Editing Tux Racer

{{short description|Computer game}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox video game
|title          = Tux Racer
|state          = expanded
|image          = Tux Racer cover.png
|caption        =
|developer      = Sunspire Studios
|publisher      = Sunspire Studios
|director       = Jasmin Patry
|composer       = [[George Sanger (musician)|George Sanger]]<br />Joseph Toscano
|engine         =
|released       = '''Linux:'''<br>{{Video game release|WW|February 28, 2000}}
'''Windows:'''<br>{{Video game release|WW|October 2, 2000}}
'''Macintosh:'''<br>{{Video game release|WW|November 21, 2000}}
|genre          = [[Racing video game|Racing]]
|modes          = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|platforms      = [[Linux]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Mac (computer)|Mac]]
}}

'''''Tux Racer''''' is a 2000 [[open-source video game|open-source]] [[winter sports]] [[racing video game]] starring the [[Linux]] mascot, [[Tux (mascot)|Tux]] the penguin. It was originally developed by Jasmin Patry as a computer graphics project at the [[University of Waterloo]]. Later on, Patry and the newly founded Sunspire Studios, composed of several former students of the university, expanded it. In the game, the player controls Tux as he slides down a course of snow and ice collecting [[herring]]s.

''Tux Racer'' was officially downloaded over one million times as of 2001. It also was well received, often being acclaimed for the graphics, fast-paced gameplay, and replayability, and was a fan favorite among Linux users and the free software community. The game's popularity secured the development of a proprietized release that included enhanced graphics and multiplayer, and it also became the first [[GPL]]-licensed game to receive an [[arcade game|arcade]] adaptation. It is the only product that Sunspire Studios developed and released, after which the company liquidated.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Tux Racer gameplay (Path of Daggers).webm|thumb|left|255px|Gameplay featuring [[Tux (mascot)|Tux]]. From top-left clockwise, the user interface is composed of the time elapsed, the total number of herring collected, and a speedometer and "energometer" used for charging jumps.<ref name=tr-manual/>]]
''Tux Racer'' is a racing game in which the player must control [[Tux (mascot)|Tux]] across a mountainside. Tux can turn left, right, brake, jump, and paddle, and flap his wings. If the player presses the brakes and turn buttons, Tux will perform a tight turn. Pressing the paddling buttons on the ground gives Tux some additional speed. The paddling stops giving speed and in turn slows Tux down when the speedometer turns yellow. Tux can slide off slopes or charge his jumps to temporarily launch into midair, during which he can flap his flippers to fly farther and adjust his direction left or right. The player can also reset the penguin should he be stuck in any part of the course.<ref name=tr-manual>{{cite web|url=http://tuxracer.sourceforge.net/manual.html|title=Manual|website=[[SourceForge]]|publisher=Sunspire Studios|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=May 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527134703/http://tuxracer.sourceforge.net/manual.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Courses are composed of various terrain types that affect Tux's performance. Sliding on ice allows speeding at the expense of traction, and snow allows for more maneuverability. However, rocky patches slow him down,<ref name=rl-5th>{{cite book|title=Running Linux|last1=Dalheimer|first1=Matthias Kalle|last2=Welsh|first2=Matt|publisher=[[O'Reilly Media]]|edition=5th|pages=190–193}}</ref>{{rp|193}} as does crashing into trees.<ref name=idg-review/> The player gains points by collecting herrings scattered along the courses, and the faster the player finishes the course, the higher the score. Players can select cups, where progression is by completing a series of courses in order by satisfying up to three requirements: collecting sufficient herring, finishing the course below a specified time, and scoring enough points. Failing to meet all the criteria or aborting the race costs a life, and should the player lose all four lives, they must reenter the cup and start over.  During level selection, the player can choose daytime settings and weather conditions such as wind and fog that affect the gameplay.<ref name=tr-manual/> Maps are composed of three separately saved [[Raster graphics|raster]] layers that each determine a map's elevation, terrain layout,<ref name=idg-review/> and object placement.<ref name=tr-faq>{{cite web|url=http://tuxracer.sourceforge.net/faq.html|title=Tux Racer FAQ|website=[[SourceForge]]|publisher=Sunspire Studios|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=June 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602002524/http://tuxracer.sourceforge.net/faq.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Proprietary version===
The proprietary version of ''Tux Racer'' introduces new content. Besides Tux, players can select one of three other characters to race as: Samuel the seal, Boris the polar bear, and Neva the penguin.<ref name=commercial-manual>{{cite manual|url=https://archive.org/details/TuxRacerManual/|title=Tux Racer ''commercial manual''|publisher=Sunspire Studios|date=February 2002|access-date=July 12, 2019}}</ref>{{rp|6}} Some courses contain jump and speed pads as power-ups, and players can perform tricks in midair to receive points.<ref name=commercial-manual/>{{rp|4}} They can participate in cups in one of the two events serving as game modes: the traditional "Solo Challenge" or the new "Race vs Opponents", where a computer opponent is added and must be defeated in order for the player to advance.<ref name=commercial-manual/>{{rp|7}} Courses are unlocked for completing unfinished cups. In non-campaign sessions, besides practicing,<ref name=commercial-manual/>{{rp|9}} players can also race in the two-player "Head to Head" [[local multiplayer]] mode, viewed on a [[Split screen (computer graphics)|split-screen]].<ref name=commercial-manual/>{{rp|10}}

