Valve Is Working On Steam For Linux

Phoronix has started reporting that Steam is coming to Linux since 2010, and many didn't believe it but now it finally seems real because in a new post, Michael Larabel from Phoronix has posted some images with Steam running natively on Linux:

Left 4 Dead 2 running natively on Ubuntu

According to the article, Valve isn't only porting Steam to Linux, but also the Source Engine game engine and the Left 4 Dead 2 game:

Right now the game they have been working on the most for their Linux client is Left 4 Dead 2. Why L4D2? Basically because it is a stable code-base to do for their initial porting. They have plans to bring their other titles to Linux as well as lobby other game developers using Steam and the Source Engine to bring their games to Linux -- natively. They are not using the Wine library or anything in terms of their native Linux Steam/Source engine work.

Unfortunately, it's not yet known when Valve plans make the first Steam for Linux release, but it seems it's not too far.

image / info via Phoronix

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Speed Dreams 2.0 Available (Multi-Platform Racing Game)

Speed Dreams is an open source, multi platform (works on Windows and Linux) motorsport simulator that was forked from the open racing simulator TORCS with the purpose of adding new features such as new cars, tracks, AI opponents and making the game more enjoyable and realistic.

After quite a long development cycle, Speed Dreams 2.0 stable has finally been released with some important new features:

• New and much improved tracks: 21 tracks ranging from highly detailed Grand Prix circuits to winding roadways or tricky off-road tracks
• New cars and new car sets - you can choose among 29 racing cars in 84 skins
• Time of day and weather conditions for any race type and track
• Improved physics engine and tweaked AI opponents for a more realistic driving experience and maximum challenge
• New career mode allowing gamers to take on a lifetime professional career
• Extended 3D OpenGL and CPU options for better effects and more performance
• New game menu design - cool design and improved usability

Speed Dreams 2.0 doesn't include multiplayer support as it was initially planned because the developers didn't have enough time to implement it. So if you can help complete the network game play and further improve features and graphics, check out THIS page.

Here are a few Speed Dreams 2.0 screenshots and a video:

(direct video link)

For more videos, see HERE.

Install Speed Dreams in Ubuntu

Speed Dreams is available in a PPA for Ubuntu 12.04, 11.10, 11.04 and 10.04 - add the PPA and install the latest Speed Dreams using the commands below:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:speed-dreams/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install speed-dreams

For other Linux distributions and Windows, Speed Dreams is available for download @ Sourceforge and on Desura.

 info via speed-dreams.org, thanks to Bart for the tip!

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0 A.D. Reaches Alpha 8, Finally Gets Save Feature For Single-Player Games

0 A.D., a historical real-time strategy game, has reached alpha 8. The new version brings a new civilization: Persian and also, single-player games can finally be saved / restored.

Here are the most important new features in the latest 0 A.D. Alpha 8 "Haxāmaniš":

• a new civilization: Persian, which includes a new building set and new units
• Bartering system: buy and sell resources in exchange for other resources
• single-player games can be saved and restored
• reconnect feature for the multiplayer game: you no longer have to abandon the game if you are disconnected during a multiplayer game
• 45° Field of View
• new music tracks
• new map: Zagros Mountains

Also, the AI and overall game performance were improved. For a complete changelog, see the official announcement.


Here are a couple of videos presenting the new features in 0 A.D. Alpha 8:

Install 0 A.D. in Ubuntu

To add the 0 A.D. stable PPA (well, as stable as it can be for an alpha release) and install it in Ubuntu 12.04, 11.10, 11.04 and 10.04, use the commands below:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:wfg/0ad
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install 0ad

There's also a 0 A.D. development PPA if you want to get faster updates.

For other Linux distributions, Windows and Mac OSX, see the 0 A.D. download section.

info / screenshot via wildfiregames.com

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Speed Dreams (Racing Game) 2.0 Beta 1 Released With Reworked Cars And Tracks, More [PPA]

Speed Dreams is an open source racing game that works on Linux and Windows. The game is a Torcs fork with cool new features such as new cars, tracks and AI opponents.

Speed Dreams 2.0 beta 1 is now available for Linux and Windows and comes with many bug fixes, reworked cars and tracks, improved physics and many other improvements.

The next beta (2) will bring improved tracks, more reworked cars as well as a new menu design:

Speed Dreams 2 was also supposed to bring multiplayer support but it seems the developers didn't have enough time to implement it so they are looking for someone who can help get the network / internet game mode done for a future version. If you can help, check out THIS page.

Speed Dreams 2.0 (pretty old - sorry about that) trailer:

Install Speed Dreams 2 beta 1 in Ubuntu

According to Wikipedia, the minimum system requirements for running Speed Dreams are: 550Mhz CPU, 128MB RAM and OpenGL 1.3 compatible graphics card with 32MB RAM.

The latest Speed Dreams 2 beta 1 is available in the official Speed Dreams PPA for Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal, 10.10 Maverick Meerkat and 10.04 Lucid Lynx. Add the PPA and install it using the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:speed-dreams/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install speed-dreams

Running Speed Dreams from the menu didn't work in my test so to launch it, press ALT + F2 or open a terminal and enter:

/usr/games/speed-dreams-2

To download the source or Windows setup files, check out the Speed Dreams Sourceforge page.

