LINUXGAMES

Linuxlookup.com’s Rich has reviewed TransGaming’s recently released Cedega 4.0 (the project formerly known as WineX).

Also, NewsForge’s James Hills posted anarticle about GarageGames’ (the company founded by several developers from Dynamix fresh off Tribes 2) open source philosophy.

zakk let us know that NVIDIA has releasedversion 1.0-6106 of their Linux display driver (x86 |AMD 64)for their various lines of video graphics cards; the 32-bit x86 README can be perusedhere(those of you with AMD 64-bit procs hitthisinstead). Changes:

• Added support for 2.6 kernels
• Added support for GeForce 6800 series of GPUs
• Added support for PCI-Express
• Added support for GLSL (OpenGL Shading Language).
• Added support for GL_EXT_pixel_buffer_object.
• Added support for running 32-bit OpenGL applications on 64-bit AMD64 Linuxinstallations.
• Added support for ACPI
• Added support for 4kstack kernels.
• Added configuration utility “nvidia-settings”. For details, seethe user guide
• Added a shell script “nvidia-bug-report.sh” that gathers systemconfiguration information into a log file; the resulting log file(nvidia-bug-report.log) should be included when reporting bugs to NVIDIA.
• Added a new Xv adaptor on GeForce4 and GeForce FX which uses the 3D engineto do Xv PutImage requests.

NVIDIA Display Driver v1.0-6106 Download: [ x86 |AMD 64]

NewsForge posted an article concerning eGenesis’ experiences developing and supporting the Linux version of A Tale in the Desert, a community-focused MMORPG. Discussed are the benefits of having a multi-OS codebase and statistics for their Linux userbase.

wolfman8k let us know that Raknet, anetwork API developed for use with gaming projects, has been placed under theGNU General Public License.Documentation can be found here; a license for closed-source commercial game projects is also available for $1995 US.

Raknet Source: [ rakkarsoft.com ]

Despite the recentdemiseof Sierra Entertainment (although thereal original Sierra On-Line that developed the adventure games in question was renamed to Yosemite Entertainmentand died in 1999), the FreeSCI projectcontinues to progress. A new site design for the adventure game interpreter is up, and a gameselection menu will be added:

As announced in the previous news item, FreeSCI now has a game selectionscreen. However, it should be pointed out that the game selection screen isonly available for Glutton (the unstable/experimental) branch at this time; itwill become part of the stable CVS tree shortly.

The Quest for Glory games were among the first PC titles I ever played, so I’mgratified to see the developers continuing to expand FreeSCI’s feature set :)

A reader pointed out that Chris Purnell, who previously added four-speaker support to OpenAL, has written a new hardware-accelerated version of OpenAL that uses ALSA and the capabilities of the Creative SB Live & Audigy cards.

Download: openal-alsa-emu10k1-1.1.tar.gz

Version 20040615 of Wine, the venerableWindows API compatibility layer, has beenreleased; the changelog can be foundhere.The major updates regarding gaming are various audio support improvements.

Wine 20040615 Download: [ winehq.com ]

Moreover, linuX-gamers.netconducted an interviewwith TransGaming Technologies’(which is sporting a new page design incidentally) Gavriel State about theirWine fork Cedega.

Finally, Mongoose pointed out this project, whichhas gotten Lineage II, a MMORPG withroots in Korea, running with a fork of the WineX codebase.

Vrizer, an OpenGL stereoscopy library has been updated to release number 0.4. This version now includes support for Unreal Tournament 2004. The full changelog from version 0.3 and 0.4 includes the following items:

• non capture” mode for simulator view
• full support for ut2004 (also simulator mode)
• 3D-skins working again (simple wavefront “.obj” loader)
• more emulation keys/keypairs
• bugfix: rgstereo mode only worked with simulator_capt_enable turned on
• bugfix: simulator texture width/height not parsed correctly

Download: Vrizer 0.4

Our reviewer Cybrid has now taken a look at TuxKart, which is a go-kart racing game featuring Tuxedo T. Penguin, simliar to Mario Kart. Check out his review and see what he thought about this racing project.

Catch-up time again!

• Chris Goff let us know he’s written aguideto gaming on the Linux platform for Windows users interested in what’scurrently available. Distributions, video drivers, and commercial games are covered.
• The developers ofA Tale in the Desert(screenshots),a MMORPG set in ancient Egypt, sent in word that their “end game” sequence offinale tests for player characters has begun, which will conclude the firsttelling of the game. You can sign up for beta phase of the second telling at Stratics Centralhere; apreviewis also up, which enumerates the improvements in the next version of thiscommunity-oriented game.
• The developers ofJump ‘n Bump, a multiplayer 2Dplatformer, let us know that version 1.50 is now available. Changes:
  • AI controlled bunnies (pressing 1, 2, 3 or 4 during the game, makes computer controlling the respective bunny). AI is nothing from another world, but adds some fun, especially when playing with only another person
  • Two level selectors included, using kdialog (kde) and Xdialog (gtk)
  • Updated documentation
  • It’s now possible to control the 3rd bunny using mouse buttons (same way as in the DOS version)

  It can downloaded from here.

• Recent game updates of note from Freshmeat.net:
  • Stratagus 2.1pre1, a free RTSgameengine (download).A list of games which utilize this engine can be foundhere.
  • LBreakout2.5beta8, a game similar to the arcade classic Arkanoid(download).
  • AdvanceMAME 0.83.0, a MAME portwith support for arcade monitors (download).
  • Advanced Strategic Command 1.15.0, aturn-based strategy game project (download).
  • ETS 20040614, alogfile parser for Return to CastleWolfenstein: Enemy Territory (download).
  • GFSGL 0.90.1, a generalized gameinstaller/launcher (download).Dome Engine 0.2.8, anOpenGL-based 3D engine (download).

  The Linux Game Tome mentioned thesereleases recently:

  • Mtp Target 1.1.0, which involvesrolling penguins down a ramp at targets (download).
  • Exult 1.2, the project whichhas recreated the Ultima 7 game engine (download).
• Wired Newsmentionedthat a team of 24 developers are working on the next major revision ofAmerica’s Army, the freefirst-person shooter developed and published by the Department of the Army.The article mentions that AA: Overmatch is being targeted for a March 2005release date.(thanks Slashdot).
• Finally, the developers of Nexuiz, a deathmatch FPS project based on the open-sourced Quake 1 engine, let us know that they’ve released a video showcasing their efforts to celebrate Quake’s eighth anniversary.

TransGaming sent out this PR announcing the release of WineX 4.0, which is apparently being called “Cedega” now:

TransGaming Unveils WineX 4.0 And Announces New Product Name: Cedega

Toronto/Ottawa — June 22, 2004 — TransGaming today unveils the milestone release of version 4.0 of its flagship product, WineX, which has been renamed to Cedega. Cedega allows Windows (R) games to seamlessly and transparently run under Linux, out-of-the-box, with outstanding performance and equivalent game-play. Cedega 4.0 includes support for Microsoft (R) DirectX (R) 9.0, significantly broadening the scope and availability of the latest triple “A” titles for avid Linux gamers. The landmark release of Cedega 4.0 adds support for new blockbuster DirectX 9.0 titles such as EA’s (TM) Battlefield Vietnam (TM), Eidos’ (TM) Hitman: Contracts (c), and LucasArts’ (c) Star Wars (TM)Galaxies (TM), bringing the total number of games supported under Cedega to well over 300. Furthermore, Cedega features unprecedented support for NCSoft’s (R) recentlyreleased massive multiplayer online game, City of Heroes (R) and Blizzard Entertainment’s (R) unreleased but highly anticipated Worlds of WarCraft (R).

Cedega (Se-day-gah) – [noun] – a unique variety of grape used to make some of the finest Port Wines in the world; an innovative portability technology developed by TransGaming that allows Windows games to run on Linux.

“Cedega 4.0 represents an amazing evolution of our Linux product. Thus, it was only fitting to give it a new name; a name that is representative of our product’s maturity, complexity, sophistication, and elegance. The new name, Cedega, is meaningful and reflects the significant growth that both the product and TransGaming have enjoyed over the last few years,” comments Vikas Gupta, Co-CEOand President of TransGaming Technologies.

From a technical standpoint, this release sets a new benchmark for the support of games on Linux. “The Cedega 4.0 release contains more technological innovation than any previous TransGaming release and truly represents a milestone in game software portability. Cedega 4.0 supports titles that make use of the DirectX 9.0 API as well as advanced Pixel and Vertex shaders. Cedega 4.0 also includes a new advanced inter-process communication architecture that can double the speed of games which make heavy use of Win32 kernel synchronization primitives,” remarks Gavriel State, CTO & Co-CEO of TransGaming Technologies.

To keep pace with the growth of Linux worldwide and to more effectively meet consumer demands internationally, TransGaming is also pleased to announce the European launch of Cedega 4.0. European customers and subscribers can now pay in Euros, a feature that has been much anticipated and will cater specifically to the rapidly growing Linux community in European countries. Cedega 4.0 includes an updated version of its user friendly interface, Point2Play, with multiple language support for English, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese and German.

Update (3:44pm CDT): LinuxInsider interviewed me briefly about this news and included some quotes in their article; I did my best to remain diplomatic.

