LINUXGAMES

Speaking of sci-fi MMORPG’s, Funcom updated the Anarchy Online site to announce that the game is nowin the initial stages of beta testing in Scandinavia. Furthermore, the site states that additional testers (500) will be chosen from the rest of the world soon. It is not currently known if the current test includesthe QT-based Linux port (can anyone in Scandinavia determine this?). Furthermore, information onTucker has been addedto the “Important Character” profile list.

We’ve added a petition to gauge interest in the resurrection of Wombat Games, who were developing a Linux MMORPGcalled Dark Zion. Wombat Games was foundedby the developers who originally maintained the Ultima OnlineLinux port, including Rick Delashmit, Jason Spangler (both lead programmers on the UO series), and Todd McKimmey (a UO designer).Furthermore, Tad Williams (a New York Times best-selling Sci-Fi author) was to serve as creative consultant to the project. There’s been some interest in this game succeeding from third parties, so please sign the petition if you’re interested in seeing an original persistant role-playing game being developed for Linux.

No, I’m not dead.

Murphy’s inescapable maxim has reared its head at LG, and after a week of router problems (which appear to now be resolved, thanks to the tireless efforts of UUNET, the fine people at AT&T have seen fit to ensure a service interruption for my coax that will likely last the duration of the week.

Thanks to Alkini for being officer of the deck during this snafu.

Sean Middleditch has announced that version 0.4.5 of the fantasy MUD server AweMUD has been released. Changes include:

• fixed compilation issues
• the user system has been replaced with a character login system
• Reorganized data tree a bit
• Added GM and admin status options for characters
• Implemented the allow_new flag again
• Changed world/zone/room relationship to flat list instead of a tree

AweMUD source: AweMUD-0.4.5.tar.gz

Version 0.1.3c of the non-3D-accelerated car racer SpeedX has been released. Changes include:

• configure script
• some bugs cleaned
• physics improved
• music support

SpeedX source: SpeedX-0.1.3c.tar.gz

Version 3.3.1 of the classic single player dungeon exploration game Nethack has been released. Major changes:

• many bug fixes
• focuses primarily on stabilizing the features and changes introduced to the game in 3.3.0
• A security fix
• new, friendlier warning system
• experimental GTK interface is available

Nethack downloads: www.nethack.org/v331/ports/download-linux.html

Andy Piper wrote in to point out that the OpenUT site has been updated with some various news items:

• The FAQ has added a couple questions, and a few corrections have been made.
• Loki’s Daniel Vogel posted to the OpenUT list reminding us that he’s still working on the 428 release (in addition to the port of Deus Ex), and that when the release is made available, a dedicated server package will also be included.
• The OpenUT guys tracked down a photo of Linus playing UT at the LWE (photo courtesy of Andy “Yoda” Mecham from Loki).

Release 20000821 of Wine has been released. Major changes:

• USER and GDI are now separate dlls
• Documentation converted to DocBook SGML format
• Improved DBCS support
• The usual assortment of common controls improvements
• Shared PE sections support
• GDI should now be thread-safe
• Lots of bug fixes

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

Martin Bickel has released Version 1.2.1 of his multiplayer turn-based strategy game Advanced Strategic Command. Changes:

• Fixed crash when a unit reaches max experience
• Fixed crash when displaying technology image
• Fixed crash when events referenced a unit that has been destroyed
• Fixed: screenshot being written to wrong directory (Linux only)
• Fixed: map editor crashed when editing cargo
• Adjusted tutorial maps to new attack formula

ASC downloads: www.asc-hq.org/download_linux.html

Version 1.30.1 of the enhanced Doom port DooM Legacy has been released.Changes include a problem with 3dfx Voodoo3/Banshee cards and the crash in OpenGL renderer have been fixed and a server query can now be properly aborted with ESC.

DooM Legacy 1.30.1 patch: download.sourceforge.net/doomlegacy/legacy_130_linux_glibc21_patch.tar.gz

Version 0.1.90 of first-person interactive adventure game project The Guild has been released. Changes in this version:

• X11 DGA fullscreen and SDL support
• Virtual Screens
• a simulated PDA for the game options
• improved animations format
• new test gameplay

The Guild downloads: 3ddownloads.com/index.php3?directory=/linuxgames/theguild/

Version 1.7 of Vicarious Visions’ space combat sim Terminus has been released. Changes include:

• Fixed ship manager, ship cost calculation
• Fixed Razor avionics bay properties
• Prevent negative bounties from being posted
• Fixed AI infinite loop hanging bug
• Prevent AI from attempting to dock with corvettes
• Fixed reload button in parts/cargo
• Fixed save game crash with defense pods
• Fixed PVG AI crash
• Numerous scripting fixes
• Valuable ore is less likely to be mined
• Pressing an aux key gives feedback
• Fixed a “Memory not already allocated crash”
• Fixed UEL assault on Callisto script
• Fixed pirate Darkheart and Eulogy script
• Add snd_buffer_chunk config parameter (see config.txt)

Terminus 1.62b Downloads: www.vvisions.com/terminus/downloads_frame.htm

3dfx’s JosephKain sent in word that they’ve released new DRI-based drivers for their various Voodoo chipsets:

There are new XFree86 4.0.1 X Server/Mesa prereleases for the VoodooBanshee, Voodoo3, Voodoo4 and Voodoo5 available. These drivers shouldbe used in conjunction with XFree86 4.0 and Glide 3 with DRI support(provided). These are the drivers that were used in thedemonstrations at 3dfx’s Linux World Expo booth. They ran games suchas Quake3, Unreal Tournament (with OpenGL renderer), Soldier ofFortune and others. Note these drivers will still not work with,Myth2, Quake2 or other Glide and Mesa2x based applications but, thethe DGA mouse bug been has been fixed. Also note, these drivers arestill in early development. At this time only a single chip on theboard is supported, that means that the board will not run at its fullspeed potential, nor are Full Scene Antialiasing (FSAA) and T-BufferCinematic effects available. As development continues these featureswill be implemented in the drivers.

