Total Annihilation 3D is an open source effort to recreate the classic real-time strategy game Total Annihilation in three dimensions; it requires the original game data. The game is currently playable in single user mode against AI opponents.
Screenshots [ View ] Download: [ darkstars.co.uk ]
Version 0.9.4 of PCSX2, a PlayStation 2 emulator, was released for Linux. New features include:
There’s also a compatibility database.
A reader pointed out the Apricot project:
Starting February 1st 2008, a small team of again the best 3D artist and developers will develop a game jointly with the on-line community. The main characters in the game are based on the short 3D animation open movie Peach. At the end of July 2008 the game will be launched. The team members will get a great studio facility and housing in Amsterdam, all travel costs reimbursed, and a fee sufficient to cover all expenses during the period.
[...]
The team will work on a cross platform game (at least Linux, Windows, OS X), using Blender for modeling and animation, Crystal Space as 3D engine and delivery platform, and Python for some magic scripting to glue things together. It is not only the purpose to make a compelling 3D game experience, but especially to improve and validate the open source 3D game creation pipeline, with industry-standard conditions.
The Peach open movie is being developed via a similar process; the Blender Foundation and Crystal Space community will provide financial backing, but you can also support the effort by pre-ordering the game. It’s noted that customers ordering prior to February 1st, 2008 will have their names listed on the credits.
It’s an ambitious plan, and it’ll be fascinating to watch come together over the next several months.
CCP has released a new version of their Cedega-derived Linux client for their space combat/business MMORPG EVE Online, dubbed “Trinity“:
CCP is releasing two versions of EVE Online: Trinity. Gameplay will remain the same in both versions and both will be available as free downloads. A Classic version of EVE Online: Trinity will be available December 5, 2007 for Microsoft Windows, Macintosh and Linux platforms at http://www.eve-online.com/download/. The Premium version of EVE Online: Trinity, which will include updated and enhanced graphics, will be available on Microsoft Windows on December 5, 2007 and to Mac and Linux subscribers in the first quarter of 2008.
There’s also a Linux section in their forums for discussion/support. There’s a 14-day trial period; after that monthly subscriptions run at €14,95 / $14.95 / £8.00 a month (Wikipedia mentions the first month is a bit more though).
Ryan “icculus” Gordon posted an update on the Unreal Tournament 3 dedicated server to the UT3 Linux mailing list:
Very very soon for the server. We’re ironing out last-minute things, and will probably ship in sync with the Windows patch.
There was no additional word on the client however; at last report, it was being held up by the replacement of middleware. UT3 is a single player and multiplayer first-person shooter developed by EpicGames which shipped for Windows last month; previous entries in the series had Linux ports as well.
An upcoming Thief-inspired modification for Doom 3, The Dark Mod, has posted new media in recent months:
As the FAQ mentions, The Dark Mod is primarily a toolset:
Our goal is to provide all of the textures, models, AI, and programming necessary to allow Fan Mission authors to create their own stories. We will be releasing some playable maps at the same time, both for fun and to demonstrate all the new features. Once the tools are released, we have plans to create our own campaign for release at a later date. We are all fans of stealth gaming, so we want to release the tools as quickly as we can so we can benefit from the creativity of mission authors out there!
Linux will be supported, as noted in this forum thread:
It seems you’re really asking about the editor, not the Mod itself, but just to be clear: Several of us already have the Dark Mod compiled and working under Linux. I even do all my mod development under Linux. There are a few caveats; the lightgem isn’t hooked up properly yet, for example; but we hope to have those ironed out before release.
The ioquake3-based stand-alone deathmatch game World of Padman has reached version 1.2.
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ AtomicGamer | myexp.de ]
eyerouge sent in the following a regarding Battle for Wesnoth contest:
The Ladder of Wesnoth will launch a competition on the 25th where anyone who’s down with open source Wesnoth can enter and get something extra from Santa.
Battle for Wesnoth is GPL’ed fantasy-themed turn-based strategy game that’s earned many accolades over the years.
Browsing MobyGames, I found a game we haven’t mentioned here before, Passage. According to the creator’s statement:
Your interpretation of the game is more important than my intentions. Please play the game before you read this.
Ok, so to play it you need to download the source code and compile it yourself. But, hey, free game dude. According to the SourceForge page it’s under the GPL.
