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9. Playing Linux Games

In the last chapter you learned how to use Linux to help you work; in this chapter you'll learn how to use Linux to help you play. A variety of challenging and exciting games is available for Linux; many of them are free. In addition, you can use WINE to run a variety of commercial games originally written for Microsoft Windows.

9.1 A Survey of Linux Games

Linux includes several popular games. In addition, many Linux games are available on the Web. Table 9.1 lists some of the most popular sites offering Linux games and Table 9.2 describes some of the most popular Linux games. However, you'll find almost every game you could want on the Debian web site, http://www.debian.org/.


Table 9.1: Popular Linux Game Web Sites

Web Site

URL

Freshmeat

http://freshmeat.net/

Linux Game Tome

http://happypenguin.org/

Linux Games Page

http://www.linuxgames.com/

Linux Quake Page

http://www.planetquake.com/linux/

linuxquake.com

http://www.linuxquake.com/

Loki Games

http://www.lokigames.com/

Slashdot

http://www.slashdot.org/


Table 9.2: Some Popular Linux Games

Game

Type

Description

BZFlag

Action

Multi-player tank battle game.

Civilization: Call To Power

Strategy

A commercial Linux version of the sequel to Micropose's Civilization. Supports network play.

CrossFire

Role Playing

Resembles Rogue. Supports multi-player network play.

DOOM

Action

Classic action game. Requires doom.wad file from licensed copy of game.

Freeciv

Strategy

Resembles Microprose's Civilization. Supports network play.

Illust Logic

Puzzle

A paint-by-numbers puzzle, wherein you strive to paint cells of a canvas.

Koules

Arcade

Multi-player action game. Supports console or X11 play.

NetHack

Role Playing

A quest game resembling Rogue. Supports console or X11 play.

Netrek

Arcade

Multi-player 2-D battle simulation with a Star Trek theme.

PySol

Card

Twenty different versions of solitaire.

Quake

Action

A Linux version of the commercial game Quake. Requires the PAK file from the game CD-ROM diskette. Supports console or X11 play.

Quake II

Action

In the opinion of many, the definitive multi-player 3D action shoot 'em up. Requires license fee. Supports console or X11 play.

Snes9X

Utility

A portable, freeware emulator of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Allows you to run Nintendo64 games on a PC.

Starcraft Linux-installation HOWTO

Document

Describes the procedures for installing and running the commercial game Starcraft on a Linux system using WINE.

XBomber

Arcade

Resembles the classic Bomberman game.

Xmame

Arcade

Emulator for popular arcade games. Requires ROM image from the original game.

XPat2

Card

An assortment of solitaire games.

XShipWars

Action

A graphical MUD (multi-user dungeon) with a space exploration theme.

As you can see, many types of games are available, including action games, arcade games, card games, puzzles, role playing games, and strategy games. Some Linux games can be played from the console; others require X. Many Linux games let multiple players compete at separate computers connected via a network, such as the Internet. Linux games may be freeware, shareware, or commercial software. In addition, Linux software such as Snes9X and WINE lets you play games originally written for systems other than Linux.


Previous: 8.2 Other Approaches to Desktop Computing Learning Debian GNU/Linux Next: 9.2 Closeups of Some Popular Games
8.2 Other Approaches to Desktop Computing Book Index 9.2 Closeups of Some Popular Games