LINUXGAMES

About.com’s Focus on Linux section has postedtwo reviewsof titles ported to Linux by Loki EntertainmentSoftware last year:

• Myth II: Soulblighter
• Railroad Tycoon II: Gold Edition

More items from the shaken (not stirred) bit bucket:

• Sinistar sent in a link to hisQuake 3 Portable Linux Server project,an effort to construct a server which would simplify LAN party setup.

• NaTaS has updatedthe Loki Portal Page with 3 screenshotsfrom the Linux port of Descent 3.
• The Java-based Q3A log file parser JLogAnis now an open-source project (under theGNU General Public License). Thecurrent code base is available from 3D Downloads.
• PowerDoom, aport of Doom to the PowerPak Game SDK,has been released; the source is available from http://www.imperialpenguin.com/software/powerdoom/PowerDoom.tar.gz.
• The Duke of URL has posted an articleon the last resort of Linux gamers: Dual Booting. Making Linux, BeOS, and Windows co-exist on a single system is covered.
• Salon has posted an article on Eazel, the effort to enhance the Linux user-interface, thus broadening its appeal tothe average consumer.
• The QuakeForge site postedan update on the Quake 1 source code modification project, which statesthey are working on incorporating the SDLlibrary into the new source tree. Furthermore, a rendering driver selectionsupport a la Q3A will also be added.

Bad_CRC pointed out in a Slashdot comment that Dynamix’sDave Georgeson posted a statement on the Euro Tribesplayer forums which makes the possibility of a Linuxclient port of Tribes 2 less likely:

We would still like to make Linux server code. No commitment yet though since we don’t know exactly how long it will take to complete the game and the Linux server stuff could hit the cutting room floor if we run out of time.

Still currently planned, however.

–

I got a fairly aggressively worded e-mail from a gamer out there about how the wording of my posting (above) teased players and made no commitments about Linux server support.

Since the wording was not satisfactory, let me clear it up slightly:

We will NOT be supporting Linux servers…unless we somehow get enough stuff done before we are scheduled to release the game so that we have time to do “extra” work beyond the actual game itself.

I would still prefer to release with Linux server support, but if it’s a choice between Christmas revenue or Linux support, then I’ll choose the former.

Straight enough now?

Although it was previously stated a Linux client would be produced at some point, the recentdeparture of several high-ranking teammembers may have made porting work less of a priority in the face of shippingschedules.

Jari Saukkonen of the Majik 3D project, an effort to create a 3D RPG based around a singlemultiplayer server, wrote in to announce that they’ve securedemployment from Taika Technologies to continue development. Unfortunately:

Due to the proprietary nature of these technologies there will be no morepublic source code access, preventing the release of new Majik 3D versionsunder the GNU Public License (GPL). This will not cause a copyrightviolation as Majik 3D’s current code base doesn’t contain any code notdeveloped by the core members. Naturally the prior versions that have beenreleased under the GPL will remain open. Despite the proprietarytechnologies the game itself will always remain free of charge.

The entire press release can be read here; it goes on to state Majik will utilize the SurRender 3D library (which is being utilized in Win32 commercial game projects, such as Westwood’s FPS Command & Conquer: Renegade).

The version 0.4.0 Linux source code base is available for download at:
ftp://ftp.majik3d.org/majik3d/source/majik3d-0.4.0.tar.gz

Leigh Dyer has writtena HOWTO documentdesigned to aid Debian distribution usersin setting up the NVIDIA Linuxdrivers (currently at version 0.9-4) for 3D GLX support. If you have any suggestions foradditions, clarifications, or corrections to the HOWTO, write Leigh atmania.physics.swin.edu.au.

Version 0.1.8 of xscorch, a clone of the popular, and addictive I might add, Scorched Earth from the DOS days, has been released. The goal of the game is to destroy your enemy with overpowered guns that you purchase. This version includes better network support, random walls, and bug fixes.

xscorch 0.1.8 source: chaos2.org/xscorch/xscorch-latest.tar.gz

David “crt” Wright and Co. have made the latest addition in their series of duelistmods for the Quake series available: Rocket Arena Q3A. 8 maps (which are very impressive with regards to quality), each withmultiple arenas, are included, as well as multiple gameplay types.More details can be found in the README (although it’s very Windows-centric); be warned that the much-touted mp3 playeris currently non-functional in the Linux build (althought crt has stated that this will be rectified in a futurerelease). Furthermore, the RA3 homepage requires Mozilla or Lynx, as Netscapefails to render it properly.

