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If they made Quake too easy, let's all play XPilot!

http://www.xpilot.org/

The game you are referring to may be xpilot

Originally released in 1991 xpilot is still developed and we still play.

-Cluster

get them all to play xpilot :-), introduces X windows , networking and fun.

http://www.xpilot.org/ :-)

This is not intended in any way as a troll (merely informative to other readers who may not have come across him yet and wonder what we are talking about), but I take it from the UID you do this with the full knowledge that Theo is, on all apparent evidence, a bit of a nutter, a bullshitter (with reference to his utter bollocks about 'Linuxes'), and that rather than OpenBSD being founded out of some earnest devotion to security of his[1], it was because his access to the NetBSD CVS repository was pulled, on the grounds that he was being a class jerk to both users and other developers (not a exactly an isolated incident).

[1] In fact, he originally intended it to be called NextBSD, because he seemed he was basically intent on running his own show all along (which seems to me to be due to him 'not playing well with others').

While the development of OpenSSH remains a much valued contribution, from a security standpoint OpenBSD really has a long way to go to catch up to Linux as far as meaningful features go (the security hype being primarily based on (a) the contribution of OpenSSH - which Theo said he didn't want to make for any OS other than OpenBSD! - and (b) simply having all the services turned off on a default installation).

Specifically (and unlike Linux) OpenBSD doesn't support MAC (Mandatory Access Control) restriction on files, nor does it allow the restriction of access to raw devices, memory or sockets for any user (including processes executed as root), hell it doesn't even have ACL's (Access Control Lists) support without a 3rd party patch (e.g. with patches based on FreeBSD 5's implementation), and they don't seem to 'get' why anyone would want it. In fact, they have *actively* decided not to even attempt to implement POSIX.1e (according to this book, endorsed by Theo).

These are features that have been supported by Linux for years. If (and I honestly think it's going to be 'if' rather than 'when' now), OpenBSD begins work to implement these features, then it might start to be considered useful as a secure platform. Until then, it's very lacking in meaningful features indeed. In fact, other BSD variants are already ahead of OpenBSD in so far as implementing them (such as FreeBSD and TrustedBSD).

I realise it's considered easier to criticise than give due credit by some, but in the case of Theo De Ratt I can't see that the amount of credit he gets from some quarters is warranted.

In conclusion, this is why I find the inference that he is 'very wise and well intentioned' at best riotously amusing. ;-)

( YMMV. :)

You mentioned Bzflag, I think you would like XPilot also, perfect for team games about 5 a side. It might have been mentioned under this post already but heres some more info..

The official homepage gives you some tips on how to play the game (it DOES takes a little while to learn). It's rated the #11 best game on www.happypenguin.org, works under most Unixes, linux distros and even windows.

It is basically Multi user thrust and while that might sound a bit boring and the graphics look a bit boring, it is actually really great fun, once you have perfected control with the mouse it becomes a game of lightening reactions. Don't let the basic graphics confuse you, but you knew that already right. There are hundreds of game parameters and client parameters you can change, and loads of maps, of different modes, some of them are pure power games where you collect as many power ups as you can, there is also a race mode where its pure speed, and then there is a team play mode where you try to steal each others treasure.

You might want to check out a branch that some of us are working on too which gives the ability to define maps in XML and use polygons and as high an FPS as your machine will allow, and also has an SDL/opengl client in it (much nicer graphics same gameplay). You can find that in the CVS linked from here

It's great just to start a local server in the office on a machine and let the fun ensue. Try out a map called bloods music, where you attempt to steal each others "ball" (same idea as a flag in quake). Warning though it takes time to get into but once into is VERY! addictive.

Regards

In my days at the university we spent many late afternoons playing xpilot. I haven't played it on Linux for many years, but last I tried it was doable. I guess it can only have become better over the years.

xpilot is an oldie but a goodie. Excellent action, and certainly not too hard on those creaky 1.7 GHz machines of yours.

there are two versions:
The original xpilot
improved xpilot

Freeciv is multiplayer and works on about any machine that can run X comfortably. If you want more action, may I suggest the classic XPilot?

