Trainz needs a linux port

[link12313]

If trainz were to get a linux port it would mean more sales and a larger playerbase. And it would make the linux users happy.

 

[BLACKWATCH]

Trainz needs a few things that are more important than a Linux port.

 

[amigacooke]

Can I suggest there is a thread that covers the subject already?

Add support for Linux

 

[ftldave]

According to web analytics firm Net Market Share, fewer than 2 percent of desktop computers were identified as running Linux last month.

 

[amigacooke]

According to web analytics firm Net Market Share, fewer than 2 percent of desktop computers were identified as running Linux last month.

I wonder what percentage of the Windows computers are work computers which are unlikely to have Railway Simulators installed on them?

 

[oknotsen]

I wonder what percentage of the Windows computers are work computers which are unlikely to have Railway Simulators installed on them?

I wonder what percentage of the Linux computers are work computers which are unlikely to have Railway Simulators installed on them.

 

[amigacooke]

I wonder what percentage of the Linux computers are work computers which are unlikely to have Railway Simulators installed on them.

Touche. However, I can say that there are hundreds of Windows computers where I work and not a single Linux one.

 

[oknotsen]

I totally agree with you that the number of Windows work computers are many, many more then Linux work computers; those are rare. But slowly but surely you see more and more Linux work computers. I know for example that in some government work area's these are slowly gaining ground.

 

[geophil]

Touche. However, I can say that there are hundreds of Windows computers where I work and not a single Linux one.

Don't be too sure. Your nearest Linux system may be closer than you think. Ever looked at that little Wifi box right there in the corner? Or at the sat receiver in the meeting room? And down in the basement there is this off-limits air-conditioned room with all the humming pizza boxes. Of course, neither the embedded systems nor the servers are likely to run games. And both don't appear in that 2% market share which is desktop/laptop only.

 

[AntonyVW]

Don't be too sure. Your nearest Linux system may be closer than you think. Ever looked at that little Wifi box right there in the corner? Or at the sat receiver in the meeting room? And down in the basement there is this off-limits air-conditioned room with all the humming pizza boxes. Of course, neither the embedded systems nor the servers are likely to run games. And both don't appear in that 2% market share which is desktop/laptop only.

Id have to agree. There are more servers running linux than Microsoft want you to believe.

 

[ftldave]

As said, servers and embedded systems don't have anything to do with Trainz. Sad fact for penguins though is that Linux use peaked in 2008, the so-called "Year of Linux" that didn't happen, that coincided with the less than successful release of Windows Vista. That was the big chance for Linux, and it didn't play out. Robert Strohmeyer's story in PC World, Desktop Linux: The Dream Is Dead recaps what really happened. As that author points out, the failure of desktop Linux was a result of the fragmentation of the Linux platform, and the fierce [and the too often rude and obnoxious] ideology of the open-source community at large. Linux desktop usage hasn't changed much since 2008, has ticked downwards now and then. I work at one of the biggest public universities in my home state, and 2008 was the last Linuxfest held on campus. I admire the loyalty but, as said, servers, embedded systems, small mobile devices is where Linux lives well. Hoping for desktop dominance or Linux ports of popular games like Trainz doesn't make economic sense.

 

[pware]

In my workplace there are 8 servers but only 1 is running Linux and that is managed by an external content provider. Out of 250+ desktops and over 900 laptops nearly all are Win 7 with some XP and one MacOS. Only one desktop is running Linux - one that I set up to experiment with the OS. Unfortunately the experiments never got very far because I found that Linux is not as easy to manage (e.g. driver installs) as Windows. I know others have expressed different opinions on this point but I can only go by my experiences.

At home I have one Win 7 machine which runs Trainz and one Linux machine (Ubuntu 12.04) on which I attempted to install TS2006 via WINE but could not get it to work. Now I use the Ubuntu machine for Web browsing while I am playing Trainz.

I regard myself as being very computer literate (Masters degree, authored numerous computer texts, manage a large and complex network) but I had to give up on using Linux for anything serious.

 

[amigacooke]

KickStarter has quite a few companies that are persuaded that a Linux version is a reasonable use of their resources. With Valve throwing their weight behind the OS as well I think there's life in the old dog yet.

By the way, I have a Linux install, but only out of curiosity.

 

[geophil]

With Valve throwing their weight behind the OS as well I think there's life in the old dog yet.

As already mentioned in the original thread, I think there is nothing more contradictory than the openness of the Linux platform and invasive DRM like Valve Steam. Aren't they planning a (closed box) game console of their own, based on Linux? It would explain much of the activity in this direction. Another explanation found in the net was frustration about Windows 8.*, with MS copying the Steam business model in the tile/app subsystem there.

 

[AntonyVW]

As already mentioned in the original thread, I think there is nothing more contradictory than the openness of the Linux platform and invasive DRM like Valve Steam. Aren't they planning a (closed box) game console of their own, based on Linux? It would explain much of the activity in this direction. Another explanation found in the net was frustration about Windows 8.*, with MS copying the Steam business model in the tile/app subsystem there.

And one of the reasons I will NOT install win 8. Its time MS realised that the public dont want only one choice - MS - but have the right to pick and choose.

 

[JCitron]

As already mentioned in the original thread, I think there is nothing more contradictory than the openness of the Linux platform and invasive DRM like Valve Steam. Aren't they planning a (closed box) game console of their own, based on Linux? It would explain much of the activity in this direction. Another explanation found in the net was frustration about Windows 8.*, with MS copying the Steam business model in the tile/app subsystem there.

Microsoft got on the bandwagon after Apple and Google with their tile system and DRM-tied applications. I think Apple started it in the first place with their iPad. I can't remember exactly, but I think that's when this thing started.

As far as Windows 8.1 goes, you can have the best of both worlds. I run 99% of my applications in desktop mode with my browser and a few applications in full-screen mode. With the full screen mode, you can then split your display so you can use both the desktop applications and the full screen ones. It's an interesting environment, but I prefer the desktop.

Linux like other 'nix operating systems, as has been mentioned, are too fragmented. There are so many flavors, subtleties, between the different brand names and versions, that it would be a whole new undertaking to get Trainz to work. The other issue too is the average home user just can't cope with something this complicated. Heck, they can't even handle Windows XP. Not to generalize, but can you imagine your elderly parent or aunt using Linux? How do you explain a kernel panic error to someone and how to resolve the problem. Or worse, the most common issue which is installing software. This one would bite us pretty badly on how to do a Package add and then sometimes need to read the man-files to figure out the command line switches for a make-file. Gasp! I've got a stomach ache thinking about my dad asking me about something like this!

I'm no Linux or Unix expert, but I've supported and used enough systems to be dangerous. It takes totally different mind-set to use the very powerful operating system and environment, but sadly too Geeky for the average person.

If anyone is interested in playing with Linux, try some of the boot-images that run from a DVD. The alternative is to install the free Virtual Box from Oracle www.virtualbox.org You can then download, freely available, Solaris from the website. Solaris is a very powerful version of Unix, which I would say is par none. I know I'm showing some partiality for it because I've used it for over 15 years. There are also freely available other versions of Linux which can also be installed in virtual machines (Virtual Box) that can be played with, destroyed, and reinstalled to your heart's content.

John