GamniX

Version 2.2.1 is released
This is a bugfix release for 2.2 - but some small new features were added, too.

• Removed civilian death limit. Instead you will lose if you make too many nations unhappy.
• Improved in-game IRC client.
• Added UFO Theory to Tech Tree.

Make sure that you read the full Changelog.

There is currently no MAC dmg package available for download. We are still searching for someone who will support us with building those packages for ppc and intel (or an universal binary).

But now it’s really time to get on to the download page and grab your copy.

A new Development release is ready. This is the first release in the brand new 1.5.x tree. A lot was changed since the start of the stable 1.4.x branch and since I am too lazy to list all the great changes in here, better have a look at the forum thread which describes the most important changes. As with the last releases, we continue to offer two versions of changelogs: a rather nice to read players changelog that only includes changes every player will probably notice and the (rather) complete changelog with (almost) all the details, which is likely to cause a serious headache…
At the moment no binaries are ready. Once they are done you can find them at the download page. Please keep in mind that it is a development release which might include quite many bugs. If you find one, report it.

Teeworlds is an open source 2D platform shooter featuring online play. Your round character will run, jump, and grapple around maps while wielding weapons and avoiding being killed by other players.

The game recently was forced to change their name because of a copyright issue.

The server browser:

Read more at Tombuntu

FreeCiv 2.1.4 is released.

WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE 2.1.3

• gui-sdl Fix crash when trying to bribe a unit (PR#39857)
• Fixes for UTF-8 and local encoding mismatch (PR#40058)
• Fixed crash when unit is killed by the breaking of a treaty (PR#40020)
• gui-gtk2 Theme had checkbox images reversed in some situations (PR#40125)
• Improvements to server authentication backend (PR#21620, PR#40018, PR#40145)
• Check that there is no acinclude.m4 left from old builds in the source tree (PR#40155)
• Fixes to strings and i18n (PR#40101, PR#40156, PR#40157)
• Fixed pathfinding crash when ferry is forced to leave path (PR#40169)
• Fixed warnings and crashes caused by AI trying to updgrade allied units (PR#40148)
• Fixed “take -” crash when there is no free player slots (PR#40179)
• Fixed crash in citizen governor (PR#40171)
• Avoid overwriting player name given as /create parameter (PR#40147)
• Fixed AI crash when city destroyed during trade negotiation (PR#40185)
• Send /cut and /cmdlevel commands correctly to server (PR#39614)
• Fixed handling of quoted command parameters (PR#40196)

See NEWS for older lists of changes.

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:

Read more at LinuxGames

I thought I was making the players wait too long, nearly 10 months for the next major release. Things have been admittedly slow so I figured i’ll release what’s done so far. This is not the fabled version 0.8.0, but it is a nice prelude to it.

Significant Changes:

Changes:

- New player model : Assassin. This guy kills for greed.
- New player model : Space Marine. This guy serves his Corps. In SPACE.
- New player skin : Angelyss/Neko. Mew!!!!!! :3
- New player skin : Grism/Indigo. A homage of that other game.
- Ayumi/Neko, Angelyss/Sly have been atticed due to quality reasons.
- Text font (bigchars.tga) used by console and hud messages now doesn’t bleed anymore.
- Special characters added for text font (bigchars.tga) used by some mods. If you’ve ever encountered a “?” where it shouldn’t be in a mod, this should really fix it
- lots of maps and changed maps, at least 8 new significant maps to play! This includes the  reworked oa_dm3 and oa_dm5.
- oa_ctf2 is more balanced, slightly retextured.
- Elimination and CTF elimination game types. No one respawns until the round is over.
- Double domination game type. Two teams must control two points on the map for 10 seconds to score.
- Last Man Standing game type. The name of the game is self explanatory.
- Instant Gib option, gives everyone only a railgun that does kills instantly.
- All Rockets option, makes everyone only have a rocket launcher.
- Alt-tab working.
- Unlagged tracehits option, provides a more responsive feel for railguns, machineguns and shotguns.
- Classic Grism aren’t teamskins anymore. This means the ‘white’ skin will not show up during team games. In addition, the skins can be used for FFA again.
- Completely in SDL.
- BFG BFG BFG BFG
- A lot of other stuff we forgot like minor polishings. There’s lots of it and too many to mention here.

Releases can be found on the FILES page.

Mac version is coming soon!

Five months ago from today, Unreal Tournament 3 for the PC was released in North America. Linux gamers around the world, however, were let down with the lack of an available Linux client and all UT3 gamers were impacted by the lack of any Linux server for this game…

Read more at Phoronix

We are leaving for a short vacation week, I’ve been begged not to leave my laptops at home. Here are the reasons why:

atanks

Once atanks (package atanks) is installed, you launch it from a terminal. The goal is to destroy other tanks before they destroy yours. You can earn “money” when you hit them and win, buy weapons, and get more powerful shields. My kids are not fluent in English, my systems are in English, they found their way around on their own.

Read more at b-initials

Alien Arena is an open source First Person Shooter (FPS) that takes the fun extraterrestrial theme of games like Area 51 and combines it with the hard hitting deathmatch action of great shooters such as Quake and Unreal Tournament.  The game is themed around a 1950’s era alien invasion, complete with all the classic bug eyed and bulbous headed aliens and weird robotic monsters.  But what makes this game even better is that it’s completely open source!  It’s a completely free game that comes at no cost to you, but provides you with hours of unending, frag filled carnage.  But what makes the new Alien Arena so special?  Let’s have a look.

Read more at Raidens Realm

The free software community makes games, too. Among the more well-known ones is the Battle for Wesnoth — a turn-based strategy game with a fantasy setting. It doesn’t have shiny 3D graphics or cut-scenes, but it is an interesting and original game and is fun to play.

This game is often simply called “Wesnoth”, and the package name is “wesnoth”.

Wesnoth is played on a map divided into small hexagons. Each player controls a number of units which move over the map and attack enemy units. Different units possess different abilities and weapons. An important tactical element in Wesnoth is terrain: it determines the defensive ability of the units. For example, an Elvish Fighter can defend himself better in the forest than on open grassland, so enemies are less likely to harm him in the forest. As you kill more and more of your foes, your followers advance to higher levels, improving their skills and other characteristics. Careful positioning, movement and advancement of units is the key to victory.

The game’s interface is quite nice and usable. Among other things, Wesnoth ships with a complete in-game help reference where you can find detailed information as well as general overviews.

Read more at Debian Package of Day