Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the difference between the former Cedega Gaming Service and GameTree Linux?
- A: The Cedega Gaming Service was an end user-focused service with the intent of allowing users to play existing PC / Windows games on Linux desktop, without the support of the original game developers. By contrast, GameTree Linux and the GameTree Developer Program membership from GameTree Linux is the current home to the Cedega technology that supports playing games on Linux desktop - it is not an end user service. TransGaming has positioned the access to the Cedega technology that underpinned the Cedega Gaming Service into the broader GameTree Developer Program to provide a Linux desktop developer-focused toolkit, and allow game developers themselves to explore the potential for bringing their products to the Linux desktop market. For example, developers using the remote debugging functionality of Visual Studio can debug their game running on Linux while using their familiar development environment. Another critical feature for developers is the inclusion of redistributable C and C++ runtime DLLs unencumbered by platform-restrictive licensing terms.
- Q: Will GameTree Linux still allow the installation of pre-packaged games?
- A: Yes, the Cedega technology (or engine) offered through the GameTree Developer Program (accessible from GameTreeLinux.com) will allow arbitrary pre-packaged games to run. Former Cedega Gaming Service users who may have access to past engines are welcome to use the engines in much the same way that would have before, and their feedback on their results is appreciated. That said, as GameTree Linux is meant as a developer-focused entry point to the Linux Desktop tools found in the GameTree Developer Program, our team will be primarily focused on the requirements of active developers, rather than arbitrary content.
- Q: Will a game distribution system similar to that for GameTree TV or a web site like GameTree Mac be released for Linux Desktops?
- A: We are not committing to releasing either form of distribution system at this time, but it's certainly something that could happen in the future. For the moment, GameTree Linux is about providing developers interested in the Linux desktop market an opportunity to easily test their games with the Cedega technology and provide feedback to TransGaming about additional features they require or recommend.
- Q: How will games built with GameTree Linux be packaged?
- A: There are a wide variety of ways in which Linux desktop applications are currently packaged - some defined by the Linux distribution, and others defined by informal conventions. How best to package software is entirely dependent on what the target distribution system requires. The Cedega technology provided through the GameTree Developer Program will include a basic launch script that can be used to start your game. That script can be customized in whatever way is appropriate for a developer's requirements. Note that while the Cedega technology may support some Windows-style installers, this will not be a supported way to distribute your software on Linux desktop platforms.
- Q: What will license terms be for games built using GameTree Linux?
- A: License terms for redistribution are available to qualified developers and publishers under NDA. For information about licensing and securing a licensing agreement, please contact our sales department: sales@transgaming.com.
- Q: When will a new Cedega engine first become available through the GameTree Developer Program?
- A: Soon - before the release, we have some work to do to update our developer licensing agreement and documentation. We plan to make something available in March, 2011.
- Q: How will developers provide feedback and request support for their efforts?
- A: We are working on extending our GameTree Developer community and support features for Linux desktop feedback, and will announce to the GameTree Developer Program members once this is available in the coming months.
- Q: Will there still be a Linux Desktop-focused beta team?
- A: The release structure for developer-focused tools is very different from that for a consumer product. Cedega Engine Technology releases through the GameTree Developer Program will be much more like what the beta team has seen in the past, rather than the previous Cedega Gaming Service releases. We will ultimately have more formal channels for feedback as well, most likely using externally available feedback tools, and perhaps some forums. In a sense, the beta program will be extended to anyone who signs up through the GameTree Linux site for the GameTree Developer Program.
- We'll still keep the cedega-beta mailing list running for a while, as we do want to keep hearing the private feedback of those of you who have stayed in the trenches with us for so long, but access to the Cedega technology will be through the free GameTree Developer Program moving forward.
- Also, TransGaming's engineering team will not be focused on issues in consumer-oriented titles which have significant regular updates (ie: WoW, Steam, etc), unless a developer explicitly engages us to work with them to support their title.