I don't have a problem with playing UFO:AI. For me personally, there is no package problem, because 2.3.1 is in Arch Linux repo and there is a Ubuntu repo.
Also you don't need a distro specific package, just one, that you unpackage and run from your home-directory (something like it was possible with 2.2.x).
But I'm part of linuxgaming.de and we have a Wiki and I also post news about Linux games. And we try to help everyone, no matter which Linux distro they are using. A universal Linux package like UFO:AI offered with 2.2.x would be nice, especially for those, who are new to Linux.