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General discussionGOG.com Now Supports Linux!(115 posts)(115 posts)
(115 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted August 19, 2014
50 games for the free OS available right NOW!

A while ago, [url=http://www.gog.com/news/gogcom_soon_on_more_platforms]we've announced our plans to add Linux support as one of the features of our digital platform, with 100 games on the launch day sometime this fall. We've put much time and effort into this project and now we've found ourselves with over 50 titles, classic and new, prepared for distribution, site infrastructure ready, support team trained and standing by, and absolutely no reason to wait until October or November. We're still aiming to have at least 100 Linux games in the coming months, but we've decided not to delay the launch just for the sake of having a nice-looking number to show off to the press. It's not about them, after all, it's about you. So, one of the most popular site feature requests on our community wishlist is granted today: Linux support has officially arrived on GOG.com!

The first 50+ titles we've have in store for you come from all the corners of our DRM-Free catalog. Note that we've got many classic titles coming officially to Linux for the very first time, thanks to the custom builds prepared by our dedicated team of penguin tamers. That's over twenty fan-favorite GOG.com classics, like FlatOut&Flatout 2, , <a href="http://www.gog.com/game/darklands">Darklands, or Realms of the Haunting we've personally ushered one by one into the welcoming embrace of Linux gamers. That's already quite a nice chunk of our back-catalog, and you can expect more from our dedicated Linux team soon!

Now, for the recent titles. We've got some indie games with native Linux versions that finally find their well-deserved spot in our store. Among them, debuting on Linux, CLARC - a well received original comedic Sci-Fi puzzler. On top of that, be on the lookout for two new additions to the GOG.com catalog: Gods Will Be Watching (coming in a couple of hours) and Unrest:Special Edition (Linux build coming right up!), both of them very fresh and intriguing. This is the very first time we can provide you with all the PC versions of a premiere game, and we will continue to do so in the future. If there's a Linux version of a title we're releasing, our aim is to deliver it to you Day-1. But enough about us, let's talk about the games. Here's what you can be playing on Linux today:

Anomaly Warzone Earth
Ascendant
Bionic Dues
Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold - first time on Linux!
Blake Stone: Planet Strike - first time on Linux!
Bloodnet - first time on Linux!
Braveland
CLARC - first time on Linux!
Darklands - first time on Linux!
Darwinia
Defcon
Don't Starve + DLC
Dragonsphere - first time on Linux!
Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition
FlatOut - first time on Linux!
Flatout 2 - first time on Linux!
Fragile Allegiance - first time on Linux!
Gemini Rue
Gods Will Be Watching
Hammerwatch
Hocus Pocus - first time on Linux!
Kentucky Route Zero
The Last Federation
Legend of Grimrock
Litil Divil - first time on Linux!
Long Live the Queen
MouseCraft
Multiwinia
Normality - first time on Linux!
Pinball Gold Pack - first time on Linux!
Pinball World - first time on Linux!
Pirates! Gold Plus - first time on Linux!
Realms of the Haunting - first time on Linux!
Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender Bender - first time on Linux!
Rise of the Triad: Dark War - first time on Linux!
Shattered Haven
The Shivah HD
Sid Meier's Colonization - first time on Linux!
Sid Meier's Covert Action - first time on Linux!
Sir, You Are Being Hunted
Slipstream 5000 - first time on Linux!
Space Pirates and Zombies
Spacechem
Stargunner - first time on Linux!
SteamWorld Dig
Super Hexagon
Surgeon Simulator 2013
Sword of the Samurai - first time on Linux!
Teslagrad
Unrest:Special Edition (Linux build on the way!)
Uplink
VVVVVV

As if this wasn't exciting enough, we've put more than half of these titles on a special promo! Head out to the promo page and find out which of them you can get up to 75% off until Tuesday, 9:59AM GMT. Of course, all of the games from the list above that you already own will be updated with Linux versions with no additional cost for you, just as you might have expected from GOG.com.

