John Carmack has written a Q3 optimization guide for Linux OpenGL driver authors at quake3arena.com. In it, Carmack describes the Quake 3 engine’s design philosophy and what driver improvements/features would enhance the engine’s performance under Linux. Carmack also notes that similar information has already been made available to the coders of Windows and MacOS OpenGL drivers.
Freeciv.org has moved hosts to idril.adnc.com thanks to Paul Zastoupil. This will allow more reliable access to freeciv.org’s http, ftp, and CVS daemons as development on the 1.8.x series continues.
The folks at Loki Entertainment Software have updated their main page with a list of stores where you can purchase Civilization: CTP next week: Fry’s, Micro Center, Best Buy, Comp USA, and more to be announced soon… Pyrpg 0.1.1 has been released; Pyrpg is a project to develop a 3D RPG engine written in python… William Kendrick sent in word of a funny hack for xscreensaver known as Flying Windows which has various UNIX logos battling the infamous flying window screensaver from that other platform.
We have a Q3test server now running at middleearth.telefragged.com on the default port with a 20 frag limit. Go at it!
UPDATE:Zoid, kind person that he is, took a screenshot on the server:
If you need something to read while downloading Q3Test, here’s the Q3Test Documentation that comes with Linux Quake 3: Arena test. Zoid and Paul Jaquays have put a lot of good info in there, so be sure to check it out.
Yes, it is true, the Linux version of Quake3Test is finally here and LinuxGames / TeleFragged have the files right here waiting for you! Go grab your RPM package or tarball from Tux. And since everyone loves to talk about their discoveries we have set up Quake 3: Arena TEST forum for all of your discussion needs.
Zoid was kinda enough to answer a question for the LG staff concerning the packaging of Q3Test. It looks like we are going to get rpm format and good old tar.gz. And just a reminder also if we do not get it soon, this is what is going to happen to TUX. :)
SpaceThing, the internet space life simulator for Linux and Irix, has been updated to version 0.0.1.2. Changes include a major bug fix that would cause it to crash if Mesa was less then 3.1 beta and implemented inter-client messaging. Back to Q3ATest on my iMac now. :)
Couple of quick updates this morning… natas, who organized the Loki IRC chat last Friday, has set up a Linux Civilization: CTP message board at http://natas.kfa.cx/~civ, as well as news and screenshots… numa sent in a link to the Creative Labs linux driver page which was mentioned on Slashdot over the weekend, which says the support for SB Live! cards is coming soon (hang in there whee ;))… An engine test of SpaceThing has been released, which is an OpenGL action game being developed for Linux and IRIX; the Linux version is available from here.
SVGALib support has been added to Sarien, the Sierra AGI resource interpreter engine, bringing it up to version 0.4.3.2 For your own copy, grab the source tarball
Yet another version of bnetd is available for download from their download page. This version’s main changes are a bugfix in the new channel code and the permanent channels are more configurable. For a full list of the changes, take a look at the Changelog.
Release 9 of the LGPL’ed Crystal Space 3D engine beta version 0.13 is now available. The Changelog includes several bugfixes, level-of-detail tweaks, and an OSS patch. As always, the latest source and additional odds-and-ends can be downloaded from ftp://ftp.linuxgames.com.
A new Wine release, which allows Windows executables to be run under Linux, has hit the ‘net today… version 990426 now resources built-in DLL’s, adds threading support for those other UNIX OS’s (FreBSD and Solaris) ;), and includes other enhancements/bug fixes. The source is available at the server-formerly-known-as-sunsite. Thanks to Clay for the heads up.
John Carmack updated his .plan today regarding the algorithms behind Quake 3′s “lagometer” and how to tweak performance based on the client-server connection. Today also marked the resurrection of Carmack’s .plan-based work log:
* converted cvar allocation to indexes to allow range checking
* cgame converted over to use vmCvar_t instead of cvar_t
needed for interpreted cgame
* fixed server crashing string bug
* adjusted scoreboard for 8 players
* show hostname on connection screen
* fixed null model warning on startup
* more space for hostname on local servers screen
* fixed mac Open Transport memory buffer bug
this was causing most of the mac crashes
* made Info_ValueForKey() case insensitive
* sv_privateClients, sv_privatePassword
this allows you to reserve slots on a
public server for password access while
allowing most to be freely available
* “server is full” message on connect screen
* archive handicap in config file
* cheat protect r_nocurves
* byte order independent zip checksum
* removed cl_stereo, use glConfig.stereoEnabled
Scott Draeker, President of Loki Entertainment Software, wrote in with new of a Loki website update concerning global distribution of their upcoming port of Civilization: Call to Power:
The Linux version of Civilization: Call to Power will ship during theweek of May 3. We delayed shipment by a week so that we could integrateActivision’s first patch for the game. Among other things, the patchfixes bugs, provides some UI enhancements and provides networkcompatibility between the Linux and Windows versions.
We have entered into distribution agreements covering the US, Canada,Europe, Australia and Japan. Setting up distribution has taken longerthan we hoped — this is a ground breaking product after all. But we areconfident that the distributors we have chosen will work quickly to getCiv:CTP and our upcoming products into the stores where people buysoftware.
Most of the stores where our products will be sold do not yet acceptorders, and in many cases don’t even have the products listed in theircomputer. This is already changing now that our distributors are activelyselling to these accounts. We’ll be posting a list of stores that carryour products as the information comes in.
In the meantime, please don’t harass anyone at your local software store.For the most part, these chains purchase nationally, and the individualstores have very little control over what products they carry. If weannounce that a chain is carrying our products and your local storedoesn’t know about it, please tell us. We can work with the nationaloffices to rectify the problem.
Slashdot is reporting that NVidia will be releasing Linux drivers for their Riva TNT2. The drivers should include both 2D X11 and 3D GLX support (which could not have come at a better time, given Linux Quake 3′s GLX-base), and Slashdot’s source states that an official announcement should be coming in around 2 weeks.
Chris Schoeneman wrote in with an update on the development of BZFlag. Schoeneman states that in the coming weeks BZflag will become an open-source project, and is “even now preparing the code and web site.” Furthermore, for all the die-hard BZFlag players out there, the main BZFlag server list will become dynamic to allow for viewing of current server stats.
Version 0.4.6 of bnetd, the Battle.net server emulator, has been released. Changes include new preference settings and fixed channel icons display. For a complete list, take a look at theThe full Changelog. You can download your own version from their download page.
3 developers from id Software updated their plans regarding the imminent release of Q3Test: Graeme “zaphod” Devine revealed that Q3Test will be released for the Macintosh platform probably sometime this weekend, to be followed by the Linux version, and then the Windows version. The reasoning behind this is that “it gives the various 3D board manufacturers some time to get their Win32 OpenGL 3D drivers certified with Microsoft” for use with the Windows version. id super-programmer John Carmack then updated his .plan to further comment on this decision, stating that releasing the Macintosh and Linux ports before the Windows release “will make our tracking a lot easier” and prevent bug-report duplication from each platform port. Finally, id mapper Christian “Disruptor” Antkow has put up a Q3Test message board at this temporary location: http://underworld.idsoftware.com/cgi-win/webcon.exe.