Nothing like it

X-Pilot is not just a game.
You can create your own planes
and maps, in ASCII no less.
It's the flatland of all flight sims!!!

ok. I'll go home now...

Key features of the Network Audio System include:

• Device-independent audio over the network
• Lots of audio file and data formats
• Can store sounds in server for rapid replay
• Extensive mixing, separating, and manipulation of audio data
• Simultaneous use of audio devices by multiple applications
• Use by a growing number of ISVs
• Small size
• Free! No obnoxious licensing terms

• Festival - The Festival Speech Synthesis System.
• mpg123 - a command line MP3 player
• GAIM - a free AOL IM client
• OpenOffice (StarOffice) - the (now opensourced) StarOffice Suite has built-in NAS support for the Solaris and Linux Platforms.
• The Qt Library - from Trolltech supports NAS natively. You will need to pass the '-system-nas-sound' to './configure' before building.
• libSDL - SDL, the Simple DirectMedia Layer library, now has native NAS support thanks to Erik Inge Bols\x{00F8}
• XAnim - the X Animation viewer
• XBoing - a blockout type X game
• XPilot - a multiplayer client/server space warfare game
• Xemacs - the best cross-plaform, cross-language IDE
• Alsaplayer - A NAS Output plugin written by Erik Inge Bols\x{00F8} is now supplied with the Alsaplayer distribution.
• X MultiMedia System (XMMS). A NAS Output plugin written by Willem Monsuwe is available at ftp://ftp.stack.nl/pub/users/willem/
• Wine. A NAS plugin written by Nicolas Escuder is now available with the WINE distrubution.

You can get source and windows binaries from ftp://ftp.xpilot.org/pub/.

You are working backwards. Looking at it objectively, it is clear that a system where applications have to become superuser to perform certain tasks but can relinquish this authority is inferior to a system where superuser priveleges are never given to a process.

Your position is understandable since this is how the Unix security model has worked for decades even though better mechanisms have been proposed but rarely caught on. For example, look at POSIX 1.E which is almost 2 decades for an example of a better model for handling systems permissions than the traditional Unix model. Recently there has been work done on FreeBSD POSIX 1.E capabilities as well as on the Linux front. This is a good indication that more and more people are disatisfied with the deficiencies of the Unix security model and its reliance on a "superuser" account for so many essential tasks.

Lastly I don't think any Linux distro has ever been certified as POSIX compliant although many feel that doing so wouldn't be difficult.

XEvil
XPilot

Both of these games have ports for Win and *nix systems (started as *nix only.) Both of them have been around forever, but are endlessly entertaining (and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome provoking.)

No xpilot either on this list. That dates to 1991, and has been multiplayer since the start.

The persistence of Subspace continues to amaze me.

The amount of time that people have spent reverse-engineering and recreating a closed-source game, when there's a staggeringly similar open source project (which predates it by years) is crazy.
I haven't seen Subspace in some years, but given that major Subspace sites are still providing the old zipfiles, I doubt it's changed at all. Given the fracturing would go on when a closed-source game changes its protocols, I doubt it *can* change much. Meanwhile xpilot continues to be played and further developed by the community that enjoys it, plus the occasional newcomer.

Perhaps the reason I haven't looked at Subspace in some time is that I don't run Windows (nor does the original question asker), and the reverse-engineers haven't made other platforms a priority.

Never fear, xpilot has you covered. Windows versions are available (with source if you want it), and the game was born and raised on X11.


If you enjoy Subspace, or liked Asteroids, or Thrust (on the C64), you owe it to yourself to check out Xpilot. And if something bugs you about it (like the spartan graphics), get the source and hack away. It's encouraged.

The main page is www.xpilot.org, and a fine beginner's guide with Windows binaries can be found at www.j-a-r-n-o.nl/xpilot.html.

Enjoy.

I'm still playing a really great 2d space shoot'em up called Subspace / Continuum made by Virgin Interactive Entertainment in the mid 95's.

