Does Linux Hate Solo FPS?

[orb9220]

One reason I can't totally go Ubuntu is Solo FPS games.

I like Offline FPS like Max Payne,Splinter Cell,Doom 3,Far Cry.etc....

All I see is Online games. Doesn't linux community see a need? Or am I just a minority expecting to much?

I mean wouldn't a game be more versatile and valuable with Solo Missions for those times you don't want to hook up to the internet?

Or for people in rural and third world situations with limited or no high-speed connections? Which I have High-Speed but I was thinking of other's.

Even in the window world there seems to be a declining trend to Solo games. But their reasoning is to make money charging for the Online play.

I am sorry call me a hermit or anti-social but I Don't Want to hook up with other's just to play a game.

And I have been gone from ubuntu for about 3-4 month's so if something that fits my preference then please leave links or name of new game.

Thanks any feedback is helpful to update my perceptions of the world around me.

[keykero]

I too enjoy just killing bots for a few minutes here and there as a distraction, but online multiplayer seems to be the trend across the board unfortunately.

[BorisK]

Doom3 is for Linux and has got solo play, hasn't it ?

[olejorgen]

Solo games need story and more levels + (balanced) ai => more job to make => harder for a community driven project to succeed.

[bogoliubov]

I also miss good solo FPS games. I guess you've already tried Quake 4? If not, it works perfectly under Ubuntu! Also, you can play UnrealTournament 2004 (2007 has not yet been released for Linux).
Also, Penumbra Ouverture is a nice single player game, but it's more like a horror game, than action. The homepage is here (http://penumbra-overture.com/)

There is also Cold War (http://gaming.gwos.org/doku.php/games:alphabetical:c:cold_war)

As far as free games are concerned, there aren't many single player FPS. Sauerbraten has single player, but it's not very good.

If someone knows more single player FPS games (preferably free), I'm very interested!

[nille]

Just a thought:
Multiplayer games (such as a lot of the popular FPS-games out there) usually need a server. Often people prefer GNU/Linux-servers, since they are fast, stable etc., and therefore the server-version gets ported to GNU/Linux.

When the server is ported, I belive that the rest is a bit easier to port, too. At least compared to porting the whole game as it is.

I'm not sure of this, since I'm not a game-programmer, but that could perhaps be a reason?

[stchman]

Doom3 is for Linux and has got solo play, hasn't it ?

Doom3 was created for Windows, but since it is OpenGL it works with Linux very well.

[forrestcupp]

I agree with the OP. Multi-player gaming seems to be the trend, and I want more single player games. For one reason, when I try out a new game, I don't want to be thrown into an arena with a bunch of pros and get my butt kicked, never having the chance to really learn how to get good.

For another reason, there is no substance to them. They are all the same. You get thrown into some custom arena with new scenery and weapons, but the goal is always find the other guys and kill them. That's all there is to it no matter what the name of the game is or what the scenery looks like.

I like being able to have an original story and goal. And for things to evolve and for there to be simple puzzles to solve along the way. These are things that are sadly lacking in the modern trend in Linux gaming.

But like others have said, it's a lot harder to create a single player FPS than it is another mindless arena where you don't have to come up with any new ideas. I wish someone would take it on themselves to go ahead and put the extra effort in a 'kick A' single player game.

Edit:
Even though it is arena style, World of Padman (http://www.worldofpadman.com/) is the most original idea I have seen. And it can be played off-line against bots. I wish they would complete their single-player mode, though.

[themattjon]

One reason I can't totally go Ubuntu is Solo FPS games.

I like Offline FPS like Max Payne,Splinter Cell,Doom 3,Far Cry.etc....

All I see is Online games. Doesn't linux community see a need? Or am I just a minority expecting to much?

I mean wouldn't a game be more versatile and valuable with Solo Missions for those times you don't want to hook up to the internet?

Or for people in rural and third world situations with limited or no high-speed connections? Which I have High-Speed but I was thinking of other's.

Even in the window world there seems to be a declining trend to Solo games. But their reasoning is to make money charging for the Online play.

I am sorry call me a hermit or anti-social but I Don't Want to hook up with other's just to play a game.

And I have been gone from ubuntu for about 3-4 month's so if something that fits my preference then please leave links or name of new game.

Thanks any feedback is helpful to update my perceptions of the world around me.

Hear, hear! I agree with you 100%. Even the few online games I've dabbled with have left me in the cold. Oh well, I'm sure it'll come in it's own time...

[orb9220]

Glad to see I am not the only one. And I like Splinter Cell series because you decide when it is necessary to kill,evade.interogate and knock out.

