LINUXGAMES

NVIDIA has just released their 4349 series drivers for IA32.

Listed changes:

• NVIDIA Linux Update
• GeForce FX and Quadro FX support
• Support for Red Hat Linux 9 and Mandrake Linux 9.1

Version 5.0.1 of the Mesa 3D graphics library has been released; changes in this version are primarily fixes bugs found in version 5.0.

Downloads: @ sf.net

Ben C. sent us an email response he got from a TimeGate developer about a possible port of Kohan 2.

Dear Ben,

Thank you for your email. I apologize for the delay in responding. Ourbusiness development team is evaluating partners for a native port solution.We should know more in the weeks and months to come.

Best regards,

Christina GingerTimeGate Studios

Sure enough, shortly after our last update, Derek French of Bioware posted a message indicating that NWN Beta 3 is now available.

1.29.6758 Beta 3 - Release Notes:

• fixes an OpenGL bug
• fixes a crash when putting gold in a container
• fixes middle mouse button camera control

You can download the beta at the NWN Linux Client page.

A mysterious man with a hexeditor and a dream posted to the NWN forums saying that he has made an unofficial patch which fixes some of the problems ATI users have been experiencing with the game.

The thread is here, and the patch itself can be downloaded here. Bioware staff indicated in the thread that they hope to add these changes into the official beta version very soon.

Thanks to Dougst3r for the heads-up.

Yikes, quite the list of new releases this time:

• Adventure Game Studio 2.54 (Final), a Sierra and Lucasarts adventure game creator:changelog,screenshot,download
• ALSA 0.9.2, the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture:download
• Crimson Fields 0.3.1, a tactical war game similar to Battle Isle:changelog,screenshots,
• Ensemblist RC1, a reflexion game:screenshot,download
• FooBillard 2.5, an OpenGL billiards game:changelog,screenshot
• FreeCol 0.2.0, an OSS implementation of Colonization:changelog,screenshots,download
• FreeLords 0.2.1, a turn-based strategy game:changelog,screenshots,download
• LinBolo 1.13, a remake of the classic Macintosh network game Bolo:screenshot,download
• Liquid War 5.5.9, a multiplayer amorphous blob combat game:changelog,screenshots,download
• Mah-Jong 1.5.1, a multiplayer and networked Mah-Jong game:changelog,screenshots,download
• Mad Bomber 0.2.5, a clone of the classic Activions game Kaboom!:screenshots,download
• OpenRPG 1.5.1, an RPG utility suite:changelog,downloads
• Qmamecat 0.44.b46, a QT-based XMame launcher:changelog,screenshot,download
• TeamSpeak 2 RC2, a VOIP client/server:download
• TomPong 0.5.1, :screenshot,download. Tom also asked that we mention thecompanion tutorial for writing games with Pygame.
• Tower Toppler 1.0.0, a Nebulous rewrite:changelog,screenshots,download
• Wine 20030318, a free Windows implementation:download
• xmame/xmess 0.66.2, arcade and virtual machine emulators:changelog,download
• XTux 20030306, 2D overhead deathmatch game:changelog,screenshots,download

And some random new bits:

• Article: Egoboo: The Cute Way to Dungeon Role Play (@ linux.oreillynet.com)
• Sphereous: game engines, sprite editor, bone animation app, music editing, etc (thanks Natas)
• Starlane: a 2D persistant online multiplayer space strategy game written in Java (thanks Joel)

The Khronos group is looking forIndependent Software Vendors (ISVs) to further review the OpenGL ES and OpenML SDK specifications (previous news):

Developers are invited to register for consideration forparticipation in future meetings of the OpenGL ES and OpenML “ISV Review Teams”

OpenGL ES is a subset of OpenGL targeted at mobile devices such as cell phones (Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola are involved indefining the spec). At GDC 2003 select ISVs were given a chance to preview the current draft of the OpenGL ES specification.The feedback was invaluable and Khronos now invites developers with significant experienceto register for consideration for participation in future meetings ofthe âISV Review Teamâ — for either the OpenGL ES specification, orthe OpenML 1.0 SDK.

Our good friend, Matt, has done an interviewover at his site, Curmudgeon Gamer with Brian Hook. Several linux related topics are mentioned and it is a general good read, so I suggest checking it out.

