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Games Entertainment

BFRIS Linux Game and Demo Released 68

Posted by sengan
Fizgig writes "According to Happy Penguin, BFRIS has been released. A 20MB demo is available for download." Screenshots are also available for those of us without 3DFX cards. (It's actually shipping now rather than just being Gold)
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BFRIS Linux Game and Demo Released More

BFRIS Linux Game and Demo Released

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  • Are you all crazy? (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Come on guys, don't be so tough or whiny. I know that a lot of you are hackers who don't play games just because you got your systems to twick and source to hack. I know that some of you say "Why does it only support 3dfx? Why the graphics are so ugly?" and stuff. But still this is THE FIRST COMMERCIAL LINUX GAME which though has it's weaknesses is on the level with latest Windows DirectX gameing software. Better even then some of it. This is the first step in taking over the gaming market from MS. We all know that modern games are the most hardware/OS intensive software around. So why should game fans play their games on a buggy and unstable OS like Windows? Yes the gaming market was with MS for a long time because of Mr Gates's imperial company policies and that's bad enough. Give this beginning a chance won't you? I agree with one of the writers above that if Linux is to overthrow MS in gaming industry we need a standard API for graphics sound and input devices as in MS DirectX. But consider this: if game manufacturers start to make linux games even without such an API that means they find Linux better for this purpose nevertheless. Long live Linux. Let's bury MS why it didn't start to stink ( it already stinks but I don't think it is gonna smell better when dead ). Let's go with Linux in every direction of software industry from Enterprise-wide Network Management down to Live on-line XXX shows. Come on are we Linuxoids here or what? I think if Linux himself would comment on this he would not be pointing out weaknesses of the game but would rejoice at this new beginning.

    To stop some people from flaming me for not mentioning anything about Doom, Quake etc. Those games cannot be considered completely Linux for you have to buy a Commercial Windows version and download a free Linux executable. And here we have a Linux game from top to bottom.

    Again. LONG LIVE LINUX!!!!!!!!!
  • Hrm.. Well, I sent a message to tech support, but maybe someone can help me here.. It _appears_ that BFRIS is libc5.. I could definitely be wrong..

    It requests libstdc++.so.27, which is in libc5 on my system.. I also get an error saying the symbol "__eh_pc" can't be resolved.

    I've got a RedHat 5.1 system with glibc2, and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how I could get it running.

    TIA
  • Cripes.. If it's really that bad, go get a video switch. I _highly_ doubt the console is actually locking up -- just the VooDoo2 doesn't go back to pass-through mode..

    Also, there are some nifty /dev/3dfx drivers that allow user-level access to the card (as opposed to root-only access..)
  • Well, I got a response..

    --Begin Pasting--
    [snip headers]
    From: Joe Waters

    Hi Mike,

    A couple other people have reported this problem (we couldn't reproduce it on the linux systems we had here, though the guy trying to get it to run on FreeBSD ran into it). I've placed the libstdc++ library that bfris is compiled against on my system in the download directory; it's only like 75k compressed. Let me know if that fixes your problem. Separately, we'll be releasing glibc binaries of BFRIS in the next couple of days, which should solve things one way or another.

    Joe
    --End Pasting--
  • Just curious, I don't really know that much about 'em.
  • Now, if only I had the hardware (a 486-66+ET4000 just doesnt cut the mustard (cheese, maybe:)).
  • Ok, using a DejaNews search I found glide.xxedgexx.com [xxedgexx.com], so I know there is an experimental X11 server for the Banshee. I could not find a reference on that site to a working Glide library for Linux/Banshee... Can anyone point me in the right direction? I bought (and reviewed at my site [cpureview.com] - shameless plug) a Gigabyte Banshee board, and I'd like to make full use of it under Linux as well as Win95.

  • libc5? (Score:1)

    by Falrick ( 528 )
    They comment about this on their home page. Just go to the downloads page and there's info there.
  • As bobz said, make sure your LD_LIBRARY_PATH loads /usr/i486-linux-libc5/lib before the other glibc librarys. Make sure you set it back to what it was when you are done too.

    Do an ldd programname to check and make sure the program can get it's linked librarys.

    I figured this out while trying to run WP8 libc5 on my RH5.1 system... hehe... :|
  • Help Darryl?