And the extra's like rappeling,spitjumps,pipes,etc... Just seems more real when you have choices in achieving your goals.

And I would love to see more Riven-Myst type games that may take you a long time to solve.

This trend of FPS (Frag everything in sight at warp speed) maybe fine for the ADD young crowd but is shallow and unrewarding for me in many ways.

I am sadden by the attitude I see that most of the games have little depth and breath to them anymore.

[jacob01]

im not saying game don't need a solo campaign but i personally like multi player games because bot get boring and a real player will adapt and improve to make a game interesting.

but i do still like solo missions

what i really like about multi player is how you can game and talk with your friends and have a good time when you cant get together

[forrestcupp]

im not saying game don't need a solo campaign but i personally like multi player games because bot get boring and a real player will adapt and improve to make a game interesting.


That's part of the problem. The current mindset is that a good single player game is the same old arena fragging with bots. That's not a single player game. A real solo game has a story and purpose, and it's more than just killing everyone in sight.

[Melcar]

A good solo game needs one of them big developing houses behind it. It will never happen on a mostly community based environment. I too miss a good solo game, whether it be a FPS or RPG, but as long as the big gaming houses don't start taking Linux into consideration, I'm sad to say that most of the Linux gaming experience will revolve around online dead match style FPS.
I applaud the developing houses that do provide Linux ports of their blockbuster games (Bioware, id, etc.), but they are few, and you're a bit screwed if you happen not to be a big fan of their type of games.

[GSZX1337]

Solo games need story and more levels + (balanced) ai => more job to make => harder for a community driven project to succeed.

Ding ding ding! We have a winner! :KS

[DoktorSeven]

Native Linux solo FPS:

(Ultimate) Doom
Doom II: Hell on Earth
Final Doom
Wolfenstein 3d
Duke Nukem 3d
Heretic
Hexen
Hexen 2
Quake
Quake II
Doom 3
Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil
Quake 4
Postal
Serious Sam: The First Encounter
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
Serious Sam 2
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
Return to Castle Wolfenstein

I am probably missing a few more...

[orb9220]

And how is Hexen,Doom,Duke Nukem,Quake,etc... Different and Original?

Same game just different scenery and weapons. Now that's original?

And alot of those are heavily dated to more than a decade old. But are still fun to replay occasionally.

[GSZX1337]

And how is Hexen,Doom,Duke Nukem,Quake,etc... Different and Original?

Well those games were made in FPS toddler years, the only reason they don't seem original is because everything is based off them. Also, there isn't many (if any) games that are like Serious Sam

[RickyOswaldIOW]

I like Offline FPS like Max Payne,Splinter Cell,Doom 3,Far Cry.etc....

All I see is Online games

I totally disagree, there are plenty of Solo games being created of all genres! Most now have multiplayer sides to them aswell. Granted, there are not a lot of linux based solo FPS games but there aren't really many linux games full stop. Try out WINE, as a total linux newbie I managed to get HL2 working within 10 minutes! Also:
Half-Life 2 & Episodes
Crysis
Oblivion
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic
Medieval Total War
Command & Conquer 3
Assassins Creed
X3: Reunion
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
SimCity Societies

These are just a few excellent and new solo games of different genres that I can think of off the top of my head ;)


They (multiplayer games) are all the same. You get thrown into some custom arena with new scenery and weapons, but the goal is always find the other guys and kill them. That's all there is to it no matter what the name of the game is or what the scenery looks like.

The same could be said for single player games, just because you are not walked through scripted storyline screens does not mean the game has no story.

[forrestcupp]

Native Linux solo FPS:

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault

It doesn't work well enough to play enjoyably. You can't hear the people talking.

[DoktorSeven]

It doesn't work well enough to play enjoyably. You can't hear the people talking.

Sure, but it at least exists. There's problems with Serious Sam TFE/TSE as well where you just randomly fall through the floor at times. But they're out there, anyway, and indicates that at one time people were actually interested in making Linux client versions.

Sadly this has diminished lately.

[Vingummi]

.

[bogoliubov]

A good solo game needs one of them big developing houses behind it.

I don't agree. Since there are people in "the community" that can create very nice looking levels (though multiplayer) and there are people that can create nice campaigns for other games (Wesnoth for instance), I'm sure there can be good solo FPS games made without a large developing house.

A good example is the one I mentioned: Penumbra Ouverture. I think they are like 5 people or so, and they've created a nice single player FPS!

But of course there need to be people willing to create such games!

[forrestcupp]

But they're out there, anyway, and indicates that at one time people were actually interested in making Linux client versions.

