Well this was unexpected! 3D Realms is back, teaming up with Voidpoint for a brand new FPS named Ion Maiden [Steam, Official Site] and the first part is now available in Early Access with Linux support.
It's using an upgraded version of their "Build engine" to include bigger levels, more colour support and many more modern features. However, they said it's being built using original old-school tools and methodologies. They say it's the "true successor to classic shooters such as Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior and Blood".
Direct Link
From the press release I got sent today:
Ion Maiden laughs at the idea of constant checkpoints and straight paths through shooting galleries. But just because this is a true old-school first-person shooter doesn’t mean there won’t be all the good new stuff the last two decades have brought. Headshots? Hell yeah. More physics and interactivity? You betcha. Widescreen, controller support, and Auto Saves? 3D Realms and Voidpoint took the best of both worlds and cooked it all into a bloody stew.
3D Realms and Voidpoint are proud to bring back the Build engine, which powered Duke Nukem 3D, Blood, and Shadow Warrior, in all of its hand-crafted pixelated glory. They’ve spent a lot of time tinkering under the hood to take advantage of new technology and techniques. Bigger levels, hundreds of new colors, and morphing maps that transform mid-level are all just a few of the advancements made to the engine.
On top of crafting an oldschool FPS with modern touches, they are also hinting at some form of multiplayer too.
"Bringing back classic build-engine shooters has been our aim for years, so we’re diving right into a spiritual successor to the games which put 3D Realms on the map,” Frederik Schreiber, Vice President, 3D Realms. "The team assembled for this project knows exactly how to execute our vision, and we couldn't be more excited to finally bring back a true 3D Realms shooter."
Pretty nice that it has full Linux support—exciting! The current version is a "polished exclusive multi-hour preview campaign", with a plan for the full game to be ready in "Q3" of this year.
You can grab it from Steam, or from their official site for a fully DRM free build. From what I understand it will also head to GOG sometime as well, but I've not been told when.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: RafiLinuxWill this be coming to GOG or itch.io?
https://www.gog.com/news/coming_soon_ion_maiden
Quoting: adamhmQuoting: RafiLinuxWill this be coming to GOG or itch.io?
https://www.gog.com/news/coming_soon_ion_maiden
Word!
Mblackwell Feb 28, 2018
Quoting: RafiLinuxQuoting: MblackwellI hope everyone enjoys the game! Everyone at Voidpoint and 3D Realms has been working extremely hard to bring a kick-ass classic experience true to the engine's legacy.
Will this be coming to GOG or itch.io?
Yes to GOG. It is already available DRM free directly from 3D Realms.
Quoting: EndeavourAccuracyThey really couldn't finish the game first, and have to release into Early Access, huh?
No money left to add Steam Cloud support (or Achievements)?
I'm willing to bet Voidpoint just reused a (mildly tweaked) old 3D Realms engine.
Other than the nostalgia factor, nothing about this looks appealing.
Thanks for supporting Linux, I guess. Now, can we get more real games?
The Preview Campaign is a complete multi-hour, replayable campaign and even has an extra goodie when you complete it. Buying now gets you access to it plus the much larger Single Player Campaign.
This is not like other Early Access products.
Does this *really* need 2GB RAM and a 1GB video card?
Hmmmm. ;p
Mblackwell Feb 28, 2018
Quoting: MblackwellThe Preview Campaign is a complete multi-hour, replayable campaign and even has an extra goodie when you complete it. Buying now gets you access to it plus the much larger Single Player Campaign.
So essentially this is just Shareware rebadged as Early Access then. Cool.
I had heard that 3D Realm's new Danish overlords were looking for Build engine mod talent to make a free tie-in game for Bombshell. Looks like it has snowballed quite a bit since then. ^_^
Also, while the *first* screenshot through the Steam overlay I took was fine, the second caused the game to lock up, music still running away. Early Access indeed, I guess. Will definitely have to come back to it and see, but, semi-spoilery easter egg - this looks familiar, doesn't it?
Spoiler, click me
Quoting: MblackwellQuoting: RafiLinuxQuoting: MblackwellI hope everyone enjoys the game! Everyone at Voidpoint and 3D Realms has been working extremely hard to bring a kick-ass classic experience true to the engine's legacy.
Will this be coming to GOG or itch.io?
Yes to GOG. It is already available DRM free directly from 3D Realms.
Quoting: EndeavourAccuracyThey really couldn't finish the game first, and have to release into Early Access, huh?
No money left to add Steam Cloud support (or Achievements)?
I'm willing to bet Voidpoint just reused a (mildly tweaked) old 3D Realms engine.
Other than the nostalgia factor, nothing about this looks appealing.
Thanks for supporting Linux, I guess. Now, can we get more real games?
The Preview Campaign is a complete multi-hour, replayable campaign and even has an extra goodie when you complete it. Buying now gets you access to it plus the much larger Single Player Campaign.
This is not like other Early Access products.
So what you're saying is that it's similar to the old Shareware model? :P
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