    We all wish someone could, but he barely got the damn NDA for himself...
  • maybe its a good sign. maybe not.
  • Bummer. Well I may have to buy a Voodoo2 after all.
  • Have you tried the magic sysrq feature in the new 2.2.x kernels? The console lockup often happens because the keyboard is left in RAW mode. There is a key combination for changing it back to XLATE.
  • Have you checked to make sure that your card isn't too hot? My experience with VooDoo2's says that if they aren't properly cooled then they'll lock hard. Make sure you've got adequate case ventilation, especially if you have lots of other stuff in there. VooDoo2's make great space heaters.
  • I play Quake2 online for an hour or more daily on my Linux system with a Voodoo2. You're doing something wrong if your system constantly locks up. Try reading the Linux Quake howto (http://linuxquake.com/howto) for a clue.
    --
    The Linux Game Tome [happypenguin.org]
  • So roll up your sleeves and write a TNT driver for Mesa. That's how the 3Dfx support got there...
    --
    The Linux Game Tome [happypenguin.org]

  • libc5? (Score:1)

    by bobz ( 1527 )
    Yeah, it's libc5. I got it going on my (non-RedHat) glibc2 system by:

    1. allowing the install script to install the included Mesa binaries (beneath the game directory, so you won't overwrite your real Mesa libs)
    2. setting BFRISDIR to /usr/local/games/bfrisdemo
    3. cd /usr/local/games/bfrisdemo; chmod 755 bfris (apparently the install script forgets to do this for you)
    4. starting the game like:
    LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/i486-linux-libc5/lib ./bfris

    I ran the game as a regular user because I have the /dev/3dfx driver installed. Not sure what I think yet. Pretty graphics. It defnitely has to be played with a joystick.
    --
    The Linux Game Tome [happypenguin.org]

  • where can I find these drivers?
    They sound rather good...

    axolotl
  • I get the same problem pretty much. After it can't resolve the symbol I get a nice seg fault.
  • To Quote The BFRIS Web Site:

    no other OpenGL/GLX drivers have been tested successfully with BFRIS at this time, if you have
    something that you think might work, download and try the demo, and let us know what you find out

    This is not to say that TNT will never work, merely that because it does not work with MESA it won't work right now. However, I imagine if you use XI's GL XServers with hardware support they might work.
  • 3dfx drivers are available as tarballs, RPMs, (and probably DEBs).

    The glide version, 2.53, is about 4 months older than 3.0 (the revisions on which are finally settled down), which is being ported to Linux as well.

    My Voodoo 2 runs Quake 2 fine (and displays Unreal fine under Wine). If yours doesn't switch back to passthrough mode (which it won't if there's an error in the 3dfx app), besides telnetting in or blind typing you could just use a wrapper script to reset the display.
  • Um, no, if you read the web page, you'll see that
    it requires Mesa 3.0, and that just happens to
    support the 3Dfx chip, because they released
    glide. So, its not a direct glide game, its an
    OpenGL game, and the driver only supports 3Dfx
    in accelerated modes. What this also means is
    that anyone with Mesa can run the game, it'll
    just run like crap without 3d acceleration!
  • Doh! That sucks. I have a machine capible of smooth svgalib quake2 at 800x600 but no 3dfx card... Am I missing somthing? Can I run it through mesa using raw processor power or is it based strictly on the 3dfx/voodoo directives?

    I was looking forward to giving these guys my money too.
  • Hmmm I wish I could be sure if there is any supplemental-to-the-api action going on. (Anyone who worked on BFRIS reading this?) If not I might get some benifit from that smp mesa being worked on (I've got a dual). My last post was because I got the libc5 error and thought it was due to a failed 3dfx directive at the time.

    Hey if smp mesa provides a signifigant speedup, maybe I can use it on quake as well. Then I could shout about undisputable video game improvment by switching to Linux.
  • Anybody have a web page where they plan to list servers? (or is it peer to peer thing? haven't gotten my copy yet)

    BFRIS clans?