Most of the examples listed are games created for Windows and either they are run in Wine, or there was a Linux client ported by someone not working for the company. Those Loki installers just have a Linux port of the binary, they didn't actually have a part in the creation of the gameplay or design. I'm definitely not complaining about it; I'm just saying that's not a good example of the community coming up with a good single player game.


I don't agree. Since there are people in "the community" that can create very nice looking levels (though multiplayer) and there are people that can create nice campaigns for other games (Wesnoth for instance), I'm sure there can be good solo FPS games made without a large developing house.

A good example is the one I mentioned: Penumbra Ouverture. I think they are like 5 people or so, and they've created a nice single player FPS!

But of course there need to be people willing to create such games!
That's a good point. Why can't people from the different genres get together and make a few killer games.

And I just looked up Penumbra: Overture. Wow! That looks amazing. It's not really a FPS, so it's not a perfect example for this thread, but it truly looks like an awesome game. I will be buying it. It's only $19.99 and it looks every bit as good as games that sell for $50. I'm glad they have a linux client.

[Melcar]

I don't agree. Since there are people in "the community" that can create very nice looking levels (though multiplayer) and there are people that can create nice campaigns for other games (Wesnoth for instance), I'm sure there can be good solo FPS games made without a large developing house.

A good example is the one I mentioned: Penumbra Ouverture. I think they are like 5 people or so, and they've created a nice single player FPS!

But of course there need to be people willing to create such games!

Well, that's the thing. Most of the games that do provide extensive non multiplayer experiences are rather "simple" in terms of resources (graphics, music, etc.), while the ones that do provide an elevated graphical experience tend to be simple in terms of background (story, character development, etc.). It's difficult and time consuming to have both, and generally you need a big incentive behind the developing process for these two factors to come together and produce something enjoyable (the big developing firms generally provide this). This is possible on a community supported environment, yes, but the simple fact that not many are doing it proves how difficult it is.

[bogoliubov]

This may be a stupid idea, but I won't see if you laugh at me anyway, so...
What about using an already existing story? I mean, tons of games are based on books, movies etc. Sure, one still need to translate a written story to levels, but at least it would provide a structure to the game.
Still levels should be made, puzzles created and tons of scripting done. But I'm sure that it can be done, if only there were developers interested.

If there are enough developers to create some dozen multiplayer FPSes, shouldn't there be people to make just one solo player FPS?


By the way, if people like the kind of game like the Monkey Island series (very much not FPS), have a look at Soviet Unterzoegersdorf (http://www.monochrom.at/suz-game/index_en.htm)

[DoktorSeven]

Most of the examples listed are games created for Windows and either they are run in Wine, or there was a Linux client ported by someone not working for the company. Those Loki installers just have a Linux port of the binary, they didn't actually have a part in the creation of the gameplay or design. I'm definitely not complaining about it; I'm just saying that's not a good example of the community coming up with a good single player game.
Well, that's why I said client versions. I'm not talking about making games specifically for Linux, but at least porting existing games over to a native Linux version by providing the binaries (and, mostly, using data files from the Windows version).

That's what I'm lamenting. If you're going to make commercial games, get someone to make a Linux version and release the binaries.

[compiledkernel]

One reason I can't totally go Ubuntu is Solo FPS games.

I like Offline FPS like Max Payne,Splinter Cell,Doom 3,Far Cry.etc....

All I see is Online games. Doesn't linux community see a need? Or am I just a minority expecting to much?

I mean wouldn't a game be more versatile and valuable with Solo Missions for those times you don't want to hook up to the internet?

Or for people in rural and third world situations with limited or no high-speed connections? Which I have High-Speed but I was thinking of other's.

Even in the window world there seems to be a declining trend to Solo games. But their reasoning is to make money charging for the Online play.

I am sorry call me a hermit or anti-social but I Don't Want to hook up with other's just to play a game.

And I have been gone from ubuntu for about 3-4 month's so if something that fits my preference then please leave links or name of new game.

Thanks any feedback is helpful to update my perceptions of the world around me.

Nexuiz (quake3 style of single player action), Sauerbraten, and I believe Aliena Arena have single player initiatives.

[bogoliubov]

Nexuiz (quake3 style of single player action), Sauerbraten, and I believe Aliena Arena have single player initiatives.

Yes, but if I remember correctly Nexuiz and Alien Arena have single player where you play multiplayer-like game (deathmatch, ctf etc) against bots. While this is single player in a sense, it's not what I'm looking for. I want to play a game with a single player campaign/story, like Heretic II, Half-Life and so on.

