I've been in contact with one of the people behind DRAG, a fantastic looking racing game which will come to Linux soon. The fun fact is that the game engine is custom built under Linux too. The developer I spoke to, Thorsten Folkers, wanted us to announce it early to gather a bit of interest. They certainly have my full attention, that's for sure.
I have to say, I'm really excited about this one. Not just because we don't have enough good racing games, but because of all the detail that's going into making it. They're simulating 4-suspension physics to make the car really feel realistic, just take a look at this:
The crazy thing is—this is built by two people, two brothers in fact.
As for the game engine, it's built to use OpenGL 4.5 with Vulkan possibly coming at a later date. They've been working on this for a while, with the game engine being a private side-project since 2001. They said the game engine really started to come together sometime in 2011, when they decided to really take it further. It's been a long road for them, but with a release coming soon they will finally be able to see what people really think of it.
It will feature:
- Singleplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Splitscreen Online Multiplayer
- Realistic physics, suspension and driving mechanics
- Support for all common Gamepads
- Windows / Linux (Steam OS) support from day one
- Available on Steam early access in 2018
- Price 29.99$
Here's some more gifs they sent me, I've converted them to small video files to save your bandwith:
And another one to show off the damage model:
If you want to read more on it, they've been keeping a development log here. They also did some more background info here in a post here.
I've been told we will get a Steam key to check it out next month and the current plan for release is around March/April, this is one to firmly mark on your calendar. Looks like it could be a serious amount of fun and good racing games is something Linux certainly needs a lot more of. If it really is anything like the shots they're showing off, it really could be a big hit with gamers.
Note: Article updated to be clear that the release is expected in March/April.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The thing I am not seeing mentioned is wheel and force feedback support. Seems like a game with suspension physics should have that. Is that supported or on the agenda?
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lucifertdark Jan 19, 2018
Count me in for this one as well, I'm total rubbish on driving games but this looks pretty damn sweet. :D
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Looks very interesting, but the gifs are now constantly stopping to buffer (even after playing once). Something is weird with them. (tried in private mode too, same thing - maybe even slightly worse)You need to click to play them now, or is this after you click? Works fine for me even on mobile.
After click. I'm okay with gifs buffering, but they don't seem to cache after buffering. It's strange, but if I'm the only one then we'll just blame something on my end :)
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Ah! My favourite commenter! Your comments are so substantial! :) Way to go!There must be a reason for that. Any clue what that could be?
1 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Jan 19, 2018
Insta-buy for me! I'm hyped for this game!
Looking at the car modelling... Copper wire in the wheels? Dust proof electric vehicule? Wow! :P
Seriously I looked at the crash gif and I'm really impressed by the way each wheels are reacting. The diag front left + right rear locks while the rear left spins... Not many games put that much effort in these kinds of details.
Awesome work!
Last edited by Mohandevir on 19 January 2018 at 6:41 pm UTC
Am also waiting for someone to comment on the motor stator(windings) in the wheels that have no real purpose. :P
Looking at the car modelling... Copper wire in the wheels? Dust proof electric vehicule? Wow! :P
Seriously I looked at the crash gif and I'm really impressed by the way each wheels are reacting. The diag front left + right rear locks while the rear left spins... Not many games put that much effort in these kinds of details.
Awesome work!
Last edited by Mohandevir on 19 January 2018 at 6:41 pm UTC
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There's definitely a problem with the fancybox, but I wouldn't call it buffering though it looks like it. Pretty inconsistent behavior but for the most part it only happens with the first gif I load up, and it's fixed when I move to another thumbnail and back. It also plays smoothly if I click and drag the image in the carousel view (but only while I'm moving the mouse).Looks very interesting, but the gifs are now constantly stopping to buffer (even after playing once). Something is weird with them. (tried in private mode too, same thing - maybe even slightly worse)You need to click to play them now, or is this after you click? Works fine for me even on mobile.
After click. I'm okay with gifs buffering, but they don't seem to cache after buffering. It's strange, but if I'm the only one then we'll just blame something on my end :)
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Stuck the gifs together in a quick video if anyone's having major problems with the gif overlay, while I investigate:
View video on youtube.com
View video on youtube.com
4 Likes, Who?
Looks great and as many folks said, the DRM-Free release of this type of game is exactly what Linux needs IMO.
So please consider it !
But for the "Splitscreen Online Multiplayer", it means two guys can play on a same local PC with some others Online, right ?
PS : For "Support for all common Gamepads", what about support of Racing Wheels ?
Last edited by Cyril on 19 January 2018 at 6:54 pm UTC
So please consider it !
But for the "Splitscreen Online Multiplayer", it means two guys can play on a same local PC with some others Online, right ?
PS : For "Support for all common Gamepads", what about support of Racing Wheels ?
Last edited by Cyril on 19 January 2018 at 6:54 pm UTC
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"Splitscreen Online Multiplayer"
Nice! It looks like there's gonna be too much goodness in this game. Added to my to-buy list.
Nice! It looks like there's gonna be too much goodness in this game. Added to my to-buy list.
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thoughtfulhippo Jan 19, 2018
I suck at driving games, but this does look awesome. And given the following:
- Day 1 Linux support
- Built on Linux
I will have to put my money where my mouth is, and buy on release. If only their Steam page was up so I could wishlist it.
- Day 1 Linux support
- Built on Linux
I will have to put my money where my mouth is, and buy on release. If only their Steam page was up so I could wishlist it.