"OK, but how will Linux support actually work on GOG.com" - you might ask. For both native Linux versions, as well as special builds prepared by our team, GOG.com will provide distro-independent tar.gz archives and support convenient DEB installers for the two most popular Linux distributions: Ubuntu and Mint, in their current and future LTS editions. Helpful and responsive customer support has always been an important part of the GOG.com gaming experience. We wouldn't have it any other way when it comes to Linux, and starting today our helpdesk offers support for our official Linux releases on Ubuntu and Mint systems.

Diversity and freedom of choice have always been an important part of the GOG.com way. We're very glad that we could improve our service with the addition of the free (and DRM-Free) alternative to the commercial operating systems. Talking with gamers is just as important, so we're counting on your feedback! If you've got any questions, suggestions, or run into any trouble, just tell us in the forum thread below this post. Just please be gentle, this is [url=http://youtu.be/qBxbPts5tOk" target="_blank]our very first time[/url] with Linux. Happy launch day, everyone!
Posted July 28, 2014
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shmerl: For old and new GOG Linux users. If you didn't yet, please vote for CD Projekt Red to port Witcher 3 to Linux.
Considering that CDPR already made an announcement about Witcher 3 coming to Linux, I hardly think a wishlist is necessary ;)

Source ;)
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stevenstarar: This is awesome! How does one run the graphics mode setup? That function is incredibly useful in windows for avoiding the usual blurry lcd look, and I'd love it if the linux versions of the games could have this feature.
There is no Graphics Mode Setup equivalent in Linux builds. We have no idea whether we will be making it or not. You are however more than welcome to access the .conf files which are inside the /Dosbox/ directory.

You need to look for the "output=" line, thats where the settings from the GMS are.
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shmerl: I know someone who was recommended to use Gentoo as a beginner (I guess someone played a joke on him). He had no clue and went Gentoo all the way while not even being a technical person. Now he compiles packages from source without a blink ;)
Well, we have some people at the office who have finished Rayman 1 because nobody was there to tell them it's a very difficult game.

Also, nothing is too difficult with access to the internet, I educated myself on installing and running Arch in two days using their forums and wikis ;)
Post edited July 28, 2014 by Tolya
Posted July 28, 2014
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JudasIscariot: Would love to but were the expansion packs ever ported to Linux? :D

I am not sure it would work having the base game being native and all the rest of the pack via Wine. Wouldn't things break then?
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Future_Suture: Pfff, do it yourselves and I'll buy 10 copies. Easy! :D
Ummm no? We're not a porting company :P
Posted July 28, 2014
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JudasIscariot: Ummm no? We're not a porting company :P
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MrPointless: I can't help but wonder if anyone's keeping a tally of how many times you've been forced to repeat yourself in this one thread. :|
I haven't been forced per se, I just repeat that so there's no chance of misunderstanding :) I know Future_Suture understands but my answer was for any potential newcomers to see :)
Posted July 28, 2014
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JudasIscariot: Ummm no? We're not a porting company :P
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Petrell: Would Windows version accompanied with Wine be feastible as done with some games already (after you get permission obviously)? There is also VCMI Project that aims to recreate the game engine. It's not quite finished (0.96 at time of writing) but it's getting there.
If we were to make a Linux-compatible version of HOMM3 Complete, it would most likely have to be done with Wine as a compatibility layer as the two official expansions never received a proper Linux port.

Sure, the base game (Heroes 3: Restoration of Erathia) has a native Linux port but a) does it work in Ubuntu 14.04/Mint 17, b) can we get permission for that particular version, and c) would it make sense for us, hypothetically speaking, to offer the one native port of the HOMMIII base game and then offer the Wined HOMM3 Complete package along with it?

As for the recreation of the HOMM 3 engine, not sure how to go about answering that as that may be asking for more compatibility issues than it's worth. I do hope, personally speaking and not as GOG.com, that the remake does come to fruition and that it can be easily used with the GOG version of HOMM 3 Complete without too much hassle :)
Post edited July 28, 2014 by JudasIscariot
Posted July 28, 2014
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JudasIscariot: If we were to make a Linux-compatible version of HOMM3 Complete, it would most likely have to be done with Wine as a compatibility layer as the two official expansions never received a proper Linux port.

