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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".

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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.
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118 comments
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Mezron Mar 3, 2018
View PC info
  • Supporter
Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoThe Windows installer includes the Linux version called IonMaiden_Linux.bin

I extracted the files and I also installed them via WINE. I read through the text file but the .bin file is not working in any way.

Is there an install method in these readme files?
Hamish Mar 3, 2018
I just opened IonMaiden_Preview-1.0.exe with File Roller and extracted all of the files inside to a directory. You need p7zip installed to make this work I believe though.

Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoAnyone of You managed to find all the secret locations?
I have gotten it down to just five secrets left in the first level so far, including finding the Portal reference room posted here earlier.


Last edited by Hamish on 3 March 2018 at 7:15 pm UTC
Quoting: RafiLinux
Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoThe Windows installer includes the Linux version called IonMaiden_Linux.bin

I extracted the files and I also installed them via WINE. I read through the text file but the .bin file is not working in any way.

Is there an install method in these readme files?

Do you have libSDL2_mixer-2.0 installed? You need it If you want to run the native linux IonMaiden_Linux.bin
Oet_ Mar 3, 2018
Quoting: RafiLinux
Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoThe Windows installer includes the Linux version called IonMaiden_Linux.bin

I extracted the files and I also installed them via WINE. I read through the text file but the .bin file is not working in any way.

Is there an install method in these readme files?

You do NOT need Wine or Windows.

These are the steps for Ubuntu:

$ sudo apt-get install p7zip-full libsdl2-mixer-2.0.0 # Install 7-zip and SDL2-mixer
$ 7z x IonMaiden_Preview-1.0.exe # Extract downloaded exe with 7-zip
$ chmod +x IonMaiden_Linux.bin # Make Linux binary executable
$ ./IonMaiden_Linux.bin # Execute the binary
SharkMachine Mar 3, 2018
@Mblackwell You received my money. I appreciate how you released a Linux version and how you have come here to read feedback.
Mezron Mar 3, 2018
View PC info
  • Supporter
Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoDo you have libSDL2_mixer-2.0 installed? You need it If you want to run the native linux IonMaiden_Linux.bin

That all that I was missing. Thanks. Usually, I would get the terminal to report to me what is missing for the game to work but it did not report anything at all just ran and nothing opened. Installing what you stated worked like a charm!
kneekoo Mar 3, 2018
I feel guilty to point this out here, especially with Duke in another camp, but what I really want is Duke Nukem 3D: Reloaded. Frederik Schreiber did a good job at promoting it and I feel like Gearbox only deserves redemption if they will allow that title to come out as originally planned.

Ion Maiden? Cool name, interesting gameplay, good old retro feeling, but buying it? Maybe later. I don't like Early Crapcess, nor can I understand how someone can advertise Linux support but fails to package the game accordingly. I wish them good luck, and I hope the game will be great.
Hamish Mar 3, 2018
Quoting: kneekooI feel guilty to point this out here, especially with Duke in another camp, but what I really want is Duke Nukem 3D: Reloaded.
To be honest I have never really gotten the appeal of Duke Nukem 3D: Reloaded. Rebuilding an old game on a new engine sounds like much more of a "cash grab" to me than building a new game on an old one.
kneekoo Mar 3, 2018
Rebuilding an old game on a new engine takes a lot more effort than the other way around. You need great textures and great visual effects to begin with, because that's the first thing people see. But then there's the need for accuracy in terms of maps and gameplay, which are essential for remakes and "reloaded" stuff. If it doesn't have the proper identity, it's a failure. So a new game on any engine seems a lot easier by comparison.

But I don't see any of these games as cash grabs. From what I've seen on both games that we're talking about here, it's easy to see there was a lot of work involved and I appreciate that. I just mentioned DN3D:R here because it's Frederik Schreiber's gang involved in both projects. Gearbox deserves the mighty foot for killing DN3D:R.


Last edited by kneekoo on 3 March 2018 at 8:30 pm UTC
Grimfist Mar 3, 2018
I am now an hour into the game, and holy hell, this is freakin fun and awesome. But some of the secrets are really hard to find ;)
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