Homeworld SDL

Requirements | Screenshots | Download | Links | Bugs

Latest release: 0.3 (alpha) (released on August 1, 2004)

Changes in 0.3 include:

• Sound support using SDL sound along with the object files provided by Relic with the Windows source (thanks go out to Steve Freeland for providing this).
• Fixes for reading hotkeys (such as the "M" key in the Sensors screen).
• Now uses "~/.homeworld" to store saved games and screenshots.
• A handful of crash and stability fixes.

See the change log for a detailed list of the changes in this release.

On September 26, 2003, Relic Entertainment released the source code to Homeworld, a 3D real-time strategy game set in space. Homeworld, originally released in 1999, was dubbed "Game of the Year" by PC Gamer and "Strategy Game of the Year" by Computer Gaming World.

This a Linux port of the Homeworld code released by Relic. It is still in a very early state, and many of the features (and stability) of the Windows version are not yet implemented.

Features yet to be ported:

• Software and Glide renderers
• Cutscene playback
• Network multiplayer support

Requirements:

Minimum requirements (subject to change):

• Linux
• Glibc 2.2 or greater
• A copy of the original Windows version of Homeworld, patched to version 1.05 (patch available from Relicnews)
• 233 MHz Pentium II or better x86-based CPU
• 32 MB RAM
• 100 MB HD space
• 4x CD-ROM drive
• OpenGL-compatible 3D-accelerated video card (software rendering and Glide support in progress)

You will also need either Windows or Wine/WineX in order to get the game data off the CD and patch it. Both the game installer and the patch require Windows, but both Wine and WineX work just fine.

Screenshots:

(Click on thumbnails for full-size versions.)

Early test screenshots (pretty boring...):

In-game screenshots:

Download:

Due to the license associated with the original Homeworld source, you cannot download the full source for Homeworld SDL directly from the website, but it is still accessible through a few means:

• You can use one of the patch packages listed below with the original Windows source. You can get the original source one of two ways:
  • Download the freely-distributed Windows installer executable: hwsource.exe.
  • Download the source directly from the Relic Developers Network. Free registration is required to access the source. You will be granted with level 1 access, which among other things gives you access to the original Homeworld source code.
• You can use the Subversion repository hosted at HomeworldSDL.org (Relic Developers Network access is still required).

If you download any of the below files, please read the INSTALL file included with the package you download (along with the file INSTALL-patching if you download the patch package). Certain aspects don't work too well yet, and the instructions outlined in the INSTALL file should help avoid a few headaches.

• Homeworld SDL 0.3 (alpha) - Binaries (x86) [ 1.6 MB .tar.bz2 ]
  [ Released Aug. 1, 2004 ]
  Pre-compiled binaries of Homeworld SDL version 0.3. Built using GCC 3.3.1 and glibc 2.2.5. Also includes a pre-built version of SDL 1.2.7 (used locally within the package; does not require copying over your own libraries).
• Patch files for original Homeworld source to Homeworld SDL 0.3 [ 552.1 kB .tar.bz2 ]
  [ Released Aug. 1, 2004 ]
  Files necessary for patching the original Homeworld source (available in Windows installer form or from the Relic Developers Network) to Homeworld SDL 0.3. Be sure to read the INSTALL-patching file for instructions on how to set up the original Homeworld source for patching.

Older versions:

• Homeworld SDL 0.2 (alpha) [ 1.6 MB .tar.bz2 ]
  [ Released Nov. 24, 2003 ]
  Various bug fixes (keep from crashing during explosions, saved game portability fixes, etc.).
  • Patch from original Homeworld source [ 402.7 kB .tar.bz2 ]
• Homeworld SDL 0.1.1 (alpha) [ 1.8 MB .tar.bz2 ]
  [ Released Oct. 11, 2003 ]
  Fixes a problem with the 0.1 release where starting a single player game or tutorial would cause a segmentation fault.
• Homeworld SDL 0.1 (alpha) [ 1.8 MB .tar.bz2 ]
  [ Released Oct. 11, 2003 ]
  The first alpha version of Homeworld for Linux. Sound and Glide rendering are not yet ported, and software rendering doesn't quite work yet, but it is still playable. Expect lots of bugs!

Links:

• Homesource: The home for all things related to Homeworld source code modification.
• HomeworldSDL.org: Host of the Subversion server used for Homeworld SDL development.
• MacHomeworld: Site dedicated to the Homeworld series on the Macintosh. Also host to the Mac OS X port of Homeworld SDL.

Bugs:

Bugs should be reported on the Homesource forums