Week 9 - Good Games to Grab - Alien Arena 2010 - Update

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Week 9 - Good Games to Grab - Alien Arena 2010 - Update

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Started 16 years ago by Whiterabbit-uk
Latest reply from Anonymous

Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru

Alien Arena 2008: (188Mb) (the latest version 2009 is 200.02Mb)

I nearly didn’t bother posting this FPS game because it’s billed as a multiplayer game. But I remember playing an earlier version and was sure there was a single player campaign. I decided to check it out and discovered that there is, so thought it would be a great addition to the free games of the week project. If you like the unreal tournament series you'll love this game.

There is an automatic installer, but you can decide to choose where to install the game yourself. Please take note that during the installation process the installer asks if you want a crawler toolbar added. This is ticked by default, so make sure you uncheck it , unless you want a crawler toolbar in your browser. Once the game has been installed you’ll find two shortcuts on your desktop. Use the one that says “Alien Arena Quick Play”. You can access the single player game via the other shortcut, but it’s the long way around. Once you get to the main menu first select options and max out the graphics settings as it looks much better. You do require an internet connection to play this game despite there being an internet connection, When you first start the game up you will be asked to create a name to use while playing.

Do you like fast paced deathmatch? How about...retro Sci Fi? Then you're going to love what Alien Arena 2008 has in store for you! This game combines some of the very best aspects of such games as Quake III and Unreal Tournament and wraps them up with a retro alien theme, while adding tons of original ideas to make the game quite unique.

Alien Arena 2008 also offers a change to it's overall theme, moving towards a slightly darker, more serious tone, while still retaining a good bit of it's retro style, creating an interesting marriage between classic and modern sci-fi. This resulted in completely new player models, many new weapon models and textures, and seventeen new levels.

There are major improvements in weapon effects, per-pixel lighting, texture resolution, and resource usage, as well as the addition of a cross platform server browser, FUSE. Weapons have been tweaked for better balance, and movement has been enhanced with the addition of dodging abilities.

Some of the new features include:

* Seven new/revamped maps
* Improved lighting and visibility
* Map voting option
* Galaxy browser improvements
* Renderer optimizations
* Various bugfixes

Alien Arena 2008 v7.20
1. Added Invisibility powerup
2. Added reward system.
3. Reduced power of vaporizer, and increased spawn time of vaporizer to twice of other weapons.
4. Added weapon inventory display in HUD.
5. Shockwave weapon effects. Increased efficiency of several weapon effects.
6. New CTF flag effects.
7. Added rotating particle effects.
8. Fixed buffer overrun with ps.stats
9. Bots now use alt-fire in vehicles.
10. Haste and sproing greatly improved.
11. New death effects.
12. Bot node files only load at start of level, rather than previously when a player joins.
13. Noshadows option for static map meshes.
14. Fixed "disappearing ctf flag" bug!
15. Added tangent light space vector normalization to per-pixel mesh rendering.
16. Added level of detail system for player models.
17. Bounding boxes calc'ed at load time, performance increase.
18. Occulusion culling of entites, huge performance increase.
19. Added GLSL program management.
20. Added parallax mapping.
21. Added glsl normal/specular mapping for dynamic lighting.
22. Added glsl specular lighting.
23. Removed old fixed functions for dynamic and specular lighting on normalmaps. (some where broken anyway).
24. Changed some skin colors of players and weapons to be more visible(and eye pleasing).
25. Added new water shaders, so that mappers can fake reflections.
26. Added distortion shader to basic water(disabled due to some bugginess).
27. Vertex lerping no longer batched in separate loop, now done inside of texture mapping loop, nice peformance increase.
28. Anti-lag added, backwards reconciliation portion. More to follow.
29. Fixed a few video menu bugs.
30. New weapon icons.
31. Cvar's added to specify log and motd files.
32. Heartbeat's now only re-resolve master if it cannot reach it.
33. Faster image filtering.
34. Rscript optimizations using hash keys.
35. Removed flashlight code.
36. Added support for Linux/X11 clipboard.
37. Linux directory support.
38. Linux windowed mouse fixes.
39. Netname string made larger.
40. Fixed escape character removal in death messages.
41. Names no longer cut off in team scoreboard.
42. New glass effects, now uses a semi-true reflection.
43. Option to place player id's over players, as well as identify flags.
44. Rcon password changes - can now have spaces, and protection against overflows.
45. Fixed bug with random() that caused some dedicated servers to segfault in linux.
46. Rscript optimization - removed redundant loading in meshes.
47. New bloodstain effects using decals. Removed old stain code. Looks cooler, and performs better.
48. Added 3 new maps: Dm-liberation, Ctf-cryogenic, Tca-cryogenic.
49. Better bullethole effects.
50. Fixed fov bug.