Linux Client (57mb) | Servers (470kb)

Linux Client Mirrors: Shugashack PlanetQuake Mirror

Server Mirrors: Shugashack PlanetQuake Mirror

Pierre Phaneuf sent in notificationthat his game development group, Ludus Design,is ceasing operations due to budget issues. Fortunately, they are releasing the sourcecode to Quadra, their multiplayerTetris clone. A Sourceforge project page has already been established; the version 1.1.4 code base will be available their shortly.

3d modelers are now going to have a new tool to do 3d modeling under Linux. According to this story on Yahoo, Alias/Wavefront are going to release a port of Maya to the Linux Community in 2001. You can check out the development progess on their company homepage for up to date information. Thanks to Hays for pointing this out.

Version 0.2 of Darkest Days, a 3D enginetechnology demo, has been made available. The changelog can be perusedat the main project page; screenshotsshowcasing the engine’s various features are located athttp://www.darkestdays.de/shots.html.

Darkest Days 0.2 (binary):
http://www.darkestdays.de/new-0.2/dd1-0.2.tar.gz

Dennis Payne has produced anotherinstallment for hisOpen Game Source series, which examinesvarious aspects of open game development. This edition focuses onBattalion, which featuresa rampaging Godzilla-esque leviathan. Dennis’ article dissects portions of Battalion’s code architecture,with the majority of his analysis spent on sound implementation. Thanks to theLinux Game Development Center for the news.

Release 20000716 of Wine has been madeavailable. Major changes in this version:

• DirectSound restructured and improved.
• More builtin dlls (ws2_32, setupapi, rpcrt4, serialui).
• Several internationalisation improvements
• Lots of bug fixes.

Wine 20000716 download locations:
metalab.unc.edu
tsx-11.mit.edu
ftp.infomagic.com
orcus.progsoc.uts.edu.au

Robert Ruehlmann has released a source-only beta of Angband 2.9.1. If you run in to any problems, take a look at the bugs page and thenlet Robert know if there isn’t mention of it already.

Dark God released version 4.0.9 of PernAngband. As usual, the largelist changes isavailable for perusing.

Jurriaan Kalkman released beta 6 release 1 of his Angband variant (J)Angband/64. It is available in sourceand binaryRPM formats. For those interested, a Changelog isavailable.

Version 1.11.4 of the GPL Civ I/II clone Freeciv has been released. Changes since 1.11.0 include:

• Readline support added to the server.
• May now disperse initial units over specified area. See “dispersion” server option.
• May now arrange for first client to connect to have a higher cmdlevel than the following clients. See “cmdlevel” server option.
• Save files now transparently (un)compressed when (loaded) saved.
• Now requires a minimum number of ocean tiles to be adjacent to a land tile wished to be transformed into ocean. Default is 1.
• Added Nuclear Fallout. Industrialization and population still generate Pollution. Dropping a Nuke generates Nuclear Fallout, which is distinct from Pollution. There is a new command to clean Fallout vs. cleaning Pollution. Fallout contributes to Nuclear Winter — which also changes terrain, but tends to Desert, Tundra and Glacier. Added a new “cooling” icon to the info area to indicate the progress towards Nuclear Winter, and also an icon for Fallout on the main map. AIs are now more aggressive at cleaning up Pollution, but not Fallout.
• Moved most of the dependencies on the “civstyle” server option to separate values in game.ruleset files.
• Fixed bugs in “turns to build” displays.
• Fixed bug whereby Diplomat/Spy investigations of cities did not reveal the correct supported and present unit lists.
• Fixed multiple bugs in go-to code.
• Fixed bug where starting a revolution, saving the game and restarting the server would allow switching governments without anarchy.
• Fix bug that you could paradrop into cities you were at war with even if they contained enemy units.

A fantasy modpack for Freeciv has also been released and updated. It relies onthe Ancients modpack so you will have to download both archives in order togive the fantasy modpack a try. Modpacks are alternative sets of units, buildings, and technologies that can be imported in to the game to change thegeneral feel of gameplay.

Finally, the Freeciv roadmap hasbeen updated. This roadmap lays out what is to be implimented and changed forfuture versions. If you notice any errors, or have any suggestions, mailMartin Willemoes Hansen

Freeciv downloads (including modpacks): www.freeciv.org/download.phtml

Crystal Space‘s newly revamped screenshots page is sporting six new screenshots. One shows off the fountain particle system using a new texture, and the other five are of a big new level that Jorrit Tyberghein, the CS author, is working on.

Also, two levels,flarge and room have been updated. These levels should be usedif you are using a very recent CVS snapshot (i.e. more recent then 0.16)because they use the new entity system in WalkTest for movement.