VIE then dropped the game just after going retail.

It has really strong community supporting the game.

Now a new version of the game called Continuum has been reprogrammed from scratch to emulate the orginal version with added features.

Some links below.

Early precusor xpilot

Brief background history of the game

More History

Main subspace / continuum news site

Main subspace / continuum download site

Windows and Unix clients available. Bit of a learning curve, but very rewarding.

Try Xpilot today!

sounds as addictive and fun as xpilot used to be when i was in school. i wonder if there's still a big community at the Uni playing xp these days or if they've all moved up to quake and it's brethren. i haven't played any really good networked games since xp (and that includes all the hours of q3 arena, etc i've put in in the last year or so)

xp was introduced to me as "asteroids, but you get to kill other people" and i thought "now that sounds fun"

and addictive. dang. i spent more nights staring at little blips on the computer lab screens than i care to count. as i got more into it, i even started designing my own ship outlines - and even started to see other people copying them.

I was Delta Clipper (after the NASA project) and occasionally Happy Fun Ball (tm) due to my tendency to bounce around the screen, rather than actually try to navigate...

no flags, but there were little powerups (i forget the term we used for them) that would bestow invisibilty, speed, bouncing or multiple shots, mines, guided missiles, and loads of other stuff i never really learned how to control - the game used just about every key on a Sun keyboard, plus meta+key combos.

man, what a fun game. (http://www.xpilot.org/)

so, what's this about tanks? is there a Darwin/OS X port? can i play on my ibook? i'm about ready for a new addiction...

• nethack
• Xpilot
• freeciv
• Tux Racer
• MAME

With XPilot, anyone can (and does) put up their own server, so they can play with others and have near-nil lag time. They pay for the servers, not you, the developer (though the server-operators may also become developers). There are always many xpilot servers going, and sometimes the problem is getting enough players on just one of them.

Anyway, the point is, get a good community going, and some members of the community may have some bandwidth to spare to put up servers. All you have to spend is some of your time making the game good and telling people about it.

1. Capabilities: A concept that is literally over a decade old in OS design as can be seen by the POSIX 1.E standard that never got drafted (although some people prefer to call what POSIX suggested "privileges" and the fact that many operating systems support "encoding clearance into the filesystem and OS" otherwise known as capailities including Spring, EROS, KeyKOS, and Mungi.
   
   
2. Access Control Lists: Again this is an ancient concept which has been implemented in quite a number of OSEs including some versions of Solaris, *BSD and Win2K.

The old classics xpilot and xblast are still alive. I just participated in the official world championships of xpilot. The good old game xblast is also still goin strong. They are writing a new client based version, so that you can play international games.

I have. It's impossible.

I mean, come on, it's a simple game, fly around and shoot down your opponents. But I just can't stop playing it. I tried it first back in -92 or -93 when it was really basic, and I still play it from time to time.

Anyone else played it and had the same experience? Or knows of a good cure?

A good advice, try it!

A better advice, don't! You won't be able to stop...

/HG

i didn't read the article but i think simple can be better. kind of depends on the game. in some of the newer games they eye candy is part of the fun

as far as simple, xpilot is still my favorite game after 8 years. but part of the fun is that you're playing against other humans with and humor often is involved.

Well actually most the popular games today are either wolfenstein clones (such as halflife) or dune clones (such as starcraft). In other words this is what people want. So if we want to create GPL'ed games as an alternative to the games you can buy in the stores, we must make the games that people want to play

Personally I think that the worldforge project is doing the right thing. They are writing an engine that you can use to create a diablo clone or an ultima clone. But then again the engine is extensible in such a way that you can also implement a starcraft or pong. This way they are almost sure to make a game that someone would like to play, but if some creative person comes along with an idea to create something completely new, the engine can also provide the right tools for that.

By the way I don't understand all this fuzz about graphics and new ideas. I usually play xpilot This game looks like an amiga game from the 80'es. but its still good fun. Who needs this new creativity anyway? No flame intened, but I just love that game :)

More info at xpilot.org.

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