2048

So, I was flipping through the Ubuntu games repository in Ubuntu Software, and happened across a game that seemed weird.  2048.  As weird is not a put-off for me, I installed it and tried it out.

Now, I could tell just from the look of the install page that it was a simple game, so if you are looking for complexity and depth, this may not be for you.  Also, the game doesn't really come with an instruction manual, so you have to read the install page to figure things out.

On to the game.  The object of 2048 is to move numbered/colored tiles around the board with the arrow keys until they total up to 2048.  Only tiles of the same number/color will combine, and the movement is more like you're shifting a table with a marble, everything moves in the direction you pressed.  The difficulty in the game comes from planning out your moves so you don't end up filling the whole board with tiles and no options for moving.  Simple, right?

Overall, this game feels like the old time wasters of the Windows 3.1 and 98 days.  It has no plot and no story, it is simply a test of your mental acuity and planning.  If you just want to waste a few minutes (or hours), this may help fill that void.  For me, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars

Chainsaw Warrior

So, big Games Workshop fan on the tabletop, didn't expect to find a video game by them as enjoyable.  Still not sure how I feel about this one, but I love the fact that several achievements on Steam come from getting yourself poisoned or stabbed.  If you enjoy retro gaming on newer platforms, check it out.

Chainsaw Warrior

Also, When ever I read its tag line about you only have sixty seconds to save New York, I'm always reminded about the Flash Gordon song by Queen.

The Android Drizzle

So, with a huge amount of potential, and technically being a Linux platform, I've been dissapointed with the drizzle that the Android gaming market is.

Not since the creation of the Gameboy has any platform been able to compete so readily in the mobile gaming market, and the most popular things to land on Android have been things like candy crush.  I mean seriously, the closest thing to a gaming dynasty to show up on tablets and smartphones has been Angry Birds.

I would love to see game studios rectify this and bring great titles to Android, and then put serious marketing money behind it so we know they are there.  Until that time, mobile gamers like myself will have to wait months and months between titles we are willing to buy.

Steam OS Sale!!!

So, right now Steam is doing a sale on all SteamOS games and pre-releases.  This means all Linux content on Steam right now is on sale, and some of it on steep discounts.  I'd greatly suggest going in a taking a peek, you never know what you might find.  Sales like this are how I find some of my favorite titles.

All Aboard

So, we are still on track for issue one to launch this month and have figured out our layout problems.  With two, possibly three new writers on board, I hope the blog and the magazine will a more regular and accurate schedule.  So, look for Linux Gamer Monthly on Amazon, Nook.com, and DigitalFruit.biz.

Big News in Ittle Gaming

So, direct from Joel Nystrom's twitter feed, there will be an 'Ittle Dew 2!!!  As the original 'Ittle Dew is one of my favorite action-puzzler games on Linux, I'm looking forward to this title as well.  I hope to have more information on when the title will be released, and what we can hope for in a Linux release.  So stay tuned for more news.

We're planning on a weekly devblog update every weekend on Ittle Dew 2, first out music: http://t.co/C3Yu0olFj5
— Joel Nyström (@reallyjoel) May 11, 2014

A Sudden Drop

So, I noticed the other day that Steam has removed the Linux tab from the main screen in the application.  At first I thought this was wonderful, it meant that there were enough games for Linux that there was no need for a separate tab.  But than I began to dig deeper.

What I found was somewhat disappointing.  Where as before they were reporting over 500 games available on Linux, now they have just over 320.  What I'm hoping this really means is that Valve just stopped listing additional DLC as separate games.  Worst case scenario is that with new versions of the game, developers have been pulling there support for Linux versions of their titles.

And that is what I fear most as a daily Linux user, is companies abandoning their support.  So many things have started out and shown great potential, then just died.  Meego Linux, or any of a hundred different distros that have fallen out of favor.  Linux on the PS2.  Any number of abandoned open-source video games.  They've all just been left for dead.  So if you are a Linux gamer reading this, show businesses that there is money to be made on Linux as a gaming platform.  Buy a game!  Send the developers of your favorite title not on Linux or a title you wish to play but can't because it isn't offered on the webfooted OS and ask them to port it.  Let's start changing the gaming ecosystem and show the gaming world that we have buying power, too.