Where did it come from? It’s part of the Gamma 256 project at the Kokoromi Collective, which says it is…
…a small group of game developers in Montreal, Quebec, with a mission to create and promote artistic and experimental gameplay. Our goal is threefold: to create small experimental games, to encourage creative games industry-wide, and to promote these games as an art form, here in Montreal.
Neat.
Screenshots [ View ] Download [ Source on SourceForge ]
What have you, our readers, been playing on Linux of late? Commercial games, indie games, open source games, titles, genres… let us know!
As for myself, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars has been taking up most of my time…
RuneSoft sent in the following press release:
ANKH II coming to Linux!
The Adventures of young Assil will continue soon for Linux players. With a little luck they may even start before this year is over.
The new game will take players through many scenes set in ancient Egypt, half of which are completely new, while the other half have been overhauled from Ankh. Familiar faces will be back, including Assil, Thara, and the Pharaoh, along with new additions to an already-quirky cast, including a burning bush that thinks it is God.
Features:
- Classic adventure game in the Monkey Island style
- Even more gameplay than the previous version
- A brand new exciting story
- Get to know new characters and familiar faces
- Improved graphics and supreme voice acting
Ankh II: Heart of Osiris for Linux can be preordered from our partners at Tuxgames, IXsoft and Novatux.
You can also order the first Ankh game (actually the second in the series) from RuneSoft’s online store, or the online retailers listed above.
TecnoballZ is a breakout clone with 50 levels of game and 11 special levels.
The changelog also mentions that the GP2X Linux handheld game console should be supported.
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ tlk.fr ]
This post was submitted by gurumeditation.
The Super Mario-inspired platforming game Secret Maryo Chronicles has reached version 1.3 with new features:
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ secretmaryo.org ]
If you enjoy Interactive Fiction, Play This Thing pointed out the Lovecraft-inspired Anchorhead:
Anchorhead is a rare achievement in interactive fiction, a well-designed puzzle-rich game that nonetheless leaves you mostly remembering the story.
Michael Gentry’s game is based on the locations and ideas of H. P. Lovecraft, but the result has its own unique vision and integrity.
You’ll need a Z-machine interpreter like Frotz or Zoom to play.
The gaming blog Kotaku pointed out two independently-developed Linux games recently:
Slade is a wxWidgets-based level editor for DOOM-engine games (including Heretic and Hexen) with the following features:
You’ll need this patch from the ZDoom forums to compile the Win32 source code under Linux.
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ mancubus.net ]
Linux Hardware posted the first part of a look at the new Core 2 “Penryn” processor under Linux:
On October 28th, Intel released the reviews on the new “Penryn” Core 2 processor, specifically the Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core QX9650. The QX9650 has a lot of new features and welcomes a new generation to the Core 2 processor family. So what are these features and how will they equate into benefits to the consumer and, more specifically, Linux users? That’s what Linux Hardware is here to unravel. In this review I’ll cover all the high points of the new “Penryn” core and talk to a couple Linux projects about the impact on end-user performance.
Planewalker Games let us know that the website for The Broken Hourglass, their upcoming role-playing game, has new content:
RPG Codex recently published an interview with PWG, which includes an in-depth look at the structure of one of the game’s quests, complete with all six of its endings.
On the PWG site, we have published a new article explaining the outlook and role of two of the Tolmiran gods–Arithaan, a cold and distant sort, and Uulix, the god of almost everything that isn’t nailed down.
There are also other articles, backstory, and screenshots available; the project utilizes an internally-developed engine based on their experience with modding BioWare‘s Infinity Engine.
A reader let us know that the 10th snapshot release of Java Classic RPG is out; here are the highlights:
UI base elements were added: load icon, compass, time meter, world map, HUD panel. Internal Flora is now configurable through FloraGenerators. Example internal flora in the Cave. Initial version of the World Generator is added. The World Map UI element shows a world generated by it. Updated JME libraries from CVS.
Screenshots [ View ] Download: [ sourceforge.net ]
This post was submitted by timong.
Change… and not a moment too soon!
We’ve finally undergone a long overdue renewal of the site design; we hope you like it! Be sure to update your RSS reader.
Many thanks to Marv for spearheading the upgrade and, as always, maintaining the servers, kig for creating the site’s new look, Alkini for converting it to WordPress, my fellow news posters zakk, Lightkey, and jvm, everyone who’s contributed to the site over the years, and all of our readers as we near our tenth anniversary.
Here’s to gaming on the Linux platform!
