Apple to Windows to Linux, RLST 245

Being an avid PC gamer, one of my greatest concerns is what operating system my computer will run on, since each has its strengths and weaknesses. The three most well-known operating systems are Apple’s OS X, Microsoft’s Windows 7 and 8, and Linux.

Over the past two decades, significant shifts in the computer and gaming industry have led to significant biases in what operating systems optimize gaming capacity. Many gamers decry Apple’s products for their lack of external compatibility, to the point that PC is a term used almost exclusively to refer to computers with Windows operating systems. Thus it is no surprise that game developers are reluctant to create software that runs on Apple computers, instead flocking to Windows because of its greater degree of compatibility and comfort with licensed software.

However, recently the renounced game developer Valve Corporation has announced that they are not content with producing exclusively PC games, and thus are entering the console market with the new Steam Box. While this is a move meant to zero in on the console market, it has surprising implications for PC gaming as well. This is because Valve is designing their own operating system for the Steam Box using Linux. In addition, Valve is increasing the compatibility of their own games with Linux, as well as encouraging other developer’s, whose games are sold on Valve’s digital distribution site Steam, to do the same. Furthermore, Gabe Newell, the co-founder and managing director of Valve has stated that Microsoft’s Windows 8 is likely to become a closed platform much in the manner that Steve Jobs worked hard to keep Apple computers compatible only with other products. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18996377

The irony comes not only from the trend that Microsoft is becoming more and more similar to Apple in their protectiveness over their product, but also that the smaller company of Linux is eager to license and crowd-source their software, much as Microsoft advocated so many years ago when Bill Gates criticized Steve Jobs.

Thus it behooves us PC games to once again consider our options, since history has shown us that the Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, in fact, the Windows of opportunity may have past all together.