StarDestroyer.Net BBS

As some of you may know, I always keep on hanging to old operating systems even long after they are dead. I used DOS/Win3.11 until 1999 or something. I refuse to use anything higher then win98SE now.

However, win98 cannot support more then 1GB RAM, and will never support 64-bit either. So things are comming to an end eventually. I can probably hang on for another year or so, but then I'm forced to switch. I just hate almost everything about windowsXP, and it's successors do not look very promising either. Thus, it's time to say M$ goodbye, and make the giant leap to Linux.

However, there is a problem. I'm a gamer. And games and Linux do not mix well AFAIK. I've heard about Wine or something, that it can run windows-based programs, and this has given me some hope.


Do you have any advice on what version of Linux to use? I have absolutely no experience with it, never even SEEN Linux, but since I used DOS for so long I'm perfectly happy in an environment without a fancy GUI and should be able to pick it up quickly. What kind of programs must I get to run games, and what are the abilities of these? Are there any programs in development that will make windows-programs run under Linux?

What games do you run? WineX has rather limited compatibility, so some may run and some may not. However there is supposed to be a Linux port of Doom 3 soon, and I think you can get UT2K4/3 for Linux. You will have to download WineX from CVS and compile it yourself or pay 5$ a month (check game compatibility).

Basically RPGs and strategy games including Ultima Online, all the Baldur's Gate stuff, Throne of Darkness, Diablo 2, Warlords Battlecry 3, Metal Fatigue, Starcraft, Perimeter and so on, but of course it should be more oriented in future games, since the games I listed here run fine on Win98, though I NEED to have UO running on every system here since I only have room for 3 PCs and I need 3 of them (server, admin, player)

Many of those games have had some success in winex but I always like to say that you should try finding native linux games. These games while not very widespread if you really love multiplayer gaming, are plenty of fun (the default games in mandrake or redhat could keep one happy for awhile). As stated, UT is always a good choice since all of them have linux ports (UT and UT GOTY need a specific installer from the internet) and America's army has a linux port though I havn't gotten the graphics to look right (I have ATI so that might be a problem). A good place to look for games is http://www.happypenguin.org or you could just search for games through http://www.google.com/linux. Good luck to ya.

Let me clarify a bit...

Unfortunately it's not a replacement for windows then if I understand it correctly. I don't want any windows on my PC, yet want to be able to play the majority of games released a year from now (I can do perfectly fine with my win98 machine for another year). Of course I'll keep my AMD3200 as a win98 machine, but I'm looking to the future here, when win98 can no longer be used and I need an alternative. Windows 98 does nothing with 64-bit CPUs, and eventually if I upgrade my PC I have to go 64-bit. I need an OS for that, which can play the new games, and which isn't bloat like winXP or longhose.

Well maybe in a year or two more games will be linux portable. Otherwise if you want hot market games you have to stick with windows or hope your game runs with winex.