A reader pointed out that Rampant Games’ comedy RPG Frayed Knights (using the Torque Game Engine) may be coming to Linux:
…as announced before, the pilot is Windows-only. A Mac version (and probably Linux) is planned for the full version, already in development.
Hedgewars, an open source turn-based strategy game like Worms but with hedgehogs, is at version 0.9.3 (thanks Linux Game Tome). The list of stuff that is new:
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ hedgewars.org ]
UFO: Alien Invasion version 2.2.1 is out to fix bugs and add new features:
UFO:AI is an open source anti-extra-terrestrial squad-based tactical strategy game.
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ sourceforge.net ]
Slashdot is reporting that PC manufacturers such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo will be requesting open source drivers from hardware vendors in the future for their desktop computer products:
A key result from the meeting (ed. note: the Linux Foundation Annual Collaboration Summit) was that these OEM vendors reported that they will encourage chipset and other component vendors to provide open source drivers for Linux. The companies announced on stage that they will now include wording in their hardware procurement processes to “strongly encourage” the delivery of open source drivers for transparent integration into the Linux kernel.
ixsoft announced another pre-order campaign as part of their collaboration with RuneSoft to release more games for Linux.
Jack Keane is an adventure game by German developer Deck13 again, who made the Ankh series and likewise it uses the portable OGRE engine.
The game plays in a setting similar to Monkey Island, you go searching for precious booty, arr! A sequel is in the works.
As usual, RuneSoft will do a port if at least 200 pre-orders for Jack Keane accumulate. You can do so at either Tux Games (English), Novatux (French) or ixsoft (German).
After a long absence, Vega Strike, an open source space combat sim, has returned with a new release (thanks Free Gamer):
The developer blog also mentions the project’s long history:
This occasion also marks the 10 year anniversary of Vega Strike. If you go back to the archives and find the first blog posts, you can see the first public release was in april of 1998. With any luck, since this is 0.5.0, that means we’ll have 1.0.0 (the space sim to end all other spacesims) out in 2018 ;-)
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ sourceforge.net ]
Rock, Paper, Shotgun has interviewed Eskil Steenberg of the Love project, an artistic multiplayer game:
Steenberg: My focus is very much on procedural story creation. That is my goal, and much of the content generation is aimed at reaching that goal.
Rossignol: Are these actual text-driven stories, or sequences of situations?
Steenberg: Rather stories and drama created by the actions of the players, and the reaction of the world. I want to replicate what I’m doing in my head when I write scripts.
The feature list mentions possible Linux support; Love is also being developed with a myriad of open source tools described in detail at the Quel Solaar site.
vitetris, a terminal-based Tetris clone, is at version 0.40:
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ victornils.net ]
Version 0.6.3 of TuxWordSmith, a Scrabble-style game that teaches foreign languages, has been released. Changes:
23 new dictionary resources were added, and the download procedure has been split into two parts: one for the application and default language, the other for the additional languages. Installers are included for all platforms.
Download: [ asymptopia.org ]
The second alpha release of Dusk, a “zombie” modification for Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, has added Linux support (thanks PlanetQuake). The mod pits GDF (human) players against AI-controlled Strogg who swarm the players with melee attacks in a manner similar to traditional zombie hordes. Instead of brains though, the Strogg want you for your delicious…
Download: [ enemyterritory.com ]
The Linux Game Tome pointed out a new project, Dark Chess 960, from davewx7, who’s maintained The Battle for Wesnoth and the SilverTree RPG projects:
Simply, the rules are as normal chess, but where certain information is hidden from you. So-called “Fog of War”. You can only see your own pieces, as well as any square that any of your pieces can move to. Your vision is updated at the beginning of each turn. Because you can’t see where your opponent’s pieces are, you don’t know if you’re in check. As such the game has no concept of ‘check’! Instead, the objective is to capture the enemy king. If you do this, you win instantly. Thus, safeguarding your king is extremely important.
Download: [ silvertreerpg.org ]
The Freeciv project has released version 2.1.4 of their empire-building strategy game to fix crash bugs and other things.
Version 0.92 of Blob Wars: Blob and Conquer, a 3rd person action shooter, is now available to download. Changes in this release include:
Download: [ parallelrealities.co.uk]
Many thanks to Nemoder, who took the time to produce this article looking at enjoyable Linux games that you may have overlooked before now.
Top 10 Lesser Known Linux Games
We’ve all heard of open source games like Tuxracer and Wesnoth, and of commercial games like Quake and Unreal Tournament but there are a number of lesser known Linux games that deserve some more attention. Not all these games have the latest 3D graphics but what they lack in state of the art visuals they more than make up for in depth of gameplay and replayability. If you’re looking for something a bit different to play you definitely want to check out these:
In a side article attached to a larger piece about gaming forums in general, 1up.com pointed out the Flash-based RPG DragonFable:
A simple, turn-based, single-player RPG updated (pretty much) every Friday with new content, the game relies on the players themselves to brainstorm new ideas for what should happen to their characters. “We have a huge forum community where everyone is welcome to come in and give suggestions and feedback,” says Cysero.
Version 0.8 of the Nintendo DS emulator DeSmuME was announced with a few bugfixes.
Download: [ desmume.org ]
Project Diaspora, a 2D space trading MMORPG, has been open-sourced (thanks linuX-gamers.net).
Download: [ sourceforge.net ]
Jagged Alliance 2 – Stracciatella is a port of Jagged Alliance 2 to SDL. Changes in version 0.9 include (thanks Linux Game Tome):
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ dragonriders.de ]
BeyondUnreal mentioned a new deathmatch map for Unreal Tournament 2004:
Alex Luong has released a really cool looking deathmatch map for UT2004 called DM-HillyMcBillyFarm. It obviously takes its visual cues from the Team Fortress 2 CTF map, 2Fort, but also makes a nod to Teddie T’s map KillBillyBarn.
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ beyondunreal.com ]
A new major release of the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution, 8.04 LTS Desktop Edition, has been announced. The press release doesn’t mention gaming, which isn’t a huge surprise, but it would be nice if more attention was paid to entertainment from the various major Linux corps.
I’ve still never gotten around to using Ubuntu unfortunately; if I ever get a laptop I’ll have to give it a spin.