    I am really bored of Quake2. I can't wait to destroy y'all in my brand new Zero Gravity Fighter.
  • While we all seem to be on the topic of Linux and 3D-acceleration, anybody tried using the new, well-priced and well-reviewed Matrox m3D accelerators? Do these work with OpenGL? Will they? Do they break various things (being a multi-heading user also, this is of concearn to me)?
  • This game is okay for shareware, or a technology demo.. but it's definatly not up to par with the commercial stuff.. Now if they could just take the pretty decent graphic engine they have, and make it into a Tie Fighter type game. .they could have a winner! or heck.. even something along the lines of Descent would have been better (even tho Descent makes me puke, it still does make a good seller!)
  • I agree, Q2 for Linux is good. But the previous poster was right, 3DFX for Linux does suck. I've had the 3DFX (RVFlash, Voodoo1 based) not give up the pass-through when Q2 crashes (or, when trying to use another VT while Q2 is running). This is pretty sloppy work here.

    The framerate decrease is horrible. You'd prefer losing 1/3 of your framerate? Okay, maybe you aren't as picky as some of us but that is a HUGE framerate drop where I come from. It annoys me to no end.

    And no, I can't help with Glide porting. Not yet at least. I do have respect for D. Strauss, don't get me wrong. I'm thankful to have support for 3DFX. But saying Linux supports 3DFX as well as Windows is total B.S., and anyone who says otherwise is lying. That's why I have my Win95 partition.

  • TNT! TNT! (Score:1)

    by Lx ( 12170 )
    I believe nvidia did release what was necessary to support their cards under linux. I have to agree that it is unfortunate that only 3dfx is supported, TNT is so much nicer and costs less...
    -lx
  • Goddam, how many posts to slashdot have a subject with its only text commenting on how dumb or crazy "you all" are!?!? Yes i am dumb and i am crazy, for godsakes!
  • Actually, there are a great many people, many quite experienced, that enjoy using games....just because you don't like them is a reason to completely dismiss it.

    There are alot of schlock games out there....but every once and awhile there are some good things....example of some good, modern games include thief, baldours gate, Might and Magic 6, Total Annilation (sp?whatever).....some games have managed to increase in quality compared to what we used to have, but yeah, alot are complete crap.
  • There _are_ standards for graphics API. They aren't "universal" per say because Linux isn't a Microsoftish development where someone high up decrees that developers must use certain things. Sound I will agree has some troubles. But with Mesa/GL as a graphics standard we have no real trouble. Games don't support specific hardware under Linux. Only specific graphics hardware supports Linux. There is a big difference. All this means is that the graphics card manufacturers need to get with the program.
  • Let's get out some virtual beer and toast Aegis Technologies for the first Linux game. Hey, it may be no Descent: Freespace or Wing Commander, but then again, this is a startup, people. Support them. Remember that Chris Roberts started from scratch one time, too. And if you don't know who that is, he MADE the Wing Commander universe. The fact that they are on Linux shows that this company is ready to innovate.

    I ordered this one 1 minute after I saw the slashdot posting. I encourage everyone who wants to see great games on Linux to kill the flames about how it isn't Wing Commander and all that and play the game. After all, the eye candy on the rendering engine has NOTHING to do with whether it is a good game.

    Jason T. Collins
  • Games are fun for some people.If it gets more people into computers and Linux who really cares. It isn't like it will inhibit anyone from sitting around tweaking their system 24-7 if that is what they want.
    There are lots of things that one can do with linux and games is a tiny portion of the larger linux stratosphere.
    Games are good.
    Ham radio is good.
    Speech recognition is good.
    AI is good.
    Whatever you want to do with Linux, you will add to your enjoyment of life so who cares how people spend there time...

    Games are not just for "newbie lamers" nor will Linux be brought down by Video games.
    3-d is merely a stepping stone to fully holographic imaging systems.
  • My system is very usable as a home system, as a business system. Lack of standards is killing nothing.....
    Linux is for the patient.....those who like to nurture things and watch them grow. It is for those who want to really make their computers work for them in ways nobody else thought of.
    Linux may be 10 years behind windows, at least temporally, but it is way ahead of windows in capability and potential.

    And linux has only just begun. And look how far it has come....I can wait cause life is long. Anything imagined can be accomplished and will be.
  • It doesn't matter much if its whining, flaming or praise. The cool thing is that you people care enough to even talk about it. We think that is cool. We've got plans that go far beyond BFRIS and if things work out we'll get there.

    I do however come to a different conclusion: If you don't like the game, buy it anyway. :-) To those of you who already have a most sincere and humble thanks. We needed that.

    I would love to see some BFRIS clans pop up. It would be nice to watch Joe get his butt kicked for once.
    -Fred

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