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.
Mblackwell 1 Mar 2018
So I bought the game on the 3D Realms website but I am only seeing a Windows installer for the preview campaign. No Linux to be found.
Unless I find the the Linux build promised on the Ion Maiden page I am going to have to claim my refund.
I believe this is a packaging mistake on the part of 3DR and the exe actually contains the Linux binary when extracted. I will try and get this fixed!
Mblackwell 1 Mar 2018
I will say, this is not running the DOS version of the BUILD engine but is based on the modern EDuke32 source port.
Ah, so my first impression watching the trailer was correct after all :D
And as this is one of the games I still play regularly, Ion Maiden went directly to my GOG wishlist. I'll wait for the release, though - I'm not a fan of play-the-full-thing-later, be it shareware or early access or whatever else you call it ;)
I can respect that, but just so you are aware that it will be a different campaign than what is available now. Buying now gets you both. Full disclosure.
I believe this is a packaging mistake on the part of 3DR and the exe actually contains the Linux binary when extracted. I will try and get this fixed!
Correct. Thank you.
I downloaded the Windows Installer (IonMaiden_Preview-1.0.exe) to a new folder:
$ sudo pacman -S p7zip sdl2_mixer
$ 7z x IonMaiden_Preview-1.0.exe
$ chmod +x IonMaiden_Linux.bin
$ ./IonMaiden_Linux.bin
After all the debacle around DN3D World Tour this was badly needed for my tortured soul. :D
Comandante Ñoñardo 1 Mar 2018
ElectricPrism 2 Mar 2018
Fantastic example of extrapolating a "formula" for other games success and "applying the formula".
If anyone is entitled to rip off 3D Realms, it is 3D Realms. ;)
Doc Angelo 2 Mar 2018
If anyone is entitled to rip off 3D Realms, it is 3D Realms. ;)
There are so many companies that still have their name, but not much otherwise. What are the companies names worth after being officially bought by EA. What changes when the investors behind a name change?
Just slapping a name on it and state "It's good!" isn't cutting it for me. The good old "We are working closely with (insert gaming veteran)!" is also more often than not just marketing.
I think I wait how this turns out after it is released.
Dankrat169 2 Mar 2018
If anyone is entitled to rip off 3D Realms, it is 3D Realms. ;)
There are so many companies that still have their name, but not much otherwise. What are the companies names worth after being officially bought by EA. What changes when the investors behind a name change?
Just slapping a name on it and state "It's good!" isn't cutting it for me. The good old "We are working closely with (insert gaming veteran)!" is also more often than not just marketing.
I think I wait how this turns out after it is released.
Yeah this times a thousand the Atari name being prime example it not actually Atari that company died in the 80's infrogrames are wearing its corpse because Atari has an associated lineage. Same with Nordic nobody knew who they were until they bought some ip and changed their company name to Thq Nordic now they bought Koch media meaning they now own Deep silver. A name means nothing because rights can be bought for a name or brand.
There are so many companies that still have their name, but not much otherwise. What are the companies names worth after being officially bought by EA. What changes when the investors behind a name change Just slapping a name on it and state "It's good!" isn't cutting it for me. The good old "We are working closely with (insert gaming veteran)!" is also more often than not just marketing.Considering that the likes of Scott Miller and Joe Siegler are still around, and that the developers at Voldpoint are people with a deep history in the Duke Nukem 3D modding community, I kind of have to ask what more could you possibly expect from a company such as Apogee/3D Realms that was founded more than thirty years ago?
Sure, they are owned and financed by an investment company now rather than being independent, but that is not the same thing as being controlled by EA. Or ZeniMax. id Software is far more of a corporate marionette puppet than this version of 3D Realms.
Last edited by Hamish on 2 Mar 2018 at 5:02 pm UTC
Doc Angelo 2 Mar 2018
I kind of have to ask what more could you possibly expect from a company such as Apogee/3D Realms that was founded more than thirty years ago?
The same I expect from any developer and publisher: Care for games. If someone would want me to try out their game, they would have to tell me more than "This company name is very popular and exists for 30 years! That way more then the development of one of our titles!" and that this game is as good as "the good times in the 90'ies!".
What I see in the video is quite generic gameplay. The company that pioneered giving away the first episode for free now wants money up front for a game with so little info - and the promise that the main game will be ready in 6 months - but maybe more.
In short: I expect to be better informed before pre-ordering this title.
Comandante Ñoñardo 2 Mar 2018
Mblackwell 3 Mar 2018
When you buy from the 3D Realms store (not Steam) that's the current DRM Free version (3DR told me they updated the package you can download, but let me know if that is not the case for some reason or it is configured incorrectly).
Last edited by Mblackwell on 3 Mar 2018 at 11:17 am UTC
https://3drealms.com/catalog/ion-maiden_56/
When you buy from the 3D Realms store (not Steam) that's the current DRM Free version (3DR told me they updated the package you can download, but let me know if that is not the case for some reason or it is configured incorrectly).
I can only download the Windows version.
Last edited by Mezron on 3 Mar 2018 at 3:57 pm UTC
That would make an awesome poster ^^
I have a DOOM and UT99 poster in my room. If I can get the Linux build of this official and the game is great, I may add this one as a 3rd poster to the wall.
Comandante Ñoñardo 3 Mar 2018
https://3drealms.com/catalog/ion-maiden_56/
When you buy from the 3D Realms store (not Steam) that's the current DRM Free version (3DR told me they updated the package you can download, but let me know if that is not the case for some reason or it is configured incorrectly).
I can only download the Windows version.
The Windows installer includes the Linux version called IonMaiden_Linux.bin
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