,3 and 4.

okonkole · 12/27/2010, 05:15 am

A big +1 for native GNU/Linux support

I'm a big fan of IDSoftware Quake games (QII, QIII & ETQW)... yeahhhh i'm a linux user for more then 12 years

))

But 12 years playing (mainly) with FPS, it's a bit boring... I love point & click games...

I bought machinarium (native linux support) last year I think, to change a bit !!! A real good game, with good music...

I'm ready to buy some of your game too !!!

Make a pre-order offer to see how many linux user would buy if you port your game on linux ?!!!

Regards

Zhadnost · 12/27/2010, 07:25 am

I'd love native linux support for these games too. Although I can imagine TTG are a bit busy on a couple of series that they are working on.

09/21/2010, 12:55 pm	#101
Tchernobog Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1	Well, there's the hard way... A big +1 for native GNU/Linux support; if they port the Telltale engine, I'm given to understand, most of the Telltale games should run on Linux at once. That isn't to say it's easy, though. I think the biggest problem is that they use DirectX instead of directly some OpenGL-based framework. The news from today, however, speak of a Linux port of DirectX 11 to run above Gallium3D. I guess that porting isn't so bad as it sounds. Economically, once you did it once, it should be possible to maintain it without going mad; the real problem is a) testing, b) packaging, c) making sure your libraries don't disappear overnight, due to some new backwards-incompatible release (much less likely it happens on Windows or Mac OS X) - you probably want to static-link to them. However, even considering the poor state of hardware acceleration support for Linux, it would be difficult for Telltale to say "it's not us, it's your crappy drivers" if the port wasn't up on par with the Windows one. That's bad. I think that on the long term, the most economically interesting way to make some money out of a Linux port, would be to opensource the engine. I mean: Do not distribute the Telltale tool. Put the Telltale engine under the GPL, so that business rivals could not exploit it without releasing source code for all the improvements that could be ported back to the original engine. Make a marketing campaign about this. Mostly, the GNU/Linux community would tam-tam this out by itself, since it would mean a lot for us. We're always looking for "good" companies releasing source code under the GPL. Thus, free publicity for Telltale. The community would be responsible for keeping the port compatible; to package it, to make it compile on a pletora of distribution, to improve it to run better on existing hardware. Free bugfixes. After this, why would you still buy the game for Telltale? But why, the artwork. The plot. The puzzles. That would still remain of propriety of Telltale, and could not be reproduced without permission. Many GNU/Linux users would immediately be interested to buy a game from a "good" company; most of us passed nights compiling ScummVM when it was still a beta project, just to run The Secret of Monkey Island again, while on Windows XP it didn't start properly (the Italian version, at least, didn't). Don't underestimate the passion that links GNU/Linux users to adventure games! There are many of us interested. Really, a half-working port to be opensourced seems the best thing in my opinion, all things considered. After all, here in hell we all run Linux, and that's a huge userbase (there are more people here than in heaven!). ;-) Cheers! Matteo

09/26/2010, 02:12 pm	#102
flying sheep Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 73	ok, without reading the whole thread, here are some facts i like to post here, because they come up every time someone talks about a linux port of some windows game: linux isn’t the text-only operating system with geeky green letters nobody understands, if you don’t want it to be. especially the KDE desktop is graphically very advanced. linux sure comes in different versions (called “distributions”), but xp and vista are far more different than fedora and debian regarding binary compatibility (meaning “stuff that runs in linux x most likely runs in every other one”) if a 3D application is already ported from directx to opengl (3d api) and from windows to mac (system architecture), the main deal is done. linux uses opengl, too (like mac) and is a unix-like (like mac, unlike windows).* a linux port wouldn’t hurt any of the windows users of course developing something in opengl from the start is the best choice, because the features which would require e.g. directx 10 or 11 (only for vista or 7) are available in opengl 4 (every* windows, linux or mac os), too. there are no disadvantages except there are some more directx developers than opengl developers (microsoft really pulled off a good advertising campaign here)

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11/13/2010, 04:40 pm	#103
Sloshy45 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 10	Sorry for the bump :P. Personally, all that I care is that it works flawlessly in Wine. The only problems I have with the telltale games are the launcher; if they switched the windows launcher to be natively implemented or Qt or something, I'd have no problems. That said, if they can port their games to Mac, there's barely any effort from there to make a native Linux port; Macs and Linux are practically cousins in terms of the technologies they use: CUPS, OpenGL, etc.

11/26/2010, 04:25 pm	#104
Sofox Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1	I'd really love for Telltale games to be ported to Linux. I switched to Ubuntu a few months ago, and anytime I want to play a Linux game it's an unsatisfactory choice between an unreliable Wine or a slow boot into Windows XP.

11/26/2010, 06:13 pm	#105
robotman5 The Gamer Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 22	would be nice to have a linux port.

12/25/2010, 02:54 pm	#106
mikeossur Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 13	Yes I think that there are. 30 million people use Linux world wide. Most computer geeks use Linux or Apple. Windows is strictly for N users.

12/25/2010, 02:57 pm	#107
mikeossur Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 13	yes

12/25/2010, 03:07 pm	#108
mikeossur Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 13	I am not convinced of that. There are a lot of Linux users including myself that have held off from buying these games in hope that they might create a Linux port. Unfortunately it seems the people running Telltale have not caught on or have some miss guided idea about Linux. Many Independent game makers have Linux ports because there is a market out there. 30 million users to be exact. Many computer geeks have switched to Linux or at least use them as servers and second machines if not first like my self. I just don't want to have to set up a Windows box or do some Wine hack for these games. Maybe Telltale will me nice enough to help with ScummVM support and port these games

12/25/2010, 03:20 pm	#109
mikeossur Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 13	IDSoftware Quake games have always worked perfectly on any distro (including 64 bit) I have used. Prey Runs great. So does Unreal 1,2,3 and 4.

12/27/2010, 05:15 am	#110
okonkole Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1	A big +1 for native GNU/Linux support I'm a big fan of IDSoftware Quake games (QII, QIII & ETQW)... yeahhhh i'm a linux user for more then 12 years )) But 12 years playing (mainly) with FPS, it's a bit boring... I love point & click games... I bought machinarium (native linux support) last year I think, to change a bit !!! A real good game, with good music... I'm ready to buy some of your game too !!! Make a pre-order offer to see how many linux user would buy if you port your game on linux ?!!! Regards

12/27/2010, 07:25 am	#111
Zhadnost Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 141	I'd love native linux support for these games too. Although I can imagine TTG are a bit busy on a couple of series that they are working on.