Linux Games For Non-Gamers? 460
Nethead writes "Due to some down-time, I'm looking for some Linux games to pass the time. I've been playing BattleMaster, a PHP web game but it's only two turns a day, and I'd like something a bit faster. I've not really played PC games since the Doom era so I'm really out of touch here. I don't have a real gamer box, just a simple video card. What do Slashdotters think I should try? A simple FPS or some type of networked game would do. What's out there for Linux?"
Sauerbraten (Score:3, Insightful)
The only computer game I play is Sauerbraten [sauerbraten.org]. I'm very much not a gamer, but I find it to be quite enjoyable to play. The biggest plus is that since most people haven't played it, when I ask people to play it, we're on pretty even footing given how little I play.
I definitely recommend it.
Roguelikes (Score:5, Insightful)
Nethack.
I know some mod is about to mod me 'funny' but I'm quite serious. If you are a casual gamer and not addicted to fast-paced games and high-rez graphics, give roguelikes a try. My personal favorite is nethack, but there are a lot out there and there is some good variety and inovation in the genre.
Re:Civ (Score:5, Insightful)
while complicated at first, it becomes remarkably simple to play once you've played for a while.
See, I'd prefer that the other way around - simple at first, then more and more complicated as you play it more and get deeper into it.
Re:Roguelikes (Score:3, Insightful)
Also, since you mentioned Doom I should add that Doom is still a quite good game. As a matter of fact I was playing it for about 45 minutes in linux on the train back home just a few hours ago. (well, Doom 2 technically)
Slightly OT (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously, if you want Linux to really take off and outnumber Windows on home PCs, one of the strategies I'd consider would be to create 4-5 really good games not available on MS/Mac products. *nix geeks do a lot of ragging on GUI users, but exert little real effort to give them motivation to change.
All it would take is one superior game, one superior product and you'd get a massive influx of dual-booters. There's been a lot of work lately on making easy-to-install *nix flavors, Debian, CentOS, can both in my experience be installed by a child with no outside help (I even did it.) But unless you're running a server for something or just like to be confused, there's no motivation for it. If you gave people a game, an app, an experience they couldn't have on another OS, you'd provide real motivation.
Despite the current trends, good games don't require super graphics or movie tie-ins or big name voice actors. The best games, have always just needed better-than-suck graphics, superior user interface, and/or something that makes the game hook. Generally a little quirk or wrinkle in the game playing experience that no one else has ever figured out how to iron out. Something about the UI that just works. There are whole series of games that really aren't all that great as far as games go, but just have such a great interface that people keep coming back to them. Then again, there was a game on Windows3.1 shareware that came pre-installed called CastleWin. Was one of the coolest games I've ever played, just a Rogue-clone with graphics, you could re-name your items, and do a few other neat tricks. Still can't find that one anywhere.
K.
Re:Roguelikes (Score:2, Insightful)
DOSBox + Classic DOS Games (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Slightly OT (Score:3, Insightful)
Don't you think its kind of wrong/impossible to prevent a windows or mac port of any peice free software if there is someone out there who wants to make one?
And if perhaps you were thinking of making the game non-free, that seems like a rather ironic way of drawing people towards linux adoption.
Greater linux adoption would be very nice (for better driver support and better compatability with others) but I think it needs to be achieved in ways other than killer apps. Enlightening people on the benefits of FOSS is surely the only way.
Re:Whelp... (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:leisure suit larry (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:leisure suit larry (Score:4, Insightful)
Keep your 4chan off my slashdot.