LINUXGAMES

We received the following press release today:

HOTHEAD GAMES AND PENNY ARCADE PARTNER TO BRING NEW INDIE GAMES TO PLAYERS

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – April 2, 2008 – Hothead Games and Penny Arcade today announced the Greenhouse, a new distribution platform dedicated to supporting independent game development worldwide. Operated by the newly-formed company Greenhouse Interactive, the Greenhouse digital distribution platform will offer gamers a convenient alternative to traditional boxed games and showcase a careful selection of games that otherwise may be overlooked in a crowded retail marketplace. Built to supplement other online game delivery platforms, Greenhouse provides a content delivery method focused on independent developers, helping indie games and gamers come together.

“There are so many great games out there that you don’t hear about,” explained Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade. “They’re too niche or too risky in terms of game play for the top publishers to be comfortable with distributing. We want the Greenhouse to be an alternative for these developers.”

As of today, Greenhouse Interactive offices in Vancouver are open, with the Greenhouse beta available at www.playgreenhouse.com. Greenhouse’s first game launch will be Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One – another shared project of the two companies. “Digital distribution opens so many doors for independent game development, arguably just like the VCR and DVD players did for indie films,” said Vlad Ceraldi of Hothead Games. “We believe in the Greenhouse as an opportunity to support other indie developers and complement the platforms and services currently out there, ensuring that the environment for such development firmly takes root and continues to grow.”

Developers interested in Greenhouse Interactive opportunities can contact Greenhouse Business Development Manager Gregan Dunn for more information.

Additionally, Wired.com has some Greenhouse and Penny Arcade Adventures related content up:

• An interview with PA’s Gabe and Tycho about their new venture:
  

  Is Precipice only going to be sold via Greenhouse?

  Tycho: At first, yeah. But eventually we’d like to get it on as many platforms as we can. And there’s been a lot of interest in that direction, so.

  But the PC version is only going to be offered through this service.

  Tycho: PC, Mac, and Linux.

  And are all of those launching at the same time?

  Tycho: Yeah, it’s actually one key. You download one key, and that key can then work on your PC, your Mac, or your Linux box if you want. Simultaneously.

• A new hands-on preview of PAA:
  

  I’ll save the final verdict for the review, of course, but for now I will tell you that its unique combination of point-and-click exploring and RPG battling works quite well.

You can also already test out their Linux downloader utility with a podcast at the Greenhouse site.

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 11 is our “Hey, We Haven’t Done a Podcast In a While” Episode!

Joining myself on this episode is Dustin “Crusader” Reyes.

URL dump from this episode:

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
Desktop Tower Defense
Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse
Logitech G9
Hideous New Logitech G5 Mouse
Creative’s Linux Driver Site
Ubuntu Forums Thread for X-Fi Drivers
Abuse
Penumbra Stuff
ET:QW Stats for Crusader
ET:QW Stats for zakk
X3: Reunion
Unreal Tournament 3
Phoronix UT3 Delay Post
Savage 2
Tribes 2
Savage 1
Penny Arcade
…And their game
EVE Online
Vendetta Online
Freeciv
UFO Alien Invasion
NVIDIA Open-Source Rumor
Warsow
Micropolis Source Code Released

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feed link to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed url there, or just hit update if you’ve already subscribed. The podcast is also in the iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insert the feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here, in the new forum, on iTunes, digg us, and tell your friends!

Linux Games Podcast 11 Download: [ iTunes Only | MP3 RSS Feed | Straight MP3 | Straight Ogg Vorbis ]

We’ve mentionedthem before, but have since neglected to mention that Virgin America began flying in the USa few months back with the Linux-based Red in-flight entertainment system(here’s an older rundownof features from Engadget).

Earlier this year, VA conducted an opensource game competition, so I’m assuming at least some of those titles made it onto the aircraft fleet (if anyone has additional detail, let us know!). However, the Linux game that’s been attracting the most mediaattention is DOOM,as seen in this O’ReillyRadar blog post and last week’s 1upYours podcast (about 38 minutes in), where Newsweek’s N’Gai Croaldescribed the control scheme and experience.

Edit: Just noticed there’s a shot of some or all of the games at Flickr: Anagramarama, DOOM, Tower Toppler, Gem Drop X, and Primate Plunge.

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 10 is our Last Man Standing Episode!

Joining myself on this episode are Dustin “Crusader” Reyes, and Platinum Art’s Michael ‘calimer’ Tomaino guest stars to talk about Platinum Arts’s projects: Last Man Standing and Sandbox.

