BI Games delivered with own Operation System

[Herbal Influence]

I know BIS might be annoyed to the repeated request to deliver a Linux version of the
game.

And sure they are tired of it and have heard all the arguements why people love it and seen that it is quite a lot of work which doesn't pay out - because who uses Linux?!

Aren't they those who love their Linux and their Free Software because it doesn't cost anything though Stallman repeatedly explained:

"It's not free like free beer. It's free like freedom." (or so).

Ok, here it is, my great news, my great idea:

Deliver the games as Linux versions together with Linux!

• Linux allows since long parallel installation incl. OpenOffice within less than 30 min - leaves Microsoft untouched! (Dual boot option),
• boots in less than 20 seconds and
• is down in 2 seconds. (Ubuntu Linux 10.04))

As a package.

1. You have more control of the whole software. In earnest, will you ever learn how Microsoft Windows really works? No, you can't though you need to. It is a closed shop. Nada. No freedom for developers, black hole. You depend on the bits of info they throw at you.
2. It doesn't cost you anything and correctly communicated you deliver a big surplus to your customers. And - as far as I know - you are nevertheless allowed (refering to the GPL) to let customers pay for your proprietary software, but sure this should be checked by a lawyer.
   
3. You would be able to advertise: MilSim with OS
   
4. But, what I think, would be the most important thing: You would gain applause (and potential buyers) by the whole Linux Community. The Linux Community is growing, Linux is desktop ready (writing this on a Ubuntu Linux 10.4 - Alpha). I know children and very old people who use it every day.

Sure there is a danger:
People will excessively ask you to deliver the game as Open Source Software too, no question.
But with the correct marketing, I find it to be plausible enough to communicate the big step forward for OpenSource by this.

I hope you know you have a lot Linux fans.
I am sure you do since you deliver Linux server software since 2001.

The intelligence of freedom! - my personal trademark for linux ;-)

Yeah, I am really fascinated by Linux, using it professionally since 2004.
BIS is the only reason I have Microsoft still ..... :-(

[echo1]

I think they should port it to GNU Hurd.

[Meek]

+1 for Linux compatibility with BI games.

Although I doubt it will happen any time soon...

[McArcher]

+1 from me. But this idea is like a revolution in gaming - no developers write modern games for Linux, I guess. And probability of linux version of arma is something like 0,0001%

---------- Post added at 22:06 ---------- Previous post was at 22:05 ----------

lol, Meek, your signature is the funniest I have ever seen in this forum
the game itself is not realistic, it is a GAME and only if people invent a "Matrix", like in "The Matrix" film, it will be realistic

[SgtH3nry3]

It is possible that Valve will release a native Linux and Mac Steam client this year.
That would make it a lot cheaper for BIS to develop binaries for those games as that saves them a lot of distribution problems.

[McArcher]

Cross-platform programming is the future, of course. I hope that Valve and others will support this "revolution". I, myself, would support migrating to freeware Linux.

(I know that Valve used both OpenGL and DirectX in their games, and it is a good fact, because OpenGL was and is a great thing, that makes gaming cross-platformed. Even if to judge from capitalists' theory, this will be good for money-makers, because they will gain new customers, let alone humane goals like providing games to more people on Earth )

[nuxil]

why did you have to make a new post about this?

you could have continued the current one called "Linux Port for BI Titles" a few post down.

altho +1 for arma on linux.
but sadly thats not going to happen unless you wine it.

[Herbal Influence]

Thank you all for your comments on this.

It's not just the question of a port to Linux.

It's - lemme be that insane - a completely new idea.

It's freedom in excess - BIS games are free as hell and Linux is too.

It matches ... ... so unbelievable good ! ;-)

---------- Post added at 23:34 ---------- Previous post was at 23:23 ----------

I think they should port it to GNU Hurd.

Can you explain?

Another aspect - perhaps you mean that - is, that if they would use OpenBSD, they could indeed "compile it as a complete package".

But then they had to take care of every hardware problem ... and - I fear - no dual boot option.

With a Linux, like Ubuntu, they would also deliver a real surplus incl. OpenOffice and wouldn't have to care (that much) about hardware problems for Ubuntu would care for that.

Sure Canonical, the company supervising Ubuntu Linux would be interested in cooperating.

[raedor]

I doubt it makes much sense to have a game that brings the OS with it. Imagine every game'd do it, you'd not have dual-boot, you'd have a twenty-boot ...?

[Herbal Influence]

Well, yes - that's just one more reason only to use a common Linux (Distribution), like Ubuntu.

Here the GPL requires to leave them separate programs (Ubuntu and ArmAII) other than with the OpenBSD.

The user would have a big surplus too: He wouldn't need to buy Microsoft Products anymore which would spare him at least 80 Euros for MS Windows7 and a 500 Euros for the officesuite ...

Imagine buying a game for 50 Euros and receiving a fully functional and modern operation system including an officesuite .... beer anyone? ;-)