LINUXGAMES

Bakemono wrote in to announce that he has released version 0.1 of a Block Dude clone called Sammo’s Blocks (screenshots: 1 | 2). More levels can be found in the levels directory.

Sammo’s Blocks 0.1 source: sammosblocks-0.1.tar.gz

Version 1.5.2 of the sprite engine Kyra (screenshots) has been released; changes include:

• OpenGL acceleration support
• the abilitiy to directly encode images with color keys (without using the
• sprite editor)
• widget base class for UI extensions
• improved image encoder
• API improvements and bug fixes

Kyra 1.5.2 downloads: @ www.grinninglizard.com

Tim Boonstra from the TeamSpeak team wrote in with this update regarding the upcoming 2.0 version of their VOIP program. It’s a bit long, but since they’re including Linux support, I’ll post everything he sent in:

I wanted to inform you that TeamSpeak has just opened up BetaRegistrations for TeamSpeak v2.0.

In case you don’t know TeamSpeak yet here is a small introduction:TeamSpeak is a Freeware Voice Communication program specificly designedfor Gamers. With Gamers in mind we put a lot of attention into a 2specific area’s.
First of all TeamSpeak is designed to run behind NAT Routers/Sharedinternet connection. This way a lot of people are able to use TeamSpeakwithout the troubles some of the other voice communications programsgive.
The second area we put a lot of attention into the bandwidth thisprogram uses. We managed to get the bandwidth usage down to only 650bytes/s. This way Gamers will not suffer from much addition lag causedby using a Voice Communication program.

This together with the fact that TeamSpeak also offers a Linux Serverversion has caused us to become one of the most frequently used programson the net in a very short time.
In a Poll recently held by Clanbase we placed 3rd just behind RogerWilco and Battlecom and are quickly growing.

What does TeamSpeak V2.0 offer that V1.5 doesn’t?TeamSpeak V2.0 is a complete rewrite of V1.5 so that we could fix thecurrent problem that were presented and make the changes that the usersrequested.

Here is a list with some of the bigger changes of TeamSpeak V2.0:

• TeamSpeak V2.0 will have a Linux Client!!
• Support for lower latency. (Theoretically as low as 50 ms)
• Support for better quality codecs. (CELP and GSM)
• Support for user based logins.
• Support for per channel passwords
• Support for temporary channels
• Support for sub channels
• Support for moderated channels for conferencing.
• TeamSpeak uses fewer threads on a server now. Helps to conserveresources.
• TeamSpeak Super Server design. One program can start several TSservers.
• Web based management interface to the server.
• TeamSpeak Client/Server SDK’s, for including in yourgames/applications.

Because of the many changed that TeamSpeak V2.0 has gone through wewant to test this version extensively. So we have opened up the BetaTest registrations to the public. This should allow us to test howTeamSpeak V2.0 works together with all the different Operating Systemsand Soundcards. So that we can release the Final version of TeamSpeakV2.0 as soon as possible.

Head on over to our Beta Testing Center to help us out.

I’m just posting this so theoddone33 believes it happened ;)

After an interminable wait, a new patch (BETA) for the Linux version of Tribes 2 has been released. There’s a great deal of changes (which can be read here), as this is based on the recent Win32 beta patches developed by GarageGames. Major thanks go out to Sam Lantinga (who got permission from Blizzard to work on this patch) and Mike Phillips for getting this out in the light of day. I just may have to start playing again now :D.

Linux Tribes 2 Beta 25005 Patch Download:
ftp://ftp.lokigames.com/pub/updates/tribes2/beta/

Version 1.7e6 of the multiplayer 3D tank game BZFlag (screenshots) has been released; changes include:

• new HUD
• improved networking code
• added temporary bans
• added private messages
• added roaming support for observers
• added /idlekick server option

BZFlag 1.7e6 downloads: http://sourceforge.net/projects/bzflag/

Also, John Gowin from Linux Orbit wrote in to let us know that he has posted a review of BZFlag 1.7e6.

