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Parsec To Be Released As Open Source
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.'"
Does anyone still use Voodoo cards? Do they work with win2k or XP?
today is spelling optional day.
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...
I've been watching this project with anticipation for years, but it's always been "almost ready". That, and the guys running it had what seemed an unnatural fear of open source. Their argument against in in the past was basically "we don't want outside help, so no open source". As if opening the source meant they had to accept changes. It was very strange.
So yeah. Yay! Maybe we'll see a finished game finally. It definately has the potential to be a kickass game.
-[Blaine]- "'Oh dear,' says God, 'I hadn't thought of that,' and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic."
Parsec Goes Open Source!
January 28, 2003 -- We are currently preparing the entire code base of Parsec for a full source release in early May 2003, which will mark a major change in the structure of the Parsec Project.
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.
We intend the official Parsec webpage to become the central hub for playing Parsec and continuing Parsec development. We would like to dedicate the upcoming release to the Parsec community, and hope that Parsec will live on and prosper as an open community project. Enjoy!
The Parsec Project
Parsec is a fast-paced non-commercial network space-shooter that has been in development for several years. It started out in 1996 as a lab project at the Vienna University of Technology, but has transcended its original roots to become what we would like to refer to as commercial-quality freeware (CQF).
The major releases of Parsec up to now were several versions of the Parsec LAN-Test, which were intended to enable players to get a glimpse of the current state of Parsec's development. These releases support Win32, MacOS, MacOS X, and Linux platforms, and 3D hardware acceleration through OpenGL and Glide (for the old 3dfx boards).
The Parsec Project, a term we also use to refer to the people behind Parsec, is the team of game developers that has been working on Parsec since 1996. However, the impending change of Parsec's development model to an open source approach will be closing the original Parsec Project in early May 2003.
Beginning in May 2003, Parsec will be an open community project striving toward a Parsec release that also includes Internet game play. The members of the original Parsec Project would like to dedicate their work to the Parsec community, and hope that the open source version of Parsec will bring lots of fun to even more people around the globe!
I mean really - how hard would it be to put a one line description about what the Parsec project is in the article body?
Parsec project: Fast-paced multiplayer cross-platform 3D Internet space combat
There... That didn't hurt too much, did it?
I use Macs for work, Linux for education, and Windows for cardplaying.
Why did they wait so much to release it as open source? I'm just wondering if their initial plan wasn't to change from Freeware to Commercial at some point. They've most likely realised that they won't be able to make money out of it, and decided to opensource it so it doesn't die (a site that wasn't updated for almost a year can be considered a near-death experience). Anyway, they did do a great job and I'm glad that the opensource gaming is enriched with a free-as-in-beer space shooter.
The Raven
...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'"
I kinda agree with you about opensource games, at least, open-source games that tons of people are working on. A large group seems to suck all the creativity out of a game, but why are you bashing Parsec so soon? They JUST made their game opensource today. It hasn't failed yet. I'm kind of skeptical, but I'm willing to give it a chance. Hell, I'm considering joining the project.
"Question with boldness even the existence of a god." - Thomas Jefferson
but how does this compare to VegaStrike, which is already open sourced ( and written by a friend of mine , shameless plug )
I can't find anyplace to download the ROM, and even if I grab my old TI, I'm not sure how to grab the ROM image, anyway.
FOr the curious:
PARSEC: PHM 3112 - Released 3Q/1982 - MSRP $39.95 -- A game cartridge programmed by James E. Dramis with help from TI Summer employee Paul Urbanus (Urbanus also authored or co-authored Jumpy, Jungle Hunt, Pole Position, Disko, PLATO Interpreter, Grand RAM and Line-by-Line Assembler for Mini Memory). Released in August 1982 at a retail price of $39.95. Featured a synthesized voice patterned after that of college student Aubree Anderson. Game consisted of a Space ship traveling through asteroid belts, attacks by Alien ships and other hazards. Perhaps the most popular game ever to come out of the Texas Instruments Consumer Products Division for the 99/4A. Fully bit mapped graphics, excellent joystick control, clear speech synthesis and very challenging.
User Comments: Fly into combat with the starship Parsec. Destroy rebel alien fighters and cruisers by out maneuvering them and laying down withering fire from you laser. Then try to survive the deadly asteroid belt. Parsec is made to work with or without the speech synthesizer. With it, it enhances the game by simulating an onboard computer in your starship. It warns you of oncoming alien craft and refueling tunnels, and it congratulates you for good performance. There are increasing levels of difficulty to challenge your strategy and skills as a starfighter. With great graphics, color, and action this is one of the best modules for the TI. Try it and you're hooked.
(ref: http://timeline.99er.net/id22.htm)
I'm not shy, I'm stalking my prey
So, what about it, 3D Realms? Open the code, we'll finish the game for you ;)
*ducks and runs away*
What if they don't allow people to submit patches? What if they won't let you use the source to fork off your own project because they retain some rights to it? What good is seeing the source then?
Open source just means you can see thier code, and CQF doesn't really mean anything to me. Can someone point me to some info that may make the meaning of this announcement a little clearer to me?
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.
...acceptable...
Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
"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.
We are going to do a full source release in early May 2003 NOT next month as stated in the article.
This is mainly due to some preperation work.
Anyone else tired of the "battleship model" of space combat, with heavily armed and armoured ships duking it out, taking multiple hits before finally succumbing to accumulated damage?
I figure space combat will be more similar to submarine combat. Space is huge, the ships will be fragile, weapons will pack a massive punch. These factors will force ships to rely on sensors, hiding and avoidance to achieve their aims.
I imagine that we will have ships hiding in asteriod belts, on moons and near planets, patiently waiting for their prey, unleashing a barrage of missiles and then try to disappear again while the target is busy applying countermeasures to the incoming missile swarm.
A)bort, R)etry or S)elf-destruct?