LINUXGAMES

Galcon is a multiplayerstrategy game focused on planetaryconquest available for online purchase. The current version, 1.3.1, is a bugfix release.

Demo Download: [ imitationpickles.org]

BeyondUnreal has posted some moreUnreal Tournament 3 media fromE3:

• Three newscreenshots, and box art
• Confirmationthat the PC version ships in November, and more screenshots

There’s also a preview at1up.com which discusses the single-player campaign and vehicles.

FreeCol version 0.7.0 has been released; it’s an open source version of the turn-based strategy game Colonization. Changes:

• Trade and negotiations between human players.
• A simple map editor has been created.
• The in-game user documentation has been improved.
• Map of the Americas added.
• Automated trade routes.
• Lots of bugfixes and more features.

Screenshots: [ View ]Download: [ freecol.org ]

Phoronix has taken alook at the Radeon HD2400 (R600 chipset) under Linux,but the results were disheartening:

With the open-source Avivo driver not yet having proper R600 support and theofficial fglrx driver only containing partial support without OpenGLacceleration, right now AMD R600 owners are bound to using the VESA driver.

[...]

Official support for the R600 series will likely not arrive in the fglrxdriver for a few more months, which is very disheartening, and when theopen-source Avivo driver will provide any R600 support is currently not known.We hope that this will not turn into another Radeon X1000 (R500) supportdebacle where it had taken ATI six months to provide basic Linux support. Wewill report back when anything changes, but right now Linux users will want toavoid the Radeon HD 2000 series at all costs until there is adequate supportfor alternative operating systems.

The Linux on Desktop bloghas posted a list of “35coolapplications to install on Ubuntu“, several of which are games:

• Pingus
• Super Tux Kart
• PySol
• Super Tux
• GCompris

Do you have any games to recommend to other players? Comment below!

Voodoo Extreme has posted a new trailer released for E3 of Unreal Tournament 3, which gives a release date of November 2007 for Epic’s next first-person shooter. The state of a Linux port, or when it would become available, is unknown, although Unreal Tournament 2004 did have the Linux version included in the retail package.

edit: strike that last, thanks to a reader for pointing out this forum post from Epic’s Mark Rein:

We will also support Mac and Linux as per usual.

A new build of Thunder&Lightning, an open source action flight simulator, has been released. Version 070707 includes the following changes:

• An aircraft carrier that serves as take-off and landing platform for the Lightning aircraft, capable of self-defense with a deck turret.
• Water rendering: A GLSL shader renders realistic waves on machines with hardware shader support.
• A new cockpit with multi function display.
• AI drones can now take off and land on the carrier after performing their mission.
• Reworked missions that make use of the aircraft carrier and an extended tutorial mission.
• Enhanced flight model.
• Autopackage installation.
• Various bugfixes.

It’s also noted the game will incorporate features from Carrier Command and Midwinter, with multiple islands to conquer.

Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ tnlgame.net ]

Version 2.6.22 of the ubiquitous Linuxkernel has been released for you to compile yourself or await on yourdistribution of choice. The rundown from Linusfollows:

Not a whole lot of changes since -rc7: some small architecture changes(ppc, mips, blackfin), and most of those are defconfig updates. Variousdriver fixes: new PCI ID’s along with some ide, ata and networking fixes(for example – the magic wireless libertas ioctl’s got removed, they maybe re-added later, hopefully in a more generic form, but in the meantimethis doesn’t make a release with new interfaces that aren’t universallyliked).

And various random fixes for regressions and other buglets. Mostly reallysmall “few-liners”..

There’s a granular overview of the changelog at kernelnewbies.org.

Download: [ kernel.org ]

PokerTH 0.5 is out, which is an open source Texas Hold ‘Em Poker engine. Features:

• Play network games with up to 7 people all over the world
• Internationalization – PokerTH is now available in different languages (German, Dutch, Spanish, Russian and Norwegian)
• New avatar gallery
• Sound effects
• Minimized disc access, optimized speed

Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ pokerth.net ]

Voting for the SourceForge.netCommunity Choice Awards has begun, which allows developers to recognizeinfluential open source projects from the past year. There’s a “Best Projectfor Gamers” category with the following nominees:

• Crystal Space 3DSDK
• IrrlichtEngine
• FreeCol
• OGRE (O-O GraphicsRendering Engine)
• OpenKore
• PCGen :: An RPGCharacter Generator
• ScummVM
• Tremulous
• UFO:AlienInvasion
• XBMC (Xbox MediaCenter)

The Linux Game Tome pointed outthat C-Dogs SDL 0.4 has beenreleased. C-Dogs is an action game supporting singleplayer, cooperativemultiplayer, and deathmatch gameplay.

Screenshots: [ View ]Download: [ lumaki.com ]

Lightkey pointed out that we never mentioned this, so uh, here it is now! The map sources (BSP structure to mess around with in a level editor) to Quake 1 were released by John Romero last year under the GPL for the game’s 10th anniversary. GtkRadiant can edit Quake 1 maps, although I’m not certain how to go about doing that with the current SVN codebase.

They have been converted for yesterdays OpenArena 0.7.0 release together with self-made textures.

Download: [ 3ddownloads.com ]

Phoronix has posted a review of the NVIDIA GeForce 7050 integrated GPU for motherboards:

The NVIDIA GeForce 6100 and 6150 integrated graphics processors have been relatively popular among Linux and Windows users. These IGPs have been common in HTPC setups with the NVIDIA driver working out well with MythTV. NVIDIA’s GeForce 6100/6150 parts have also appeared in a number of desktop systems, and while these IGPs cannot really handle modern games, they have no troubles with Beryl or Compiz. However, it’s now time that the GeForce 6 series moves on with NVIDIA having recently introduced the NVIDIA GeForce 7025 and 7050 with the nForce 630a as the replacement for the GeForce 6100 and 6150 with the nForce 410/430. We have decided to look at the NVIDIA GeForce 7050 today as we compare it to the GeForce 6150 and test it in a variety of Linux graphics benchmarks.

FreedroidRPG, anisometric 3D RPG set on a world run by robots, has reached version 0.10.2.Most of the changes were focused on easing development, such as improving themap editor.

The developers are also looking for additional contributors for bug reporting,translation, level design, and other tasks. You can join the team @ #freedroidon irc.freenode.net, or write to the mailing list.

Screenshots: [ View] Download: [ sourceforge.net ]

The OpenArena team has released version 0.7.0 of their GPL’d Quake 3-a-like with the ioquake3 engine:

It’s been 8 months since the last release and we’ve done a lot of stuff for this release, so much it’s suddenly 250mb which was way past our 177mb goal. This is our biggest release ever, to state the obvious :) Anyway

Significant Changes:
- 10 new player models
- 26 new maps
- ce1m7, oa_bases3, dm4ish, dm6ish, and cbctf1 also had several changes
- Bloom (activated by r_bloom 1)
- New announcer voice
- New gibs
- Quake’s DM maps converted, from dm1 to dm7
- uses ioquake3 revision 1107
- more menu graphics, i.e. the player model button is actually there!
- lots of other stuff like redone sounds and textures

OpenArena 0.7.0 Binary Zip Download: [ 3DD | ModDB | TuxFamily ]

The author of Holotz’s Castle sent in notice that version 1.3.10 of his open source platformer has been released. Changes include the addition of an Italian translation.

Download: [ mainreactor.net ]

Name/Version: Atomic Tank 2.4
Summary: Atanks is a multi-platform Scorched Earth clone similar to the Worms series of games. Annihilate the other tanks to earn money, then spend it on bigger and better shields and weapons to wipe out the opposition.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ Atomic Tank 2.4 ]

Name/Version: Bos Wars Preliminary 2.4
Summary: Bos Wars is a futuristic real-time strategy game. It is possible to play against human opponents over LAN, internet, or against the computer
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ Bos Wars Preliminary 2.4 ]

Name/Version: Cosmosmash 1.4.2
Summary: Cosmosmash, a clone of the 1981 Astrosmash video game by Mattel Electronics.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ Cosmosmash 1.4.2 ]

Name/Version: Dungeon Crawl 4.0.0(beta 27)
Summary: Linley’s Dungeon Crawl is a free and portable roguelike molded in the tradition of the early greats of the genre: Rogue, Hack, and Moria. The player guides a single character deep into a subterranean complex to retrieve the Orb of Zot, fending off many horrible and hideous creatures along the way. Once retrieved, the player must return both character and Orb safely to the surface world. Easier said than done, but fun all the same.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ Dungeon Crawl 4.0.0(beta 27) ]

