Who Will Show Up to Linux's Steam-Powered Playground?

[Chan Chung Hang Christopher]

Michael Haney wrote:
> On Mon, May 17, 2010 at 10:20 PM, Harold Sawyer <hrsawyer at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Mon, May 17, 2010 at 7:16 PM, Fred A. Miller <fmiller at lightlink.com> wrote:
>>> Who Will Show Up to Linux's Steam-Powered Playground?
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Linux fans tend to be a loyal bunch, showering their favorite operating
>>> system with rightfully deserved praise at every opportunity. When they
>>> do complain about Linux, however, the topic is often gaming. Lack of
>>> games on Linux, that is -- a factor many consider crucial to Linux's
>>> ultimate mainstream acceptance.
>>>
>> This is amazing.  I NEVER play games.  My girl friend does constantly
>> with her Windows machine, but I never play.  I listen to media, watch
>> UTube videos now and then, am learning Spanish, and read news, but
>> never play games . . .
>>
> 
> Gaming is the key to the home computer market.  Whether its casual
> games or more advanced fair, PC gaming is a huge and lucrative
> business.  Those who claim PC gaming is in trouble are those who only
> understand the console market.  You can't apply game console market
> understanding to the PC gaming market.  They're fundamentally
> different.  Games are the key reason why Windows is the dominant OS on
> PCs today.  With Steam on the Mac and coming soon to Linux the playing
> field is changing.  Now game developers have or will have a ready
> market for games for all three platforms.  It logical that more game
> developers will begin supporting Mac and soon Linux because of Valve's
> endorsement.  Steam is a major player in the PC gaming market.
> Developers follow its trends, and MANY game companies sell their games
> via the service.  Right now its the top online game delivery system
> next to Direct2Drive.
> 
> Steam may face some tough competition from OnLive, assuming the
> service can deliver what they promise.  That's far into the future
> though.
> 

I wonder why Macs became so popular even though there was a decidedly 
lack of games for it initially and still is in comparison with Windows.

http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/pwc-global-gaming-market-to-approach-50-billion-by-2011/70579/?biz=1

On the PC gaming side of things from that article: "However, the U.S. PC 
games market will continue its decline, with PwC eyeing a contraction 
from an estimated $969 million in 2006 to $840 million in 2011"

I, for one, won't be subscribing to Steam. I am quite happy with openttd 
  for example and running older stuff in dosbox or wine or snes9x or 
gens. I have a Wii for playing with my son and entertaining friends. 
Also, there is no lack of clients for very popular online games too so 
things are not so lopsided for Linux on the gaming front.

FYI, I'm a former hardcore gamer going two/three days in a row playing 
A-RPGs, RPGs and splashing out money to 'equip' myself with 
Thrustmaster's FCS, TQS (the former versions of 
http://www.thrustmaster.com/product.aspx?ProductID=11&PlatformID=5) and 
the rudder system and I am telling you now that PC gaming being THE key 
to the home computer market is complete nonsense. Unless you are 
thinking of a specific market - the male gamer with some spending power 
but without much of a life. :-P