Re:Game dev: Linux users were only 0.1% of sales but 20% of ...
by DoofusOfDeath on Monday January 07, 2019 @11:42AM
(#18846723)
> Technically speaking I'm sure you're right. In practice it doesn't really matter though
I think the details matter because they're relevant to how we as a developer / customer community move forward.
If the GP is correct, then the pain felt by these particular devs might not be a sign that targeting Linux is in general a bad idea. For example, we might help future projects be successful simply by spreading awareness of techniques known to make it easier to target Linux / SteamOS.
Regarding the 0.1% of sales issue, perhaps some of that number's smallness comes from a bootstrapping problem. I.e., there's a vicious cycle of: (bad drivers) --> (game is crashy) --> (poor sales) --> (gfx card vendors not motivated to improve drivers) --> (bad drivers) --> ...
I don't think there's much an individual game dev shop can do to break that cycle, but perhaps it's still useful to understand the problem.
I think the details matter because they're relevant to how we as a developer / customer community move forward.
If the GP is correct, then the pain felt by these particular devs might not be a sign that targeting Linux is in general a bad idea. For example, we might help future projects be successful simply by spreading awareness of techniques known to make it easier to target Linux / SteamOS.
Regarding the 0.1% of sales issue, perhaps some of that number's smallness comes from a bootstrapping problem. I.e., there's a vicious cycle of: (bad drivers) --> (game is crashy) --> (poor sales) --> (gfx card vendors not motivated to improve drivers) --> (bad drivers) --> ...
I don't think there's much an individual game dev shop can do to break that cycle, but perhaps it's still useful to understand the problem.