Version 1.0.2 of the Tetris clone LTris (screenshots: 1 | 2 | 3) has been released; changes include:

• changed ‘wholes’ to ‘holes’ (me no native speaker!)
• fixed a two-player bug where the wrong guy won if lines were sent
• option to modify audio buffer size to fix sound problems

LTris 1.0.2 source: ltris-1.0.2.tar.gz

Markus Triska wrote in to announce that version 0.7.1 of the QT-based client/server Snakes clone Spakes has been released; changes include:

• a “configure” script has been added, which should fix many compilation problems that people have been reporting
• the local IP(s) are now determined more reliably
• small improvements were made to the code

Spakes 0.7.1 source: spakes-0.7.1.tar.gz

Bakemono from LGME let us know that version 0.2.2 of the RPG engine project Proteus (screenshots) has been released; changes include:

• map textures now work
• can pick up and use objects
• now using new proteus model format

Proteus 0.2.2 source: proteus-alpha-0.2.2.tar.gz

In other icculus.org-related news, zakk wrote in to announce that version 0.12 of i.o Quake2 has been released; changes include:

• only displays video modes which are available
• joysticks now work with the GLX video driver
• begining of a migration to unified X Windows event handling

i.o Quake2 0.12 source: quake2-r0.12.tar.gz

Ryan “Icculus” Gordon wrote in to announce that the source to Freespace 2 has been ported to run natively in Linux. The source was released in late April and thanks to Steven Fuller, Dan Olson and Charles Mason the game now has an OpenGL renderer and network play in a native Linux client. 3d audio is also included via OpenAL. For more information, see the news at icculus.org or the project page.

Andrew Henderson sent in the following article:

Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns, Kohan: Ahriman’s Gift, and the Special AwardsEdition of Kohan will be published/maintained for the Linux platform byTransgaming. Timegate Studios (the developers of Kohan) announced this intheir June 2002 newsletter (which can be seen in HTML format athttp://www.icculus.org/~hendersa/newsletter.html). Also, a quick oneliner about this deal, as well as an image of the Kohan box, has appearedon the front page of the Transgaming web site.

As it stands now, Timegate is planning on having Transgaming make theLinux ports of these games dependant upon Transgaming’s WineX and Winelibtechnologies. This seemed rather odd to me, since there is a perfectlyspiffy Linux-native codebase for Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns that Lokideveloped. So, before I jumped to any conclusions, I e-mailed thebusiness manager of Timegate Studios in order to get some clarification onthe situation.

It was explained to me that the nature of the contract between TimegateStudios and Loki may not allow the Linux native codebase of Kohan torevert to Timegate after Loki’s bankruptcy. Before anyone jumps up andsays that the other Loki codebases has reverted back to the originators ofthe Win32 codebases, please remember that each contract was negotiated ona case-by-case basis and that the contracts were typically negotiated withpublishers, not with the studios themselves. The contract negotiated forKohan was between Loki and Timegate Studios directly, not through apublisher. Therefore, Loki could have possibly slipped in a clause or twothat states the Timegate would not receive the rights of the Linuxcodebase.

When faced with the prospect of porting Kohan to native Linux from theWin32 codebase AGAIN, I see why Transgaming would take the faster,non-native route. It’s also an opportunity for Transgaming to showcasetheir technology. At the very least, Kohan will once again be on theshelves and available for sale with Transgaming publishing the Kohantitles.

The only problem I see is that the lower-level routines in Kohanthat are pertaining to blitting and floating point asm calculations werehand-ported in order to maintain cross-platform network compatibility andoverall game speed. A blanket Winelib port would be a little on the slowside unless all that asm is ported once again. We’re talking about 20,000to 25,000 lines of asm, some of it self-modifying, plus some asm-levelmodifications to control the floating point control word. These are nottrivial things to implement and hand-tune.

As an aside, I’d be interested to see how Transgaming’s Winelib version ofKohan will do against the native port of Kohan that Loki created. Thebenchmarks of the two should be interesting to compare.

As to my own opinion on this issue, I’m torn. I’m glad to see TimeGate still interested and actively trying to support the Linux platform, but I’m saddened to see people who purchased the native Linux version of K:IS developed by Loki seemingly left in the lurch if they want to be able to play version 1.3.4. Moreover, it seems to violate TransGaming’s earlier promise not to impact existing native ports.

Version 0.2.9 of the Wing Commander-inspired space combat sim Vega Strike has been released; changes include:

• Improved installer/uninstaller,
• Autoupdate program,
• Save game selector/launcher.

Download: http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/download.html

Version 1.1.2 of the game-authoring software The Cog Engine has been released. Changes and or fixes and new features in this release include:

• 100% Graphical Play mode. Games can be played from beginning to end with no keyboard interaction
• Graphical Mouse Pointers. Mouse pointers are now graphical representations of the action you wish to make, similar to the Sierra Engine.
• Scrollable Inventory and Object Panels. Objects in the current room and in your inventory can be manipulated graphically.

