LINUXGAMES

PlanetQuake – Linux hasposted a work-around for the console FPS server browserQstat(which is also the back-end for GUI server browsers such asXQF):

In qstat.h line 265, change the ’4′, ’3′, to ’4′, ’5′ and it finds all of the 2000+ servers frommaster3.idsoftware.com.

The current Qstat source release (version 2.3g, without the fix) is available from

http://www.activesw.com/people/steve/qstat23g.tar.gz

A patchfile for Qstat 2.3g is also available from 3D Downloads; if you’re unsure on how to apply a patch, copy the file into your Qstat source directoy, then run:

patch –verbose qstat.h patch-qstat23g

Development version 1.42 of John Garrison’s PowerPak Game SDK has been released; changes includea bugfix regarding clipping. PowerPak is a multiplatform modular library partly based onthe Simple DirectMedia Layer.

PowerPak 1.42 Source:
http://www.imperialpenguin.com/software/powerpak/PowerPakDevelop.tar.gz

The third beta release of the Linux Quake 3: Arena SDK has been announced; changes in this release include:

• Added linux versions of q3asm and lcc
• Added the Portal Viewer Radiant plugin
• Minor fixes in Q3Radiant

The Q3A SDK allows players to create custom maps and modifications (such asRocket Arena) for the game. As this is a beta release, bugs should be reported via Fenris.

Linux Q3SDK 1.0b3 Download:

- Loki:
ftp://ftp.lokigames.com/pub/beta/q3sdk/linuxq3sdk-1.0b3.x86.run

- 3D Downloads:
http://www.3ddownloads.com/showfile.php3?file_id=95044

FAKK2 Central has made an IRC log from last night’s Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.2 chat with the developers at Ritual Entertainment available. The requisite Linux port question was asked, as Ritual’s previous FPS, SiN, is being ported to Linux by Hyperion Software:

<Chris> <SchlummertierBonzo> Question Will HMF2 (or any other Ritual game) ever be ported to Linux or BeOS?

<Grue> it will be hitting a lot of platforms. linux is not on the slate right now but who knows. A hit game will get ported to a lot of stuff.

The German site Linux Communityhas posted benchmarksof Linux Geforce2 GTS systems (including Athlon and PIII machines with clockspeeds of1 gigahertz). The article is in Deutsch (of course, there’s alwaysBabelfish); one interesting statisticis further evidence that the GeForce2′s memory bandwidth issues prevent it from takingadvantage of faster CPU’s at high resolutions, as the 35+ fps gap between the 1 GHz machinesand a 550 MHz PIII box at 640×480 dwindles to nothing at 1280×1024.

Vicarious Visions has released another patch for their 3D space sim/RPG Terminus. The rather extensive changelog is available here; furthermore, 1.6 breaks compatibility with previous builds:

Notes: Version 1.6 includes extensive changes to multiplayer Terminus. For this reason, both servers and clients need to upgrade to 1.6. Also, several mission scripting errors were corrected. Terminus will no longer allow you to load a save game where a broken script is running. If you attempt to do so you will receive the following error message: “A script in this save game was found to contain an error.”

Terminus 1.6 Download:
http://www.vvisions.com/terminus/downloads_frame.htm

NOTE [ Thursday - 7/27/00 ]: The next patch, version 1.61, has now been released, only a day after 1.6 made its appearance. Changes:

• Fixed save game loading with stored ships
• Removed debug string on HUD
• Fixed bug in early Mars mission

Terminus Retail to 1.61 Patch
Terminus 1.6 to 1.61 Patch

Cognitoy updated their site last week to request aid in beta-testing the Linux version of Mindrover, a 3D AI puzzle game. Mindrover is being ported to Linux by Loki Entertainment Software; thanks to Stephane de Broche des Combes for the news.

• Version 1.2 of the multi-game Doom-engine project Vavoom has been released; changes include:
  • Some structures are replaced with C++ classes, which makes coding easier.
  • Functions, that takes most of the execution time (R_DrawColumn, R_DrawSpan andRunFunction) now are in assembler (DOS and LINUX versions only).
  • Improved dehacked support. Now it handles everything, that it can. It is also added to makeinfo utility, which means that now you can create PROGS with changes of dehacked patch.
  • Removed some command line params (-playdemo, -record, -width, -height, ..). Most ofthem are replaced with console commands that can be specified in command line byadding + before them (like in Quake).
  • Some bug fixes.

  Vavoom 1.2 Download:
  http://www.raven-games.com/vavoom/download/download.shtml

• A new source snapshot of XDoom has been released by Udo Munk; changes include:
  • Lots more of the Boom extended linedefs implemented.
  • Linux PPC is working now under X, full screen console; graphics still needs work.
  • Documentation work.

  XDoom 20000723:
  ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/idgames/newstuff/xdoom-20000723.tar.gz

Oliver Dick notified us that theGolgotha Forever projecthas announced that development on the project has ceased due to lack ofinterest. Golgotha Forever began as an effort to modify the source code toGolgotha, a 3D real-time strategy game under development for Linux atCrack.com before the company folded (which was, incidentally,where Dave Taylor was employed after his stint at id Softwareand before his current position at Transmeta).However, it appears the source code will remain available for download for anyone willing to pick up the torch, so perhapsGolgotha (or its next incarnation) will see the light of day at some point in the future.

