OpenArena
| OpenArena | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | OpenArena team |
| Engine | ioquake3 |
| Platform(s) | Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Mac OS X, Solaris, Windows |
| Release | August 19 2005 |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
OpenArena is a free and open source first-person shooter (FPS) computer game based heavily on the Quake III Arena style deathmatch. The OpenArena project was established on August 19 2005, the day after the id Tech 3 GPL source code release. It is still in early development.
OpenArena's primary goal is to make a completely free, open source FPS game derived from Quake III. Its game engine is ioquake3, based upon id Software's GPL id Tech 3. In addition, a "missionpack" add-on is planned, to take advantage of the GPL'd Quake III: Team Arena source code.
The newest version of OpenArena 0.8.1 was released on October 31 2008. The version 0.8.0 was removed the non-free content from the previous version.
OpenArena is included in several GNU/Linux distributions, including Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, Mandriva, and Ubuntu.
Overview
OpenArena's gameplay is the exact same as Quake III Arena - score frags to win the game using a balanced set of weapons each designed for different situations. Guns include a chaingun, rocket launcher, shotgun, and railgun. The Quake III style of play is very fast and requires skill to be played successfully online.
Gameplay modes exist such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Tournament, and Capture The Flag (all modes also in the original Quake III). OpenArena version 0.7.6 adds the new Elimination, CTF Elimination, Last Man Standing and Double Domination gametypes.
OpenArena has undergone compatibility testing with some Quake 3 mods and maps. Because "OpenArena" is not finished, many mods and maps from the original game are not compatible. A list of tested mods can be found at http://openarena.wikia.com/wiki/ModCompat
More recently OpenArena has advertised itself [1][2] as a "sexy" first person shooter and warns that some models are near nude (only covered with tight clothing or hair), in addition to the game's violent theme, it is "not appropriate for children".
Legacy and impact
OpenArena has been used as a platform for scholarly work in computer science. Some examples include streaming graphics from a central server,[3] and visualizing large amounts of network data.[4]
Release History
| Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Old release; not supported |
| Yellow | Old release; still supported |
| Green | Current release |
| Future release |
| Major Version | Minor Version | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | Alpha 1 | 2005-08-19 | Initial release. |
| Alpha 2 | 2005-11-18 | Second alpha release | |
| Alpha 3 | 2006-02-25 | Deathmatch testing (First version with working netcode tested, and first announcer) | |
| Alpha 4 | 2006-05-07 | Fourth alpha release (CTF play) | |
| 0.4 | 0.4.1 | 2006-06-06 | ?? |
| 0.5 | 0.5.0 | 2006-08-20 | (First version using ioquake3, and flares) |
| 0.5.1 | 2006-08-26 | Non-Free audio removed | |
| 0.6 | 0.6.0 | 2006-12-02 | (First version with bots) |
| 0.7 | 0.7.0 | 2007-07-07[5] | Media polishing and additions, new maps and player models |
| 0.7.1 | 2007-08-08 | Fan map fixed, new rocket trail | |
| 0.7.6 | 2008-04-21 | Several new gameplay modes added, instant gib, unlagged, rockets only, music removed, few new models | |
| 0.7.7 | 2008-05-29 | Bug fix release; server list no longer lists pre-0.7.7 servers, eliminating version incompatibilities. | |
| 0.8 | 0.8.0 | 2008-08-08 | New voices, some weapon remodelling, vertex lighting removal, mission pack. The release was pulled from the servers due to an artist using non-GPL compliant work[6]. |
| 0.8.1 | 2008-10-31 | Campaign reorganized, new maps, non-GPL compliant content removed. |
Screenshots
References
- ^ http://openarena.ws/
- ^ http://openarena.ws/about.html
- ^ Peter Eisert and Philipp Fechteler (2007). "Remote rendering of computer games. Proceedings of the International Conference on Signal Processing and Multimedia Applications (SIGMAP), Barcelona, Spain, July 2007".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Lucas Parry (2007). "L3DGEWorld 2.1 Input & Output Specifications. CAIA Technical Report 070808A, August 2007".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ OpenArena PC, Linux, Mac game - Mod DB
- ^ http://openarena.ws/news.html
See also
- List of free first-person shooters
- First-person shooters
- FreeDoom, a similar effort but for Doom
- Open Quartz, a similar effort but for Quake