==Development==
[[File:WaterlooMathBuilding.jpg|thumb|''Tux Racer'' was developed in the [[University of Waterloo]] Computer Graphics Lab.]]

''Tux Racer'' was originally developed by Jasmin Patry, a student attending the [[University of Waterloo]] in [[Ontario]], Canada, where he aimed to begin a career in the video game industry by pursuing a computer graphics degree.<ref name="Imprint">{{cite web|url=http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/issues/110300/3Science/science01.shtml |title=An equation for success - Waterloo grads create fun-filled game for all|date=November 3, 2000|author=Ganthan, Durshan|newspaper=[[Imprint (newspaper)|Imprint]]|access-date=March 23, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010127144700/http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/issues/110300/3Science/science01.shtml |archive-date = January 27, 2001}}</ref> Development of the game began in August 1999 as a final [[computer graphics (computer science)|computer graphics]] project in Computer Graphics Lab, and was completed in three days to positive class reception.<ref name="Imprint"/><ref name="Waterloo">{{cite web|url=http://www.student.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~cs488/gallery-A5-98-99.html <!-- Bot generated title -->|title=University of Waterloo CS488/688 1998-1999 Gallery|date=2000-03-09|publisher=[[University of Waterloo]]|access-date=March 22, 2010|archive-date=June 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619090023/http://www.student.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~cs488/gallery-A5-98-99.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A webpage for the game was then started, and someone suggested he release the game's source code.<ref name="Imprint"/>

[[File:Tux Racer gameplay, pre-v0.60.png|thumb|Screenshot of an early version of the game, featuring a basic gameplay]]
Patry felt that made sense due to Tux being the mascot for the open-source Linux, and continued to work on the game before publicly uploading it to [[SourceForge]] for Linux under the free [[GNU General Public License]] on February 28, 2000, hoping others would join in on developing it.<ref name=idg-review/><ref name="Imprint"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sourceforge.net/projects/tuxracer/files/tuxracer/0.10/|title=tuxracer / 0.10|work=[[SourceForge]]|publisher=Jasmin Patry|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727024243/https://sourceforge.net/projects/tuxracer/files/tuxracer/0.10/|url-status=live}}</ref> This early version featured a very basic gameplay that consisted of Tux sliding down a hill of snow, ice, rock, and trees for Tux to avoid along the way. To write the game, Patry tended to use free premade content such as textures borrowed from websites, rather than original content made from scratch.<ref name=idg-review/>