3 Likes, Who?
Luke_Nukem Jan 19, 2018
Oh shit I remember reading about the details they were putting in to the models years ago. Right down to the individual welds between metal parts. Bloody madness!
I'm buying on release just because it's a work of art. And they sure as hell deserve the cash.
Last edited by Luke_Nukem on 19 January 2018 at 7:21 pm UTC
I'm buying on release just because it's a work of art. And they sure as hell deserve the cash.
Last edited by Luke_Nukem on 19 January 2018 at 7:21 pm UTC
0 Likes
Luke_Nukem Jan 19, 2018
Hmm, makes me think of Powerslide. That was rather unique with decent physics like this (decent for the time at least).
1 Likes, Who?
Luke_Nukem Jan 19, 2018
Below is a quote from one of the devs copied from the forum.
And OH MY GOD THERE'S SO MUCH COOL SHIT IN THAT THREAD!!!
Last edited by Luke_Nukem on 19 January 2018 at 7:37 pm UTC
Hi all,Post link
i thought a while about what i could write regarding the engine.
It is designed as an in-house tool and neither planned nor built for public use.
Maybe we open it up one day. I don't know. I am a strong supporter of linux and open source myself.
So here are just some features and techniques to give you a rough idea.
It is written in C++11 and has a Python interface for scripting.
The complete editor is scripted in Python using Gtk+3 as the widget set.
It has a versioned document supporting full undo/redo as well as file version migration.
It supports full online gaming including late join and spectator mode.
We have a working matchmaking server under linux with clustered game servers.
It supports local and online split screen.
It runs under windows 7 and linux using OpenGL 4.5 core as render API right now but Vulkan/D3D is possible and planned.
It has a fully threaded renderer with hyper aggressive batching.
Uses bullet for the collision detection and rigid body dynamics with a unique vehicle physic.
Features full 3d sound with steaming audio and video recording and playback at 4k with audio/video sync
and more...
The renderer is a deferred renderer with a full forward path for transparency.
It supports:
* High dynamic range rendering
* Physical based shading
* Contact hardening soft shadows
* Screen space ambient occlusion
* Screen space reflections
* Clustered dynamic lights
* Image based lighting for global illumination
* Volume particles
* Temporal anti-alias
* Skinning with non linear animation blending
* Motion blur
* Animated foliage
* ...
I am currently working on the atmospherics (around three unsuccessful attempts so far and counting :)).
The engine in numbers, just for the fun:
563 c++ engine files
163 shader files
69 c++ files for the server farm
14 python files for the editor
17 python files for the game
all 826 source files together have around 130,000 lines of code, not counting the 24 third party libs and the ~167 files for the win32 and linux build system (has to build the 3rd party libs too).
And OH MY GOD THERE'S SO MUCH COOL SHIT IN THAT THREAD!!!
Last edited by Luke_Nukem on 19 January 2018 at 7:37 pm UTC
6 Likes, Who?
If this game lives only half up to what screenshots and blog posts promise it is gonna be something truly astounding for a two-man team. I'll definitely buy it and if it is only to support something that inspiring.
3 Likes, Who?
orochi_kyo Jan 19, 2018
Stop the production and drop the project, he is not interested anymore!!We rely on some Steam matchmaking features for the online Multiplayer and also copy-protection. So a DRM-free version is possible in the future but is not something we are working towards at the moment.Thank you for your response! Sadly, I'm not interested anymore and will pass. Good luck!
Thanks!
Thorsten
OMG LOL. "DRM free" kids are so entitled.
It looks good, Im interested in local splitscreen.
Last edited by orochi_kyo on 19 January 2018 at 7:47 pm UTC
5 Likes, Who?
Please note that we are a new developer and only two guys working on this game right now.I find that amazing. Having dabbled a little in game development myself (on a very amateur basis; nothing that could be remotely considered worthy of release :) ), the amount of work that's obviously gone into this is mindblowing. I'd be pretty pleased with myself if I'd just modelled that suspension, let alone the whole car, the environments, and coded a game engine for it all.
Anyway, I'm having to ration my game purchases a bit at the moment, but this looks like it's going right to the top of the list.
2 Likes, Who?
linuxjacques Jan 19, 2018
It's beautiful. I must have this.
1 Likes, Who?
Hi guys,Thank you for supporting Linux platform. Especially driving/racing genre which very lacking for Linux in my opinion. No need to rush, take as many time as possible to polish further. If you guys need help or tester, just ask it here.
thanks for the feedback!
DRAG is not in development since 15 years. We were working regular jobs back then and the engine was a private side project. We are working fulltime on this game since 12 and 20 months.
The release date will be March to April depending on what we will have to polish further.
February was probably miscommunication!
There will be a release discount for the first week!
Looking forward racing you guys soon! :)
Thorsten
Again, Thank You! :D:D:D
1 Likes, Who?
It runs well for us on an Intel Core i5 and a NVIDIA GTX 660 with the graphics settings from the screenshots at 1080p with around 60fps.
*Hope there is an Arcade mode !*
Really, really interested, would like it arround 20 CAD and 20 USD...
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@ThorstenFolkers:
On the engine side of things, it's really nice to see that the editor is under GNU/Linux. I laughed a little at reading that things were "ported" to Windows (as usually they're ported _from_ Windows).
Haha yes, thats a bit unusual I guess! :)
First couple of months the editor was only running on Linux.
But for the "Splitscreen Online Multiplayer", it means two guys can play on a same local PC with some others Online, right ?
Yes!
9 Likes, Who?
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