Jason Perkins wrote in to announcethe release of the API which predicts proton decay, theGrand Unified Toolkit, a cross-platformprogramming tool for game development. The API documentation is availablehere; a feature list is located at

http://www.379.com/gut/overview.html

GUT 0.5 Source:
http://download.sourceforge.net/gut/gut-src-0.5.0.tar.gz

The WolfPack Entertainment team has releasedversion 1.33h of XShipWars,their space strategy game; note that the XSW site has moved tohttp://wolfpack.twu.net/ShipWars/XShipWars/. Changes:

• Improved keyboard keymatching system
• Fixed crash bug in star chart

XShipWars 1.33h Download:
http://wolfpack.twu.net/ShipWars/XShipWars/download.html

Radon Labs (which consists of severaldevelopers who worked on Microsoft’s 3D RTS Urban Assault) has released anew source code snapshot for their 3D engine, dubbed Nebula Device. Changes:

• New audio and collission detection subsystems
• Bugfixes

Nebula Device 20000725 Source:
http://www.radonlabs.de/nebula.tar.gz

Shalon Wood wrote in to announce the release ofUniverse 0.13, a Java-based project which aimsto ultimately be similar to the classic Masters of Orion. Changes include the additionResourceGroups (arbitrarily defined collections of objects). Shalon also statesthat new developers are welcome; if interested, fire off an e-mail todstar@pele.cx.

Universe 0.13 Download:
http://universe.pele.cx/download.html

PQ noted thatDekard’s Admin Centralreceived e-mails from id Software’sRobert Duffyexplaining how the next patch will attempt to combat cheating techniques currentlyin use:

We are going to release new pure server code with the Mission Pack, at the same time a patch for Q3A will be released updating the pure server code there too.

–

It took about 3 months to code around it last time. And the new stuff will probably take a bit longer. It is not ( or should not ) just be a matter of sitting down for 15 minutes and coding around it. It is impossible to provide a perfect solution, but we can continually update the security measures as necessary.

Version 0.7.4 of Flight Gear, the 3Dopen source flight simulator, has been released. Changes:

• Nicer clouds
• First start at airport runways
• Various fixes/optimizations

Flight Gear 0.7.4 Download:
http://www.flightgear.org/Downloads/

• Raven Software updated theStar Trek Voyager: Elite Forcesite’s FAQ to addressthe question of Linux support:
  

  31) Will Elite Force be released for other platforms? Mac? Linux? PSX II? DreamCast?

  At this time, nothing has been officially announced. The Macintosh port is in the contract stagesright now. We have every intention of outsourcing a Mac port because of the portability of the Quake III engine. Expect an announcement when the deal is finalized. Other versions of the game including Linux, PlayStation II and DreamCast are entirely dependent on the success of the game in the PC market. Financial wisdom suggests that waiting to see that the game is well received and selling well is a logical step before charging into multiple contracts and serious financial commitments. If the game is financially successful and shows signs of a solid launch, the likelihood of ports to other platforms increases exponentially. Keep an eye on your local gaming news site for announcements after Elite Force Retail launches.

• Jedi sent in noticethat the Linux version of Soldier ofFortune has begun shipping from Tux Games;the complete list of Loki resellers and retailers is availablehere.
• The Shack has posted twoscreenshots from SoF Gold, the free multiplayer add-on (including more maps, mods, and bot support) which will be released by Loki to enhance SoF’s feature set.

The official Anarchy Online (a massivemultiplayer RPG set on a futuristic world being developed with theQT library for Linux)updated with three new musicsamples (in MP3 format) from Sound Designer Tor Linløkken, accompanied by a shortinterview with Tor which delves into the genesis of the game’s score.Moreover, an interview with the lead artist on the project, Vebjørn Strømmen, has also been made available.

Loki has released a networking fix fortheir demoof Descent 3;the fix is available as a patch from:

• [ 3D Downloads | Loki ]

Patch instructions:
Extract into the descent3_demo directory, i.e.

cd descent3_demo
tar zxvf ../network-fix.tar.gz

Furthermore, a new full package has been released for those who did not download the original build.

James Hills of GameSpy has posted a newpreview of theupcoming Indrema L600 Linux-basedconsole system, which heretofore been shrouded in some mystery. Indrema’s CEO,John Gildred, states in the preview that the L600 itself will not be shownat the LinuxWorld Expo next month, but moredetails will be provided about the system’s design and their plans for developer support. Gildredalso notes that he intends for Indrema to attend the next E3.

Version 0.5 of Heroes, a Nibblesgame which supports up to two players (screenshots), has been released.Changes include:

• Level editor integration.
• Configuration of played soundtracks.
• Full screen support (where available).
• Preliminary support for big-endian machines (please report).

Heroes 0.5 Download:
http://www.epita.fr/~duret_g/heroes/linux/0.5/heroes-0.5.tar.gz