How Shiny is Chrome? Part 2, The Chromium Edition

Last week, I mentioned my disappointment concerning Google's Chrome beta for Windows. Mainly that it was an open source browser for Windows only.

Knowing the source is available, It was only a matter of time before we had a Linux and Mac version. Enter Crossover Chromium from Codeweavers 7 days later.

Codeweavers is a company that specializes in Wine development. Knowing Google itself admits Chromium (Chromium is the open source base for Chrome) only builds and works under windows, Codeweavers went to work on getting that build running under wine on Linux and Mac, releasing their modifications.

Kudos all around. It runs, It browses. It is free, and by free I mean free as in free.

but...

It is not really a fair representative of the browser, taking one of Chrome's features and making it a huge drawback. Unlike Chrome, Codeweaver's Chromium takes an eternity to load a page.

Gmail is all but unusable.

FlashPlayer installs and just barely runs, crashing out more often than not.
Even they describes this release as a proof of concept.

• Should I run CrossOver Chromium as my main browser?
• Absolutely not! This is just a proof of concept, for fun, and to showcase what Wine can do. Chromium itself is just beginning. As the Chromium project progresses, they will be providing more compelling support for Mac OS and Linux, particularly with process security and memory management. Those future versions from Chromium will be better suited for daily use than this version

Yes it can be done, but should it?

This is an all too common occurrence.

I want to run the new open-source, cross-platform, next-generation browser from Google.

I do not want to run Chromium for Windows on my Linux machine. Thanks for trying.

Richard Stallman has shared a few thoughts on Chrome.

The license for those binaries is unacceptable for several reasons.
For instance, it says you give Google the right to change your software and requires you to accept whatever changes they decide to impose. It purports to forbid reverse engineering. It also uses the confusing and biased propaganda term “intellectual property”. (See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html for why this term should never be used.)
You should not agree to those terms.
Google is following the footsteps of Firefox. Firefox has done this since it first appeared: the source code is free, but the binaries released by the Mozilla Foundation carry an unacceptable
EULA.
...

...I hope someone will distribute free binaries made from the Chrome sources. People have done that for Firefox for years. It doesn’t need to be the GNU Project.
GuiDoc Blog


Crossover Chromium technically fits that description, and yet, I would personally prefer to see GNU pickup the development and stewardship of the GNU/Linux* port of Chromium.
*See Richard, I do care.

So here is my verdict. For now, if you need to run Chrome on your Linux box, you are probably better off running it in a Virtual Machine. I run Chrome in VirtualBox seamless mode, the performance is faster, and the browser is fully featured. All right, it is not as free, but it does actually work.

If you are technically adept (I'm lookin at you Crossover) please dig back in to it's source and contribute to get Chromium running natively.

MrCopilot

TeeWars becomes TeeWorlds, Stays Fun

A game I reviewed a while back, TeeWars has updated to a newer version 0.40 along with the updated weapons physics and gameplay comes a new name, TeeWorlds, and a new License. This was followed quickly by a bugfix release 0.4.1 a few days later.

I applaud the developers for all their hard work. TeeWorlds is a worthy upgrade and still way too much fun. A new weapon, the Laser Gun, was added. The physics tweaked and a double jump indicator has been added. Also included is a much needed map autodownloader. Gameplay balance has also been tweaked, although I didn't notice the changes in my testing. The game runs fine under Windows and Linux without hassle on my setups.

The laser seems a bit odd, kind of laggy. Could be just me though, as opponents seem to have no trouble hitting me with it.

A map editor is also included, Press Ctrl-Shift E to start it. Good luck figuring it out though as it is not supported by the developer as of yet.

Most interesting to me was the license change. I received many comments about the old license and the fact that it was not Open Source. Mattricks, the lead developer, reassured me that the new license would be.

Here is the text of the new license for TeeWorlds.

Copyright (C) 2007-2008 Magnus Auvinen

This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
warranty. In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
arising from the use of this software.

Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
freely, subject to the following restrictions:

1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
appreciated but is not required.
2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
misrepresented as being the original software.
3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
4. Neither this software nor any of its individual components, in original
or modified versions, may be sold by itself.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMPORTANT NOTE! The source under src/engine/external are stripped
libraries with their own licenses. Mostly BSD or zlib/libpng license but
check the individual libraries.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

With that being said, contact us if there is anything you want to do
that the license does not premit.

#4 is a little troublesome, but according to the OSI's Open Source Definition, it qualifies.
Specifically

1. Free Redistribution

The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources. The license shall not require a royalty or other fee for such sale.

In the final analysis, I highly recommend TeeWorlds. A cute, fun, multiplayer online platform shooter.

For a more in depth look, see our previous review.

MrCopilot

OSGGFG: 4.0 Free Racing Games

Next up in the Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games: OSGGFG 4.0 Racing Games.

It's been a long time since I looked into open source racing games, certainly long enough for some new entries to the field. What surprised me most was the complete dearth of motocross games. I've put out a memo to @gamestudio to get to work on 2 new games to help fill the void.

I have to confess a love, nay addiction of a certain closed-source non-free NFSU2 running under Wine. I had hoped to find a suitable Open Source replacement. Instead I found 10 open source racers to supplement it.

Read More @ AC

5th Place, I'm making a move.

No trophy for 8th place in Torcs

Multiplayer in Armagetron Advanced.

