Shadow Warrior Liberated by 3D Realms
April 1st, 2005 by jvmOnce again, 3D Realms has given away the source to one of its older games: Shadow Warrior. You can read about the release here and the README here, including directions on how to compile the source with the ancient Watcom C/C++ compiler under DOS/Windows.
Please note that this is a source release only. The data files are not redistributable. Here’s the quote from the README:
All of the Shadow Warrior data files remain copyrighted and licensed by 3D Realms under the original terms. You cannot redistribute our data or data files from the original game. You can use our data for personal entertainment or educational purposes. If you need the data, you can order a Shadow Warrior CD from our store on our website (http://www.3drealms.com).
There is, however, a demo version which could potentially be compatible with any source ports that are made.
As with the Duke Nukem 3D, the Shadow Warrior source is available under the GPL, so a GNU/Linux port is not only possible, but seemingly inevitable. Perhaps a unified BUILD-game codebase could be developed to handle all BUILD games, like the DooM ports which also play Hexen and Heretic?
Anyone taking bets on how long before a mostly-working GNU/Linux verison is hosted on icculus.org?
Update by zakksh
An initial port has already appeared on icculus.org. Ryan “more often than not icculus” Gordon has updated his .plan with this regarding the new port:
Shadow Warrior: So here's what about 3 hours of heavy labor gets you: http://icculus.org/shadowwarrior/firstrun.jpg Obviously lots of work to do on this, but it runs mostly correctly, sound and all.
April 1st, 2005 at 4:49 pm
What advantages would a unified codebase bring?
The games already share the same engine codebase, so no need to try and go further and combine the game into a single executable. Besides, we’re talking about some of the worst code ever written here. Working with this code for more than five minutes at a time is hazardous to one’s health.
(BTW, ROTT doesn’t use BUILD, but I’m not sure if you were thinking otherwise with your “two other games” statement.)
April 1st, 2005 at 9:25 pm
IF this isn’t an April fools Joke… then Real cool… now If we can get the Blood source then I will be Real happy
April 2nd, 2005 at 12:28 pm
I am the Shadow Warrior …. Woo-sha!
April 3rd, 2005 at 12:34 pm
I love Ryan to death. He’s awesome, but I wish he’d finish some things, instead of getting new ones half started. I suppose it’s all just for fun for him, and one can not complain about free things, but MOHAA is still unplayable, Devastation has severe sound problems. I wish those worked before time was put into this. Still, it’s nice he started this.