The official Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns site updated to note thatAdel Chaveleh and Steve Hemmesch ofTimeGate Studios wereinterviewsat the Stratos Group about their recently completedfantasy RTS, which is being port toLinux byLoki Software.
Chris forwarded this responsefrom a developer at PomPom concerning a Linux portof their shooter Space Tripper:
do you know of anyone who’d be willing todo a Linux port (for peanuts!)?I cant wait to see the Edge review…
If interested, you can contact PomPom @ Dudes@PomPom.org.uk
Version 3.4.9g of the Open Sound System,which is a set of commercial sound card drivers from 4Front Technologies, has been released(thanks zakk). Changes (which consist mostly of bugfixes for various chipsets) can be foundon the site’s front page. Youcan download an evaluation copy fromhere orpay $20 US for a license.
id Software’s Graeme Devineupdated his .plan yesterdaywith a situation report for their next Quake 3:Arena patch:
I’ve had a zillion emails today about this, so I guess it needs an update.Currently we compile Quake 3 under Win32, Mac OS 9/X, and Linux.
It’s been a long long time since there has been any sort of update for Quake 3 (well, it seems that way). Originally a new point release way due out towards the end of March, which suited me fine because that coincided with the release of Mac OS X and it meant we would be right there with a point release as the operating system came out.
Well, for several reasons, we’re still working on the point release, and it’s still a ways out. We’ve been working extremely hard to get it to you, and working with the mod community to get all the features into the point that you’ve asked for, and it’s all taking a little more time than we originally anticipated. We’ve also been working hard on the various other work projects id has for Robert, Mr.Elusive and I. Some of these have been on a critical time path in the past few months, and have required our utmost attention.
That’s not to say we’ve not been out there listening. Paul Jaquays over on quake3world has been feeding us daily requests that we’ve strived to include in this, hopefully the last for a long long time, super mega point release. By working with mod teams, I think you’ll see some community work made now that was very hard to impossible to make with the previous point releases.
So for now, please carry on playing Quake 3, with your current version, it’s not that bust, broken or mangled, and in fact runs quite nicely. The new point release will be available as soon as it’s done, and not before.
And finally, there is STILL no spoon.
The most recent version of Q3A for Linux is the 1.27 beta release, which is available from
ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/quake3/linux/linuxq3a-1.27g-beta1.tar.gz
Just a reminder: Loki Software’s Linux portof the Firaxis epic turn-based strategy gameSid Meier’s Alpha Centauri Planetary Pack(which includes both SMAC and the Alien Crossfire add-on) is now shipping. The list of resellers canbe found here;Tribes 2 is scheduled to beginshipping tomorrow. There will also be a promotionalbundle where gamers can acquireboth titles for $59.95 US.
Version 1.5.0 Beta of the narcotics trafficking sim Dopewarshas been released. Changes include:
Dopewars 1.5.0 Beta Source:
http://dopewars.sourceforge.net/dopewars-1.5.0beta1.tar.gz
Stomped’sJCal interviewedRob Bartel of BioWare last week about his work onthe AD&D RPG Neverwinter Nights.Single player and multiplayer gameplay is covered; there are also a few (new?)screenshots.
Incidentally, I idled in the recentNeverwinter Stratics chat withBioWare (log)in which the Linux build’s status was mentioned:
<Marizelle> <obsidian> asks, Is the Mac/Linux versions of Neverwinter Nights on par with the Windows version at this point in development?<Bio_Trent> Linux trails a few weeks behind and the Mac is in the process of getting “Carbonized”
Scott Bronson sent in some confirmation regardingElectronics Boutique’s $10Loki Software games sale,which we reported on earlier:
I just ordered 3 Loki games (Descent 3, Soldier of Fortune, and HereticII) for $9.99 ea. Sure enough, they are the full Loki versions.This is a fantastic deal. I bought Quake3 for $50, and felt ripped off. But, Soldier of Fortune for $10 is a great deal. I’m in no wayaffiliated with Loki or EBGames — I just think that other people shouldknow of this.
Kwyxz has updated hisxmame fork (located athttp://kwyxz.gwenjuemulation.com/klinux/xmame.html) to version 0.37b13.2, which adds support forDungeons & Dragons Shadow Over Mystaria.
Kwyxz xmame 0.37b13.2 Download:
http://kwyxz.gwenjuemulation.com/klinux/xmame.html
The Duke of URL wrote in with notificationthat they put up a wireless LAN devicereviewlast week. Patrick Mullen states:
The review includes benchmarks, some technical overview, installationexperiences and much more. This is a great article for anyoneinterested in how the new 802.11b devices run on both Linux and Windowssystems. Both cards are tested on each OS.
