Linux & Mac UT2004 Demos

Jacek Fedorynski writes "A Linux version of the Unreal Tournament 2004 demo is now available. There's also a Mac version."

Re:Linux games

[Neophytus]

Play the game before criticizing it. It is a big improvement.

Kudos to ANY game developer who...

[Perl_Monk]

...Supports Linux, and the Mac out of the starting gate!

If every publishing house followed this example, the Microslop Monopoly would be history in short order!

-------------------- Vidi Vici Veni!

This is not right

[LittleLebowskiUrbanA]

Remember, there's no games for Linux or Macs.

If this keeps up, pretty soon the old Slashdot saying " I run Windows for my games" will be obsolete and you guys won't have an excuse to support Microsoft anymore.

Give it up for Assault!

[thesolo]

I can't wait to play this demo on my Linux box tonight. I'm thrilled to see that Assault mode is back in UT2004. I adored it in the original UT, and noticed that I didn't touch UT2003 nearly as much because of the fact that it wasn't there. Bombing run is fun, but Assault is much, much better.

Here's to hoping there is some level in UT2004 that provides as much fun as "Overlord" did in the original UT!

Re:Bittorrent here!

[Anonymous Coward]

Forgot to mention that's the Linux version, not the Mac one. Someone's posted a link to a Mac torrent a bit further down, in case you need that instead. :)

FAST MIRRORS (at the moment)

[Anonymous Coward]

mac demo [fasterfiles.com], linux demo [fasterfiles.com], linux dedicated server [fasterfiles.com], windows demo [fasterfiles.com]

Re:This is not right

[microTodd]

Well, except for all the games that *don't* have Linux ports.

Is the UT Linux client a "good thing"? Absolutely. I love Linux, run it on all my servers (and my desktop) at work, and I'd like to see some penetration to the home market.

But just because ONE new game has a Linux port doesn't mean I can throw my WinXP box out the window.

Personally, I'm waiting for the day when all my gaming needs are satisfied by consoles. *THEN* I can get rid of Windows and run Linux on my home PC. And I think console gaming is growing faster than Linux gaming.

Re:This is not right

[feldsteins]

I realize your comment is somewhat tounge-in-cheeck, but for others who could use a reality check: there have always been games for the Macintosh. True, it's nothing compared to the sheer number of titles available for Windows. True, the games that do appear often come out months after the Windows version. But the issue still stands: games of every kind, top-shelf titles not shareware wannabes, are available, have always been avaiable and show no signs of not being available in the future.

Linux, on the other hand, has a fundamental problem with regard to game development. One not direclty related to marketshare - the fact that it runs on PC hardware. Anyone with a PC running linux can also dual boot Windows. If they are gamers they are already doing so. Game developers are already selling a copy of their wares to these guys. They're selling them the Windows version. They gain nothing by developing for Linux and selling them a Linux copy instead. Virtually no increase in sales, no penetration into other markets, no new customers. Mac users represent a customer that they simply would not have had were it not for the development of a Mac port. See the difference?

This is why I worry about the Linux game market. I think there's a sentiment out there that the Linux game market is going to take off like a rocket...RSN. But I kinda doubt that for the reasons stated above.

What am I missing here?

Valve take note

[Dav3K]

I am the casual gamer. I'll probably only buy one FPS this year. But I'll enjoy it. I know this because I won't be the first person in line to purchase, so the reviews will have already come in and I'll know what's crap. There are a bunch of games due out this year, and as I said, I'll only be looking at one, as they are all similar from my perspective. At this point, (release issues aside) UT is MUCH more likely to get my purchasing dollars than HL2 simply because with UT I won't have to configure my PC to dual-boot into windows and go through that hassle. It's that simple.

Re:Linux games

[Dracolytch]

From what the site says, there's a software renderer that's supposed to be pretty good (They specifically mention laptops). Can't hurt to download it and try it out.

~D

Re:Great logic there.

[LittleLebowskiUrbanA]

No, I'm chiding those who say they run Windows *only* for the games. If you're using Windows because you like it and support it, fine just don't hid behind the gaming excuse.

You aren't missing too much.

[OwP_Fabricated]

I was never a fan of Unreal2k3 to begin with. The original UT was a masterpiece, and both Unreal2k3/4 feel like dumbed down Quake 3 clones IMO.

2k4's readdition of assault puts a smile in my heart, especially since they put in an actual sniper rifle instead of the awful, awful lightning gun, but most people are going to be playing the rather boring onslaught mode because of the vehicles (the new thing all FPS's MUST HAVE).

To me onslaught is just Unreal2k4 pretending it's Battlefield 1942 and Halo.

Epic: "Hey wait! Please don't go! We can put in vehicles too! See!? Please buy it....please? ......PLEASE?" ...god, I must sound really angry. Frownies.

Re:This is not right

[LittleLebowskiUrbanA]

I don't like games enough to spend $300 dollars on Windows XP or Windows at all for that matter. I've bought Unreal Tournament 2003 for Mac and Linux, Halo for the Mac, and I'll buy Unreal Tournament 2004 for the Mac as well. Maybe most games are compatible w/ Win98Lite but I don't like games enough to install it.

Valentine vs. UT2K4

[BarakMich]

from the who-needs-a-valentine? dept.

Uhh.. me. But aside from that, I would suggest that all those with the option of spending Valentine's with their SO or with UT2K4 choose their SO (mostly, for their own well-being)

On a tangent, I would much rather have an SO than another FPS. Why?

The FPS genre is becoming saturated. UT2K4? Ho-hum, really. Just a few new ways to gib your buddies. I have not seen a lot of innovation in the FPS market... look at the glut of WW2 FPSes alone!

With an SO, one must ALWAYS be innovative. If you look at it like a game, you must always be on your toes. Can't respawn, must play smart, must always devise new tactics -- I can think of no game that requires as much out of the player.

Ah, well

Hello? 2 day old news?

[Anonymous Coward]

The Mac version has been out for 2 days, just a few hours after the Windows version was released

Re:This is not right

[lspd]

If this keeps up, pretty soon the old Slashdot saying " I run Windows for my games" will be obsolete and you guys won't have an excuse to support Microsoft anymore.

If Linux had the same quantity of games available as Windows, my productivity would drop back down to virtually nothing. Sure, Savage and Enemy Territory offer unlimited replay value but sooner or later you get bored with the same games and go back to work.

Re:Valve take note

[Dav3K]

Your argument makes valid points, and by myself no, I do not pretend to hold enough sway for Valve to alter their product roadmap.

However, that is like saying that my vote does not elect a president. By itself, no it does not. But collectively, it does, assuming a properly run election. To come back to software purchases though, I believe that the desktop market is already starting to diversify enough for gaming companies to at least give consideration to platforms other than Wintel.

I would also agree that given Valve's current position, the timing probably isn't right for them to do this. In an open market, Epic, id and others are able to capitalize on this. As I stated earlier, I don't buy a lot of games. Tradeoffs have to be made. So I look at what I like about these games - engaging multiplayer gameplay, strong mod communities to increase replayability, drop dead graphics - from where I stand, these two titles are pretty evenly matched. Not having to install a Windows partition tips the scales for me, enough for me to reward Epic over Valve with my purchasing dollars.