Report any bugs you may find @ Sourceforge.

Thanks to bart for the info and screenshots!

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0 A.D. RTS Game Reaches Alpha 7

(New 0 A.D. main menu)

0 A.D. is an Age of Empires like real-time strategy game. The game is open source and is available for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X. 

0 A.D. is still in alpha stages, but is already looks great, with excellent graphics and sound. There are still some missing features though, like campaigns, lack of settings, no multiplayer matchmaking service and more.

0 A.D. alpha 7 has been released today with some very important improvements:

• new dynamic territory design
• new Carthaginian civilization
• a brand new main menu design
• new sound tracks as well as 100+ new sound effects
• 5 new maps

For a complete list of changes, see the official 0 A.D. alpha 7 release announcement.


Here's a video demoing the new 0 A.D. main menu:




And if you're interested in the 0 A.D. gameplay, there's an older (pre alpha 7 - despite it's title) video:

Install 0 A.D. in Ubuntu

0 A.D. can be installed in Ubuntu (Oneiric, Natty, Maverick or Lucid) by using the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:wfg/0ad
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install 0ad

There's also a development PPA (more up to date but less stable) available here.


For other Linux distributions, Windows and Mac OSX, see the 0 A.D. homepage.

Image & news via wildfiregames.com/0ad

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Armagetron Advanced: Tron-Inspired Multiplayer Game

Armagetron Advanced is an open source game inspired by the movie Tron. For those who haven't seen Tron: in this game, two or more players use a vehicle called "light cycle" which leaves a coloured trail behind; making contact with the trail or the walls is fatal, so the goal is to "box" your opponents.

"Armagetron is a multiplayer game in 3D that attempts to emulate and expand on the lightcycle sequence from the movie Tron. It's an old school arcade game slung into the 21st century. Highlights include a customizable playing arena, HUD, unique graphics, and AI bots. For the more advanced player there are new game modes and a wide variety of physics settings to tweak as well".

The developers tried to make it look and feel exactly like the movie and for the most part they've succeeded, though the graphics need a bit of work.

At first, the game may seem too simple and I must admit, playing against AI becomes boring quite fast but it's very fun if you play it against your friends. And it's actually not that simple as there are many moves and techniques that you can learn, so it takes time and practice to master Armagetron Advanced.

Armagetron Advanced can be played against AI opponents, humans (LAN or Internet - many servers available) or a mixture of both and there are several game modes available: Deathmatch, Classic, Fortress, Sumo or Team Death Match - more about this on the Armagetron Advanced wiki page.

Here is a video (old, but still interesting) in which you can see Armagetron Advanced in action as well a few tips on how to play it:

Download Armagetron Advanced

Armagetron Advanced is available for Linux, Windows and Mac OSX and even though it was launched back in 2001, it's still under active development. 

The game is available in the Ubuntu / Debian official repositories so you can install it by clicking the button below:

Or using the following command in a terminal:

sudo apt-get install armagetronad

If you want to install a newer version, you can use the Armagetron Advanced PPA which provides the latest RC, alpha, beta and experimental packages for Ubuntu users:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:armagetronad-dev/ppa

sudo apt-get update

and then install one of the following packages: armagetronad (this will install the latest release candidate), armagetronad-alpha, armagetronad-beta or armagetronad-experimental.

Download Armagetron Advanced (for Linux, Windows and Mac OSX)

[image credits: armagetronad.net]

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0 A.D. Alpha 6 Released (Age Of Empires Like RTS Game)

0 A.D. is an Age of Empires like real-time strategy game. The game is open source and is available for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X.

The sixth 0 A.D. alpha was released a few days ago, bringing a huge list of improvements such as:

• unit stances (violent - the unit attacks any enemy unit in sight, aggressive, devensive, stand ground, avoid - does not attack, and runs away from enemy soldiers)
• 250 new terrain textures
• 43 new sound effects
• new Greek buildings
• 4 new maps and other map updates

A complete list of improvements in 0 A.D. alpha 6 can be found here.

(New 0 A.D. map - Southern Greece)

Here is a video demoing the new sound effects in 0 A.D. alpha 6:




0 A.D. is already playable and both single player and multiplayer modes are available, however there are still some missing features like campaings, lack of settings, no multiplayer matchmaking service and more.

If you can help the 0 A.D. developers, check out the "Call for Contributions" message posted in the 0 A.D. alpha 6 release announcement.

Install 0 A.D. in Ubuntu

There is a somewhat stable 0 A.D. PPA for Ubuntu (Oneiric, Natty, Maverick and Lucid) users - add it and install 0 A.D. using the commands below:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:wfg/0ad
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install 0ad

The same 0 A.D. version as in the above PPA is also available on PlayDeb (ignore "alpha-1" in the package name, that's a bug). There's also a development PPA (more up to date but less stable) available here.

For other Linux distributions, Windows and Mac OSX, see the 0 A.D. homepage.

Via wildfiregames.com and h-online.com

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