Linux

[Delsus]

it wont come to linux just because 90% of people wont know how to use it, most people dont know what a windows command line is. no way they will beable to do an install on linux cuz theres always things you need to install.

Installing on linux is as hard as the devs want it to be, if they make a package and give it to the repositories distributions of linux use people can get it easily through software centers, apt-get command synaptic etc, they don't have to make files you have to compile into debs and install.

Linux is very user friendly now alot more so than it used to be, also the people who want to play the game on linux probably know how to install things properly anyway.

[Leyza]

it wont come to linux just because 90% of people wont know how to use it, most people dont know what a windows command line is. no way they will beable to do an install on linux cuz theres always things you need to install.

When I first used Ubuntu, I picked it right up. All you really need to know how to do to use the command prompt in Ubuntu is use Google and copy and paste. It's that easy.

To be honest, I prefer the command prompt over the Install Wizard due to it being a lot faster than it. Copy and paste, then Ubuntu does the rest of the work. At least, on Ubuntu. Not sure about other Linux OS.

[Antipika]

Had to.

More seriously, I really don't see any reason for Square Enix, from a pure business point of view, to even consider a Linux release for now. If anything make a Mac version first, then consider Linux. The project lost enough money already, why invest DEV time and support time into something that will not generate enough income?

People here tends to forget that it's not about only releasing a Linux version of the game, but it's about everything that's around it meaning:

• Assuring and maintaining the distribution of the client over the years. (hell even the current XIV client cannot be obtained online in Europe (only NA SE website...)).
• Providing support to all Linux customers which also mean :
  • Having support employees being able to deal with Linux related issues.
  • Having the necessary knowledge base articles / FAQ for all Linux related issues. And that in four languages as usual.
  • Keep on updating FAQ for both Windows and Linux version over time.
• More hassle for update deployment. Windows, PS3 and Linux. Files won't be exactly the same (just like XI had different patches for PS2/X360 and PC).
• For every new patches, longer QA'ing phases. Some bugs that may happen only on Windows may not affect Linux version and the other way around.

That's a lot of work and extra costs. I know that some people will say "whoever uses the Linux version is probably tech savvy enough not to contact SE if he has an issue", yet support must be offered to all customers and all platform/OSes, SE have to.

[Huginn]

many companies will release linux versions and drivers with "no support". I bought Quake 3 arena in the collector's tin for $10 because it was linux. there was NO support from iD games for linux... same for descent. most of the time the linux community supports it for the company

[indira]

And these 90% know how to use windows? Good joke.

well there alot of companys that fix alot of peoples simple little problems like restarting printer spool services, installing os's. just because you can point and click dont mean you know what your doing or know how to use your computer.

Installing on linux is as hard as the devs want it to be, if they make a package and give it to the repositories distributions of linux use people can get it easily through software centers, apt-get command synaptic etc, they don't have to make files you have to compile into debs and install.

Linux is very user friendly now alot more so than it used to be, also the people who want to play the game on linux probably know how to install things properly anyway.

the issue is not every one has the same hardware and there are some peripheral's that will not work at all on linux, or you get the devies thats works on 10 peoples computer but wont work on 1000 others. but the user base is tiny for gamers vs a pc or even a mac thats why there sticking to windows.
untill linux gos the way of mac osx your not going to see it as a big contender just because the distros are different they need to consolidate into one standard.

When I first used Ubuntu, I picked it right up. All you really need to know how to do to use the command prompt in Ubuntu is use Google and copy and paste. It's that easy.

To be honest, I prefer the command prompt over the Install Wizard due to it being a lot faster than it. Copy and paste, then Ubuntu does the rest of the work. At least, on Ubuntu. Not sure about other Linux OS.

what if some one wants fedora or open suse, there all different to a point. and if SE modifies any thing in the GPL they would have to put out the source code which i doubt a company likr them will want to do.

[Huginn]

untill linux gos the way of mac osx your not going to see it as a big contender just because the distros are different they need to consolidate into one standard.

repeat after me: MAC OSX IS LINUX, MAC OSX IS GNU. Mac OSX is a closed source distribution of linux. it may have some things to make you think maybe it is not, but it is indeed GNU/UNIX. if i hear one more person claim they know something about GNU, Linux, Unix, GPL, JPL or what color underpants Richard Stallman wears while in the same breath stating that Mac OSX is superior to any of them, i just can not say what i would be forced to do.

and if SE modifies any thing in the GPL they would have to put out the source code which i doubt a company likr them will want to do.

This statement is inane and makes no sense. why would SE be modifying anything in a GPL? and if you just mean GPL code, they are free to modify it and they STILL DO NOT HAVE TO RELEASE THE SOURCE CODE!!! READ THE GPL, THE WHOLE THING!!!!!

[Antipika]

many companies will release linux versions and drivers with "no support". I bought Quake 3 arena in the collector's tin for $10 because it was linux. there was NO support from iD games for linux... same for descent. most of the time the linux community supports it for the company

Yeah sure because comparing a FPS like Q3 and a MMO make sense. A company couldn't care less to provide support once you purchased their product if there is nothing else left to pay afterwards.

For a MMO it's a completely different story, your customers pay every month. If they have an issue, you must help them otherwise the customer will simply leave. Not to mention that every day passing where the customer have an issue is a day he is paying without being able to fully enjoy his game.

I really don't SE releasing something without support behind it.

[KoKuToru]

That's a lot of work and extra costs. I know that some people will say "whoever uses the Linux version is probably tech savvy enough not to contact SE if he has an issue", yet support must be offered to all customers and all platform/OSes, SE have to.

Oh well, yeah thats why we don't need a Linux version.
I just want to play on Linux, without much problems.

Writing a windows client is perfectly fine. As long as it support OpenGL.
The moment it support OpenGL. It will work perfectly fine with wine.
And if we have problems.. SE must not care.. since we aren't supported.

untill linux gos the way of mac osx your not going to see it as a big contender just because the distros are different they need to consolidate into one standard.

What the hell are you talking about.. Linux is one standard.
It uses the Linux-Kernel. Doesn't matter which distribution.
And as long as you support a "minimal"-Kernel-version.
You can bundle all "Librarys" with the binary and it will run perfectly fine on every Linux-system (but it might not be allowed to bundle every library).
For ArchLinux they would need to support Kernel 2.6.27, because glibc-2.12.2-1 needs it.
But I am running Kernel 3.3.8 .

[Wolfie]

I don't think the people speaking out against Linux actually understand how Linux works.

But I still don't think FFXIV's dev team is competent enough to make an OpenGL game.

[Leyza]

But I still don't think FFXIV's dev team is competent enough to make an OpenGL game.

I was doing some reading, and apparently the PS3 is running on some form of OpenGL, and since they have games on the PS3, and are making XIV on the PS3...