1. About the Linux Gamer FAQ
Q: What is the Linux Gamer FAQ about anyway?
A: It's about helping folks who are having common problems with Linux games, or do not understand a particular motive behind companies like Loki learn the way things are, rather than bickering over them for eternity. In other words: we will try to answer the most commonly asked questions here, so you can get to playing games in Linux.
Thanks to OpenVerse (http://www.openverse.org) for hosting this little FAQ
Q: Who is producing this?
A: zakk@openverse.org
Q: Where is the latest version of this FAQ?
A: http://www.openverse.org/clan/lgfaq.php3
2. Native Ports
Q: Just who does port commercial games to Linux, anyway?
A: For some time now, a few companies have been nice enough to port their games in-house and release binaries for free, some companies not only release native ports, but also release source!
Q: Okay, who specifically?
A: id software (http://www.idsoftware.com/) over the years has released ports for it's various titles, specifically you can find their ports on ftp.idsoftware.com.
If you are interested in Quake1/QuakeWorld quakeforge (http://www.quakeforge.net) is recommended.
Additionally, many Doom source ports are available via http://www.freshmeat.net and whatnot
A: Crack.com (whom no-longer owns that domain) released source to Abuse (http://www.abuse2.com/), currently you can find an excellent port of Abuse at:
http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~trandor/abuse/
Q: And what porting houses release commercial ports for Linux?
A: Loki Software (http://www.lokigames.com).
A: Hyperion Entertainment (http://www.hyperion-software.com).
A: Tribsoft (http://www.tribsoft.com).
3. Acquiring commercial, packaged games
Q: Where can I find commercial games for Linux?
A: There are many online stores where you can find commercial games, http://www.tuxgames.com/ for instance provides a wide selection. For commercial games ported by a specific company, please see the following questions.
Q: Where can I find Loki Software's Games?
A: http://www.lokigames.com/ provides an online store:
http://www.lokigames.com/orders/
and a reseller list:
http://www.lokigames.com/orders/resellers.php3
Q: Where can I find Tribsoft's games?
A: http://www.tribsoft.com/store.html is Tribsoft's reseller list
Q: Where can I find Hyperion Entertainment's games?
A: Hyperion's site (http://www.hyperion-software.com) doesn't appear to have a reseller list, so basically you are limited to online stores like http://www.tuxgames.com/.
4. Availability of binaries
Q: I have Quake3: Arena and/or the add-on pack, Team Arena for Windows, can I procure binaries/patches so as to play my non-Linux Quake 3 game, in Linux?
A: Although you can get a binary of Quake 3 from ftp.idsoftware.com for use with your Windows copy of Quake 3, or it's add-on Team Arena, it is preferred that you actually buy a Linux copy. The reason for this is simple:
When you purchased a copy of Windows Quake 3, it gets reported back to the developers as a Windows sale. When you purchase a copy of Linux Quake 3, it gets listed a Linux sale. If the developers (in this case id software) see sales in the Linux area they note this and should provide for Linux ports of new games they create. In the case of Team Arena it is preferred that you at least purchase the Windows copy of Team Arena from a Linux retailer online, as no Linux version of Team Arena is available.
Q: I have Unreal Tournament, for Windows, can I get an installer for this?
A: Yes, Epic hired Loki to maintain a Linux port. It is available from:
http://www.lokigames.com/products/ut/updates.php3
Q: I have X game for Windows which was/will be ported by Y porting house, can I download binaries/installers?
A: Unless specifically stated otherwise by Y porting house, no.
In most cases Y porting house has to pay Z developer for the right to port X game, and most likely royalties for each packaged copy as well. So, by releasing binaries they would be greatly losing money. Especially seeing as how bandwidth, programmers, pr, shelf-space, and looking respectable to the outside world costs lots of cash, this isn't a viable method.
5. Commonly misunderstood topics related to Linux Games
Q: Do these porting houses provide any support for Windows copies of games, ported or otherwise?
A: In most cases, absolutely, 100%, No. In the rare case of Loki's Unreal Tournament port, yes, as long as you are using UT in Linux.
Q: Do any of these porting houses sell Windows versions of games?
A: No.
Q: Should I piss off the lead programmer by sending streams of e-mail demanding to be on the beta or I won't buy the product
A: NO.
6. Non-commercial, Free Software
Q: Where can I find freeware/GPL'd games?
A: There are three good places to start looking,
A: http://www.freshmeat.net/
A: http://www.happypenguin.org/
A: http://www.linuxgames.com/
Q: Allright, I've downloaded games now some won't compile/run , is there something I'm missing?
A: There are several popular libraries which are basically required by most free Linux games, Simple DirectMedia Layer (http://www.libsdl.org/), PLIB (http://plib.sourceforge.net), ClanLIB (http://www.clanlib.org), and Allegro (http://alleg.sourceforge.net).
7. External Resources
Q: Hey, this faq stinks, is there anywhere else I can go for info?
A: Lots of places, first of all, we suggest visiting http://faqs.lokigames.com.To actually speak with a community of Linux gamers live, join #loki on irc.openprojects.net. If you would like to get non-live help you can join the loki newsgroups via news://news.lokigames.com/