In the past, those people covering Linux gaming have focused on what is wrong with Linux gaming by pointing to technical issues that probably will never be solved, as they are inherent in an operating system where each vendor virtually makes their own rules. Other more enthusiastic reporters have proclaimed blindly that Linux gaming is the end all and be all, and that nothing more needs to be done except to bring all the games that the reporter enjoys playing on his PC to Linux. That is not the purpose of this article. Instead, I wish to present three things that need to be done to give Linux gaming a future and how they can be accomplished.

The first issue is to create an environment in which gamers can feel comfortable working and playing with Linux. When I am gaming, I do not want to be distracted by thousands of applications cluttering my machine, I don't care about optimizations geared towards background processes, creating and destroying windows or even serving files. What I need is a desktop where from the very minute I install it I am presented with applications to tweak open GL performance, tweak sound performance, and a set of links to take me directly to the Websites of the major gaming hardware manufacturers so that when my driver becomes obsolete I can easily find a replacement. I don't need 15 different file managers, I don't need hundreds of other apps, what I need is an install that is highly optimized towards sound, video, and controller devices that gamers depend on.

I think that this can be easily done should a Linux distribution company seriously want to break in and be the "Gamer's Choice" distribution. To date, none of the major vendors has done this. We have, however, seen SOHO (Small Office, Home Office) installs, a plethora of server task installs, and even some super dumb-down installs for newbie users, such as Corel Linux whose "simplest" install didn't even include make. I guarantee you that if a company decides to make this distribution that they will attract gamers. Once this happens, the gamers will see what Linux has to offer and more than likely begin to explore the OS rather than be afraid of it.

A second issue is that no one is going to switch to Linux just because it is "Open Source." Those people have already switched over. Additionally, let us suppose for a minute that Linux had EVERY game that Windows did. Why on earth would someone switch if there is just the same stuff but running on a platform that while 100 times (or more) more powerful, is also a million times more complicated?

In order for Linux gaming to succeed, unique content must be produced. While this has been an issue that has been tossed around for years now, nothing has happened because the market is simply too small to warrant it. What I propose is that instead of focusing solely on content that is unique to Linux, let us focus on other kinds of "uniqueness." For North American players, this might be all that stupendous content that has, and continues to be developed worldwide.

Next: European developers...