Trigger, It's Cool I know a shortcut.


Super Tux Kart

EXTREME Tux Racer = Extreme belly rash.


Slune Racing

TrackMania on a less than successful attempt.


VDrift Drift Style Racing

All in all, not a bad group. Read the Full Article @ AC

MrCopilot

Free Software is Good, m'Kay

A few days ago a story was posted to FSDaily with the assuming title of "Can we please stop fighting FUD with FUD?" from Free Software Magazine. The gist of the article is the author's opinion that some, especially new, free software users have a habit of spreading FUD (Fear Uncertainty & Doubt) when comparing it to proprietary software.

In some ways he is right. Free Software usually wins on it's merits, if not it's philosophy. But I want to comment on a few of his statements.

If you’re to going run down Microsoft products then you need to be specific. What products suck, why and how do they suck?

Whoa, this may require more space than I really want to devote.

I see a lot of this type of thing that simply shows the proponent has rarely used the product in question. Aside from that, is this really a good argument to make?

It is a great argument, if the ways proprietary software sucks could easily be improved if it was released as free software.

Are we really going to be so arrogant as to imply that free software doesn’t suck at all? By running down the opposition aren’t we implying there are no issues with “our” software?

Excellent point, some free software does suck or has issues or both.
The only problem with this being that when we or someone else complains about how or why free software sucks, someone (the developers, you or anyone else) can come along and address those issues.

The article concludes by throwing down the gauntlet.

I—for one—would like to see more blogs and comments on why free software is good rather than why Microsoft is bad. So let’s start here. Your task is complete the sentence “Free software is good because…” in less than 50 words.

I pick up your gauntlet Mr Cartwright and offer my answer. Ahem...

Free Software is good because it offers you choices unavailable with proprietary software. It also eliminates vendor lock-in, patch dependence, forced upgrades, and per user license policing.

28 Words.

I would like to expound on the word choices above. These Choices or Freedoms give you the ability to :

Study the source code to learn how portions of the software work.

Modify the source code to adapt to your circumstances or fix problems.

Modify the source code to create new works and even compete with the original work.

Distribute the software freely, given that you follow the licensing terms.

Anyone who writes for Free Software Magazine already knows these points, but he felt it necessary to ask for them to be written, rather than write them again. I'm going to join Ryan Cartwright and ask that we all stop the FUD.

I mean really, hasn't Microsoft been through enough?

MrCopilot

OSGGFG 3.1: Tee Wars

TeeWars was noticeably absent from the last edition of the Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games: OSGGFG part 3: The Platformers. I apologize, it was an oversight on my part. To make up for it I am giving the game full review here.

TeeWars is an online multi-player platform 2d shooter. Thats a mouthful, game play involves running, jumping, shooting and dying .. a lot.

TeeWars' motto is Cute little buggers with guns, and cute little buggers they are. You can customize your avatar's color and shape in a variety of ways to make your Tee unique, although they all end up very reminiscent of a certain pink Nintendo character who shall remain nameless.

The control system in TeeWars utilizes the keyboard for movement and the mouse for aiming your weapon and grappling hook. Yes, that is right I said grappling hook. Not only can your Tee Jump and Double Jump, he has the ability to latch onto any platform, wall or overhead area and swing or ascend up the line. Even a passing enemy can be grabbed and brought closer under the thump of your giant mallet. This leads to some thrilling acrobatic game play once you overcome the initial problem of teaching your hands to operate independently.

The arsenal of weapons available to your cute little cuddly avatar are lethal. Available weapons run from an over sized mallet, a single shot rifle, Grenade Launcher, Machine gun, and a Shotgun to the deadly katana sword. Ammunition is limited for each weapon giving the game a very good sense of balance. Even a Tee with his mallet can be a match for a bazooka toting nemesis.

Power Ups in the form of Hearts shields and weapons are spread liberally throughout the maps to help you recover health and build up shielding for protection.

Game play matches include you against the world death match, team death match and capture the flag, All are a blast to play, either over the Internet or on a LAN with a few friends. Emoticon balloons as well as a full chat system are implemented to let you talk smack to that one Tee who has fragged you 20 times in a row before you were able to obliterate him with a well timed shot.

Graphically the game is 2d with detailed independently scrolling backgrounds and clever level design. Characters are a simple design but lovingly detailed, changing expression when hit or are jumping or falling.

Sounds are cute and surprisingly fitting given the amount of carnage you are in the middle of. Adorable little taunts and giggles are heard as you disappear in a poof of stars after being hit by gunfire. Happily you respawn with a hammer far from the scene of your last death. There is no music, as of this writing but there is so much going on it would likely be distracting.

Overall, TeeWars is way too much fun packed into a tiny package. I give it 4.5 out of 5. I take off a half a point for the lack of a soundtrack. Go get it now you won't be disappointed. TeeWars is available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

MrCopilot

Update: New Version Released with New License: Teewars Becomes TeeWorlds, Stays Fun

Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games part2 RTS

Part 2 of the ongoing Open Source Gamer's Guide to Free Games. Up this time: A tour around the Free RTS gaming world. Including Dark Oberon, Globulation, WarZone 2100 and more.

Read More @ AC
Printable Version


After writing this article, I spent a little time at the upcoming StarCraft 2 website. Thus showing how far we have to go to catch up. The website alone should be considered a template on how to describe an RTS.

MrCopilot