Tuxracer 1.0 Retail Version Finished

Nailer writes "Tuxracer 1.0 is complete Version 0.6 has been downloaded over a million times, and 1.0 looks like it will kick its older siblings arse. This latest version has a massively improved set of features compared to the earlier versions, including multiplayer support, far more detailed tracks, new hazards (giant boulders, better trees, vehicles, and entire towns with roads, houses, castles, fountains, etc) new players (a girl tux, a funky polar bear, and others), split screen multiplay, internationalization, and probably a whole bunch of other stuff. Take a look at the screenshots and trailer movie. The initial release of the game will be proprietary for Windows and Linux (and perhaps Mac), but some of the code from 1.0 will be released as Open Source. Sunspire are still looking for a publisher, but should be taking direct orders soon. And when they do, I'm buying it."

Great

[dreamchaser]

I've been following the development of this, and it's nice to see a game being developed simultaneously for Linux and Windows, rather than being released on Linux a year or more after the Windows counterpart.

I also like the fact that the binaries for all platforms will be on one CD. I'm tired of buying two copies of games if I want to run them on both Linux and Windoze.

Hopefully they will find a partner and be successful. It could be a good shot in the arm for Linux game development. It will be hard for them to say who is running it on what platform though, but I can live with that in return for getting all of the binaries in one box.

Re:Open To Closed

[Anonymous Coward]

Games are one of those things that even RMS expects to be proprietary - the real work in a gmae is not usually the engine, but the level design, plot, artwork, etc. Actually, a model that seems to work well is data proprietary, engine GPL, once the game is out of the initial sales period - this has served Id, Outrage, and other companies well.

This game will not succeed in the windows market

[wackysootroom]

I'm really not trying to troll here, but IMHO a game called "Tux Racer" will conjure up images of racing butlers. Without a more exciting name, people who don't know or care about "tux" the linux mascot will turn their noses up at this game.

Why don't they sell a gpl version at retailers?

[Benjiman McFree]

Forget the fact you can download it for free, or have it included with your favorite linux distribution; convience of getting it off the shelf at best buy under the GPL GAME SECTION for five bucks a pop, is the way to go.

The proprietary version will probably be 30$ and they'll sell 10,000 or so vs. 75,000 gpl'd games at 5$ a pop.

--the temptation to exploit users through hidden code is too great for proprietary software. ie.. haven't they learned anything yet? 300,000 gross sales for propiretary version vs. 375,000 for gpl games, you do the math!

Kickass feature to have..

[letoram]

Didn't see it anywhere on the site, but most competitors in the down-hill snowracers business (as in snowboard games & the likes although few on the PC) always features a bunch of tricks you can preform to obtain higher scores. Something that really increases the replay value. Or why not add weapons and downhill-deathmatch?

Imagine a 360-inverse-tux-flip or perhaps a tux-slide.. There's no end to the possibilities =)

That put aside, the linux version wil be mine.

on the Game Cube?

[the_2nd_coming]

I think this is the perfect platform to place this game on. This game is perfect for kids of all ages, which Nintendo prids them selves on having a platform of the same ideology. This could bring HUGE exposure to the game and probably be the place where it is most successful since consols make for better multiplayer splitscreen platforms than the Computer.

Re:'Real Work'

[MartinG]

You seem to have directly equated "compensation for their hard work" with "financial compensation for their hard work." That is a very broad and incorrect assumption to make.

The "compensation" I get when I write code is not primarily finincial, because I do it for the love of it, not just to make money. Similarly some of my friends write music for the same reasons. I can't say I have friends who do graphical artwork, but I imagine there are people who do it for fun.

Maybe the question you should ask is:

If there are coders who work very well for the love of it and produce excellent code, and they do not demand money for their efforts, then what gives musicians the right to make similar demands?

Penguin Adventure

[Anonymous Coward]

It reminds me of two games I used to play a lot in my MSX system. They were called 'Antartida Adventure', its second version was 'Penguin Adventure', by Konami both of them. It featured a little penguin (symbol of Konami) skating in Antartida to save his girlfriend, avoiding dangers, catching fishes, swimming in the ocean and the like. Couldn't find any mention in TuxRacer's site about them, thou.