Battle for Wesnoth 0.7.10, a fantasy turn-based strategy game, has been updated to release 0.7.10. Changelog from this release includes the following:

• A help browser
• Tabbed preferences dialog
• Six new units
• unit balancing improved
• two new scenarios
• scenario balancing improved
• Various graphics improvements, AI improvements, and editor improvements
• Catalan, Dutch, German, and Italian translations

Download: [ Battle for Wesnoth 0.7.10 ]

Fans of side scroller based games might be interested in this new release by Outhouse Software called Dead Mobsters. You may view these screenshots to get a better feel for the game.

Download: [ Dead Mobsters ]

DoomWorld isreporting that both EBgames.com andGamestop are now showing an August 3rd release date for id Software’s upcoming horror-themed FPS DOOM III. Normally online retailer dates are pulled out of some sort of mystical top hat, but the simultaneous update (combined with the “officially confirmed” blurb at Gamestop) tend to lend credence to the idea that this is the date Activision is targeting right now.

Speaking of, today is also the eighth anniversary of Quake 1 shareware’s release; it’s scary to realize that many years have gone by already.

HellHound Software Grou has just released a demo version of HellChess, a multi-platform chess game with a complex A.I. engine to make gaming challenging for single-player games. It also includes the ability to find games from a centralized master server to play foes across the internet.

Download: [ HellChess Demo ]

Shacknews pointed out thiscommentby id Software’s John Carmack(concerned mostly with his X-Prize workat Armadillo Aerospace) at Slashdot:

BTW, Doom beta testing is going very well.

Not much longer folks.

A reader sent in word that version 3236 of Unreal Tournament 2004 has been released by Epic Games.

Linux specific changes:

• fixed CacheRecords.ucl handling on Linux
• Various client and server crash fixes

Unreal Tournament 2004 v3236 Patch Download: [ atari-webcenter.com ]

dimethyl sent in the following request:

As an ancient Loki-ported Heroes of Might & Magic III loyal player, I amlooking forward to revive the myth and wake up all the Linux/Unix Heroes IIIplayers out there.

I am also planning to set up a great campaign if enough experienced playersanswer this call. By experienced I have in mind all players who successfullyfinished all the seven original campaigns or who beat expert maps such asTitanic Pride.

I am thinking of a cooperative campaign and a deathmatch campaign. Thecooperative one will take on great classic multiplayer maps such as Greyhawk(I have hacked a dual-coop and a jihad version of the map), Warlords, Crimsonand Clover… the deathmatch campaign will take 1v1 maps on an eliminatorymode for one huge maps in free for all modes for the other with classment offpoints. I might even put up small prices for the deathmatch campaign if thereare enough players to compete with each other.

So if you are interested please email me at “dimethyl [AttTT] pandora D07 be”and the campaigns might start as soon as the end of June (but we _will_ playinformal games in the meantime by the time we get more than a few players).Please only contact me if you are serious about playing for long shifts. If weare to play 8-players games we need the players ready.

We also received this other request:

I’m searching for programmers in php and html and for gamserver admins.My idea is to develop an administration tool for game servers webbased in php.Primary for id-based games like Quake and Wolfenstein. But of course, it ispossible as well to make an admin tool for HalfLife.

To do this it would be nice if there are some people who wanted to help mewith this.

My plan is at first to develop a script which just generates a configurationfile for the server where it is easy to configure how many slots, passwordsetc which should be very easy to use.In the second step it would be nice, if there are possibilities formonitoring, stats analysis and direct adminstration to restart the server inexample.

If there are existing solutions we can use it as a base, or we can implementthis in our sourcecode.

For an example project look at SWAT for Samba.

To do all this things it would be very very nice if somebody will help me.I’m still looking for developer, webdesigner, gameserver admins or justpersons which write the documentation or make a translation.

If interested, reply in the comments below with contact information.

e.p.i.c. interactive sent in the following announcement:

Magnussoft and e.p.i.c. interactive are happy to announce that one of the all-time arcade classics is now available in a brand new version for Macintosh and Linux gamers as well: Barkanoid 2 is here!

Classic and well loved features have been combined with a couple new and challenging features to create a whole new game experience. You like classic arcade games? Then Barakanoid 2 is definitely one for you!!

Your task is to destroy all tiles on the playing field with your bat and ball. Several monsters will be in your way and make your job that bit harder to complete. Some tiles contain extras that you can pick up. But beware: Some of the extras will make your job even more challenging. Some of these are even dangerous, so make sure you only choose the right ones. And now: Pick up your racket and get the ball rolling!

Features:

• 300 levels
• over 50 extras to collect
• 9 different bats and balls
• Weather effects like snow, rain or fog
• Different backgrounds
• Editable bat behaviour
• Different stages of difficulty
• Many new animations and effects
• Saveable passwordsystem for each level
• Saveable highscores

The game is available now and can be ordered from our webshop for EUR 14,99.

For people whose gaming principles are simple, you might want to check out this review of Kobo Deluxe. Kobo Deluxe is an enhanced version of Akira Higuchi’s game XKobo with the simplistic concept of blowing stuff up.