URL dump from this episode:

id software
In Hell Mod for Doom 3
Shambler’s Castle
HardQore
Asus Eee PC
XFX’s 8800 products page
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
GP2X
Ultima Underworld Video
Lord British’s House Tour on Youtube
Freespace 2 for Linux
Beyond the Red Line
The Babylon Project
Wing Commander Saga
The Blessed Engine

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feed link to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed url there, or just hit update if you’ve already subscribed. The podcast is also in the iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insert the feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here, in the new forum, on iTunes, digg us, and tell your friends!

Linux Games Podcast 10 Download: [ iTunes Only | MP3 RSS Feed | Straight MP3 | Straight Ogg Vorbis ]

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 9 is our Enemy TerritoryQuake Wars special!

Joining myself on this episode are Dustin “Crusader” Reyes, and id software’sTimothee Besset guest stars to talk about Enemy Territory Quake Wars.

URL dump from this episode:

EnemyTerritory: Quake Wars
id software
TrittonAX360 Gaming Headphones
X-FiLinux Drivers
UrbanTerror
Spring
TeamFortress
RocketArena
InHell Mod for Doom 3
LostFacility
Shambler’sCastle
Last ManStanding
HardQore
Planeshift
LinuxGames.comthrough the ages
OpenArena
NewOpenArena Patch
Get those thenconnectto wheeljack.telefragged.com so Dustin will be up in yo Grillz,sucka!

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feedlink to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed urlthere, or just hit update if you’ve already subscribed. The podcast is also inthe iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insertthe feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here,inthe new forum,oniTunes, diggus, and tell your friends!

Linux Games Podcast 9 Download: [iTunesOnly | MP3 RSS Feed |StraightMP3 ]

We discuss this in more detail on the upcomingpodcast interview with id Software’s Timothee Besset, butthere’s a new fork of the GtkRadiantmulti-game level editor ZeroRadiant:

We are working on new Radiant releases based on the 1.4 sources for a new idproject. We had promised to get the 1.4 source released under the GPL, whichwill happen with this project.

There is no end user release yet, but if you are a developer we need yourhelp. Drop by on irc.telefragged.com #qeradiant, or on the developer mailinglist and make yourself useful.

Although not explicitly stated, it seems obvious the id project mentioned isthe Quake III:Arena-derived project briefly mentioned at this past QuakeCon, Quake Zero. The 1.5.0 sources forGtkRadiant were GPL’edlast year.

There’s a good beginner’sguide to mapping at the Tremulous(a fun open source game you should really check out if you haven’t yet) wiki.

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 8 brings you QuakeCon 2007and Linux World SF 2007 commentary.

Joining myself on this episode is Dustin “Crusader” Remember tosendyour advertisements for free-as-in-either-beer-or-speech games tozacharyslater@gmail.com.

URL dump from this episode:

QuakeCon
CrusadeR’sQuake Con Wrapup
Carmack’sKeynote Audio
EnemyTerritory: Quake Wars
id software
Linux World
HAYGUYZ IM GONA BE AT LUNIX WORLDS!
LinuxGame Publishing
MotorolaMgcqkz
OpenMoko
NokiaN800/N770
ThatHideous QT Greenphone
PalmFoleo
Picturesfor all the stuff I’m talking about from Linux World
Dell
And DellsUbuntu Site
Ubuntu
Fedora
OpenSUSE
Debian
Gentoo
GentooGames
Descent 2
Slackware
Dustin’llhave to play this “tomatoes” I speak of
GentooPS3
LinuxGames.comthrough the ages
OpenArena
NewOpenArena Patch
Get those thenconnectto wheeljack.telefragged.com so Dustin will be up in yo Grillz,sucka!
MarsColony Five

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feedlink to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed urlthere, or just hit update if you’ve already subscribed. The podcast is also inthe iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insertthe feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here,inthe new forum,oniTunes, diggus, and tell your friends!

Linux Games Podcast 8 Download: [iTunesOnly | MP3 RSS Feed |StraightMP3 |StraightOgg ]

If you’ll be at Linux World tomorrow in San Francisco, so will I, Game QA and Linux Gaming Rock Star, Zachary Slater.

Please say “hi” and if you have a game project, or want to be on the next episode of the Linux Games podcast I can probably record your special message. If you have a question you want me to ask one of the exhibitors, please leave a comment with your question.

After some downtime, both the Linux Game Publishing and Tux Games websites are accessible again (at least for me). We had some readers commenting about it earlier this week, so I wanted to make sure everyone knew they were back up – thanks!

Also, for some reason it was never mentioned outside of the podcast what LGP’s next title is: X³: Reunion, the space simulator from Egosoft. X²: The Threat was previously ported to Linux by LGP and is available for ordering.