Sure, the base game (Heroes 3: Restoration of Erathia) has a native Linux port but a) does it work in Ubuntu 14.04/Mint 17, b) can we get permission for that particular version, and c) would it make sense for us, hypothetically speaking, to offer the one native port of the HOMMIII base game and then offer the Wined HOMM3 Complete package along with it?

As for the recreation of the HOMM 3 engine, not sure how to go about answering that as that may be asking for more compatibility issues than it's worth. I do hope, personally speaking and not as GOG.com, that the remake does come to fruition and that it can be easily used with the GOG version of HOMM 3 Complete without too much hassle :)
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Petrell: Depending how much extra work it would require, you could add the Native linux port of base game at least as an extra and use the Wine version as official download. As for unofficial engine remakes, you could feature them in mod spotlights and/or make a stickied quide to using such engine in specific game (or sticky one that already exists). In easiest cases it simply involves putting the new executable into game folder but requirements may wary from OS to OS and remake to remake.
Yeah, I was thinking along the same lines regarding the native version, that is either make it an extra for the purists and use the Wined version as the supported version :) Of course, this sill depends on whether it would be possible to even make it work and there's that permission thing :)

A mod spotlight would be good but I am not sure how well one would work for Linux as that's kind of new territory for most of us :)
Posted July 28, 2014
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Seegras: Funny enough, GOG staff exactly predicted your reaction earlier...

Anyway: Should I start blubbering that GOG does not support Windows? Because it doesn't run on Windows NT on 64bit Alpha, and neither on Windows on ARM, and most not newer games don't run on Windows 98 either.

So once again, thank you GOG!
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jalister: What about my Windows 3.11 computer? :)

Unfortunately it seems it's only the Linux group that has a few of these users. I haven't heard OSX users complain that Power PC isn't supported here. One of the reasons I chose Linux Mint is because it is well supported, and used by many others. Ubuntu and Mint are really the only two distros that have enough users to even register on Steam's OS graph.

I do, or plan to, use other distros also, but my main Linux computer and laptop will stay on Mint 17.

Don't let the naysayers get you down GOG. This is a much appreciated move. However, you may want to look at supporting RPM in the future. It won't affect me, but RPM is popular.
I heard other Fedora users say that there's a package or program called alien that converts .debs into RPMs, so there's that at least :)
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JudasIscariot: Yeah, I was thinking along the same lines regarding the native version, that is either make it an extra for the purists and use the Wined version as the supported version :) Of course, this sill depends on whether it would be possible to even make it work and there's that permission thing :)

A mod spotlight would be good but I am not sure how well one would work for Linux as that's kind of new territory for most of us :)
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Petrell: Well me being solely Windows user, it's entirely unknown territory for me. Just giving suggestions that work for rest of us. I'll let magicians at GOG to figure the details (and weird voodoo rituals half of the posts in this topic talk about). ;-p
Well, I'd rather take baby steps in this issue and have us secure permission for the Linux version and then we can go from there :)
Post edited July 28, 2014 by JudasIscariot
Posted July 28, 2014
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Daliz: I really like the tarballs. Even if I used Ubuntu/Mint I'd still probably use the tarballs, so simple extract to home directory and run. I know exactly where everything is, I know exactly which partitions capacity the game is using etc.
For me they are great as the Mint 17 equivalent of Software Center takes AGES to show up for some reason so tar.gz all the way for me :D
Posted July 28, 2014
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JudasIscariot: For me they are great as the Mint 17 equivalent of Software Center takes AGES to show up for some reason so tar.gz all the way for me :D
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ssokolow: *nod* It's as if "performance optimization as part of UX design" is an alien concept to these guys.