And one last quick note, the CS projects page has beenupdated with a new look and the list includes more projects utilizing the CS engine.

On the heels of the 3.2.1 release, development version 3.3 of Mesa 3D graphics library has been released. Note that 3.3 is expected to be fairly stable, but as a new development release it is likely that it is not as as stable as the 3.2.x tree. Changelog:

• various GL conformance failures fixed since 3.2.1
• gl.h now uses #defines instead of C enums for all tokens
• glu.h now uses #defines instead of C enums for all tokens
• moved programs from 3Dfx/demos/ into demos/ directory
• antialiased triangles now implemented
• GL_EXT_texture_env_add texture mode extension
• GLX 1.3 API
• support for separate draw/read buffers (ie GL_SGI_make_current_read)
• thread-safe API dispath
• improved glxinfo program
• demos/texdown program to measure texture download performance
• glext.h header file
• demos/geartrain program
• GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias extension
• demos/lodbias program
• further optimized glRead/DrawPixels for 16-bit TrueColor X visuals
• GLX_EXT_visual_rating extension (a no-op, however)
• GL_HP_occlusion_test extension (for X and OS/Mesa drivers)
• demos/occlude program
• GL_SGIS_pixel_texture and GL_SGIX_pixel_texture extensions
• demos/pixeltex program
• GL_SGI_color_matrix extension
• GL_SGI_color_table extension
• GL_EXT_histogram extension
• GL_ARB_texture_cube_map extension
• added xdemos/glxheads and xdemos/manywin
• demos/texenv.c demo
• GL_EXT_texture_env_combine extension (by Holger Waechtler)
• Xlib driver is now thread-safe (see xdemos/glthreads)

Mesa3D downloads: mesa3d.sourceforge.net/download.html

The July 17th source code snapshot of Dave Lawrence’s2D overhead multiplayer game XTux Arena has been released. Changes:

• Fixed up timing bug which was causing a whole bunch of problems.(also known as the can’t connect problem)
• Ability to re-enter game from menu and change player setup within game.
• Weapon icons.
• Changed the Bug entity so it’s smaller.
• Muzzle-flash effect.
• New maps.
• New weapon: a Rocket launcher!
• Preliminary Enemy AI, contributed by Milo van Handel.
• Lots of minor things/fixes etc.

XTux Arena 20000717 Source:
http://download.sourceforge.net/xtux/xtux-arena-src-jul-17.tar.gz

Joseph Elwell forwarded a responsefrom Loki’s Kayt Sorhaindo, whichreiteratesBlizzard’sreticence to commit to the Linux platform:

We would love to port Diablo II and other Blizzardtitles, butBlizzard has taken a “wait and see” approach to Linuxgaming –If we can prove the market for Linux games is therewith the sales numbers for our current titles,then they’ll talk with us.

We hope you’ll be happy with our upcomingannouncements.We plan 16 titles this year, including Heavy Gear II,Soldier of Fortune,SimCity 3000 Unlimited, Descent 3, MindRover and SidMeier’s AlphaCentauri!

Further clarification was provided by Blizzard’s Andrea Pessino during an IRCchat withVoodoo Extreme concerning Warcraft III:

(PhaseBurn) =Incognito= question: has the Linux port status of Warcraft III already been determined (i.e., no port will be considered such as with Diablo 2), or is Blizzard still examining the potential of the Linux gaming market?

(Andrea[BlizzardEnt]) there are no plans for linux versions of any of our games at this time

(PhaseBurn) and if I may add on to that, why doesn’t Blizzard consider the gaming market for linux?

(Andrea[BlizzardEnt]) well.. I am not sure, but I believe the gaming market for linux is still its infancy

(Andrea[BlizzardEnt]) IN its infancy..

In addition to the Descent 3 demo,Loki Entertainment Software announced thatan expansion mappackfor the third-person fantasy game Heretic 2has been made available. The pack includes 12 deathmatch maps; a list with descriptions of eachcan be read here.
Heretic 2 Map Pack Download:

Loki Entertainment Software FTP
3D Downloads

Mirror list

Loki Entertainment Software has released ademo ofDescent 3, the 3Daction game developed by Outrage Entertainment (whowere also responsible for the initial Linux porting work). Featuring 360-degrees of movement and 3 levels(one single-player and two multiplayer),the demo weighs in at 42MB (the README is available here, which includes command line options and known issues).

Descent 3 Demo Download:

Loki Entertainment Software FTP
3D Downloads

Mirror list