Since I’m pretty sure you have already downloaded and listened to the “Chinese Water Torture Episode” of the LinuxGames podcast, you probably know there were certain words of affection spoken towards Tribal Trouble and its creators, Oddlabs. The game is fun and Oddlabs keep releasing new versions, addressing any outstanding issues while bringing in new features. Some of the new 1.5 version’s highlights include:

• Italian: Tribal Trouble is now available in the Italian language, courtesy of the fine folks over at liupgames.com.
• Smooth Camera: The camera has been improved so the movements are more smooth and pleasant to look at.
• Chat readability: In-game chat messages are now shown in a small box making them easier to read.
• … and several bugfixes.

Check out the official site for more details.

Download [ Tribal Trouble 1.5 demo ] or Buy [ full version ] from TuxGames ($30)

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 7 brings you another informal interview with Michael Simms. Including a special new game announcement from LGP! As a special bonus for Ogg Vorbis fans, this episode is encoded straight from the source file.

Joining myself on this episode are: Micks, and Marv! Remember to send your advertisements for free-as-in-either-beer-or-speech games to zacharyslater@gmail.com.

URL dump from this episode:

• Linux Game Publishing
• TuxGames
• Ankh
• Tux Games Game Machine
• Tribal Trouble 1.4

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feed link to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed url there, or just hit update if you’ve already subscribed. The podcast is also in the iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insert the feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here, in the new forum, on iTunes, digg it, and tell your friends!

Linux Games Podcast 7 Download: [ iTunes Only | MP3 RSS Feed | Straight MP3 | Straight Ogg]

Sorry folks, #7 is MIA due to hardware failure. Your Linux Games Podcast will return as soon as possible. During this hiatus, I suggest you check out our older episodes.

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 6 brings you an informal interview with Michael Simms.

Joining myself (and my poorly aimed mic which sounds horrible) on this episode are: Dustin “Crusader” Reyes, and Fabio “Lightkey” Till. As on the last episode, we have Love Invaders advertising. Remember to send your advertisements for free-as-in-either-beer-or-speech games to zacharyslater@gmail.com.

URL dump from this episode:

• id Software
• Linux Game Publishing
• Ryan Gordon
• Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (flash heavy)
• Tux Games
• Cold War
• Jagged Alliance 2
• Eric’s Ultimate Solitaire

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feed link to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed url there, or just hit update if you’ve already subscribed. The podcast is also in the iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insert the feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here, in the new forum, on iTunes, and tell your friends!

Linux Games Podcast 5 Download: [ iTunes Only | MP3 RSS Feed | Straight MP3 | Straight Ogg]

The Linux Games podcast now has a dedicated page!. As far as I am concerned this podcast has been a fantastic success in the first few episodes, nearing a thousand total listeners per episode. You can help us to raise that number by getting your friends to listen to the podcast as well, this is why we support iTunes.

Finally I need to ask you folks to think up your questions for our next interview guest, Michael Simms. He is the Chief Warlord of both Tux Games and Linux Game Publishing. We’re recording Friday night if all goes well, so you’ll need to have your questions in before 7PM PST on the 20th. So, leave your questions in the comments, and don’t forget to encourage your developer friends to make podcast advertisements!Update: Podcast recorded last night :)

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 5 brings you an informal interview with id software fanboy Timothee “TTimo” Besset.

Representing the Linux Games team on this episode are in addition to myself: Dustin “Crusader” Reyes, and Fabio “Lightkey” Till. As on the last episode, we have Love Invaders advertising. Remember to send your advertisements for free-as-in-either-beer-or-speech games to zacharyslater@gmail.com.

URL dump from this episode:

• id software
• Linux Airport Extreme Driver
• Linux Game Publishing
• Ryan Gordon
• Aliens versus Predator
• ioquake3
• Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL)
• OpenAL
• Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (flash heavy)
• Splash Damage
• Darkplaces
• Project Twilight
• Defcon
• Reaction Quake 3
• Tremulous
• nvidia driver page (including updated legacy drivers)
• TTimo’s blog about the show

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feed link to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed url there, or just hit update if you’ve already subscribed. The podcast is also in the iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insert the feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here, in the new forum, on iTunes, and tell your friends!

Linux Games Podcast 5 Download: [ iTunes Only | MP3 RSS Feed | Straight MP3 | Straight Ogg]

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 4 brings you an informal interview with Michael “Briareos” Vance.

Joining myself on this episode are: Dustin “Crusader” Reyes, Matt “Southern Belle JVM” Matthews, and Marv “Transform and Pod Cast” Malkowski. New in this episode are some format changes and a short advertisement for Love Invaders. Remember to send your advertisements for free-as-in-either-beer-or-speech games to zacharyslater@gmail.com. Please also note that although this podcast was recorded on the 28th as I indicate during the intro, it is only being posted now on the Third. My apologies for the delay.