Mark Schuppert fired in a linkto a discussionat the Swiss tech news site symlink,where users are commenting on how vital thesuccess of Tribes 2and Alpha Centauri are toLoki’s future. Mark provided thistranslation of the story:
As first hand information I heard that loki was in a bad situation. Thessales of Tribes 2 and SMAC may show whether the biggest linux games porterwill survive.
Regardless of whether or not the new releases will have to be Loki’s white knight,the community at large should spread the word that Linux does have games, new games,and the only way to vote in the gaming industry is with your dollars.
The staff @ LinuxHardware.org have posteda reviewof four soundcards(SB Live!, SB Live! XGamer 5.1, Game Theater XP, and theEnsoniq AudioPCI)on the Linux platform. Driver support and sound quality were tested.
Andreas Umbach sent in a releaseannouncement for GLtron version 0.60,an open source 3D lightcycle game. Changes:
GLtron 0.60 Download:
http://www.gltron.org/download.html
Several people wrote in to point out that version 2.4b of the action game server browsing utilityQStat (nowat http://www.qstat.org/) has been released; changes include:
Additional information can be found in the documentation.
QStat 2.4b Source:
http://www.qstat.org/qstat24b.tar.gz
Lutz Sammer wrote in with some news on some new releases for the FreeCraft project. The releases are as follows:
Lutz also notes the following:
The network code should be very stable. The missle codes have been cleaned up, (light missles which always hit their target, and heavy missles that have a broader effect). The FreeCraft Graphic Project and the FreeCraft engine are in sync. You can play the game again without the need for a CD
Download: freecraft-010414-complete-linux.tar.gz (This contains source, binary, graphics and sound.)
Ryan “icculus” Gordon, who worked onDescent 3,Heavy Metal: FAKK2, andBUILD whileat Loki Software, sent this in at the endof March:
Today is my last day as an employee of Loki Software, Inc. I will not begetting mail on my lokigames.com address anymore, but Crusader at lg.comand Marv at Telefragged have been gracious enough to hook me up with astylish icculus@linuxgames.com email address, which I will be using asmy primary email address.It’s been a hell of a roller coaster for the past year, and I want togive a shout out to all the people that have played Descent3, andeveryone that read my articles on linux.com, segfault.org, andfreshmeat.net.
Extra thanks if you LIKED Descent 3 and my articles. :)
I also want to extend thanks to the #loki crew, especially Dan Olson andthe other BUILD engine hackers for their hard work, and the coders thatmade Loki really unique: Mike, Mike, Andy, Andrew, Joe, Raf, Stephane,Sam, Daniel, Matt, Nicholas, Loren, Leo, Jim, and Bernd.
By the way, if anyone is looking to hire a Linux/game hacker and doesn’tcare where in the world he lives, drop me a line.
As noted above, if you wish to contact Ryan about a job offer, you can reach him aticculus@linuxgames.com.
LinuxTribes’Bad_CRC sent in notice thatLoki Software has released a newpatch (build 22228) for the Tribes 2 dedicatedserverwhich, judging from the changelog,will also apply to the retail Linux client (scheduled toship next week). You can useLoki Update to patch, or downloadan update from
ftp://ftp.lokigames.com/pub/updates/tribes2/
Also, lead coder Sam Lantinga sent in the following concerning the VOIP status to the Linux T2 beta mailinglist:
The proof-of-concept is done. Dynamix is reorganizing the voice over IPcode to handle cross-platform codecs. When that is done, we will plugin the GSM codec so that both Linux and Windows clients can takeadvantage of it.Dynamix is working on it. We hope to have this ready by the nextpatch. No promises, as usual. :)
On another note, the T2 HUD scripter Panama Jackupdated his site to announce that he’s changed his script packages to .zip formatto facilitate their use under Linux.
Finally, the creator of the Tribes/Starsiege Universe backstory, Blake Hutchins, wasinterviewedat TribesRoleplayers(thanks TribalWar).
FriendlyFire wrote in with a link toa HOWTO(German) @ Linux NetMag forinstalling Unreal Tournament andthe mod Infiltration under Linux.
Exult, the Ultima 7 game engine has reached Alpha 3. Changes and or fixes in this release include:
Download: http://exult.sourceforge.net/download.shtml (Source/RPM)