Reference: http://www.fileplanet.com/172083/170000/fileinfo/Alien-Arena-2008-Version-7.20-Client-(Free-Game) accessed 25th Oct 08

Alien Arena 2008 is a multiplayer online deathmatch game based on the GPL id source code. Powered by version 7.2 of the CRX engine, this game features incredibly smooth and fast game play with next-generation engine features such as shaders, real-time per-pixel and per-vertex lighting and shadows, lensflares, light bloom, weather, and reflective water. The game includes over 40 levels, nine weapons (with alt-fire modes), five player characters, mutaters, six game play modes, and an in-game server browser. With modes like Team Core Assault, Cattle Prod, Duel, Deathball, Capture the Flag, and All Out Assault, Alien Arena has an endless replayability factor. Version 7.2 includes new maps, new models, new textures, and major engine enhancements.
Note: For compatibility, the default graphic settings are set to a low level. Use the video options menu to increase settings. This is a large (196MB) file and may take several hours to download via dial-up modem.

Download Link:
http://www.download.com/Alien-Arena-2008/3000-7453_4-10447379.html

Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_Arena_2007

images:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=Alien+Arena+2008&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

video:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YW27tsUU7n8 (poor quality)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ9__NmTb6o

To all dial up users. I would say that this game is worth the effort at downloading, especilly if you like run and gun FPS games.

Posted 16 years ago #
wizzard_of_ozz2004
Games Master

Wow this is great Whiterabbit! I always thought about trying this game but I don't much care for online shooters. Since I've always read it to be billed as such, I've not downloaded it. Thanks again!

*Edit* Now that I've had some time to play this game, I'm not too impressed. Don't get me wrong, it's a great game for free. I guess I'm just used to my UT's. For those of you who have yet to download this game, this game is very reminiscent of the Unreal Tournaments. The levels feel the same, though not quite as grand. The weapons feel weaker, however.

I encountered a few bugs with this game. It's not uncommon for the game to slip into console mode while tinkering with the options. If this should happen, just hit escape. Its rather hard to tweak the options because once you click, you don't always get a response from the program. Also, I registered with the same account name as the one on here, but the hud shows wizzard_of_ozz2222.

If you are tweaking an option like the crosshairs, you have to right click to move back 1 if you happen to find one you liked at the beginning.

I did like the idea that the "bots" seem to talk to you and each other with little comments through the entire match. Though this was not my cup of tea, I appreciate the thought and work put into it Whiterabbit.

Thanks again,
AH

Posted 16 years ago #
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru

I know what you mean about the dumbed down look when comparing it to Unreal Tournament. The color and lusness of UT is what appeals so much. And yeah, the weaopns are very under powered, but that makes it more challenging in a way. I bet if you have a decent text editor you could tweak this game to make it more interesting.

I've got too many recently released FPS games right up to tomorrows release of COD: World at War (which I received earlier today because I had it on pre-order), so am really spoiled for choice. - I buy most FPS games that are released these days as most of my days are spent playing games as I use them as an analgesic. I love my unreal tournament games and have over 50 Gb of mods and maps for UT2004, at least 20Gb for UT2003 and several for the latest version. I'm still playing UT2004 in preference to UT2007 for some reason. Though I think I'll play a few rounds this evening after I've finished my latest round of Beta testing.

Still. For those who don't have any FPS, or have really old ones, this is an excellent alternative. I've never actually completed the first level so cant say what some of the later levels are like.

Thanks for the in depth review. It's always apptreciated when someone comes back with a decent opinion.

Posted 16 years ago #
wizzard_of_ozz2004
Games Master

No problem Whiterabbit, I'm going to try to be more productive on this site and give back to the community that has given so much. UT is about the only deathmatch that I will play. They've perfected it so well that all other games pale in comparison for me.

Posted 16 years ago #
ema609
Member

Is there away to get game notices every time one comes on during the week
If so can somebody put me on. I only get notices on the weekend
ty
ema

Posted 16 years ago #
graylox
Moderator

Hi, ema609,
sorry but these games you find in the forums are not officially from GGOTD.
They are from other users, mostly from WhiteRabbit. So there is no email notice.
I can only give you the same advice as for 7 months ago: come and have a look, it is worth the "trouble".

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2952

graylox

Posted 16 years ago #
wizzard_of_ozz2004
Games Master

You really should spend some time here in the forums. There are PLENTY of good free programs and games here in the forums. You'll also meet some of the nicest people here. I visit the forums many times a day. =)

Posted 16 years ago #
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru

Hi ema609,
As Graylox says, these games are unofficial and have nothing to do with the game giveaway project. I started the thread because lots of community members kept asking when the game giveaway was going to start up every day again.

There are literally thousands of free games to download if you know where to look, many of which were formally commercial games. Many are as old as Adam in computing terms, but are still very good games.

As I have an inordinate amount of time on my hands and I enjoy playing games so much I thought I'd start a thread whereby I'd post one of these freeware or abandonware games every day of the week, but not weekends when there is a giveaway game.

Wow!.... Graylox, you have an amazing memory to remember such a post. I rarely remember what I posted the previous day, lol.

With respect to the Email notification: I found it to be useless. It's much quicker just to log onto the site and see what's on offer, but that's just my opinion.

