LINUXGAMES

The GtkRadiant dev teamhas added Linux nightly buildsfrom their CVS dev treefor experimental testing. Note:

The installation layout has changed, GtkRadiant goes in /usr/local/games/GtkRadiant-VERSION/
You need to reload the project file scripts/quakev2.qe4 if map compilation seems broken

Furthermore, the latest nightly build has added mod support to theQuake 3: Arena engine level editor, so be sureto try it out if you’re a mod mapper.

In response to theirlast review,LinuxHardware.org hasreviewedthe IntelPentium 4again (specifically, a 1.7GHz CPU) with additional benchmarks:

Well after all the hype over the Pentium 4 review, we felt that we wouldstoke the fire a bit more with a couple new benchmarks and the much talkedabout price verses performance comparison. This will be quick andhopefully painless. Those of you that are a bit sensitive about theAthlon though may want to prepare yourselves a bit. In this extension, wetake a look at Unreal Tournament and MP3 encoding.

Speaking of Dominions(screenshots),Illwinter has released version 1.03of their turn-based strategy game. Changes include a bugfix for extremely largearmies and an Air Elemental fix; the full changelog can be foundhere.

A patch for the Dominions demo canbe found at

http://www.illwinter.com/domdemo103_linux.zip

If you have the retail version, you should have received download instructions viae-mail (fire off an e-mail to support@illwinter.comif you haven’t).

Tux Games sent in the following:

Tux Games is now stocking Dominions andConquest ofElysium II from Illwinter.As an extra note, we have now started to accept payments by Paypal,which will allow people without credit cards who cannot find theirgames locally to buy them online through our site.

John Hall, author of Programming Linux Games,let us know that if you pre-order the book from the publisher,NoStarch Press, you will receive a25% discount, bringing the cost (minus shipping and handling) down to $29.96 US.

NewsForge isreportingthat CollabNet is shutting downidn.indrema.com andgamexchange.indrema.com, which were intendedto provide hosting services and developer resources for the now defunct Linux-basedgame console. If you have an active project hosted by CollabNet or have other questions, contactdiscuss@idn.indrema.com.

Version 2.6 of the multiplayer RPG engine Dusk has been released by Tom Weingarten. Changes include:

[...]numerous enhancements and fixes. Linux users can now playright through their favorite browser without having to download theenormous java plug-in.

Dusk 2.6 Server Pack Download:
http://dusk.wesowin.org/dusk-2.6.tar

Loki has also released a new installer for Myth 2: Soulblighter:

The Myth 2 1.3e installer, like the previously-released Heretic 2 1.06binstaller, will install from the retail Myth 2 for Linux CD andautomatically patch up to the current patch level in the process. Thisinstaller has been released for the x86 and PPC platforms.

Myth 2 1.3e Installer Download:
ftp://ftp.lokigames.com/pub/installers/myth2/

Version 1.07a of MindRover hasbeen released by Loki Software; changes:

• Updated for the OpenAL 1.0 API
• Fixed a bug in the proximity radar so it detects in full 360 degrees
• Fixed a bug in the asset directory paths
• Fixed resolution specification when at 24 bit depth
• Fixed the “Continue Scenario” button
• Corrected swapped left and right in positional audio

You can patch using Loki Update; themanually-applied patch can be downloaded from:

ftp://ftp.lokigames.com/pub/updates/mindrover/

In addition, there are two new add-ons for MindRover fromCognitoy (Arena Race and Hydro Battles)which can be downloaded via Loki Update.

Sam Hart wrote in to announce the release of Tux Typing version 1.0pre1, his educational typing tutor game. Changes:

• Very preliminary theme/internationalization support
• Fixed mem-alloc problem w/ MSVC++ binaries (will also help Linux & BeOS versions)
• Added optional alpha transparency support for emphasis of slow-falling words
• Fixed rect clipping blit problem
• Other bugfixes & code cleanup

Tux Typing 1.0pre1 Source:
http://ftp1.sourceforge.net/tuxtype/tuxtype-1.0pre1.tar.gz

Jason Cragg wrote in to note that Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) is soliciting public opinion on releasing their Linux distribution for the Playstation 2 in the US. It is currently only available for the Japanese Playstation 2.

NewsForge hasreviewedthe SOYOSY-K7ADA motherboard; severalbenchmarks (includingQ3A) are included.

evil3D.net has posted areview ofJagged Alliance 2, theturn-based tactical game ported to Linux by Tribsoft:

The review touches on installation, getting started, and some of thestrategies involved with JA2. As usual, a few screenshots are thrown in as well.

Sam Lantinga has announced that version 1.2.2 of the Simple DirectMedia Layer has been released. Changes include:

• Now gets correct keyboard state when starting up on X11
• Improved the DGA 2.0 and framebuffer console drivers
• Improved the OpenBSD port (native audio default, etc.)
• Improved OSS audio driver support, thanks to 4Front Tech.
• Improved X11 fullscreen support, works better with KDE
• Added FreeBSD VGL video driver from FreeBSD ports

Download: http://www.libsdl.org/release/SDL-1.2.2.tar.gz

Epic’s Tim Sweeney recently presented his views on Linux and gaming, especially with respect to the recent Microsoft ruling, in VoodooExtreme’s aptly named, recurring interview feature, “Ask Sweeney”. Here is the question and the very beginning of Tim’s answer:

From: Ted C — From a personal and profession view point how do you see the future of Linux gaming now that it seems Microsoft will not be broken up.

Tim’s reply: Hopefully Linux gaming will take off as soon as Linux becomes a mainstream consumer operating system.

The whole Q&A is here.

Claudio Matsuoka has announced the releaseof Sarien(shots), aSierra classic adventure game interpreter engine.Changes include:

• Fix for SVGAlib
• Fix for ALSA drivers
• Fix for interpreter crashes
• Fix for ego movement
• Fix for message box key handling
• Fix for inventory item viewing
• Fix for interpreter command implementation

Sarien 0.6.1 Source:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/sarien/sarien-0.6.1.tar.gz

Loki’s Sam Lantinga updated theSimple DirectMedia Layer homepageabout various new projects, including several game titles(YaSS,Tower Toppler,SdlZombies,and Wars of Destiny),which utilize his multimedia library. A complete listing of SDL games canbe found here.

David Odin wrote in to announce the releaseof CraftED version 0.1.2:

This will let you edit levels for Warcraft ][, and for Freecraft.Levels can also be created from scratch, and be as big as 1024x1024tiles.

CraftED 0.1.2:
ftp://ftp.giram.org/pub/freecraft/crafted-0.1.2.tar.gz

Ralph Schmeisser let us know that a newLinux gaming site has launched for German readers:

Linux-Spiele

Crazney made us aware of a new update to his Linux Half-Life site. Now available is the SGML source to his HOWTO.