Should There Be a Video Game Equivalent of Linux?
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on Sept. 29, 2020, 4:57 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
Video games have become very expensive in recent years; I stopped playing video games when I was in college, but I have heard that some games can cost as much as $50.00, which I feel is insane, and that is only the initial price; now that DLC exists, it can add further costs to video games. Clearly, something must be done about this.
I deliberated the matter, and I thought of computer operating systems and office software; Linux is a free and open-source operating system, an alternative to mainstream systems, such as Windows and Mac OS; it can be freely modified and distributed by any user, and, thus, there are countless varieties of it, with each version having its own unique characteristics. Similarly, Open Office and Libra Office are free office suites that are alternative to Microsoft Office.
Therefore, I feel that there should be an equivalent of Linux within the video game industry; games that are free and open-source, can be modified by anyone, and are intended to be alternatives to the very expensive mainstream games. I know that there already exist video games that are free of monetary cost and are open-source, but they are a minor presence in the industry, appealing to only a small niche of players; I am seeking a well-organized movement to challenge the supremacy of major video game franchises and offer players free alternatives to expensive mainstream titles such as Mario, Sonic, Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Final Fantasy, Halo, World of Warcraft, and so forth.
What does everyone else say about this? Should there be a video game equivalent of Linux?
Like...this thread shows such ignorance of so many things.
There are a ton of free engines. There are game jams. There are huge catalogs of flash games. Mobile games. Indie games. Patreon backed games. Ive played games released in 2020 for the commodore.
I have worked on and published a few free games under a psudonym. I am currently working on a free roleplaying game.
There is a huge world of free games and your limited knowledge of it isnt the sum total of all the free games out there. If you are wanting big AAA graphic games and world sizes for free that isnt happenning and they also tend to be meh and empty. If you actually look there is so much good free stuff out there.
September 29, 2020 5:08 p.m.
$50? $59.99+tax has been the general MSRP of Videogames in the United States for decades now, and that’s not counting special editions or ‘complete’ editions of games with DLC add-on content bundled together. These can run upwards of $100 or more. Not to mention that the upcoming generation of gaming may up the cost to $69.99 for many titles.
September 29, 2020 5:10 p.m.
AAA games can cost as much as a blockbuster to produce (some AAA games reportedly over $100 million) and can take far longer to make.
Games might release at 59.99, but don’t tend to stay there long. Steam and other platforms have frequent and regular sales, and most new games can be purchased at a significant discount if you just wait a few months. Wait a year, and you can pick up some AAA titles for $10-15 or less.
Rather than being price gouging, it’s akin to seeing a movie in theatres. Do I want to pay $20 for a movie ticket to see a film on release? Or am I willing to wait and watch on demand (let’s pretend COVID isn’t happening; it puts a damper on my analogy).
September 29, 2020 5:35 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #6
There is a gaming equivalent of Linux, it is called Unity.
September 29, 2020 8:49 p.m.
Daveslab2022 says... #7
I found success with Unity and Unreal as well! Lol
September 29, 2020 10:44 p.m.
grumbledore says... #8
open source software makes money by offering the software for free and then having paid services to support and set up the software for clients. example: docker. there is not a comparable workflow for gaming.
shadow63 says... #2
No one is going to spend millions making a triple A game just to give it away for 10 linux users
September 29, 2020 5:06 p.m.