As wizzard of oz says, there are always lots of different programs both applications and games being posted by many community members. With these, the freeware alternatives mentioned in the comments section, the freeware library and of course the daily giveaway and weekend games giveaway, there's almost no need to buy any software these days unless you're using it to run a business, or want to keep up with the Jones's lol.

regards

Stephen

Posted 16 years ago #
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru
I’ve just noticed that Alien Arena has been updated; it's now Alien Arena 2009 rather than Alien Arena 2008. So I've changed the threads title to reflect the change. You can download it from Gamershell:

Download Alien Arena 2009 (200.02Mb):

http://www.gamershell.com/download_47538.shtml

The following are a list of changes that have been added to the 2009 version; otherwise the game remains the same.

•GLSL per-pixel lighting on meshes (now all surfaces).
•OpenAL 1.1
•Ogg-Vorbis support.
•GLSL post process frame buffer effects.
•New scoreboards.
•New HUD.
•Stereo music files.
•Seven new maps.
•Two new player characters.
•Voice taunt system.
•Doppler sound effects.

This is an okay Unreal Tournament wannabee for free; though IMO I'd say only compared to the original Unreal Tournament and not the later blockbusters - Unreal Tournament 2003, Unreal Tournament 2004 and the amazing Unreal Tournament 3 a.k.a. Unreal Tournament 2007, (which you can get via Steam for only £13.99 {~$20), though you could pick up a copy of Unreal Tournament 2003 and/or Unreal Tournament 2004, both of which have literally hundreds of Gigabytes of additional free content (mod’s and maps) for around $5 each. I bought a second copy of Unreal Tournament 2003 for only £1(at today's exchange rates $1.5), so that I could play it with my son, as it's quite harmless compared to the latest Unreal Tournament 3 (2007); I have to have the sound turned off when my son is around due to the swearing that's been added.

I think it's okay to add realism to these games with respect to adding swearing as I'm sure during war swearing is probably at a premium judging from the You Tube videos I've watch of real situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I do wish the software developers would include the facility to filter out swearing. They used to do it with older games. I'm not absolutely sure about the voice taunt system in Alien Arena I've not really played it that much, only for testing purposes when I first posted this game (I've got the complete Unreal and unreal Tournament set, so don't really need inferior wannabe’s, (that's not to say it's 'not playable - just not for me after playing the Unreal series

Regards from your friendly gamer

Whiterabbit

p.s.

As support for Unreal Tournament 3 grows,

for example: Epic Games, who owns the Unreal and Unreal Tournament franchise, have recently released a patch that adds loads of extra content as well as a new mode - and are going to be releasing another big patch with more extra content soon; plus the modding community are churning out some great mod’s and maps to add to the growing list already created)

unreal Tournament 4 is being supported less and less by both the developer and the modding community, and I believe isn't being played as often by the gaming community as the popularity of the latest title increases, however, that said, Unreal Tournament 2004, is still quite an amazing game (and very playable despite its inferior graphics when compared to Unreal Tournament 3). The number of official mod’s (modifications) and maps that have been released through patches and DLC (downloadable content), plus the fantastic support from the modding community has lead to ‘hundreds’ of custom maps being made, many of which are as good or better than the official maps; which leads me to say that if you get the opportunity to pick up Unreal Tournament 2004 from the bargain bins of Wal-Mart or your friendly computer games shop, do so as it's unlikely to cost more than $10 and IMO is one of the ultimate gaming bargains to be had at the present time (apart from Battlefield 2 and Oblivion both of which rival Unreal Tournament 2004 for extra custom content - I have well over 200Gb (two hundred) of free custom maps and mod’s for Battlefield 2, lol.

Here's video and images comparisons of Alien Arena 2009 and Unreal Tournament 2004 and 2007:

Alien Arena:

images:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=Alien+Arena+2009&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZFJSQLxS1s

Unreal Tournament 2004:

images:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=Unreal+Tournament+2004&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o8DBvVioW0

Unreal Tournament 3:

images:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=1&q=Unreal+Tournament+3&btnG=Search+images&aq=f&oq=

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJdF_O0Xk5E

WR
Posted 15 years ago #
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru

Alien Arena was recently updated again. the latest edition is now called Alien Arena 2010. The following are some of the changes made:

Description:
# New skeletal model format.
# Soft shadows.
# Faster, more accurate lighting.
# Major optimizations for faster rendering.
# Fixes for old vertex animated meshes.

You can download the latest version HERE

Posted 14 years ago #
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru

Hmmm, I think Goodgotd is right about the use of free. I think I'll go for the three g's catchy phrase. Anyone disagree?

Posted 14 years ago #
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru

Alien Arena has again been updated. It's now in it's 2011 edition and can be found HERE

Images:

I've not played the game since around Alien Arena 2008 so was really surprised to see how much it has been improved over the last three years. Major tweaks to the way the game looks. If you don't own any Unreal tourmanent games then this is definitely worth checking out. :)

Posted 13 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

Hi WhiteRabbit
Looks much improved from my 2008 download, many thanks! :)

Posted 13 years ago #

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