SuperTuxKart
Encyclopedia
SuperTuxKart is a Mario Kart
-inspired arcade racing game featuring the Linux
mascot Tux
. The game was originally conceived as an enhanced fork of TuxKart
, but with other internet mascots by the Game of the Month team consisting of Ingo Ruhnke, Charles Goodwin, and several others, eventually evolving into a largely original game. The latest version of the game is version 0.7.3 and was released on November 14, 2011.
It is written in the C++
programming language and uses OpenAL
for sounds. It used the libraries SDL
and PLIB
for graphics until milestone 0.7, when the project switched to the Irrlicht Engine
.
Eventually, in December 2004, the project was considered dead by Ingo Ruhnke and the work forked off. According to Steve Baker, the Game of the Month development team didn’t know anything about 3D graphics and refused to take his advice. They broke the game, leaving it in an unusable state.
Later on the project was picked up by a new team around Joerg Henrichs, Marianne Gagnon and Constantin Pelikan who developed it to the state that it is in today. The first official release of the game by the new team was in September 2006 as version 0.2. The switch to the Irrlicht Engine
(graphics engine) was done on in version 0.7. The project has a milestone page planning several versions ahead and a forum at FreeGameDev.net to coordinate the development effort.
named SuperTuxKart as one of the top five racing games available for Linux, describing it as the game to try if you're "tired of realistic driving". Linux Journal
also praised the game, saying that "the courses in SuperTuxKart are fun, colorful and imaginative" and that "If you've played the original
, you'll be impressed by the new, hugely improved, SuperTuxKart."
Linux Format
also commented that "there are many tracks with interesting features in the scenery" and that the games multiplayer can take "you back to the joy of 8-bit console games." Linux Links listed it in the arcade section of its "Top 100 Free Linux Games" and although it did not make it into the APG Mag top five free games, it received an honourable mention.
Mario Kart
is a series of go-kart-style racing video games developed by Nintendo as a series of spin-offs from its trademark Mario series of platformer adventure-style video games...
-inspired arcade racing game featuring the Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
mascot Tux
Tux
Tux is a penguin character and the official mascot of the Linux kernel. Originally created as an entry to a Linux logo competition, Tux is the most commonly used icon for Linux, although different Linux distributions depict Tux in various styles. In video games featuring the character, female...
. The game was originally conceived as an enhanced fork of TuxKart
TuxKart
TuxKart is an open source game for Linux by Steve Baker. Each character in the game has a track named after them. Tracks include Tux's Tollway, Gown's Bow, Geeko Peak, BSOD's Castle, Oliver's Math Class, and Shifting Sands....
, but with other internet mascots by the Game of the Month team consisting of Ingo Ruhnke, Charles Goodwin, and several others, eventually evolving into a largely original game. The latest version of the game is version 0.7.3 and was released on November 14, 2011.
It is written in the C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
programming language and uses OpenAL
OpenAL
OpenAL is a cross-platform audio API. It is designed for efficient rendering of multichannel three dimensional positional audio. Its API style and conventions deliberately resemble those of OpenGL.- History :...
for sounds. It used the libraries SDL
Simple DirectMedia Layer
Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform, free and open source multimedia library written in C that presents a simple interface to various platforms' graphics, sound, and input devices....
and PLIB
PLIB
PLIB is a suite of Open Source portable computer game libraries, originally written by Steve Baker in 1997 and licensed under the LGPL.PLIB includes sound effects, music, a complete 3D engine, font rendering, a simple windowing library, a game scripting language, a GUI, networking, 3D math library...
for graphics until milestone 0.7, when the project switched to the Irrlicht Engine
Irrlicht Engine
Irrlicht is an open source 3D engine written in C++. It is cross-platform, officially running on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Windows CE and due to its open nature ports to other systems are available, including Xbox, PlayStation Portable, SymbianOS and iPhone.Irrlicht is known for its small size...
.
Development
Charles Goodwin proposed the original project for Game of the Month. The Game of the Month project was started with the original developer of TuxKart on board, Steve Baker. However, the project went nowhere as the Game of the Month volunteers lacked either the ability, time, or interest for achieving the goals. From there, the work preceded in a disorganized fashion.Eventually, in December 2004, the project was considered dead by Ingo Ruhnke and the work forked off. According to Steve Baker, the Game of the Month development team didn’t know anything about 3D graphics and refused to take his advice. They broke the game, leaving it in an unusable state.
Later on the project was picked up by a new team around Joerg Henrichs, Marianne Gagnon and Constantin Pelikan who developed it to the state that it is in today. The first official release of the game by the new team was in September 2006 as version 0.2. The switch to the Irrlicht Engine
Irrlicht Engine
Irrlicht is an open source 3D engine written in C++. It is cross-platform, officially running on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Windows CE and due to its open nature ports to other systems are available, including Xbox, PlayStation Portable, SymbianOS and iPhone.Irrlicht is known for its small size...
(graphics engine) was done on in version 0.7. The project has a milestone page planning several versions ahead and a forum at FreeGameDev.net to coordinate the development effort.
Reception
Full Circle MagazineFull Circle Magazine
Full Circle Magazine is a free distribution Portable Document Format magazine that was launched in April 2007. The magazine is an independent publication and is not affiliated with Canonical Ltd., the sponsors of the Ubuntu operating system...
named SuperTuxKart as one of the top five racing games available for Linux, describing it as the game to try if you're "tired of realistic driving". Linux Journal
Linux Journal
Linux Journal is a monthly technology magazine published by Belltown Media, Inc. of Houston, Texas. The magazine focuses specifically on Linux, allowing the content to be a highly specialized source of information for open source enthusiasts.-History:...
also praised the game, saying that "the courses in SuperTuxKart are fun, colorful and imaginative" and that "If you've played the original
TuxKart
TuxKart is an open source game for Linux by Steve Baker. Each character in the game has a track named after them. Tracks include Tux's Tollway, Gown's Bow, Geeko Peak, BSOD's Castle, Oliver's Math Class, and Shifting Sands....
, you'll be impressed by the new, hugely improved, SuperTuxKart."
Linux Format
Linux Format
Linux Format was the UK's first Linux-specific magazine, and is currently the best-selling Linux title in the UK. It is also exported to many countries worldwide. It is published by Future Publishing...
also commented that "there are many tracks with interesting features in the scenery" and that the games multiplayer can take "you back to the joy of 8-bit console games." Linux Links listed it in the arcade section of its "Top 100 Free Linux Games" and although it did not make it into the APG Mag top five free games, it received an honourable mention.