[nawitus]

Just a thought:
Multiplayer games (such as a lot of the popular FPS-games out there) usually need a server. Often people prefer GNU/Linux-servers, since they are fast, stable etc., and therefore the server-version gets ported to GNU/Linux.

When the server is ported, I belive that the rest is a bit easier to port, too. At least compared to porting the whole game as it is.

I'm not sure of this, since I'm not a game-programmer, but that could perhaps be a reason?

No, it does not make it at all easier.

[valkarin]

And I would love to see more Riven-Myst type games that may take you a long time to solve.

I say amen to that and would like to add can we please have more games like 7th Guest and Lights Out. Both are all puzzle, but Lights Out has a great story to it and 7th guest had some of the most challenging puzzles I have ever solved. Plus both were extremely fun to play.

As a side note, although it is not FPS, you might like Metal Blob Solid. Despite the silliness of the name, it is a challenging and fun single-player game.

[houstonbofh]

Try and ignore the controversy this next statement will cause... I would love something like Grand Theft Auto. A real story and plot line in a fully open environment. The hardest part about these games is developing story lines. I think open source is perfect for this... Who wants to start a project? Look at what the gunbound thread started?

[DoktorSeven]

I'd love a GTAlike game in Linux, even if it was just GTA itself (3/VC/SA, never cared much for the old ones) ported to Linux... heck, there's been other attempts at making open-source engines for existing games by reverse-engineering.

But yes, a completely original game would work too.

[jasonbrisbane]

Hi,

I too like FPS.

I'm playing Nezuix (sp?) when I get home from work. Its a deathmatch but you can "advance" to the next.

Sauerbrauten is a very good one for this too.

its not the same, but it soothes me!

Regards,
Jason Brisbane

[yoshimitsuspeed]

I am also inerested in more SP FPS sounds like there is already a lot of interest and talk so I will just put in a mentoion of a couple of my all time favs
Marathon was the first FPS I ever played that caught my interest. I like blowing stuff up but that alone doesn't do it for me. What really caught my interest was the challenges and puzzles to advance. In fact I don't know if I have played an FPS since that was as challenging to figure out. Maybe it was cause of age and experience though lol. It looks like You can actually get marathon to run in linux these days but the graphics are pretty outdated at this point. I still might check it out for old times sake.
The other is Red faction for PS2 which I didn't see mentioned. Red faction is an awsome game with great levles, challenges and very fun to play.

A couple of my other favs are simlar but in the mech category. Armored core and Mech warrior. I found soemthing in the making but havent't found anything playable yet. It looks like I could probably get mech warrior running in wine so that would be cool but it seems like Armored core is kinda the next generation.
Anyway if anyone with the skills and time (he he) feels inspired I think thses games would make excellent inspiration for new possibilites in the linnux/GPL library.

[charlieg]

The answer to the OP is a resounding NO, "Linux" (which I take to mean the Linux community) does not "hate" solo FPS games.

The problem is twofold:

1. Commercial games are not usually compatible with Linux - nothing we Linux users can really do about that

2. Solo FPS games are not trivial to make, they require far more resources in terms of content creation, testing, and AI, and story writing and implementation than the equivalent multiplayer FPS game. You have to realise that the commercial games have budgets of millions of dollars these days - how can a group of volunteers match that? Thus there are very few Free Software solo FPS game projects of note.

But there is hope. There are efforts out there, you can help:

Blood Frontier (http://www.bloodfrontier.com/)
Eisenstern (http://www.eisenstern.com/) (project page (http://sourceforge.net/projects/eisenstern))

[Ameneon]

I do wow that when I get rich (which will be any day now) I shall invest vast amount in precisely FPS single mode games :P Well, at any rate I too miss this sorely, really the only reason why I still keep my XP installation. The quirks of Ubuntu otherwise does not really bother me, but without a good single mode FPS with a story line no o/s is complete.

[handy]

I just skimmed through this thread so I may have missed it, but I did not see any references to the Unreal games?

Unreal Tournament 2004 is an awesome FPS, with a great variety of games styles built into it. It works fantastically well for solo play & also has brilliant online play built into it. Many 3rd party additions to the game are available. & there is a native Linux installer built in.

I spent a lot of time with that game in the past.

[Artificial Intelligence]

There's also Postal 2 if people like a storybased singleplayer FPS.

[eragon100]

I don't really mind the lack of sp FPS's, ET:QW is my favorite game currently. It looks great and is a lot of fun!

[fluxlizard]

http://www.tuxgames.com/browse.cgi?&category=First%2FThird+Person