URL dump from this episode:

• Gate 88
• Marathon Rubicon
• Bill Kendrick’s Tux Paint
• Virtual Kendrick
• Aleph One
• Unreal Editor Linux Support Announcement
• Mega Mario
• Stendhal Screenshot
• ixsoft.de
• Linux Game Publishing
• Ryan Gordon
• Michael Phillips
• Majesty
• Neverwinter Nights 2
• Gavriel State’s Funny Hat

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feed link to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed url there, or just hit update if you’ve already subscribed. The podcast is also in the iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insert the feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here, in the new forum, on iTunes, and tell your friends!

Linux Games Podcast 4 Download: [ iTunes Only | MP3 RSS Feed | Straight MP3 | Straight Ogg]

If you run your own open-source, or free software, or hell, even binary only but free-as-in-beer software: You can send me a brief (20-40 second) audio only advertisement in mp3 only for your open-source/free software game. You must own or not include any audio included in your advertisement. So this means no Iron Maiden songs, or creative commons. This is all CYA stuff so we don’t get in trouble, and you don’t either.

If you have a problem with the mp3 nature, don’t write in, or comment.

If you have any other suggestions for the podcast in general, put them in the forum.

If you have suggestions for these short ads, put them in the forums or this post thread. We reserve the right to refuse ads for games that suck, and any that you aren’t really part of the team on, without consent from their team/maintainer/whatever. The deadline for entries for this weekend’s podcast are Friday the 22nd, my apologies for announcing this so late. Any entries late will be considered for future podcasts. If we air your advertisement and you decide you don’t want it aired in the future, e-mail me again. This is a free service provided solely for free-as-in-beer games to get better exposure in a simple way. Please use the highest quality audio files possible when making your mp3 so that the end result doesn’t sound poor. Thanks!

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 3 brings you an informal interview with Andrew “hendersa” Henderson.

My thanks again to Alkini for doing the music on this episode, which doesn’t play for too long in the beginning as it did in the last episode. Please stop hating on his music and give constructive criticism in the comments here. My thanks also to micks for doing another great job as co-host.

URL dump from this episode:

• Apolyton forums
• CTP2 Subversion access
• Cold War
• Tux Games
• ixsoft.de
• ioquake3
• Theocracy
• Time Gate Studios
• Kohan (Linux native)
• Linux Game Publishing
• Ryan Gordon
• Chicago: 1930
• Serious Sam 2 (warning, full of flash)
• Linux EXPRES magazine (Not in English)

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feed link to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed url there, or just hit update if you’ve already subscribed. The podcast is also in the iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insert the feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here, in the new forum, on iTunes, and tell your friends!

Update (by jvm): Ogg version now available. Enjoy your freedom.

Linux Games Podcast 3 Download: [ iTunes Only | MP3 RSS Feed | Straight MP3 | Straight Ogg]

The latest Linux Games Podcast episode is up. Podcast 2 brings you an informal interview with Ryan “Bread & Circus Clowns” Gordon!

Joining myself on this second podcast are Marv, Micks as well. The free as in “free love” Ogg Vorbis file is now also up, courtesy of our in-house goa.., err, oggmaster.

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feed link to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed url there. It is in the iTunes Music Store. For any other podcasting programs, you’ll need to insert the feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here, in the new forum, on iTunes, and tell your friends!

Edit (by jvm): The full, uncensored podcast is only available in Ogg format. Freedom forever! Sorry, MP3 and iTunes dudes.

Edit (by zakk) What jvm means is that the ogg vorbis episode has three fewer uncensored swear words than the MP3. So that iTunes doesn’t get pissy with us, I replaced the mp3 earlier today with a slightly more edited version (just bleeped out three curses.). You can resume trolling as usual.

Linux Games Podcast 2 Download: [ iTunes Only | MP3 RSS Feed | Straight MP3 | Straight Ogg Vorbis ]

I’m pleased as punch to announce the inaugural Linux Games Podcast. Podcast 1 Brings you some discussion about Frets on Fire, Killer NIC, AMD-ATI Merger, Intel and Open Source, new Nvidia drivers, Linux game installation/libraries, Serious Sam 2, Cold War, Airline Tycoon Deluxe, and more!

Please keep in mind that as this is the first podcast, it isn’t the highest quality as far as editing (which is all my fault, I’m the editor for all podcasts here) or our “Radio Voices” (umm, err, you know). Joining myself on this initial podcast are Marv and Micks. Please keep in mind that the Ogg Vorbis file isn’t in the feed at the moment, and it is to be downloaded manually.

iTunes users can click the iTunes Only link below, or drag and drop the feed link to iTunes, or click Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and copy the feed url there. It is in the iTunes directory. For any other podcasting program, you’ll need to insert the feed url into it.

Enjoy, leave feedback here, in the new forum, on iTunes, and tell your friends!

Linux Games Podcast 1 Download: [ iTunes Only | MP3 RSS Feed | Straight MP3 | Straight Ogg Vorbis ]