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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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Shmerl Mar 18, 2018
Quoting: kneekooIs 64-bit really required for a 256-color palette retro game?

Why would you want to mess with 32-bit binaries on 64-bit systems? No one is using 32-bit Linux anymore.
kneekoo Mar 18, 2018
I mentioned our old computers, and most of them are 32-bit. I'm sure you can easily imagine an old P4 CPU like Willamette, Northwood and even the first batch of Prescott (not its later "E0" revision) having 2GB-4GB of RAM and a 256MB/512MB graphics card - because hard-core gamers had those back in the day. So going back to an old gaming rig with Ion Maiden would be sweet.

A few of my earlier questions were partially covered by the following interview, but it would still be great to know the game runs (and further evolves) on older hardware. :)
View video on youtube.com


Last edited by kneekoo on 18 March 2018 at 11:32 pm UTC
Shmerl Mar 18, 2018
Quoting: kneekooI mentioned our old computers, and most of them are 32-bit.

I guess their goal was not to run the game on vintage computers, but to provide old look'n'feel for modern ones.
kneekoo Mar 18, 2018
They are clearly not aiming for running the game on such old hardware, but some valuable feedback coming from people having it could help the game's optimizations. And the easiest way to enable this kind of testing is by having 32-bit builds. Who knows where it leads? :D
Comandante Ñoñardo Mar 19, 2018
Quoting: Shmerl
Quoting: kneekooIs 64-bit really required for a 256-color palette retro game?

Why would you want to mess with 32-bit binaries on 64-bit systems? No one is using 32-bit Linux anymore.

I agree with kneekoo.
If it is a retro game with retro graphics using a retro game engine, it should work on retro machines with retro hardware and retro operative systems.
tuubi Mar 19, 2018
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Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoIf it is a retro game with retro graphics using a retro game engine, it should work on retro machines with retro hardware and retro operative systems.
Why?
kneekoo Mar 19, 2018
Read my previous posts (page 12).
tuubi Mar 19, 2018
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Quoting: kneekooRead my previous posts (page 12).
I did read the whole thread. Still don't see what they would gain, beyond some geek cred.

(By the way, the amount of pages depends on your settings. For me there are 3 pages.)
kneekoo Mar 19, 2018
Oh well, if you read the whole thread you probably noticed my recent posts and why I think 32-builds could prove to be useful in more than one way.
Samsai Mar 19, 2018
Quoting: kneekooOh well, if you read the whole thread you probably noticed my recent posts and why I think 32-builds could prove to be useful in more than one way.
Just let 32-bit die.

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