Slashdot Mirror

• UT2004 (Also Unreal - 2003 work as well)
• Neverwinter Nights
• SAVAGE: The Battle for Newerth
• Enemy Territory
• Quake3
• Americas Army

• Forzen Bubble
• Scorched3D
• Legends (Tribes2 Clone)
• Chromium (Space Invaders Clone)

They have, it's called Savage.

S2 Games

Savage !
www.s2games.com

I thought about this concept as well. It'd be pretty cool if your computer experience was just one big game, and instead of irc chat rooms you'd just have a "no weapons" quake 3 arena zone or something where people chat.

Anyway, there is a game that did actually go to the next step - Savage - The Battle for Newerth or something like that. It has a real time strategy component (i.e. the leader) as well as everyone else is in the fps/3rd person (depending on the weapon choice).

Maybe someone could make a game that's a space simulation strategy and you have an fps game inside where you drop off "soldiers" and they do co-op missions on abandoned space stations fighting for them or something. In any case, it'd be a cool gaming model and would be more "vast".

You're right about the consoles taking over PC games, but PC's are where the avante guarde videogames will be. Consoles are controlled by big companies and big companies as a rule squelch innovation. I burned out on FPS's 10 years ago, and thats ALL thats avaliable on consoles, I own the 3 major consoles right now, and purchase less than 5 games a year. When I was a kid I shit my pants for ninja gaiden 2 when it came out, but now I am so cynical I can't even be bothered to check the new ninja gaiden out.

A game that im in love with that would never make it on a console -- Savage. It combines FPS+RTS, the game is much to complicated to be played with a controller, I use a mouse, a keyboard, AND a belkin nostromo (although the nostromo is somewhat optional). Also, the game doesn't get boring because you're playing against REAL people, and REAL people are sneaky, new techniques and strategies appear on a weekly basis and then counter measures are discovered and they become pointless. Theres a free demo version with just two maps and one race, the retail version adds 60 maps and the "beast" race. There is violence, but less then the original doom, theres no sexual content (although oddly enough the trailer features an attractive woman who doesn't appear in the game!). If you want a boxed, copy, its 25$ at best buy, you can buy online and get it instantly if you dont. This game is really an example of whats good about the gaming industry, and it coudln't happen on a console.

Lets all go play Savage on Linux instead.

It's the best multiplayer FPS/RTS game I know. Infact it's the only game that combines the two. It's great!!

Im sorry, I must not have made it clear that I was talking about the developers (who I specifically linked to), not the publishers, who are responsible for most of the business side. And, regardless, their failure is not their fault, its how the game market is designed. They have done more with what they have available than some other publishers do with a lot more. Just getting a game onto store shelves (which igames has managed to do rather well) is an immense task.

Savage, and its creators, did everything right. A multiplayer demo, for linux too, with enough of the game to get you hooked and playing, but leave you wanting more. Online CD Key purchase and download. Clients for both windows and linux, servers too. And continuing development that has already improved the gameplay by an order of magnitude. If the big name companies put this much thought into how to make a game right instead of pumping out the next franchise/licensed game as fast as possible us gamers would be in heaven.

Savage, and its creators, did everything right. A multiplayer demo, for linux too, with enough of the game to get you hooked and playing, but leave you wanting more. Online CD Key purchase and download. Clients for both windows and linux, servers too. And continuing development that has already improved the gameplay by an order of magnitude. If the big name companies put this much thought into how to make a game right instead of pumping out the next franchise/licensed game as fast as possible us gamers would be in heaven.

Savage, and its creators, did everything right. A multiplayer demo, for linux too, with enough of the game to get you hooked and playing, but leave you wanting more. Online CD Key purchase and download. Clients for both windows and linux, servers too. And continuing development that has already improved the gameplay by an order of magnitude. If the big name companies put this much thought into how to make a game right instead of pumping out the next franchise/licensed game as fast as possible us gamers would be in heaven.

With the release of Savage 2.0 yesterday, I plan on wasting all my "TV time" playing.

This one is almost as time consuming as previous addictions, and shares many of the same traits of both!

If you get slaughtered by a rabbit or a penguin, you've probably 'seen' me!

With the release of Savage 2.0 yesterday, I plan on wasting all my "TV time" playing.

