Not many commercial games are available for Linux. Most game companies know that the majority of hardcore gamers are running Windows. A few game makers consistently release their big titles for Linux. Some small game companies also make games for Linux. The reality of the situation is that dedicated gamers looking for the latest releases and the big titles in Linux are looking in the wrong place. Commercial game titles for Linux tend to often be released later than the Windows version and do not get the same level of support when it comes to patches and bug fixes. Still, there are a few shining beacons of hope out there for Linux gamers. Doom 3
id Software is your best friend when gaming in Linuxthat is, if you like first-person shooters. Every id release is highly anticipated and sets the standard for new games in that genre. The great part is that id Software almost always puts out a Linux version for us. I'm not sure if the people at id Software are enlightened saints of game programming or if they realize that lots of Linux geeks are also the same geeks who spend vast amounts of time fragging strangers.
Doom 3 is the third entry in the Doom game series. Doom was one of the pioneers in multiplayer first-person shooters. In the single-player game of Doom 3, you are a Marine on a Mars research facility when evil walks in and takes over. The rest of your crewmates are being turned into zombies, and it's up to you to stop the evil. Most Doom players don't spend much time in the single-player game. The most fun and action comes from joining online servers to play with others on multiplayer servers. The multiplayer game includes only a death match with four players right now. However, patches and variations on the game are sure to come in the future. Doom 3 has set a new standard for processor, memory, and video demand from a game. That performance demand means that you should carefully check the system requirements first and make sure you can get the right Linux drivers for your video card.
You should also look at a few sites, including the one at http://www.linuxforum.com/linux-hardware/video.html, for accounts of what other Linux users have done to get their video cards tweaked and set up for best performance. Unreal Tournament 2004
Yep, it is another first-person shooter, but those are some of the most multitudinous and popular games out today. Unreal Tournament 2004 (UT2004) puts the player in an arena as a technogladiator of the future with up to 32 other players. Online play is where it's at in this game. The single-player game is just like the multiplayer game, only with a thin thread of storyline to hold it all together. You are that same technogladiator in the year 2362 fighting in a tournament against a cast of computer characters vying for a trophy. One differentiating aspect of UT2004 is the capability to drive vehicles instead of merely running and fragging. UT2004 is another game that has great graphics for its time. You will need to make sure you have your video card equipped with the latest drivers to take advantage of all the visual tweaks available. Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights is a fantasy role-playing game set in the Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms world. You can choose from several classes of player types, including Rogue, Barbarian, Paladin, or Wizard. You then go through the story and earn experience to level up your character. With each progression, you can choose the skills and abilities to improve for your character. Bioware, the maker of Neverwinter Nights, maintains forums at http://nwn.bioware.com/forums/ for support. This game was released a few years ago and so has been surpassed in a few features by newer role-playing games. Neverwinter Nights is still your best choice in either Linux or Windows for single-player role-playing gaming. The trend in fantasy role playing is for new games to get into the massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) market. The success of EverQuest and other MMORPGs has most game makers scrambling for that new avenue of profits. Not everyone wants to pay a monthly subscription to play games. With Neverwinter Nights, you can be happy playing single-player or more traditional multiplayer options, knowing that you have to pay for the game only once. |