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Space Mercs from Bearded Giant Games (the one with the Linux First Initiative) has some fresh footage out to show off a bunch of new features.

Space Mercs is an extreme arcade space combat game where the amount of projectiles and lasers on-screen is only toppled by the amount of stars in the universe! Will you be able to complete all the mercenary missions and become the best pilot in the Galaxy?

Speaking with the developer today, they told me they took on a load of feedback from the initial public demo to include things like: an actual targetting system, an overhaul to damage feedback, a damage direction indicator, a new ship, a cockpit view has been added with radar tracking in cockpit view too, objectives, you can see bullets coming your way, improved gamepad support and so on. Sounds like it's shaping up to be an impressive arcade shooter!

The developer sent over a new trailer today to show off some of the new stuff:

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That's not all, they're focusing on optimizing it for low-end devices too, with their development notebook (Intel HD Graphics 4000) able to run it at around 60FPS which is impressive.

We also have some fancy new screenshots to show off, which the developer sent over (click to enlarge):


You can wishlist and follow it on Steam, it will also be on itch.io but no proper game page for it up there yet and the old demo is being taken down as it doesn't represent the current state. It's currently scheduled to release on July 31st.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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Eike Jun 13, 2019
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QuoteThis means that games will originally be released not with day 1 Linux support but only for Linux. Further ports to other platforms (Windows, Mac, Mobile) might happen in the future if enough interest is gathered.

So much looking forward for a thread asking for a Windows port. :-D (*)

(*) Yes, it's technically possible to upload a Linux only game on Steam.


Last edited by Eike on 13 June 2019 at 2:25 pm UTC
Ehvis Jun 13, 2019
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I remember there being a requirement to have at least a Windows version on Steam.

I did give the demo a quick try with my joystick, but it didn't quite feel right. Need to do some more testing and then give some feedback. It was impressive that it correctly recognised the buttons and axes of my flight stick.
Rooster Jun 13, 2019
Wow, this will be an insta buy for me. I also just became a patreon.
Zapa Jun 13, 2019
Quoting: RoosterWow, this will be an insta buy for me. I also just became a patreon.
Just saw the pledge and was wondering if it was someone from GoL! Jump onto our discord so we can assign you the patron roll and get access to the other games! Beta 6 (with the stuff in the trailer) will be available this weekend (I hope)!

Quoting: EhvisI remember there being a requirement to have at least a Windows version on Steam.

I did give the demo a quick try with my joystick, but it didn't quite feel right. Need to do some more testing and then give some feedback. It was impressive that it correctly recognised the buttons and axes of my flight stick.

Joystick working really well is the wonderful work of the guys behind ReWired! It's a library I use for gamepad support and the props go to them! Unity's default system is horrible and I wrestled a ton with gamepad support before I discovered Rewired!

Quoting: EikeSo much looking forward for a thread asking for a Windows port. :-D (*)

(*) Yes, it's technically possible to upload a Linux only game on Steam.

The game is developed on Linux and all Betas happen on Linux but I'll have to release it alongside Windows on steam or I'm financially toast :(. If my community and store grows I'll be the first to jump on Linux exclusive games.

On the bright side, ever since Beta 1 a ton of people asked for the windows version :D! Here's a screen from when I released the (OUTDATED AS HELL) demo on itch (first comment at the top).

A few more asked on our Discord and on twitter! It feels amazing to be on the other side, even if only for a moment:P


Last edited by Zapa on 13 June 2019 at 2:51 pm UTC
Zapa Jun 13, 2019
Quoting: GuestIt would be interesting, if you have time, to give an impression of development on GNU/Linux first and then porting to Windows, any difficulties you face, and what you feel is better this way around rather than Windows first. I think there was something before along similar lines? Anyway, regarding this game and the community responses, just for interest.

I would love too do something like this. I was just now telling Liam on Discord about Meghan's Skate Bird tweet about the Linux demo being late due to having to rebuild the entire unity library (which takes hours) and how that never happened to me on Linux mostly because my middleware (like ReWired) is designed to work cross platform.

Off the top of my head, if someone would ask me for a good reason why to develop on Linux and I couldn't answer with the subjective answers I'd say: Because porting to other platforms won't be a hassle AND because if your middleware works well on Linux they are bound to work really well on Windows and Mac. Vs if it works on Windows it might not have a Linux version available.

I'll do a blog post about this as soon as I'm done with the Betas in the days leading up to launch. My 2cents? Ever since I started developing on Linux I've been moving a ton more faster and I would never trade it for anything!


Quoting: GuestSounds like the demo was well worth the feedback, which is nice to hear read.
That was the point of it :D! Also the Linux beta's are wonderful. Got a few people from the GoL community on Discord and really, most of the changes are due to them!


Last edited by Zapa on 13 June 2019 at 3:25 pm UTC
BrazilianGamer Jun 13, 2019
Wishlisted. Guys, I got a question. When you wishlist a game through your Android smartphone but your favorite platform is set to be Linux on the Steam client, will developers be notified that i am interested on that game and I use Linux? Will it count as a Linux user interest?
Alm888 Jun 13, 2019
A Linux-developed game that is looking reasonably modern with honest 3D graphics (not a derivative of some open-sourced ancient engine like "ID Tech 2") and not a pixel-styled one? Color me impressed!

A pity, it does not have an itch.io page (yet); nothing to bookmark. :(
Eike Jun 13, 2019
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Quoting: ZapaThe game is developed on Linux and all Betas happen on Linux but I'll have to release it alongside Windows on steam or I'm financially toast :(.

I absolutely understand!

Quoting: ZapaOn the bright side, ever since Beta 1 a ton of people asked for the windows version :D! Here's a screen from when I released the (OUTDATED AS HELL) demo on itch (first comment at the top).

A few more asked on our Discord and on twitter! It feels amazing to be on the other side, even if only for a moment:P

:-D
adnans Jun 13, 2019
Signed in to steam for the first time in months to wishlist this one. Looks fantastic!
Eike Jun 13, 2019
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Quoting: BrazilianGamerWishlisted. Guys, I got a question. When you wishlist a game through your Android smartphone but your favorite platform is set to be Linux on the Steam client, will developers be notified that i am interested on that game and I use Linux? Will it count as a Linux user interest?

It only depends on your OS choice, see
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/a-reminder-about-steams-platform-specific-wishlist-feature-you-should-be-using.13617


Last edited by Eike on 13 June 2019 at 4:51 pm UTC
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