This one is almost as time consuming as previous addictions, and shares many of the same traits of both!

If you get slaughtered by a rabbit or a penguin, you've probably 'seen' me!

Well, poster, all the stuff you listed is major publishing mainstream content. It is widely known that usually, and even more so in times of low sales, slow economy, etc., mainstream publishers will shun any and all risk and put out nothing but surefire titles, i.e. either sequels or stuff with a movie license.

So if you look for originality, you're simply looking in the wrong place.

Some of the original games I've bought and/or played (some are free) this year:
(note: I'm Linux-only, so these games are as well, you might find even more in the windos or console world)

Marble Blast
3D roll-marble-around and complete puzzles game.
Originality factor: Combining marble games with FPS and turning it into a fast-paced, thrilling action game.

Bridge Construction Set (only played the demo on this one)
Build a bridge game. Simple, fun, addictive. It is a sequel to an older game of the same kind, by the same guy.
Originality factor: I don't know any other games of this kind, the idea is brilliant.

Orbz
Shoot-yourself-around-the-track game. Somewhat tricky to describe what exactly it is about.
Originality factor: No other game of this kind exists, AFAIK.

Scorched 3D
3D Clone of Scorched Earth.
Originality factor: While the idea is old, this is one of the few games really benefiting from the 3rd dimension, and it was done greatly. It is one of the few "clone" games that are actually more original than most of the "original" games you find which just rehash a basic idea (FPS, RTS, ...) without adding anything new.

Savage
A blend between RTS and FPS.
Originality factor: Combining two genres in a unique blend. No, it wasn't done this way before. It's not an RTS with first-person perspective for the commander, it actually is a full-blown FPS for all the non-commander players.

BattleMaster
Ok, shameless plug, this is my own game. I do, however, honestly think that it's quite original.
(it's a turn-based, multiplayer strategy game)

You will note all of these games come from small or independent developers.

Games are really like music in that regard: If you are looking for originality, look to the small and unknown. If you are looking for polished, perfectly produced, know-what-you-get stuff, shop in the mainstream.

While some games last over an hour, most last about 15 minutes, so it is easy to jump in.

To win, you need a team; good warriors, good leaders, and (critical) a good commander. They all have to work together, and at times build structures or go on suicide runs.

If any part of the team is weak, your team will likely loose.

The main problem with the game is that there aren't enough players (and getting stiffed by a poor commander), though over the last few weeks I've noticed that more and more games are becoming crowded (probably because they dropped the price for the holidays to $30 usd).

Typically, there are 20+ players per game split between the two teams. Large games double that number. 25-35 players seems to be optimal.

I second the recommendation of Savage. It is a great game, developed and supported for Windows AND Linux. You can purchase the game over the internet straight from the developer or you can buy a retail box version from a local game store. It combines the two great computer game types: FPS and RTS.

They have a very good linux implementation. It crashed once or twice but is very playable anyway. Also, I mostly played the demo, so the full client might not crash at all.

I have a 1.6 Ahtlon, 256MB RAM w/ GeForce 2 and I get a great framerate. Even with an older card you should get decent performance.

It's not an amazing game, some things are frustrating: the collision detection during fights needs work, but it's a totally new genre of game, it's fun to play AND it's got a linux client. Good job S2!

Try it out, it's worth it...

They have a very good linux implementation. It crashed once or twice but is very playable anyway. Also, I mostly played the demo, so the full client might not crash at all.

I have a 1.6 Ahtlon, 256MB RAM w/ GeForce 2 and I get a great framerate. Even with an older card you should get decent performance.

It's not an amazing game, some things are frustrating: the collision detection during fights needs work, but it's a totally new genre of game, it's fun to play AND it's got a linux client. Good job S2!

Try it out, it's worth it...

How about FPS + RTS? It lets you have huge team games, but still have organization within teams because a commander governs each team from a RTS point of view. Savage for Windows and Linux does just this. It is a great game, and I highly recommend you check it out.

In fact, all FPS games have stopped progressing gameplay wise since Quake. Other than changes in gameplay theme, it has been the same since Quake.

That is, if you don't consider hybrid games such as "Deus Ex", which is a RPG, action-adventure, FPS - all in one.

