LINUXGAMES

There has been a slew of Angband-related releases lately:

• Development version 2.5.2b of the Angband variant ZAngband has been released. (Changelog)
  Source: zangband-252b-src.zip
• The first version, 0.0.1, of Langband has been released. Langband is an open-source rewrite of Angband using Common Lisp as the development language of choice.
  Source: langband-0.0.1.tar.gz
• Version 4.1.0 of the ZAngband variant Cthulhu Angband (CthAngband) has been released (Changelog)
  Source: Cthangband-4.1.0b.tar.gz
• Bugfix version 0.5.0b of the Angband variant OAngband has been released (Changelog).
  Source: Oangband050b-src.zip
• Stable version 2.9.1r1 of the Angband variant KAngband has been released (Changelog).
  Source: kangband-2911-src.zip

Thanks to Angband News for pointing out the last few updates.

A few new version updates from Bill Kendrick’s New Breed Software have slippedby us:

• A second preview version of the “run-and-jump” single-player BoboBot has been released. As a preview version, this release ionly includes 4 of the 8 main levels but sound, music, and joystick support are all included. There are some knownbugs but if you run in to another, submit it to the NBS BugTrack system.
  Download: bobobot-preview2.tar.gz
• Circus Linux! (a Circus Atari clone) version 1.0.1 has been released. This version includes a Makefile tweak.
  Download: circuslinux-1.0.1.tar.gz
• Defendguin (a Defender clone, and then some) version 0.0.5 has been released. Changes include installation and documentation improvements.
  Download: defendguin-0.0.5.tar.gz
• Mad Bomber (a clone of the Atari title Kaboom!) version 0.1.8 has been released. This version includes a Makefile tweak.
  Download: madbomber-0.1.8.tar.gz

Timothee Besset of QERadiant.com fired in notice that he has released version 1.1b of the Linux Q3A SDK in conjunction with Loki, which includes the Linux build of GtkRadiant 1.1 beta, the cross-platform version of Q3Radiant. New features in GtkRadiant include:

• Map compilation monitoring and improved q3map.
• Sleep mode.

Q3SDK 1.1 Beta:
[ 3D Downloads | Loki ]

The XRally project has fired up at project page over at SourceForge for their 2D overhead racer. The main website will stillbe found at linuxgames.com/xrallybut all of the SourceForge goodies (CVS, mailing list, etc) can be found at the new project page: sourceforge.net/projects/xrally.In addition to this project page, XRally 1.0 rpms, srpms, and debs are available.

The Tux Racer project has posteda list of planned features for the upcoming version 1.0 of the downhill luge sim. Included inthese features are multiplayer capability, computer opponents, and new music andsounds.If you have any comments on the planned features, or an additional feature thatyou would like to see in Tux Racer 1.0, send an email tosupport@sunspirestudios.com.

Also, Joystick101.org has posted ashortpreviewof Tux Racer. The preview gives an overview of the games virtues, and also coversgraphics and the lack of opponents.

The Dreams Eternal project leader,Jorrit Tyberghein, posted a messageto the SourceForge forums asking for 3D models to be used in the firstlevel of DE. He is looking for modles of a candle, television, fridge, the main player,and other various plant-growth and household items. If you are interested inhelping out, or if you want more information, takea look at his full post.

Beta 4.1 of the open-source Quake 1 engine modification QuakeForgehas been released; this iteration fixes a compilation error involving va.h.

QuakeForge Beta 4.1 Source:
http://download.sourceforge.net/quake/quakeforge-0.2.99beta4.1.tar.gz

Sam Hart wrote in to let us know thatversion 0.5-2 of TuxTyping, an educationaltyping tutor utilizing Tux, is now available (shots). Changes:

• Word Cascade added
• Much documentation work
• Several bugfixes
• Some new images & music

TuxTyping 0.5-2 Download:
http://www.geekcomix.com/dm/tuxtype/downloads.shtml

Version 0.1.90.2 of The Guild, a sci-fi adventuregame, has been released. Changes:

• Bug fixes
• New test animation

The Guild 0.1.90.2 Download:
http://theguild.linuxgames.com/files.html

Ryan Gordon of Loki has yet another new article up on Linux.com. This one is, of course, a work of satire and deals with a fictonal letter from Bill Gates; it is definitely worth a read, so go take a look at it here.

Alistair Riddoch wrote in to announce the release of the new Acorn Demo. The new release features:

• Improved server performance and reliability
• A new map with full village market, houses, and forest, and many new graphics including new character animations and new characters.
• New trading features which allow buying and selling goods in the market in exchange for coins.
• Improved animal behavior including full modelling of food digestion and change in animals weight due to food consumption.

