Steam on Linux has been open beta for a while. I've tried TF2, CS:S and FasterThanLight (FTL) on it.

For some reason the Source engine games constantly stall for a second or so on my computer, which freezes my mouse and basically makes them unplayable. I get constant high FPS (200+), it just freezes for some reason... I tried the popular low-fps configs too.

As far as other games I've played, mostly just Quake engine games and HoN in its glory days.

BTW, just buy FTL, it's great and worth the money.

I'm really hoping Dota2 runs well for me, as I'll play it a lot if it does. I currently just don't play it because I don't feel like rebooting to my old dusty Windows partition every time I want to.

For some reason the Source engine games constantly stall for a second or so on my computer

I've had similar issues when I tested some 3d games (like ql) but I've never bothered to fix them. I believe it's because of powersaving features like hdd parking. Make sure that you've disabled all of them and that you are on AC.

Are you on intel graphics by any means? (I guess not judging by fps)

NVIDIA. PC, not laptop. I already have to disable powersaving on e.g. my video drivers or it screws with QL so it's not that.

Try something like this:

sudo hdparm -B 255 -S 0 /dev/sda

If this doesn't help then you should post on their github where they collect bug reports.

It looks like I have APM support disabled or the hard drive doesn't support it because both of those settings seemed to give an error:

# hdparm -B 255 -S 0 /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
 setting Advanced Power Management level to disabled
 HDIO_DRIVE_CMD failed: Input/output error
 setting standby to 0 (off)
 APM_level = not supported

From hdparm -i: AdvancedPM=no

That was just a wild guess :)

You refrain from Dota just because you would need to reboot into Windows? Blasphemy!

I also tried it when I got my new laptop using Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and it worked quiet fine. Tried Dungeons of Dredmor, Amnesia and Crusader Kings II.

I think its good that Steam is pushing in this direction, but I went back to win7 last week as I want to have access to my complete game library.

I have all of HIB games on steam, dno if they ported all the clients to linux yet, but still... I prefer to self manage my shit instead of having to use an app just to use an app.

I can totally relate to this. The point is that's a big, free advertisement for linux and deal breaker for many ppl. If you launch steam on windows you will see basically an ubuntu advertisement with download link.

The rumor is that they have big plans with linux due to windows 8 being shit.

Valve is also planning linux based console which may push some libraries for gaming on linux forward.

Windows 8 is not shit, and Gabe is a master bullshit artist. Gabe just doesn't like MS doing the 'App Store', because he's got a 'Game Store' going for a long while. The linux initiative is both a matter of gaining leverage on Microsoft and a way to get 'free software" people to help him port Steam to a platform that will later be used for a completely closed gaming platform. A great and cunning plan, no doubt, but doesn't have anything to do with Windows 8 being shit, or not.

completely closed gaming platform.

Doesn't matter tbh. Nobody forces me to use it like on windows or mac and it would persuade publishers to produce linux ports for their comercial games. It's better to have closed gaming platform I don't have to use rather than nothing at all when it comes to commercial games.

Also don't forget than many companies involved in linux are changing their policies to conform with free software standards. This simply works better for them in such environment.

a way to get 'free software" people to help him port Steam

They don't help him they work for him. Don't forget it's all closed source.

you work for Gabe? every linux fanatic spamming gaming forums about linux is working for Gabe?

What do you mean by "port"?

submit tickets to their github, work on kernel, drivers, ubuntu, infrastructure projects that have to accommodate steam. and lastly, advertise the project so that it is cool to submit resumes. A LOT more work has to be done by the community for free to facilitate this port than by anyone actually payed by Gabe.

I don't actually mind, I want graphics and wayland to work, I'm just pointing out this is a completely selfish and manipulative campaign based on a false premise and that Windows 8 doesn't suck.

Submitting tickets... this is how we get bugs fixed (or preferably fix them ourselves when it's open source). This is why we have github instead of some retarded forums like windows users. Ofc bugzilla would be better but still this is what I meant by "companies changing their policies".

Advertising. We both have the same interest at the moment so we help each other. Once big developers start making linux ports our patches diverge.

A lot more work has to be done by community. Is it unfair? How do you judge fairness in such scenario? I just want the effect already.