Voodoo5/Voodoo4:
The files

tdfx_dri-4.0.1-1.i386.rpm
tdfx_drm-1.0-3.src.rpm
Glide_V5-3.10-2.i386.rpm

can be found here:

http://linux.3dfx.com/open_source/download/voodoo5_dri.htm

Voodoo Banshee/Voodoo3:
The files

tdfx_dri-4.0.1-1.i386.rpm
tdfx_drm-1.0-3.src.rpm
Glide_V3-DRI-3.10-6.i386.rpm

can be found here:

http://linux.3dfx.com/open_source/download/voodoo3_banshee_dri.htm

Changes:

• Based on XFree86 4.0.1
• DGA mouse support
• No longer overwrites /etc/X11/XF86Config, however previous packages were setup to restore the saved backup of /etc/X11/XF86Config so you may want to backup the file manually before installing this package.

Please follow the instructions on the above pages to install thesepackages.
If you experience any difficulty installing any of these driver pleasedirect your questions to the USENET newsgroup 3dfx.glide.linux.
Again note that this release does NOT work with Glide applications orApplications that are linked against older revisions of Mesa.

In an IRC chat yesterday held by Voodoo Extreme on Inside3D.net, several developers from Lionheadanswered user questions relating to their upcoming god game,Black and White.I managed to get in a few questions (as did others) requesting clarification on their previousstatements which indicated there would be a Linux port, and that the sourceto the game would be released in some manner:

(ChrisO) (Crusader) Peter stated at E3 that there would be a source release for B&W? Will that happen at release? What license? How much code (all?)? Finally (this was a long one, sorry), can you give a status report on the linux port?
(Jamie-UK) Depends on how many copies we sell, will be completely open source for non-commercial enterprises.
(Jamie-UK) No idea on the linux port at the moment.. I think it’s ‘in negotiation’.

–

(ChrisO) (Chromix) how is source-code-based cheating (like after the release of the source for “quake”) prevented when the source is completely open ? When for example someone build his custumised game.exe to make casting spells etc easier
(alexei) our net game is very sensetive to version differences…
(alexei) even when we play different builds here, it doesn’t let you do it.
(alexei) so if they hacked it, everyone playing would have to play the same version
(alexei) we have lots of ingame cheats though
(alexei) :)

(AaronL) do we? I dont cheat
(alexei) aaron: ahh, you never pushed Ctrl+C? tough
(alexei) :)

(AaronL) lol no
(AaronL) :)

–

(ChrisO) (Crusader) With the source available, will there be some sort of central authentication/binary check system in place to prevent cheating in multiplayer games? Even without the source available, cheating is prevalent in FPS’ such as Quake and its brethren…
(PeterM) yes we are making sure cheating is not posible infact if you try and cheat you become a more evil god
(jborthwick) no cheating allowed at all is a good idea

–

(PhaseBurn) (Crusader) So, the Linux port is being negotiated for development by a third party?
(DanD) hmm
(DanD) hold on
(DanD) ill just ask peter
(DanD) hold
(Ollie) yeah there is gonna be a linux port

The full log is available from here.

AvPNews.com updated yesterday with further info on the previously announced (and apparently complete) source code release forAliens vs. Predator: Gold Edition,which states that the release will be delayed for another few weeks whileRebellion finishes two add-on levels. If the source code is made available under arelatively liberal license, it will be rather unusual for the gaming industry,as Aliens vs. Predator was only released for the Win32 platform less thantwo years ago.

The O’Reilly Network wrote upa short article on Linux Gaming Resources, which includes links to varioussites that provide information for Linux game players and developers. Also referencedare previous O’Reilly articles concerning Linux entertainment software.

Some application releases by way of Freshmeat:

• Q-Lamp version 0.55, a QuakeWorldstatistics generator, has been released; changes include the ability to run as a cronjoband bugfixes. [Download]
• Mads Villadsen has released VGB-GUI 0.1.1, a launcherfor the Game Boy emulator VGB; VGB-GUI requiresGTK+ and GNOME amongother libraries. [Download]

Indrema andLinuxCareannounced at this weeks’s LinuxWorld Conference and Expo that LinuxCare will be providing customer support servicesfor the upcoming Linux-based console, dubbed the Indrema Entertainment System. Previousannouncementsregarding alliances with Red Hat and Collab.net were made earlier in the week at the Expo.

Erik Greenwald has produced anarticlefor the Linux Game Development Center whichfocuses on writing code to handle timing functions in a game project; example source isincluded.

The main Wombat Games news page hasbeen updated with some bad news – development on Dark Zion, a MMORPG, has ceased. The fullnews post follows:

Due to lack of funding and publisher interest, we have stopped development of Dark Zion. The office has been closed and the employees are looking for jobs (see the team page if you are an interested employer). We wanted to thank all of the fans and the Dark Zion Vault for their support. Thank you.

It troubles me to see this happen, first to Crack.com and Golgotha,and now Dark Zion. We wish Rick, Jason, and the rest of the guys the best ofluck as they look for new jobs.