(Hence why I always use apt-get or aptitude for repository installs and dpkg -i for manually-downloaded packages.)
Ahh OK, and here I was thinking it was just me as I am running my Mint 17 install on an external HDD via a USB 3 port :D

I also noticed the same lag on Ubuntu 14.04 especially with games like Realms of the Haunting due to their sheer size :/
Post edited July 28, 2014 by JudasIscariot
Posted July 28, 2014
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JudasIscariot: Well, I'd rather take baby steps in this issue and have us secure permission for the Linux version and then we can go from there :)
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Petrell: Obviously but you should newer stop looking ideas for future consideration. :-) And it's better to post ideas when they pop into my head as I'll probably will have forgotten them tomorrow ;-p
That's perfectly fine :) Always good to have feedback ahead of time :)
Posted July 28, 2014
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JudasIscariot: Ahh OK, and here I was thinking it was just me as I am running my Mint 17 install on an external HDD via a USB 3 port :D

I also noticed the same lag on Ubuntu 14.04 especially with games like Realms of the Haunting due to their sheer size :/
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ssokolow: It's entirely possible your performance is worse than mine (I like my S.M.A.R.T. health monitoring too much to trust my data to USB hard drives) but I've found package management GUIs to perform poorly in general.

Far too much waiting on I/O instead of using tricks like "UI is up and usable immediately, data then loads in incrementally" or the "Make disk I/O and user interaction as independent as possible" trick the *buntu installer uses to streamline things.
I would have to benchmark my performance vs. yours but yeah, I am sure it is worse but as long as everything else on the system works reasonably fast (everything else = games :D), I am not bothered by it.

Due to the package manager being bad, I just use terminal, sooooo much faster :) I think whoever makes these distros on purpose to force their user base to learn how to operate the OS via terminal :P /tinfoil hat mode ON
Posted July 29, 2014
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Magmarock: Currently in the process of learning Linux. There are some things I like but also a lot of things I don't like. Linux fans really don't talk about the cons of the OS that much.
Turn off all desktop effects if you are using a KDE desktop environment for an easier time, this is coming from someone who also is kind of a beginner as far as Linux is concerned :D
Posted July 29, 2014
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JudasIscariot: Turn off all desktop effects if you are using a KDE desktop environment for an easier time, this is coming from someone who also is kind of a beginner as far as Linux is concerned :D
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Daliz: And there's also a nice hotkey for that: Alt+Shift+F12

I have the default effects on, but on low-spec PC's KDE with effects can be really slow.
Cool thanks :)
Posted July 29, 2014
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Tolya: There is no Graphics Mode Setup equivalent in Linux builds. We have no idea whether we will be making it or not. You are however more than welcome to access the .conf files which are inside the /Dosbox/ directory.

You need to look for the "output=" line, thats where the settings from the GMS are.
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stevenstarar: I've checked that out, but I can't get it to upscale 4x for a 1366x768 screen, and openglnb is way too slow on linux. Does GOG have a build of dosbox that uses a 4x scaler that could be used with overlay?
Yeah, there is no 4X scaler in default Dosbox Im afraid. You can try swapping the dosbox to one of the SVN builds, it should be pretty easy as it only involves in overwriting the binary and adding any of the libs that are required by a particular SVN.
Posted July 29, 2014
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Magmarock: Currently in the process of learning Linux. There are some things I like but also a lot of things I don't like. Linux fans really don't talk about the cons of the OS that much.
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JudasIscariot: Turn off all desktop effects if you are using a KDE desktop environment for an easier time, this is coming from someone who also is kind of a beginner as far as Linux is concerned :D
XFCE ftw.

*runs away after igniting GUI-al violence*
Posted July 29, 2014
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JudasIscariot: Turn off all desktop effects if you are using a KDE desktop environment for an easier time, this is coming from someone who also is kind of a beginner as far as Linux is concerned :D
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Tolya: XFCE ftw.

*runs away after igniting GUI-al violence*
I know where you work.... Tiny >.>
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionGOG.com Now Supports Linux!(115 posts)(115 posts)
(115 posts)