Slashdot Mirror
Monolith Adds Games For Linux
Dave writes "Monolith Productions and Hyperion Software announced today that they have extended an existing licensing agreement to include a port of Monolith's critically acclaimed Shogo: Mobile Armor Division and LithTech 1.0 and 2.0 to the Linux operating system. The Linux port is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2000.
This is a great addition for Linux gaming, and will hopefully help to influence other software companies to develop more and more games for the Linux OS. "
Hmmm.. when you look at it that way, Microsoft's decision to venture into gaming could do great things for Linux gaming. I certainly hope things continue along the track they're currently on. Seems like something cool related to Linux gaming is being announced every week now.
It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
The floodgates are pretty much opening right now, for "big boy" games for Linux, and *everybody* will soon be jumping on. When Electronic Arts jumps in... well, it's going to happen any time./ Chances are they're working on a few ports already just to assess the technology.
That's coming nicely I'd say. Now we have to start thinking beyond that: lots of people aren't going to put Windows away for good until their children can play games, especially educational games on dad's computer. That's the new frontier.
Life's a bitch but somebody's gotta do it.
LithTech/ Linux Press release - Posted 1/19/2000 by Tom Kirkland, WA (January 19, 1999) -
Monolith Productions and Hyperion Software announced today that they have extended an existing licensing agreement to include a port of Monolith's critically acclaimed Shogo: Mobile Armor Division and LithTech 1.0 and 2.0 to the Linux operating system. The Linux port is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2000. Under an initial agreement with Monolith in April, 1999, Hyperion agreed to port Shogo and the LithTech 3D Engine to both the Amiga and Apple Macintosh platforms (http://www.lith.com/corporate/04_28_1 999.html). The existing agreement has now been extended to include Linux for x86 and Power PC processors.
"Porting the LithTech 3D engine to Linux gives licensees and game players one more reason to choose LithTech technology and LithTech-based games" comments Jason Hall, CEO of Monolith Productions. "Our latest agreement with Hyperion continues our quest to provide the highest quality, most versatile 3D engine in the market."
The LithTech 3D Engine, the technology behind Shogo: M.A.D. and upcoming Monolith games Sanity and No One Lives Forever, allows for a full range of cutting edge graphic effects, from spectacular lighting to highly detailed character models. The engine also allows designers to create breath-taking outdoor areas from magnificent mountain ranges to sprawling cities. Current LithTech licensees include Third Law Interactive and New World Computing. Extensive information including FAQ's about LithTech can be found at www.lithtech.com.
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division, inspired by the Japanese "anime" tradition, is an action-packed first-person shooter combining spectacular environments (from neon-lit, futuristic cityscapes to gaping desert ravines and canyons) with a meaningful storyline packed with intriguing characters, plot revelations and huge transforming machines known as mecha.
About Monolith Productions, Inc.
Monolith Productions, Inc., based in Kirkland, WA, is focused on combining uncompromising gaming content with the ultimate in high-end gaming technology. Founded by six game developers in 1995, Monolith's passion for programming resulted in the creation of the LithTech 3D Engine. This proprietary software is used in the creation of Monolith products, such as the well-received Shogo: Mobile Armor Division, and is available for license to the wider development community. For the latest news and information on Monolith and it products, visit their Web site at http://www.lith.com.
About Hyperion Software
Hyperion is a recently established Belgian-German software house dedicated to bringing high-end PC games to PowerPC based Amiga and Mac computers. Individual members of the Hyperion team have been involved in various commercial and non-commercial projects on the Amiga, Mac, Linux and PC platforms. For any information about Hyperion Software, visit their website at http://www.hyperion-software.com
In related news, Mattel recently announced that it would be porting the entire series of "Barbie and Ken" doll computer games to the Linux operating system. According to company spokesperson Jim Nasium "we see the market segment represented by Linux users and programmers as a completely untapped resource for generating revenue." The Ken and Barbe series includes the wildy popular "Which way does Ken Swing" and "Barbie Life" in which the goal is to navigate Barbie through a series of life-changing decisions while avoiding the evils of pimps and crack dealers. AP.
XML causes global warming.
Games are what defines an OS or machine. Take the Amiga. In the early 90's THAT was the computer of choice in Europe. Lots of great (and not so great) games, and life was good. Then a certain software company released a certain game called DOOM. People saw that it was good. PC's were seen as serious games machines, and people moved to the PC. The games developers stopped developing for the Amiga and moved to the PC when the market grew, and the Amiga died. (As a mainstream machine.) While there's a trickle of games for Linux right now, sooner or later, hopefully, the dam will break, and the floodgates will open. Linux needs it's version of "Doom". A killer game that blows the competition away and makes people sit up and take notice. Here's to a Linux port of Championship Manager 99/00! (Not that that would sell Linux to 99.999% of the population, but oh well...)
Okay, I'm biased since I'm working on one, but I sure would like to see Slashdot give more attention to the many free software game projects. There's a *lot* of them out there, and many are doing some very cool things. I mean, Slashdot *does* support open source software development, right? (Right???)
The Lithtech engine is the underlying layer for the games. So if it gets ported to Linux, you can expect that it will be VERY easy to port other games to Linux in the future.
Lithtech handles more than just the graphics. There's sound and network support also. Porting this engine will be a big job, but that effort will then apply towards ALL games that use it.
Best regards,
SEAL