It has been reported that version 1.31 of the Battlefield 1942 Linux Server is the last version that has been released by Ryan Gordon of icculus.org. The port will now be undertaken by the original developers at DICE.

Download @ bf42.com

Bioware has released the Neverwinter Nights Linux Client Beta. Apparently you have to login to their community site to get it. From the announcement:

Important Notes Before You Begin

There are 2 things you will need in order to use Neverwinter Nights Linux Client, aside from downloading the Linux Client binaries:

1. The game resources (from an existing Windows installation)
2. A CD-Key

You will need to get the Neverwinter Nights game resouces from an existing Windows installation of the 1.29 build of Neverwinter Nights. Why must it be this way, you ask? It is because there is no feasable way to get the game resources from the InstallShield cabinet files on the Windows version CDs. Currently the NWN Linux Client supports English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish.

You will have to purchase a copy of the game to get a valid Neverwinter Nights CD-Key. Of course, with this purchase you also get a lovely Neverwinter Nights mapkin, a spiral-bound game manual, and three plastic-coated aluminum-reinforced W1nd0z3 brand coasters.

A later update noted:

• The Neverwinter Nights Linux Client Public Beta is now open. The Linux Forum can be used to discuss the Linux Client, however do not post bugs in that forum. To report bugs, send a detailed bug description to nwlinux@bioware.com.
• We will be releasing updated Beta versions with fixes - check back often.
• Server browsing and chat are disabled in Beta 1 and will be available in the next Beta release.

Update: A poster to Slashdot.org noted that you can get the binary directly here.

Update: Jeff Ryden pointed out this installer to get the data off of Win32 Neverwinter Nights discs.

A few people pointed out this news from Tux Games at the end of February regarding their remaining inventory of Loki games:

Despite our best efforts to continue to obtain the now discontinued Loki titles, finally the inevitable has happened and one of the Loki titles will no longer be available from our store. Alpha Centauri has now been discontinued.

For anyone that is still missing a few of the Loki titles to complete their collection, we still have a few of the rest in stock, but they wont last forever. Come and get them whilst you can!

A few of the top-selling / favorite Loki titles at TG:

• Civ:CTP
• Rune
• Sim City 3000
• Kohan

G2I wrote in with this announcement regarding an MMOG FPS that they’re developing:

Global Gaming Innovations (G2I) is annoucing the development of a FirstPerson Shooter (FPS) called Urban Dominion. Urban Dominion, a MassiveMultiplayer Online Game, boasts the support of at least 200 concurrentclients at product release date with expectations for a much higher limiton clients or even no limit.

Urban Dominion is intended to be released to the Open Source Softwareindustry through Global Gaming Innovations’ public CVS server when thegame has been completed. It will be the first game publicly made availablethat makes use of the most advanced MMOG software to date, G2I’s ParallelDistributed Management System (PDMS) technology. This technologyaddresses many of the problems that arise in the development of MMOGscurrently such as high overhead costs of server purchase and maintenanceby creating the opportunity for game servers to be distributed among theclients in a dynamic server formed and maintained by their technology. Inother words, the participants in the game effectively form dynamic serverclusters with virtually unlimited memory and processing capability, thusproviding the ability to create Urban Dominion with almost none of thecosts of purchase, maintenance, or upgrades for today’s limited andexpensive server-based implementations.

The expected beta release date of Urban Dominion is late March to earlyApril. During this period, there will be more information and screen shotsfor this game posted on the game website

LGP has chosen the final eight members for the “from-scratch developmentproject,” orthe dev company as it’s being called for now. The members arethe winners of the 2k-submission contest (previous news). Their submissions can be found at www.linuxgamepublishing.com/2k. The members of the project/company are:

• Steve Baker (TuxKart, Tux: AQFH, PLIB)
• Bruno Costa (apparent expertise in 3D/video)
• Bob Ham (apparent expertise in audio)
• Bill Kendrick (tons o’ games via NBS)
• Sean Middleditch (AweMUD)
• Andrew Nelson
• Jacek Poplawski
• Matt Wilson (mattsscripts.co.uk)

Some answers to some questions that were posted on the Neverwinter Nights Forum have been answered for the community on the Neverwinter Night: Linux Client page. Nothing new just interesting to hear their side of the story.

