Tux Racer
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Tux Racer is a 3D computer game starring the Linux mascot, Tux the penguin. It was initially free software released under the GNU General Public License. It was then picked up and developed by Sunspire Studios [1] (http://www.tuxracer.com/) and retailed for US$14.99. Tux Racer runs on GNU/Linux, Mac OS X and Windows.
Sunspire Studios seems to have gone bankrupt, as their domains [2] (http://www.sunspirestudios.com/) [3] (http://www.tuxracer.com/) have been sold. According to archive.org, there had been no significant changes since September 22, 2002: the Tux Racer 1.1.1 Linux Patch was released then [4] (http://web.archive.org/web/20040210112210/http://tuxracer.com/). It appears that the site continued to exist almost unchanged until 2004. Their demo of version 1.1 can still be downloaded here (http://www.fileplanet.com/files/80000/84323.shtml).
In the game, the player controls Tux (or one of three other characters) as he slides down a course of snow and ice collecting herring. Ice is best for gaining speed, snow helps maneuverability and the occasional rocky patch will slow Tux down. There are also trees in the way and flags to mark out the course.
The controls are typical of a racing sim, except that the up arrow, "paddle", will slow Tux down when at a high speed and can also be used to increase the length of a jump. Jumps can be caused by the shape of the landscape or by holding down the "energy" key (usually e) and releasing it. Releasing the key when a jump is imminent will naturally make a larger jump.
Players can design new courses by creating (or, more easily, modifying) three bitmap images, to indicate height, surface and objects (trees, flags, herring, etc.).
Like most, if not all, open-source games, its replay value is improved by being easily modified. The game can be quite amusing, although unrealistic. If it is altered, not only can penguins fly, they can exceed mach one.
For Linux users, PPRacer [5] (http://projects.planetpenguin.de/racer/) (Planet Penguin Racer) is recommended as a successor, as it has more features plus the same tracks. For Gentoo users, this is available from Portage. Debian users can install the optional APT package "tuxracer-extras", with additional courses.
Roxor Games has released an arcade version as a redemption game; it only has left and right controls.
See also
External links
- Old open-source versions of Tux Racer (http://tuxracer.sourceforge.net/)
- Tux Racer Arcade (http://www.roxorgames.com/tux.html)