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Parsec To Be Released As Open Source

Posted by timothy on from the screenshots-to-drool-on dept.

Mark Bainter writes "The Parsec creators have announced today that they are going to release the Parsec project source code early next month. From the site: 'The source release will include platform support for Win32, MacOS X, and Linux, and contain both OpenGL and Glide rendering code. It will include almost everything that has been part of the earlier LAN-Test releases, as well as our new client/server code that is already far along in development. However, it is our hope that this release will be picked up by the Parsec community for further development, supported by members of the original Parsec Project. This release will be the last official release of the original Parsec Project. It had been our intention to achieve a full-featured release including Internet game play in 2002. However, we were always doing this in our spare time, and since it is taking us too long to reach our original goal, we do not want to keep the Parsec community waiting any longer and have thus decided that it is time to change Parsec's development model to an open source approach.'"

15 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. woah! by jandrese · · Score: 3, Funny

    What's next? A Duke Nukem Forever release? I remember checking out this site back before I ever got the 3D acceleration working on FreeBSD. I'd always figured they were going the same route as Stars! Supernova Genesis. It's great to see that it's going to be Open Source as well. It'll be great to play something beyond the ancient LAN demo.

    --

    I read the internet for the articles.
    1. Re:woah! by CoolVibe · · Score: 4, Funny
      Speaking of DNF: That one should be open sourced too, if only to get rid of all the whining and old jokes about it.

      So, what about it, 3D Realms? Open the code, we'll finish the game for you ;)

      *ducks and runs away*

    2. Re:woah! by RichardX · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Speaking of DNF"

      Somewhat ironic.. I read that as "Did Not Finish" (as in failed to reach the end of a race).. then a moment later realised it's Duke Nukem Forever.

      Perhaps a little too convenient of a coincidence?

      --
      Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
  2. This isn't Parsec by 1984 · · Score: 5, Funny

    There I go, getting all excited that the classic TI99/4a sideways scrolling shoot-em up is going to made open source. So I'd have a chance to see the workings of one the games that perverted my early development. Alas it's some fancy-schmancy 3D number. New fangled nonsense...

    1. Re:This isn't Parsec by Mr.+Firewall · · Score: 2, Funny

      There I go, getting all excited that the classic TI99/4a sideways scrolling shoot-em up is going to made open source.

      Yeah, me too. The only reason I still have my old TI99/4A is so I can play that game! Got the voice module too, so I can hear the female robot voice telling me, "Alien craft advancing... nice shot, pilot!"

      Can you buy those anywhere? I looked on ebay a while ago, but came up empty.
      I want my parsec!

      Not from me! You can have my Parsec when you unwrap my cold, dead fingers from around it....

      --
      In times of universal deceit, telling the truth gets you modded -1 Troll
    2. Re:This isn't Parsec by 1984 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nice. Just downloaded the emulator etc. from that link. Parsec on my 24" Sony monitor. Now I can waste my evenings exactly how I wasted them 20 years ago!

      Schweet!

    3. Re:This isn't Parsec by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Great shot, pi-o-lit!

  3. Now I just need to Remake Elite by szyzyg · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Parsec game engine should prove a nice basis to re-create the 8/16 bit classic elite in noughties style.

    Then again maybe Christian will get around to releasing his dark-kind source sooner.

  4. There is no safe distance! by imac.usr · · Score: 5, Funny
    I downloaded one of the tests for the Mac a long, long time ago. Gameplay seemed intriguing, but what really hooked me was the music by Stefan Poiss (I play the three tracks on my MP3 player over and over). Anybody know if there's other tracks available by him? I haven't checked the site in a while and it seems to be well and truly slashdotted now.

    --
    I use Macs for work, Linux for education, and Windows for cardplaying.
  5. Which ship made the Kessel run in 12 parsecs. by duckpoopy · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, not the Enterprise.

    --
    word.
  6. First thing to be changed now that it's open... by ksheka · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...is those pesky .mp3 sound files will be replaced by remastered .ogg files. :-)

    --
    alias uptime="echo '5:33pm up 22342352324 days, 6:28, 2124315623 users, load average: 2432.40, 12312.31, 123123.19'"
  7. Re:Which ship made the Kessel run in 12 parsecs. by nihilogos · · Score: 2, Funny

    I thought a Parsec was a unit for measuring distance, not speed. That line has always bugged me. :)

    You see, travelling faster than light speed is impossible. What you need to do is warp space somehow so you have less distance to travel. The Millenium Falcon, with its souped up engine, was able to warp space so much that the Kessel run was shortened to 12 parsecs. A lesser spacecraft might have to travel 40.

    --
    :wq
  8. You know it's been in development too long when... by bgeer · · Score: 4, Funny

    You know you've been in the development cycle too long when you release a game in 2003 and the spec blurb talks about GLIDE support.

  9. Yay! First Golgotha, now THIS!!! by eGabriel · · Score: 3, Funny

    Soon my hard drive will be chock full of source code from half done games! As soon as I am up to speed on the state of the art of gaming 5 years ago, I plan to finish these suckers!

    Or play nethack. I still have never ascended.

  10. Your offer is... by leonbrooks · · Score: 5, Funny
    You can have my Parsec when you unwrap my cold, dead fingers from around it...

    ...acceptable...

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing