Version 0.7.0 of the side-scroller Abuse-SDL (screenshots: 1 | 2 | 3) has been released; changes include:
Abuse-SDL 0.7.0 source: abuse_sdl-0.7.0.tar.bz2 (data files also needed)
Version 2.3 of the OpenGL billiards game FooBillard has been released. Changes and or fixes for this release include:
Download: foobillard-2.3.tar.gz
Version 0.98.3 of the Nebulous rewrite Tower Toppler (screenshots) has been released; changes include:
Tower Toppler 0.98.3 downloads: @ sf.net
Version 1.1.1 of the 2D car racing action game TROPHY (screenshots) has been released; changes since version 1.0.5 include two new tracks (“Zigzag” and “Downtown”) and minor packaging changes.
TROPHY 1.1.1 source: trophy-1.1.1-src.tar.gz
Version 1.12.0 of the multiplayer turn-based strategy game Advanced Strategic Command (screenshots: 1 | 2) has been released; changes include:
ASC 1.12.0 downloads: asc-hq.org/download.html
Version 1.5.5 of the game-authoring Python module set Pygame has been released; changes include:
Pygame 1.5.5 downloads: pygame.org/download.shtml
LGP sent out this announcement regarding another competition involving guessing their next porting projects:
LGP is pleased to announce that we have signed an agreement to port two newtitles. We are now running a competition to guess the new titles we will beporting. The titles will be announced on Friday Jan 10th, so this is a shortcompetition.As usual, the prize draw will be for a signed copy of the games. To make yourguess send an email to competition@linuxgamepublishing.com.
People said that we made the clues for Disciples 2 far too easy, so your cluesfor these games are:
- One game is a racing game, the other has cars but isnt about racing.
- One was released in the US towards the end of 2001, the other was releasedmuch more recently.
- Both games were made by the same European developer.
Version 2.0.0 of the children’s educational suite GCompris (screenshots) has been released; changes include:
GCompris 2.0.0 downloads: @ sf.net
Version 0.4 of the Ultima Underworld II rewrite Labyrinth of Worlds (screenshots: 1 | 2 | 3) has been released; changes include:
LoW 0.4 downloads: low.sourceforge.net/download.html
Update: Ack, you’re right — I’m an idiot and reposted this (duplicate) news item. And all this time I thought we were immune to the ways of Slashdot…
Lars Willemsens wrote in to announce that version 0.1.0 of the Open Source implementation of Colonization FreeCol (screenshots) has been released. Regarding this release, Lars writes:
This first release of FreeCol will let you explore the map with a galleon, a caravel (or merchantman if you play with the Dutch) and a free colonist. You will not be able to play a complete game of Colonization, but our aim is to show where the project is headed andwhat you can expect from future releases.
FreeCol 0.1.0 downloads: @ freecol.sourceforge.net
Bob Zimbinski from the Linux Game Tome wrote in to announce the Happypenguin Awards:
We’ve just announced the Happypenguin Awards, where the Linux gamingcommunity is invited to nominate and vote for the best Linux games in 20different categories. Nominations are open until January 10, and thenvoting begins. Anyone may nominate as many games as they’d like.
Bill Kendrick of NBS wrote in to announce that version 0.9.3 of the child’s drawing program Tux Paint has been released; changes include:
Download: http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/download/source.php3
Also to test out the Chinese support (zh_CN.UTF-8), you can download the font from: http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/download/fonts.php3
Version 0.2.0 of the space adventure/combat game Epiar has been released. Changes and or fixes for this release include:
Download: http://epiar.net/downloads.php#releases
This weekend I ran across a very interesting post on a Microsoft mailing list. It breaks down, by operating system and server/client, the unique CD keys in use for Unreal Tournament 2003 by Epic Games. (We covered the demo when it was released.) The upshot is that Linux users account for less than 1% of the keys in use as clients, with Windows accounting for almost all of the other keys. (The numbers don’t add up to 100% for clients.) On the server, 40.66% of the keys in use are on Linux machines and the remainder are on Windows. Read the actual post for the exact percentages, including a breakdown of the various Microsoft operating system releases.
While we don’t know the actual number of copies of UT2003 sold, just consider that if 1000000 (a million) copies have been sold then only 6900 of those are being used by Linux users to play the game. As usual, Linux is heavily used as a server OS.
Wired magazine has released their annual vaporware list, and the Neverwinter Nights Linux Client has been awarded the number two spot. From the article:
Bioware’s Neverwinter Nights is a huge online Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game set in a medieval fantasy world. Bioware promised Mac and Linux clients when the game was released in the summer, but according to readers, they are still waiting for them.
First place of course went to Duke Nukem Forever.
A new release of the Labyrinth of Worlds, which is a rewrite of Ultima Underworld II with new features and improvements, has been released. This version includes the following changes:
Wearable items
Improved UI looks
Better performance when there are lots of NPCs visible
Better (more complete) conversation support (including being given items by NPCs),
Working keys and locks
