Linux and gaming

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So with all the privacy issues with Windows 10, I am going to stick with Windows 7, but in the future I plan on moving towards Linux. I have never used Linux before and what like to know the best distros for gaming and how to setup steam and dosbox on Linux.

I still use XP.

I liked 7 a lot at first, but the more I used it, the more it annoyed me. Usually it's the other way around for me.

Isn't it wonderful how MS Windows is its own real competition?

There is PlayonLinux which work through Wine a Windows virtual machine for LInux, it don't work for every game though.
https://www.playonlinux.com

Steam OS (Linux) is the best option as it ran by Valve and the primary Linux OS for games.
Valve makes the drivers and such for Steam games.
Though Valve does collect a lot of user data from those running Steam OS and a decent amount of data from those running Steam.
Most Linux games use Steam and are optimized for Steam OS.
Many other Linux versions also collected user data too.

(Linux isn't as private as you think it is)

Though most games, especially big games won't come to Linux due to a lack of sales of PC games on Linux (Same goes for Mac too).

Windows 10 privacy issues are overblown as long as you take the time to turn off all settings that are behind it.
Also Microsoft gets almost as much data off of Windows Vista, 7 and 8 users too (it was in later updates).
Though you had to disable these new settings too.

I do believe they added these settings to XP and Vista as well, with also default to on.

Though Google is the worst when it comes to data collecting from the Android users, it exceeds what Microsoft does.

Linux is the least private, if we're talking about wheel/user permissions, along with OSX; being reliant on a BASH virtual root environment, these systems are built to be absolutely crammed with side doors. That said, it takes some experience on the human side of things to really dig around in someone else's machines. Windows may have a monopololy on traditional 'viruses', though I believe content sales/distribution networks like Kindle/Steam/Windows Store/Apple App Store(s) etc. have the highest risk of data breaches simply due to the amount of commerce they represent and the diffuse nature of their architectures.

Especially considering that it's open source

I've been very happy with Ubuntu but then my PC gaming needs are quite modest. The only mainstream titles I'm concerned about are Football Manager and Euro Truck Simulator (both of which have been ported over). Beyond that, as long as I've got my emulators, Indie and SuperTuxKart, I'm happy. Anything else I get through Wine or Steam is a bonus.

XP is still the best OS for emulators (any other OS will involve compromises in quality, choice and ease of use) but Ubuntu isn't far behind and a lot of Windows emulators work flawlessly through Wine. Some emulators like VICE and MAME require a bit of command line interaction for them to work properly but there are plenty of online tutorials available.

I'm not in a position to advise on DOSBox because I've never been able to make sense of it (old school PC was before my time) but there are plenty of pre-configured DOSBox games available through Steam and GOG (off the top of my head, I have 'Nam, F-117A Nighthawk and some of the Sid Meier sims). As you would expect, there are more pre-configured games available for Windows than Linux but it's better than nothing.

Basic commands are pretty simple:
c: (takes you to the C: drive)
dir p (shows you a list of directories and files within, pausing once per screen)
cd games (brings you into the "games" folder, replace with whatever you use)
cd.. (takes you back one directory)
gamename.exe (or .bat or .com or whatever it happens to be, runs the program. DOSBox even has tab completion)



Should be the same on Linux, since most (or all?) of the configs for DOSBox are actual DOS commands.

There aren't too many games that really need special configs though...most of them are mid-90s games that will choke on DOSBox anyway (really need an actual Windows 98 era machine for these). Most games just need the cycles adjusted, which can be done real-time with CTRL+F11 or F12, although really old games won't act the way they should.

Although I don't know how virtual drives work with Linux file system, since the Windows one just turns any folder or drive into a virtual drive automatically.

Go with the latest Ubuntu LTS - if it runs for you (a lot of Linux OSes I've tried are riddled with bugs).

Don't use a virtual machine if you're planning to game on it - even Tiberian Sun is a bit laggy running in a VM via Wine on a £2000 SLI laptop.

If security is your chief concern you can always use Tinfoil Hat Linux

Ask yourself, does it really matter if the data in question is sent off to whoever? Is somebody going to steal your identity by knowing how often you click your start button?

Ubuntu is affiliated with Canonical, like how Windows is Microsoft.

If you want an OS that's stable and has lots of quality and change control, you're not likely to get it for free from a bunch of indies with no little-to-no corporate exposure, so would be wise to compromise and go with a major paid OS (paid developers are also somewhat financially accountable for your experience - there's a pentalty for them if customers aren't satisfied).

I've used Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and Linux distros Ubuntu, Lubuntu, Kubuntu, Manjaro, and Debian. I also work in IT Support.

Be advised that SLI/ Crossfire may not be/ probably isn't supported on Linux. Drivers can also be more flakey and offer dramatically less functionality on Linux/ minor OSes by userbase.