1. Were you expecting the current level of frustration from the Linux crowd? And do you find it tiresome?

We are seeking to deliver a product to the Linux crowd that meets their expectations. Unfortunately, this process has taken longer than originally anticipated but will ultimately meet performance expectations. I don’t find the interest of our fans to be tiresome in any way! To me, its more of an indication of just how passionate our Linux fans are. They keep us honest.

2. As soon as you get the go ahead, how before the client will hit the download page?

4.3 milliseconds. =] We have everything packaged up and ready to go, and are just waiting on the trigger to be pulled. Again, we cannot give you an estimate, as this is a Go, No-Go situation. Yes, we are very aware of the waning days of Winter 2002 that are remaining. We are counting the seconds ourselves.

3. Looking back, if you had the chance at doing NWN from scratch, would you do anything differently?

From Trent Oster, Producer, NWN - I would focus the core concept further and deliver a tighter implementation of the game. I would improve the storyline in the official campaign by focusing the same resources on a smaller scope. Essentially making less, but ensuring consistent high quality and immersiveness.

A news item was posted on icculus.org earlier this week indicating that there have been some updates to the public beta of Serious Sam. Most notably, there is now a beta for Serious Sam: The Second Encounter

The First Encounter is up to beta 3. This fixes a vorbis issue,makes homedir access compatible with The Second Encounter, and removesall beta expirations, since I don’t plan to have a new beta in the nextmonth. You can get this patch through Loki Update.

The Second Encounter for GNU/Linux is now available, too, as a first beta. Grab it here.

I’ve played through the first third of the game, and there’s twonasty bugs (one is in the First Encounter, too), but most can be workedaround with the “please fly” console command.

You’ll need a retail Second Encounter disc to install thegame, but you don’t need Windows; the installer you download will(hopefully) know what to do with the disc.

Both games should be considered buggy and incomplete at this time. Bugs reports go in the bugtracker, but don’t expect a response or fix in a timely matter, if at all. Please don’t send bug reports to me directly.

A mailing list for discussion (NOT bug reports!) is available. Send a blank email to ssam-subscribe@icculus.org to get on the list.

A new version of the RTS engine FreeCraft (Screenshots) has just been released.

Changes:

• Save and Load (Single Player)
• Shared Vision and Diplomacy
• Replays
• Auto Spell Cast
• Much Improved Multiplayer Support
• FcMP and WC2 can be played against each other
• Many bug fixes

FreeCraft downloads.

Good news for the WineX fans. TransGaming has updated their site with this note:

TransGaming’s WineX 3.0 Preview Release 1 is available immediately and exclusively to TransGamers to download and install today. Some of the many new features include: preliminary support for games such as SimCity 4, BattleField 1942, Dungeon Siege, and Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. WineX 3.0 includes vastly improved DirectX 8 compatibility, and now has hardware vertex shader support for some of today’s hottest titles.

It may be important to note that a native MOH:AA client is in the works if you prefer that.

LGP’s Michael Simms wrote in with the excellent news that Majesty has gone gold:

After much testing and a number of delays, LGP is happy to announce that Majesty has now gonegold.This means that Majesty has been sent to the replicators for production. Fromthis date we expect to have Majesty in stock in 2 weeks.A demo for Majesty isnow available, for those that want to give it a try.You cannot currently order Majesty from us until it is in stock, but pleasefeel free to check out our resellers who may offer the ability to preorder it.

Preorder Majesty at Tuxgames

Demo mirrors:
3DDownloads / LinuxGames
david.hedbor.org

I apologize for this bit of downtime for me. I’ve been struggling w/ reinstalling my system thanks to a lame, lame mistake no mypart, but it looks like all should be good from here. So, I finally am giving SuSE a shot on my desktop at home and it’s beenfrustrating, but that’s not to take away from the fact that it’s a fairly pretty desktop by default. Anybody out there activelyusing SuSE on their main gaming box? Anyway, on to the news…

Computer and Video Games is reporting that Microsoft is already in the process of buying BioWare, creators of NeverWinter Nights. As regular readers are no doubt aware, NWN was planned to be a cross-platform game with Windows, MacOS, and Linux clients. However, the initial release was cut back to Windows-only for the summer 2002 launch and the Linux client is still rumored to be pre-beta. Of course, it is unclear at this time what will happen to the Linux client, both continuing development and support, if this report proves to be true.

Update: A post on the Bioware forums indicates that this rumor is false. See the comments for the URL.