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<p class="bodytext"> Hosted by:<BR> <A href="http://sourceforge.net">
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><p class="heading1">Tux Racer News Archive</p><p class="heading3">Tux Racer 0.60.2 Released for Linux <span class="heading4">Sunday, October 15, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
This is a bug-fix release affecting the tuxracer Linux package only.
This release fixes a bug that allowed cheating in cup mode (yes, I
know some of you will be dissapointed :-). The configure script has also
been completely rewritten -- it now checks for all OpenGL
requirements, and finds OpenGL and Tcl in more locations.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<b>Update (Oct. 15, 11:30 PM EST):</b> I've discovered some problems
with the configure script in 0.60.2, so I've released 0.60.3, which
fixes those problems. If you downloaded 0.60.2 and it worked,
there's no need to get 0.60.3, as the code hasn't changed at all.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Slashdotted! <span class="heading4">Sunday, October 8, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
On Friday, <A HREF="http://www.slashdot.org" >Slashdot</A> ran a nice
<A HREF="http://slashdot.org/articles/00/10/06/1343206.shtml" >piece</A> on Tux Racer. Of course, we
"suffered" from the Slashdot effect -- receiving over 120,000 hits to
our web site, and just under 20,000 downloads (not including mirror
sites)!
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Kudos to SourceForge for being able to keep up with this traffic!
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Tux Racer Rated on FreeGamesWeb.com <span class="heading4">Thursday, October 5, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
<A HREF="http://freegamesweb.com/" >FreeGamesWeb.com</A> has <A HREF="http://freegamesweb.ingava.com/sports/tux_racer/" >rated</A>
Tux Racer a "Top Pick!"
<br>
<A HREF="http://freegamesweb.ingava.com/sports/tux_racer/" ><IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/fgw_top_pick.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="90" HEIGHT="34"></A>
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Tux Racer Review on Total Demos <span class="heading4">Thursday, October 5, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
<A HREF="http://www.totaldemos.com/" >Total Demos</A> has posted a <A HREF="http://www.totaldemos.com/reviews/tuxracer/stanlam/" >review</A> of Tux
Racer, giving the game a "Recommended" rating (score 82%, 5/5 for
gameplay). Thanks Total Demos!
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Tux Racer Review on Tucows <span class="heading4">Wednesday, October 4, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
<A HREF="http://www.tucows.com/" >Tucows</A> has posted a <A HREF="http://linux.tucows.com/x11html/preview/136677.html" >review</A> of Tux Racer,
giving the game their highest rating:
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/5rate.gif" align="absmiddle" ALT="" WIDTH="101" HEIGHT="21"> (5/5 penguins!)
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<A HREF="http://www.tucows.com/" >Tucows</A> is also mirroring the Tux Racer files; links are on the
<A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> page. Thanks Tucows!
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Debian Packages Available <span class="heading4">Wednesday, October 4, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
<A HREF="mailto:oliver@gol.com" >Oliver M. Bolzer</A> has updated his Debian packages for Tux Racer.
Instructions for obtaining and installing them are on the <A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> page.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Tux Racer 0.60.1 Released <span class="heading4">Tuesday, October 3, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
This is a bug-fix release affecting the tuxracer Linux package only.
The fix addresses a compiling problem with
older gl.h files. Thanks to Steve Baker for reporting this.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Call for Mirror Sites <span class="heading4">Tuesday, October 3, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
Several users have reported slow transfer rates when downloading from
SourceForge. We are looking for mirror sites for our files in order
to alleviate this problem. If you are able to mirror what will soon
grow to about 40 MB of files, and have sufficient bandwidth, please
contact <A HREF="mailto:jfpatry@sunspirestudios.com" >jfpatry@sunspirestudios.com</A>. Thanks.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
We thank all of the people attempting to download Tux Racer for their
patience while we resolve this matter.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<b>Update (October 4, 10:45 AM EST)</b>: Thanks to all of those who
stepped up and offered to mirror our files. We now have several
mirrors set up, and that should be enough for the time being. Thanks
again.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Tux Racer 0.60 Released <span class="heading4">Monday, October 2, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
Tux Racer 0.60 has been released. This is the
first public release of the game since Sunspire Studios joined the
development. The game now sports a completely revised interface, new
gameplay features, improved graphics, sound and music, and
joystick support. Both Linux and Windows versions of the
game can be downloaded from the <A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Opening of www.tuxracer.com <span class="heading4">Monday, October 2, 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
Sunspire Studios is proud to present a new web site, and new domain
name, for Tux Racer. This site will be your source for the latest in
news, downloads, and documentation (including the new <A HREF="./faq.html" >FAQ</A> and
<A HREF="./manual.html" >Manual</A> for the game).
