Nexuiz

"Nexuiz" redirects here. For the 2012 re-imagining, see Nexuiz (2012 video game).

Nexuiz
Developer(s)	Alientrap
Publisher(s)	Alientrap
Engine	DarkPlaces
Platform(s)	X Window System (running under Linux, UNIX), Windows, Mac OS X 10.4 or newer, AmigaOS 4
Release	May 31, 2005
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Multiplayer, Singleplayer

Nexuiz is a free first-person shooter video game developed and published by Alientrap. It was originally free and open-source software and was distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) but was later remade for Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network and Steam. The remake uses Cry engine 3 and was developed by the original developer as well as a few other companies. Version 1.0 of the original game was released on May 31, 2005. The current version, 2.5.2, was released on October 1, 2009. Nexuiz classic uses DarkPlaces, a significantly modified Quake engine.

Overview

Nexuiz is a FPS game, heavily inspired by the original Quake games, even running on a modified Quake engine known as DarkPlaces. It includes thirteen weapons, 24 official maps and over 240 community created maps, as well as 15 player models. The graphics in Nexuiz use coronas, the bloom shader effect, Realtime World and Dynamic Lighting and shadowing, shaders (with OpenGL 2.0), offset mapping, and High dynamic range rendering. All these effects can be turned off to make the game run on older hardware.

Nexuiz is primarily multiplayer (though it includes a full single-player campaign, which allows one to play through the various multiplayer game types and maps with bots), and allows for hosting and joining of games. It can also support new gametypes, or whole conversions quickly applied to it (much like Quake). Nexuiz supports most Quake modifications (although with varying functionality). Currently there are a few custom mods and maps used.

History

File:Nexuiz promo video.ogg

Sample gameplay of Nexuiz

Nexuiz development started as a Quake modification in the summer of 2001 by Lee Vermeulen. Soon afterward the project moved to the DarkPlaces Quake engine created by Forest Hale, who later also joined the project. The original design called for a simple deathmatch project with a few levels and one character model to be released the next summer. After four years of development with no budget, Nexuiz 1.0 was released on May 31, 2005, completely under the GNU GPL, and by the end of June had over a quarter million downloads. Development continued after the initial release, with 1.1 released soon after, 1.5 released February 14, 2006, 2.0 released June 14, 2006 and 2.1 September 9, 2006. On February 29, 2008, nearly three years after the initial release, version 2.4 was released and brought major improvements to both the GUI and the graphics engine. This includes all new GUI graphics elements, as well as reflective water and improved particles.

In October 2008, a call was made for more developers for Nexuiz by the main (and only) QuakeC developer, who identified organizational issues associated with a many user, one developer model. Responses to this call highlighted the need for better documentation of QuakeC and the Nexuiz code, while also acknowledging the difficulty that documentation of this placed on the small team of Nexuiz developers. From mid-November 2008, a number of people expressed interest in continuing development of Nexuiz.

On March 1, 2010, it was revealed a company known as Illfonic purchased the rights to the name Nexuiz, and a proprietary license to the source-code, the details of any potential legal conflicts are as of yet unknown.

On March 22, 2010, the fork Xonotic of Nexuiz was announced. Many of the core contributors and community members of Nexuiz moved to this new project as they felt that sale of the name Nexuiz mishandles the original project.

On July 13, 2010, Crytek announced that it had licensed the Cryengine 3 for Illfonic's Nexuiz.

Reception

In the September 2006 issue of the magazine PC Gamer, Nexuiz was included in an article on Internet developers and free games impacting the industry. It also featured on the March 2007 Maximum PC and (version 2.4) was released on the May 2008 and August 2009 PC User cover disks. In 2009, Phoronix described version 2.5 of Nexuiz as the best open source FPS they had played, with refined gameplay and graphics that take advantage of modern hardware.

GameStop

GameStop locations across the US held an in-store Nexuiz "PC gaming challenge". Interactive kiosks were set up in 10 different stores in 8 US cities. The kiosks gave users 2 minutes to earn the high score by doing the most damage possible to their AI opponents. The highest monthly scorer in each location won a $100 GameStop gift card. There were new maps every month, and each player was allowed one game per day. Game play was open to GameStop customers ages 13 and up, and ages 17 and above were eligible to win the monthly gift card for the high score. Cities with the Challenge were: Dallas, Miami, Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Development by IllFonic

On March 3, 2010, it was announced the name Nexuiz had been licensed to IllFonic game studios as a platform for a commercial release. This version is set to be released on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and Steam. The game uses same name, while adopting a futuristic, Victorian art style. It has been confirmed that it will be based on CryEngine 3, instead of the DarkPlaces (Quake) engine used in the original game. The main page of nexuiz.com has changed to reflect the commercial version of the game, rather than the open source PC game, although the PC game's page remains accessible. Community changes to the Nexuiz project initiated a free fork called Xonotic.

See also

• List of free first-person shooters

External links

• Nexuiz official homepage
• Nexuiz for consoles official homepage
• Audio Interview with Nexuiz Developer esteel (MP3)
• Audio Podcast Interview with interviewed Lee Vermeulen founder and co-designer of Nexuiz (MP3/OGG)