Or Savage, which is a RTS and FPS rolled into one. Note Savage runs natively on both windows and Linux. Why aren't you playing it yet? You can even buy it online directly from the developer. SUPPORT LINUX GAME DEVELOPERS!

More aggressively with game developers. I mean its sort of sad that even though there are a handful of active commercial (and non-commercial albeit high quality as in my sig) game developers who are supporting Linux there is still the perception that Linux doesn't have games.

Gentoo seems to get it, but I'd expect to see a more aggressive commercial distribution seriously pimping this and I believe in we really need some good exposure like this.

Although 802.11 doesn't sound like a very good idea, she uses the headache excuse way too much already.

If you guys really want to see a good example of an indie developer with a great game out there with a somewhat original concept (FPS/RTS game).. oh yeah, and the fact that they released a Windows and a Linux AND a Mac client for the game side by side (No long waits for a port) go visit S2 Games . Oh yeah.. and you can buy their game online and download the full ISO of the game. 10 bucks cheaper than the store.

An interesting benifit of developing for OS X found here. About two thirds and near the bottom of the page, written by the forum's administrator S2Slothy.

Add yet another game to my ever growing list of games I can play on Linux. I also suggest you purchase Savage (FPS/RTS) if your expenses allow. You can download and play instantly for $39.99. I did last night. Looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. I'll be checking out Legends tonight as well. Thanks to the developers and ignore the whiners. Keep the games coming!

One current example is Savage from s2games.
They don't offer a downloadable demo.

However, I was able to convince a coworker that we should each buy a copy to play online (we're both getting a bit bored with UT2K3).

Apparently it messed up his sound on WinXP and it wouldn't even run on my Red Hat 9 until a beta patch was issued.
This is a game on store shelves!

Fortunately for s2games we are patient and have agreed to wait for it to get better, but unfortunately for them I have felt compelled to write this.
It could have all been avoided if a demo were available.

One current example is Savage from s2games.
They don't offer a downloadable demo.

However, I was able to convince a coworker that we should each buy a copy to play online (we're both getting a bit bored with UT2K3).

Apparently it messed up his sound on WinXP and it wouldn't even run on my Red Hat 9 until a beta patch was issued.
This is a game on store shelves!

Fortunately for s2games we are patient and have agreed to wait for it to get better, but unfortunately for them I have felt compelled to write this.
It could have all been avoided if a demo were available.

First of all, you forgot SAVAGE . A reference grade quality, high end Action FPS / Large Multiplayer RTS with state-of-the-art grafics, dripping with eye-candy. And they are the _very__first_ to come out with a client for Linux from the get go whilst officially making that their policy.
So right away, go and buy that game and mail them how much you appriechiate them making a Linux game and how much you love to give them your money for it! They've even got a download purchase, so you can be playing in something like 20 minutes.
Second of all: The transgaming people are heroes, no doubt, but something like 1 out of 30 mentionable games actually run. I won't buy any windowsgames any more, even *if* they are supported by tg and those where the first and last 30 bucks tg got from me. Sorry guys, Master of Orion 2 runs quite ok (the first 15 min.) but that's about it. No, really, it's better we rid this shoddy emulation stuff sooner than later and pay developers for making cool native Linuxgames. Whe can use them to await the time when Linux has conquered the desktop and gaming developement kicks in.
Remember the Amiga days? Would've you thought that PCs would once be a gaming plattform? Me neither.

Bottom line:
Quit whining. And if you're bored help the Boson team finish their promising project.

Just look at something like Savage. Granted, it has elements of fighting... but it merges a 64-player FPS with the RTS genre, allowing commanders to build, research technology branches, and command the 31-person FPS players.

"someday you just might get the hottest Go-Kill-Em-All game on Linux."

Well, as far as go-kill-em-all games go we have gotten most of those immediately as of late.

First with Quake3 and Return to Castle Wolfenstein - and then with UT 2003 having the linux binaries IN THE BOX.

We are not hurting in the go-kill-em-all department - but it is things like RTS (which is where this game fits) and racing (which is where games like Midnight Racing are going to fit) that we need the most help.

It is definitely getting better though. Personally the game I am looking forward to the most is: Savage which is going to be released with linux binaries in the box as well.

Derek