Download: http://cogengine.sourceforge.net/downloads.html

Bill Kendrick of NBS wrote in to announce the release of an alpha version of Tux Paint:

“Tux Paint” is a simple and fun drawing program gear towards children (e.g. 10 or younger).

It includes, or will include, a number of tools:

Paint Brush
Rubber Stamp
Line Tool
Shapes
Eraser
“Magic” Tool (special effects)

It presents a very simple user interface which includes sound effects and a cartoon version of Tux the Linux Penguin, which helps the user along.

Work begin on June 14th. Today, June 17th, the 2nd alpha version was released. It is far from complete, but shows where the app. is going (and is quite usable for drawing simple images; it just can’t save them yet)

http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/

Tux Paint will be released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and will most likely be part of the Tux4Kids project ( www.tux4kids.org )

Tux Paint requires the Simple DirectMedia Layer library (libSDL), as well as SDL_image and SDL_mixer add-on libraries, all of which are released under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) and available at http://www.libsdl.org/

Quick reminder that registration for QuakeCon, the annual id Software tournament/expo begins at 2200 EST tonight; as always, the event will take place in Mesquite, Texas in mid-August. Attendance is free, but you must register to attend. This year we can expect to see DOOM III and the Return to Castle Wolfenstein expansion pack showcased, and possibly Quake IV or “Quest”.

Version 1.33 of Return to Castle Wolfenstein has been released; changes include:

• standalone dedicated server
• Linux mod sdk
• updated rotate.cfg to include the new maps
• added g_axismaxlives and g_alliedmaxlives
• added g_fastres 1 (defaults to 0): player instantly gets up when revived by a medic, is instantly mobile, but is only invulnerable for a second
• added g_knifeonly 1 (defaults to 0): players spawn in with knives only, medics get 20 needles instead of 10, all the MG42′s are removed from the world
• added g_enforcemaxlives 1 (defaults to 1).
• added sv_lanForceRate (defaults to 1)
• making sure the IP is always present on the server in each client’s userinfo

RtCW 1.33 download: wolf-linux-1.33.x86.run (LG/3DD)
Blue’s News FTP and mirrors

Also, id Software and Activision have released a Game of the Year Map Pack for RtCW that includes seven maps to add on to the original game: the previously released Trenchtoast, Icelab and Tram Siege plus four new maps: Chateau, Keep, The Damned and Rocket.

RtCW GotY Map Pack download: wolf-linux-GOTY-maps.x86.run (LG/3DD)
Blue’s News FTP and mirrors

After seeing the E3 coverage of the upcoming Nomads game, I decided to check with CDV (the game’s publisher) to see what the status of the Linux client is. Radon Labs (the developers of Nomads) have the game running in Linux, but, until now, CDV hasn’t told us anything about making a Linux client available. So, after emailing CDV I got this brief email response: I’m sorry but we haven’t any plans to release a linux version of Project Nomads. Ugh.

BioWare’s Dungeons and Dragons epic Neverwinter Nights has gone gold. The full press release can be found here (thanks Matt); here are the sections relevant to us:

The PC version of Neverwinter Nights will ship to retailers before the end of June. Linux gamers can anticipate the online release of the Neverwinter Nights server at launch and the client program shortly afterward. Linux gamers will still need the Windows version of the game to register at the Neverwinter Nights community site (http://neverwinternights.com) and to import essential game resources into their Linux server and game.

When the Linux client/server becomes available we’ll let you know ASAP.

Version 1.0.1 of the arcade game auriferous (screenshots: 1 | 2 | 3) has been released; changes include:

• fixed the levelset chooser
• throw out the CPU getenv thing
• fixed a little bug in the movement of the player
• fixed the music and added 1 ogg for each world
• added some echo effects to sounds
• added a default config to package

auriferous 1.0.1 source: auriferous-1.0.1.tar.bz2

Mattias Jansson wrote in to announce that version 0.2.1 of “the Platform independent commercial grade LGPL game engine” NeoEngine (screenshots) has been released; changes include:

• improved Q3 bsp map and md3 support
• intersection tests
• improved state management in OpenGL backend
• bugfixes/optimizations

NeoEngine 0.2.1 source: neoengine-0.2.1.tar.bz2 (take a look at their site for other downloads also)