Games for Kids
Kids, both young and old, have Linux game options. Check out game
packages such as gCompris, Childsplay, and Tux Paint to get started. Some of
these are educational, some teach computer skills such as using a mouse or a
keyboard, and others are just for amusement. Many developers are also
parents who have placed a high priority on making quality software for their
children to enjoy on their favorite platform. You can search for children’s
games in the Ubuntu Software Center and find lots of great things to try.
Commercial Games
In the past few years, Ubuntu and Canonical have made a way for commercial
software companies to make their products—including games—available for
installation in Ubuntu via the Ubuntu Software Center. A special section of
the Ubuntu Software Center labeled For Purchase has been created. Look
there for some new and flashy options from commercial vendors. Payment is
required, and the details are taken care of within the Ubuntu Software Center.
One interesting and cool commercial game option is the Humble Indie Bundle
from www.humblebundle.com, which is a collection of cross-platform
software made by independent developers with a “pay what you can” price
tag. These bundles are made available intermittently, and sometimes you can
find them available directly from the Ubuntu Software Center. This is a great
way to find some fun games with a low cost while feeling good about
supporting people who write software for fun.
Playing Windows Games
Ubuntu is primarily aimed at desktop computer users who want a system that
is stable, powerful, and easy to use. It is not primarily a gaming platform. In
fact, compared to Windows, there are not nearly as many games available or
being developed for Linux (although the number is growing and has
improved). This doesn’t mean hard-core gamers need to feel left out, though.
Two projects exist to help game lovers play most Windows-based games on
Linux.
A project called Wine uses application interfaces to make Windows programs
believe they are running on a Windows platform and not a Linux platform.
Bear in mind that Wine, which is a compatibility layer, stands for Wine Is Not
an Emulator, so you should not think of it as one; the community can get
quite touchy about it! Although the open source, free software project Wine