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Sunspire Studios now developing Tux Racer <span class="heading4">3 September 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
I'm very happy to announce that Tux Racer is now being developed by
<A HREF="http://www.sunspirestudios.com/" >Sunspire Studios</A>, a <I>very</I> talented team of artists and
developers (which happens to include me ;-). This is great
news, since it means that Tux Racer development will proceed at a much
faster rate. And you needn't worry -- Tux Racer will continue to be
an open source game.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
We've been working hard on the game over the past couple of weeks;
here's a partial list of the new features that have been completed and
will be appearing in the next release:
</p>
<UL>
<LI>Audio support (sound effects and music)
<LI>Sky cubes (much nicer backgrounds and sky)
<LI>Hard turns (Tux can now carve his way through a course)
<LI>Jumping and flapping (increased air time!)
<LI>Much improved camera modes
<LI>Multiple tree types
<LI>Course boundaries now definable by course designer
<LI>Tux now leaves tracks in the snow as he slides
<LI>Tux can do kewl tricks (flips and barrel rolls)
</UL>
<p class="bodytext">
... and there's lots more in the works.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Of course, our changes are being committed to the Tux Racer CVS
repository, so if you're impatient you can have a sneak peak (we try
to keep the CVS version working, though of course there's no guarantee
of that).
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
We're working towards a first milestone release in a couple of weeks.
You can view our progress to date by checking out the fresh batch of
<A HREF="./screenshots.html" >screenshots</A> that I've just posted.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Update <span class="heading4">11 August 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
It's been a long time since this page was last updated. The bad news
is that I haven't had time to work on Tux Racer much over the last few
months. The good news is that that has changed, and Tux Racer
development has resumed. (In fact, I now have help -- more about that
soon.) We hope to have a new release out soon (i.e., this month), so
stay tuned!
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
On to the good stuff: <A HREF="mailto:oliver@gol.com">Oliver M. Bolzer</A>
has put together Debian Tux Racer packages; get them from the
<A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section. Thanks Oliver!
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The latest CVS version includes changes that allow tuxracer to
compiler with <A HREF="http://sources.redhat.com/cygwin/" >Cygwin</A>. I've also created a Win32 binary and put
it in the <A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Last but definitely not least, <A HREF="mailto:lee.anderson@linuxworld.com" >Lee Anderson</A> wrote a great
<A HREF="http://www.linuxworld.com/linuxworld/lw-2000-08/lw-08-tuxracer.html" >article</A> about Tux Racer for
<A HREF="http://www.linuxworld.com/" >LinuxWorld</A>. Thanks Lee!
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">RPMs now available; Tux Racer 0.12.1 Released <span class="heading4">18 April 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
I've created Tux Racer RPMs. These are still
experimental and may not work for you. I recommend trying the
SRPM if the RPM doesn't work.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
I've also released version 0.12.1. This release fixes a bug that
caused the RPM version to fail on its first run, and it also adds
a cool new course.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
As usual, everything is available from the <A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
By the way, development has slowed this month as I finish up
course projects at school. I should be able to spend more time on
development in May.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Tux Racer 0.12 Released <span class="heading4">2 April 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
I've released Tux Racer 0.12 -- you can get it from the
<A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section. The main changes in this release are:
<UL>
<LI>Four new courses, other courses improved
<LI>Additional Tux animation
<LI>Tux now slides on belly, by popular demand (old style is now an option)
<LI>Added "paddling" action so Tux can push himself along ("k" key by default)
<LI>Performance enhancements:
<UL>
<LI>Tux model simplified
<LI>View frustrum culling
<LI>Adaptive level-of-detail terrain rendering
<LI>Now use OpenGL vertex arrays
</UL>
<LI>Pause key ("p" by default)
<LI>Configure enhancements
<LI>Other minor enhancements
</UL>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Enjoy!