I obviously have nothing against submitting tickets in general, or advertising ubuntu, in general.

I also didn't say anything was unfair. I just said at this campaign is based on bullshit. There is no reason you should want Steam to work on Linux if it is working just fine on Windows. There is no reason to spam 'ubuntu' banners to Windows users other than Gabe fucking with Microsoft. Third time me saying the same thing is the charm, I guess.

There is no reason you should want Steam to work on Linux if it is working just fine on Windows.

If you don't wanna use Windows but still want to play games, having a platform like Steam bringing games to Linux is a good thing. Isn't it a reason alright?

'working fine on windows' means 'working fine on windows, because you are using windows', i thought that was obvious from the context. if you know what steam is and are using it, chances are, it is working very well for you, even if you don't like rebooting into linux. if you don't use steam nor windows, then yes, you are one of the few people who will benefit from steam on linux. but most people won't. most people, if they like games, would benefit more from installing windows and enjoying all the games there, as opposed to sticking exclusively to steam on linux. most people would be wasting a shit ton of time for a shitty experience, if they read the main post, or see an ubuntu banner on steam, and somehow are convinced try gaming on linux.

oh don't get me wrong, i'm not some crazed psycho like Richard Stallman when it comes to such stuff (even tho I understand his point and actually agree on some parts). I welcome steam, and what you wrote was a rumor a few months ago, but since then gabe newell repeatedly stated how shit w8 is as a platform to code on and release on, and that they're definitely "moving" (or maybe say focusing) on linux (mainly because of the steam console).

but yeah, i'm not a fan of such drm restricted software management, where i'd have to log on to steam to play games. maybe not a good comparison, but it's like when i tried getting used to emacs and it turned out to be a great operating system, but i couldn't find any strong points to it's text editor, so i kept on using vim because it edits text. comparison being, steam is trying to be some multimedia center and i just want to play games. i already have an app for multimedia center and it works just fine (xbmc).

i'm not some crazed psycho like Richard Stallman when it comes to such stuff

I don't think he deserves to be ridiculed like this. In fact I added a link to his statement on non-free DRM games to the main post.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/nonfree-games.html

Other than that - I agree with you and I don't like the steam app. I just want to exploit them and let them exploit myself in exchange. Once they push the market I'm out.

Promised "reviews"

World of Goo - If you liked bridge builder then you will like this too. It's more complex, longer and more fun. There is a free demo available.

The Journey Down: Chapter One - Good old point&click with funny African theme and reggae-jazz-smth music. I've heard it's short but I enjoyed it so far. The climax is exactly like in promo video.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sorcery EP - This one crashes with segfault :S I'll take care of it later.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sorcery EP
Stay away from this game unless you wanna die of boredom.

I finally managed to launch it. The problem was incompatible resolution. I had to edit config file which was very well hidden (ofc they don't follow convention of keeping user data in ~/.*). Strange thing that it resulted in segfault.

The game isn't boring so far and feels fresh.
Music and sound effects are very good and fitting.

The music is indeed very good. But apart from that, this game is just about clicking everywhere on your screen while being fed edgy hipster bullshit.

Well the music is very simplistic, not to say primitive but it plays a big role in the game experience. Also the player manipulates it just like he manipulates the game world to create something aesthetically pleasing (eg I doubt anyone rushes through clicking these flying bubbles).

The clicking part - I agree. The gaming part is just plain boring. For example the first fighting sequence was great - dynamic, thrilling and heroic but the simplicity of it makes it work only once. Tbh when I was writing my previous post I expected to be surprised and amazed through the game just like when I first started playing. Had they come up with a new gaming element more often I wouldn't have been criticizing simplicity.

Hipster bullshit - I've never really been into prejudice. Maybe you are right but for me the climax and narration instantly reminded me of my uncle's tales. I was really young - less than seven year old and he was telling me these amazing, mythical, made up fantasy stories about heroes, and love, and sacrifice, and cool stuff in the same manner as this game. I don't have to mention that it was years before hipsters. Also the relaxed, modern casual narration style is typical for modern fantasy afaik.

There were also few other things that hit the right string in me even though actual gameplay wasn't as good as I expected.