Privateer: Ascii Sector, a clever space combat/trading game with text-based graphics (which allows the developer to concentrate on gameplay) has reached version 0.4.7.6 to fix a quest bug.
Download: [ asciisector.net ]
Version 1.6 of The Battle for Wesnoth, the lauded open source fantasy-themed turn-based strategy game, has been released with new campaign features, an improved multiplayer lobby, new unit portraits, new music, and an improved map editor. Additionally:
We hope there are no bugs left, but if you find any, report them. We are also looking for help in several areas, so that many other releases of similar caliber can follow this one. We are especially looking for translators, graphic artists (sprite, portraits, terrain, story images), music composers (a background in classical composition, and good equipment required), sound artists (for special effects), authors (writing/maintaining campaigns, creating content like unit descriptions, improving the ingame help) and, of course, coders. If you want to participate in developing Wesnoth, just have a look at the forum or visit us in the IRC channel #wesnoth-dev on irc.freenode.net.
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ wesnoth.org ]
Gizmodo has linked a demo video of the first complete Pandora open-source handheld game console, which was available for pre-ordering ($329.99 US) last fall. Developed through internet forum discussion, the hardware specs are:
The video shows Quake 1 being played; if you’re interested in already available Linux handheld game device, there’s the GP2X.
Illwinter Game Design released the version 3.23b patch for the turn-based strategy game Dominions 3: The Awakening; you can read the changelog which delineates the various bugfixes, including a cheat detection fix. If you’re not familiar with the game, this “Let’s Play!” thread at the Something Awful forums is a good primer.
Download: [ shrapnelgames.com ]
Thanks to SlickMcRunfast for letting us know that the DarkRadiant team has created an Ubuntu repository for their Dark Mod / Doom 3 level editor:
For Ubuntu or Kubuntu users, we have set up an apt repository. Please see the wiki page for further information: Using the Repository.
Version 1.1.18 of Wine has been released. This popular translation layer for Windows has the following new features:
Download: [ Wine 1.1.18 ]
Linux Game Publishing let us know that a new patch has been released for Majesty which resolves many issues that have been reported; it can be downloaded and installed via lgp_update.
A reader let us know about a neat platforming game dubbed Jumpman, in which the player must traverse a deadly multi-dimensional labyrinth:
Download: [ runhello.com ]
Sorry about the lack of updates recently; working to get back up to speed ASAP. Thank you for your patience!
The Blender-derived open-source game project, Yo Frankie! sent in the following announcement:
After running for 6 weeks the winners of the YoFrankie level design competition have been announced. Checkout the web page for screenshots and download links.
This is especially interesting because all the levels were made by artists however they contain some fairly advanced game logic using blenders logic bricks and basic python scripting.
Bill Kendrick of New Breed Software sent in the following request for assistance:
Fight or Perish is a Dandy-inspired dungeon crawling action game. (Dandy being the ancestor of Atari Games’ “Gauntlet“.)
It utilizes cellular automata to allow for literally hundreds or thousands of enemies on the map. The current alpha version has rudimentary graphics, no sound, and only one partial map, but supports 1-4 players on the same system, using keyboard and/or joysticks.
FOP is open source (GPL), and is already fun to play. The project is looking for artists to create all new artwork, and map designers to create some fun dungeons to crawl. Contact Bill Kendrick if you’d like to help out!
The latest development release of Wine has been released. This 1.1.17 has the following changes:
Download: [ Wine 1.1.17 ]
For the developers: Free Gamer posted about several open source 3D landscape generators recently; among them, the Blender plugin InnerWorld looks the most interesting. There’s also a Blender landscape modeling tutorial at Wikibooks.
Version 0.9.11 of the Doom 3 editor DarkRadiant, a fork of the GtkRadiant level editor maintained by the Dark Mod project, has been released, which adds a command console.
Download: [ sourceforge.net ]
Edit: Well crap, looks like this release doesn’t have a Linux build for download – I’ll see if a SVN snapshot works at some point. Sorry about that.
Simutrans is a transportation sim (thanks Game Tome!):
Your goal is to establish a successful transport company. Transport passengers, mail and goods by rail, road, ship, and even air. Interconnect districts, cities, public buildings, industries and tourist attractions by buiding a transport network you always dreamed of.
Download: [ simutrans.com ]
A bugfix version of Scorched3D is out; version 42.1 adds:
Scorched3D is a 3D remake of the classic game Scorched Earth, where artillery pieces lob shells at one another across varied terrain.
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ scorched3d.co.uk ]
ScummVM, a virtual machine for classic adventure games that utilize the SCUMM interpreter SPU™ and a dozen other engines, has a new release, which adds support for The 7th Guest among other changes.
Download: [ scummvm.org ]
Version 0.8.3 of Wormux, an open-source multiplayer strategy game inspired by Worms, has been released:
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ wormux.org ]
Billiards is a cue sports simulator which aims for accurate physics.
Download: [ nongnu.org ]
Via CAG, I found this deal on Newegg.com for an eight dollar copy of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.
