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Inspired by the Thief series, The Dark Mod is a brilliant free and open source game and game engine for people to make various levels with. The Dark Mod version 2.10 is out now and it's BIG.

Just for players, here's the highlights:

  • Loading Times - Considerable effort has gone into streamlining how textures are loaded, making more effective use of multiple CPU cores, and removing artificial delays. This even includes new handwritten algorithms for normalmap compression and mipmap generation so that TDM no longer relies on graphics card drivers.
  • Performance Improvements - As part of ongoing performance improvements, soft stencil shadows with anti-alising will be faster to render.
  • Object Handling - Afraid to grab a candle near a sleeping guard? Handling objects will now produce less noise, or none at all if holding down the “creep” button. You can also now control how far an item is thrown based on how long you hold down the “throw” button. Lastly, dragging unconscious bodies should feel better now (even if rats did their best to spoil the fun a little).
  • Main Menu Interactions - Tooltips have been added for many of the items found in the settings menu: a long-awaited feature! We’ve also reorganized the procedure for switching between missions to make it more intuitive for newcomers.
  • Window / Input Changes - The Linux build now relies on the GLFW library to create windows and handle the keyboard & mouse, eliminating many of the issues with OS integration on Linux. On the Windows side, some minor changes were made to fullscreen/borderless modes.

For mappers though, it gets real interesting! They added support for Volumetric Lights (“God Rays”), more image formats, main menu customizations, new scripting events and so on — lots of new toys for level creators for have fun with and to go along with it the six new missions released for the 2.10 Connections Contest are now officially available in the mission downloader and they take advantage of the new features.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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16 comments
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Purple Library Guy Mar 3, 2022
Quoting: P1nkyif you really want to go down the "point & drool" route.
Classy.
DebianUser Mar 3, 2022
Quoting: dziadulewiczNice but the installation...

Linux Instructions

1. Create a folder darkmod in your home directory.
2. Download the Linux version of the tdm_installer.linux64.zip and extract it to your darkmod folder.
3. Make tdm_installer.linux64 executable: chmod +x tdm_installer.linux64
4. Run tdm_installer with default settings and wait for the game to install.
5. Start The Dark Mod using thedarkmod.x64 in your darkmod folder and begin playing!

WTH. I mean, can't there just be a snap or a flatpak for it already?

Honestly, and without any offense, creating a folder, downloading a file, adding some rights on a file and launch an installer are pretty trivial operations (on any OS).
Nobody forces you to learn code or create some sort of package, but you can if you want to enhance the process.
All you need to do to play is basically what you do pretty much all the time when using an OS.

But if you really want :

INSTALL_PATH=~/Games/TheDarkMod/
mkdir -p $INSTALL_PATH
cd $INSTALL_PATH
wget https://update.thedarkmod.com/zipsync/tdm_installer.linux64.zip
unzip tdm_installer.linux64.zip && rm tdm_installer.linux64.zip
chmod +x tdm_installer.linux64
./tdm_installer.linux64


Last edited by DebianUser on 3 March 2022 at 1:44 pm UTC
heidi.wenger Mar 3, 2022
All i know is that through our work we meet many physically, mentally or visually (eye sight) challenged people. They are absolutely not up for many different technical hurdles to install software.

Majority of them just can't do it though gaming helps many deeply depressed individuals. They can do it but in total basic levels. It can be difficult to see things in perspective so much contrasting to ones own defaults in life.

I think Linux and its gaming should be (and mainly is) suitable for everyone. If someone can and would be willing to do that one click install possible for also this game i think it should be just made. It would be for the good of challenged people. The old way of installing with terminal would still exist. or maybe this game is not suitable for such easy installation. I wouldn't know as i too am not a technical person (and don't want to be).

There is a reason why Steam is so popular i think: you click "PLAY" and, well, then you play! Maybe The Dark Mod gets to Steam just like Super Tux!
TerryMcginnis Mar 4, 2022
Quoting: dziadulewiczNice but the installation...

Linux Instructions

1. Create a folder darkmod in your home directory.
2. Download the Linux version of the tdm_installer.linux64.zip and extract it to your darkmod folder.
3. Make tdm_installer.linux64 executable: chmod +x tdm_installer.linux64
4. Run tdm_installer with default settings and wait for the game to install.
5. Start The Dark Mod using thedarkmod.x64 in your darkmod folder and begin playing!

WTH. I mean, can't there just be a snap or a flatpak for it already?
Or you could just use Lutris and run lutris lutris:the-dark-mod-tdm-official-latest- in the terminal or click the install button here.


Last edited by TerryMcginnis on 4 March 2022 at 1:52 pm UTC
whizse Mar 4, 2022
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Quoting: heidi.wengerThere is a reason why Steam is so popular i think: you click "PLAY" and, well, then you play! Maybe The Dark Mod gets to Steam just like Super Tux!
TDM on Steam was in the works when Valve did the whole Greenlight thing. Don't really know why there haven't been any other efforts?
WMan22 Mar 6, 2022
Quoting: whizse
Quoting: heidi.wengerThere is a reason why Steam is so popular i think: you click "PLAY" and, well, then you play! Maybe The Dark Mod gets to Steam just like Super Tux!
TDM on Steam was in the works when Valve did the whole Greenlight thing. Don't really know why there haven't been any other efforts?

I can shed some light on this as someone who knows someone who has talked with the developers. Basically when it came time for legal certification before making it to steam, they were asked to get contractual permission from each and every single mission uploader, which just wasn't viable, as some were not able to be contacted, and others may or may not have said yes, which basically halted the steam release in its tracks.

I assume it's the same reason that Retroarch doesn't have every core available in the steam version, they have to get legal permission, even if it's free.
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