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Level-Loader Script-Fu Script <span class="heading4">2 April 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
<A HREF="http://home.pages.de/~grumbel/" >Ingo Ruhnke</A> has created another Script-Fu that loads an
existing level into a multi-layered Gimp image. It's in the
<A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">KDE GUI Installer Updated <span class="heading4">19 March 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
<A HREF="mailto:ssobiech@cityweb.de" >Steffen Sobiech</A> has updated his GUI installer for Tux Racer 0.11.1.
You can get it from the <A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Terrain LOD and other performance enhancments <span class="heading4">15 March 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
Based on user feedback, I've recently been working on enhancing the
performance of Tux Racer. One of the things that I've done is to
render the terrain with varying levels of detail (LOD) -- roughly
speaking, terrain that is closer to the camera is rendered with more
detail. Combined with some other performance enhancements (view
frustum culling, optimization of the Tux model), I've been able to
improve framerates by 30-40% on my system (more if I sacrifice
some detail).
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
This code is only in CVS at the moment; if you're adventurous you can
get it from <A HREF="https://sourceforge.net/project/?group_id=2944" >SourceForge</A>. Here's a
<A HREF="">wireframe screenshot</A> showing the
terrain LOD code in action. (<b>Update 19-Mar-2000</b>: here's a
<A HREF="">screenshot</A> with the LOD code turned off,
for comparison.)
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
I believe that this makes Tux Racer the first open-source game to
feature adaptive LOD terrain. Many thanks to <A HREF="mailto:tu@tulrich.com" >Thatcher
Ulrich</A>, whose code was used (see Thatcher's excellent
<A HREF="http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20000228/ulrich_01.htm" >Gamasutra article</A> for a description of the
algorithm and a link to the demo code).
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Tux Racer Development Plan <span class="heading4">09 March 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
I've sketched out a <A HREF="./plan.html" >development plan</A> for Tux Racer
1.0. Feedback is welcome.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Do You Script-Fu? <span class="heading4">06 March 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
(Wow, busy news day!) <A HREF="http://home.pages.de/~grumbel/" >Ingo Ruhnke</A> has created another Script-Fu
helper script for the Gimp; this one creates a new image with the
correct layer names and useful default colours. It's in the
<A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">KDE GUI Installer Available <span class="heading4">06 March 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
<A HREF="mailto:ssobiech@cityweb.de" >Steffen Sobiech</A> has created GUI installer for Tux Racer 0.10.1.
It requires KDE. You can get it from the <A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Script-Fu Helper Script <span class="heading4">06 March 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
<A HREF="http://home.pages.de/~grumbel/" >Ingo Ruhnke</A> has created a nice Script-Fu helper script for the
Gimp; this should be useful to level designers. Grab it from the
<A HREF="./download.html" >Downloads</A> section.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Tux Racer 0.11.1 Released <span class="heading4">06 March 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
Well, at the last minute I introduced a silly bug into 0.11, so I've
released Tux Racer 0.11.1 (<A HREF="./ChangeLog.txt" >ChangeLog</A>). If Tux Racer 0.11
coredumped on you, this should fix it.
</p>
</p>
<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="./images/snow_line.gif" ALT="" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="31"><BR><p class="heading3">Tux Racer 0.11 Released <span class="heading4">06 March 2000</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">
<p class="bodytext">
I've released Tux Racer 0.11 (<A HREF="./ChangeLog.txt" >ChangeLog</A>) -- Enjoy! This release
introduces several changes for the benefit of course designers; they
can now customize lighting, fog, and particle colour to their liking.
</p> <p class="bodytext">
The biggest change to gameplay is that courses can now be played in
"mirrored" mode, for added variety.
</p> <p class="bodytext">
Two new user-contributed courses are also included -- keep them coming!
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's offered
feedback on Tux Racer so far -- the response has been incredible!
1600 downloads already, and it's only been a week. Wow!
</p>
</p>
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