You can download the new demo from WorldForge’s website:
http://www.worldforge.org/website/rules/acorn/download

Nils Trzebin wrote in to let us know that version 0.5 of the Real Time strategy game Boson has been released. Some things to note about this release:

• This version does require KDE2 in order to run.
• Sound support is not included in this version but will be in future versions

Nils also mentions in the email that in future releases the jungle pack uploads will be done so there will be 2 music themes ready: Progressive and Jungle; also, the speech and soundpack are ready and will be up in due time.

Download: boson-0.5.tgz

Michael Simms of TuxGames wrote in with some news about their monthly competition. The goal of this month’s competition is to find the hidden link on their website and answer the question behind it, and you will be entered into a prize draw for winning a free game. So go try your luck!

Some new release announcements from Freshmeat:

• The 20001029 snapshot of Raine for Linux has been released.

• XBattleAI version 1.1; XBattleAIis a feature-enhanced version of XBattle which adds computer-controlled players.
• Version 0.5a of the GridSlammer 2D isometric game engine;changes include sound support and better collision code.

Loki president Scott Draeker was interviewed recently by Media and Games Online about the state of the Linux gaming market as a whole and Loki specifically. Scott addresses Carmack’s statements this past summer about low Q3A sales, Indrema, why native Linux titles built with open API’s are the Right Thing to develop as opposed to a Win32 emulation layer, the current state of 3D drivers, customer support, and where Linux market share will be in the future.

• Jeffrey H. Ingberof the OpenUT project fired in the following:
  

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 29, 2000: The OpenUT Project(http://openut.sourceforge.net) is proud to announce a series of “must see”site updates focusing on documentation, UT MOD issues, serveradministration, TacOps 1.6 updates, and two new experimental OpenGLrenderers (the “Nonlinear Projection GL Renderer” and an OpenGL renderer forsupporting detailed textures). The Utah-GLX and DRI HOW-TO’s have beenupdated and a new HOW-TO has been posted detailing building OpenUT from themost recent Loki CVS sources.

  Our Utah-GLX and XFree86 4.0/DRI HOW-TOs are excellent documents detailingthe installation of OpenGL under XFree86 on a variety of hardwareconfigurations (including 3dfx, Matrox, ATI, and Intel, among others). Ifyou are new to Linux or need assistance installing or configuringOpenGL/XFree86 4.0/DRI, these documents are invaluable sources ofinformation.

  We are also still in need of an individual(s) to assist with creating aninstaller for the UT strike force MOD. Interested parties should makecontact through our mailing list. (Please visithttp://openut.sourceforge.net).

  Over the past several months, visits to The OpenUT Project home havedecreased substantially. We believe the downturn in activity stems from amisconception that OpenUT has been abandoned. Rest assured, this is farfrom true. WE NEED YOUR HELP! The most-recent OpenUT CVS sources nowreside on Loki CVS servers, but OpenUT collaboration continues at ourSourceForge Project home (http://openut.sourceforge.net). The sourceslocated at our SourceForge Project home should be considered legacy. Amongthe many new and revised documents found at the OpenUT Project website is aHOW-TO for compiling OpenUT from the latest up-to-date Loki CVS sources thatclosely reflect the most recent patchlevel.

• VoodooExtreme, back at their breaknecknews pace, noted that the Rocket Arena: UTsite has announced that RA: UT version 1.60 will be released tomorrow. In the meantime, additionalmap shots have been added, depictingthe seven new or enhanced levels that will be released with 1.60.
• Finally, the UT map review site UTBooty has added16 new reviews in recent days of various Deathmatch, CTF, and Domination maps (thanksKung).

Z-Axis has posted aninterview with Locki,project leader for the Q3F team (which releasedbeta version 1F of their mod over theweekend). Itemsdiscussed include the next beta release, comparisons toWeapons Factory Arena, andtheir relationship with id.

AMD has announced the launch of theirAMD-760 chipset, which supportsDouble Data Rate SDRAM.Slashdot pointed out thisreview of the chipset atTech Report whichstatesthat their attempt at Linux kernel compilation benchmarks failed due to the kernel’s attemptto disable a non-existent PIII serial number on boot. However, a Slashdot user (aetius2) fortunatelyprovided a work-aroundfor this issue:

It only affects Thunderbird-core Athlons and Durons. It has been fixed in all 2.2.16 and later kernels. I emailed damage to let him know about –hopefully we’ll get to see some benchmarks.

After installation, at the LILO boot: prompt use this command:

linux x86_serial_nr=1

That’ll get you booted, and you can upgrade/recompile/append to lilo.conf from there.

VoodooExtreme secured two newscreenshotsfrom Dynamix’s upcoming sci-fi first-person shooterTribes 2.