Name/Version: FreedroidRPG 0.10.2rc4
Summary: FreeDroidRPG is a free isometric RPG game inspired by elements of Diablo and Fallout. Originally based on FreeDroid Classic, this project now has vastly deviated from its parent.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ FreedroidRPG 0.10.2rc4 ]

Name/Version: GearHead: Arena 1.10
Summary: GearHead2 is a giant robot roguelike role playing game set five years after the events of GH1. Features include random plot generation, detailed character creation, tactical/RPG modes, graphical/ASCII interfaces, and many kinds of mecha to play with.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ GearHead: Arena 1.10 ]

Name/Version: JRicochet Release 2
Summary: A simple puzzle game. It consists of a 10×10 grid, which contains 5 invisible blocks. From each side a player can shoot probes into the grid. Goal is to find the blocks by the pattern of the ricochetting probes in as few shots as possible. Needs JAVA 1.6
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ JRicochet Release 2 ]

Name/Version: Loemu 0.2.0
Summary: Loemu is a free application that provides a simple frontend for various game emulators.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ Loemu 0.2.0 ]

Name/Version: Pang Zero 1.2
Summary: Pang Zero is a clone of Super Pang, a fast-paced action game that involves popping balloons with a harpoon.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ Pang Zero 1.2 ]

Name/Version: pyAwale 0.2.1
Summary: Member of the mancala family of board games, Awale is the official board game of Africa.
Download [ pyAwale 0.2.1 ]

Name/Version: qscore 0.0.3
Summary: Parse Quake3:Arena (and compatible) server.log into high scores and statistics
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ qscore 0.0.3 ]

Name/Version: Rail World 0.8
Summary: Rail World is a railroad train simulation game designed to bring the features of model railroading to the desktop.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ Rail World 0.8 ]

Name/Version: TTL Xmame 20070628
Summary: TTL Xmame is a simple front end for SDLmame (previously targeted for Xmame but Xmame seems to be dead). The main feature of TTL Xmame is the ability to quickly hide or display any of the loaded filters at any time. The filters can be user supplied. TTL Xmame is in BETA but is still very usable.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ TTL Xmame 20070628 ]

Name/Version: Vodovod 1.10
Summary: Vodovod is a free game, released under GNU GPL license. The goal of the game is to reach the highest possible score. You get a limited number of pipes on each level and need to combine them to lead the water from the house at the top of the screen to the storage tank at the bottom. For each pipe water goes through, you get 20 points and if you fill the cross-pipe both ways, you get 60 points. At end of each level, you are awarded depending on the skill level:
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ Vodovod 1.10 ]

There’s a new preview of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars at Voodoo Extreme, which gives a rundown of various maps they saw on a recent visit to Splash Damage.

There’s also an extensive guide to the game, currently in beta testing for Windows, at ETQW 4 Newbies.

BeyondUnrealhas posted some media from the upcoming Frag.Ops version 2.20, a multiplayer UT2004 modification with tacticalteam gameplay and vehicles. There are screenshots and avideo trailer showcasing the new maps.

Phoronix has posted another look at ATI’s Linux driver work over the past year:

It was on July 20, 2006 that I had issued The State of ATI Linux while ending off the ATI Redblog, which was a fifty-day experiment for using the ATI fglrx driver under Linux exclusively to see how well the driver really could compare to that of NVIDIA’s binary competition. It’s going on a year later and it’s now time for this year’s address as far as what I have seen from the driver in the past year and where I hope and believe the driver is going in the near future.

Moreover, there’s an article examining the Nouveau open-source driver for NVIDIA cards:

The last time we had written an article on Nouveau, the community project working on developing an open-source 3D display driver for NVIDIA hardware, was this past January after being enlightened by glxgears finally being able to run on NVIDIA’s NV4x GPUs. Since then many developments have occurred with this open-source NVIDIA driver as we have covered in several news postings. In this article today we will share with you where the Nouveau project stands today from a user perspective as well as testing out the driver on a few more NVIDIA systems.