Linux

[Wolfie]

Keep in mind, of those 20million users, a significant use both Windows and Linux on the same computer. There is a abysmally small number of people who use any form Linux as their sole operating system.

Don't worry, that number is going to go up dramatically when Steam is out on unix.

[ScapeZero]

Don't worry, that number is going to go up dramatically when Steam is out on unix.

Doubt it. Games will still run better in DirectX, much like how most people will use Bootcamp when running games on Macs, simply because they get better performance than running the game on OSX.

Not to mention, most developers will not make Linux ports of their games. There are very very very very few games that run on OSX on Steam (and in general). Its mostly just indie games that run on something like Flash, and then Valves own titles.

[Wolfie]

Doubt it. Games will still run better in DirectX, much like how most people will use Bootcamp when running games on Macs, simply because they get better performance than running the game on OSX.

Not to mention, most developers will not make Linux ports of their games. There are very very very very few games that run on OSX on Steam (and in general). Its mostly just indie games that run on something like Flash, and then Valves own titles.

Umm, no.

People run bootcamp because Apple keeps f**king the sound libraries with every minor update, and there are a ton of applications that break. Games are especially sensitive. The performance that DirectX provides over OpenGL is absolutely negligible.

As for games that run on MacOSX... the largest development firms have already adopted the operating system. Blizzard, EA, Firaxis, Vavle, etc. The old days of MacOSX not having anything to play are long over. This is especially since Valve put a lot of pressure on developers to make Mac versions. When the digital distribution platform that owns 80% of the market tells you should support a certain OS or hardware, or risk not having your title on it, developers get their s**t moving.

[ScapeZero]

Umm, no.

People run bootcamp because Apple keeps f**king the sound libraries with every minor update, and there are a ton of applications that break. Games are especially sensitive. The performance that DirectX provides over OpenGL is absolutely negligible.

As for games that run on MacOSX... the largest development firms have already adopted the operating system. Blizzard, EA, Firaxis, Vavle, etc. The old days of MacOSX not having anything to play are long over. This is especially since Valve put a lot of pressure on developers to make Mac versions. When the digital distribution platform that owns 80% of the market tells you should support a certain OS or hardware, or risk not having your title on it, developers get their s**t moving.

Its not that the games break, and wont run. Its that running them on 7 nets them more performance. Its not going from 10 FPS to 90, but performance gains are performance gains.

Also...No, not really. Blizzard has always made Mac versions of their games. EA basically only has "The Sims" and a very select few other titles on Mac. I wouldnt really call Firaxis one of "The largest development firms", but once again, isnt new to the Mac scene like Blizzard.

Not many people are switching over to Mac. Some companies take their popular titles (generally the "family friendly" games, such as The Sims) and port those to Mac. Hell, Activision isnt even bothering with porting the CoD series to the Mac anymore. Valve isnt putting pressure on anyone. Valve isnt going to blacklist companies because they dont want to make OSX ports of their games, thats not how Valve operates. Gave might say "I would like to see more people make their games available to OSX users", but he will NEVER make that a requirement to be on Steam. Check it out for yourself, out of the over 1,600 games on Steam, not even 300 of them can be played on OSX, and damn near all those 250~ titles are indie games. There is no push for OSX development, even less so when people can just use Bootcamp.