Well I wrote this once, but when I went to "preview", I'm guessing
I was autologged off, and lost it ALL.. ( boo.. )
There are many threads in the forums answering the tough, technical questions about using the new Xfree/3D extensions, but I wanted to post about my experiences with them, and my kids reactions to them as this new side to DSL develops. I have had great success in running many of my kids favorite titles under DSL. Quake III Arena, Unreal Tournament 2003, StarCraft, and some of the more popular Linux titles, TuxRacer, Chromium, VegaStrike, Heroes III (Might & Magic), Myth II, Heretic II, Foobillard and Railroad Tycoon II. ( they ARE fun! :) )
I haven't had much luck with Civilization II (even winehq list it as low), but there is freeciv, and the new 2.0 beta looks good.
StarCraft under wine runs great !, and Soldier of Fortune II works, as well as simcity 2000. My boys have several others they want me to pursue, like Call of Duty, Warcraft II and III, Diablo I and II, etc. Playing DVD's also shows improved performance...
Which brings me to the reason for this blog.
My boys normally use M$ for their gaming needs. In fact, they can
re-install, update, patch, add virus and spyware/adware detection, install drivers, add personal firewalls, and all the "stuff" normally associated with an M$ install, with little help or support from me unless it is difficult to diagnose, only because they have had to do it so many times in the past. Upgrades, crashes, bugs and viri, they see it frequently, and usually the easiest thing for them to do is to grab an image backup, or reinstall completely. But for their games, there has not been any "easier" options with similar performance. I grow tired of the constant battle keeping them running "proper", and having to keep vigil on their activity on our localnet. They grow annoyed at the constant reinstalls, sometimes having to reinstall every program, game and title as well..
I have suggested to them that using DSL for their online activities, browsing, downloading, chat, would be a better choice. They seem to have no problems or issues with doing that, and I hear only good things about their online experience with DSL. I have talked with them recently about considering replacing their M$ OS's in favor of using DSL for their gaming platform, knowing that the "kinks" are still being worked out of the DSL system. They see me using it daily, and know that a "reinstall" is simply rebooting the CD. The programs and extensions are on another partition, and ready to use at any time. Many of the games I have made into .uci files, so they mount and play quickly. The games I'm running now are some of what they like, and the k3b and grip extensions are already favorites for CD and disc management.
I've seen some hesitancy, ( DSL is 'Dad's thing' ) but I've not received any resistance to doing this as a test for the short term.
This adds a new dimension to DSL - a "Lightweight Gaming Platform"
So, I will continue to post to this blog as the transition occurs,and share their issues, comments and my experiences with this. They return from visiting relatives later this week.
Let's keep the technical questions in the forums,
but let us know your thoughts on using DSL for the "casual gamer" - young or younger ( 80 or 8 ) :)
Kent