In December 1999, Patry, fine arts students Rick Knowles and Mark Riddell, and computer graphics students Patrick Gilhuly, Eric Hall, and Rob Kroeger announced the foundation of the company Sunspire Studios to develop a video game project.<ref name="Imprint"/> Patry stated the game would have a [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game|massively multiplayer]] and a persistent universe with [[real-time strategy]] and [[first-person shooter]] components. Since their ideas were limited by that time's 3D engines, they embarked on creating their own, which according to Patry would make ''[[Quake III Arena|Quake 3]]'' and ''[[Unreal (1998 video game)|Unreal]]'' [[video game engine|engine]] look "tame" in comparison. Fine arts undergraduate classmate Roger Fernandez was chosen as the artist. The project was eventually abandoned due to it being a "massive undertaking",<ref name="Imprint"/> and in August 2000, Knowles suggested the company resume working on ''Tux Racer'', which became their first official project.<ref name="Imprint"/> Continued development of the free version was swift; numerous elements such as herrings, jumping, and a soundtrack, as well as graphical improvements, were added in just three weeks. [[Porting]] the game from Linux to Windows was easy, as it used [[cross-platform]] tools such as [[OpenGL]] and [[Simple DirectMedia Layer]].<ref name="Imprint"/> A major update including those improvements, version 0.60, was freely uploaded to SourceForge for both Linux and Windows on October 2, 2000.<ref name=v0.60-release>{{cite web|url=https://forest.watch.impress.co.jp/article/2000/10/05/tuxracer.html|title=ペンギンが雪山を滑り降りるスピード感満点の3Dゲーム「Tux Racer」v0.60|language=ja|last=Hinuma|first=Satoshi|website=Windows Forest|date=October 5, 2000|access-date=July 7, 2019|archive-date=July 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708040550/https://forest.watch.impress.co.jp/article/2000/10/05/tuxracer.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A minor patch for that release was often included in most [[Linux distribution]]s,<ref name=rl-5th/>{{rp|191}} and a port for Macintosh was released on November 21, 2000.<ref name=tr-news/>

===Ports and remakes===
[[File:Tux Racer arcade cabinet.jpg|thumb|right|''Tux Racer'' is the first [[GPL]]-licensed video game to receive an arcade adaption.<ref name=LinuxJournal-136/>]]

On February 5, 2002, Sunspire Studios released in retail a proprietary and commercial expansion of the game titled ''Tux Racer'', with each CD designed to support both Linux and Windows operating systems.<ref name=tuxracer.com>{{cite web|url=http://tuxracer.com/|title=Tux Racer website|publisher=Sunspire Studios|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040904142508/http://tuxracer.com/|archive-date=September 4, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/tux-racer-rasende-pinguine,1332941.html|title=Tux Racer: Racing Penguins|work=[[GameStar]]|language=de|date=January 18, 2002|access-date=July 9, 2019|archive-date=July 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709082847/https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/tux-racer-rasende-pinguine,1332941.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Improvements from the open-source version include a vastly enhanced engine and graphics, the ability to perform tricks, character selection, and competitive multiplayer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuxracer.com/index.php?page=game_info.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040203145247/http://www.tuxracer.com/index.php?page=game_info.php|title=Tux Racer game info|work=Tux Racer website|publisher=Sunspire Studios|archive-date=February 3, 2004}}</ref> The open-source version of ''Tux Racer'', however, remained available to download on SourceForge.<ref name=rl-5th/>{{rp|191}} Sunspire Studios ceased business towards the end of 2004.<ref name=tuxracer.com/>

Since its inception, ''Tux Racer'' has seen unofficial updates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4044|title=Asus Eee PC Initial Hands On and Video Review<!-- Bot generated title -->|date=October 25, 2007|author1=Jackson, Jerry|author2=O'Brien, Kevin|author3=Baxter, Andrew|publisher=Notebook Review|access-date=March 29, 2010|archive-date=November 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121111610/http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4044|url-status=dead}}</ref> One of the most popular examples is ''[[Extreme Tux Racer]]'', released in September 2000, ''PlanetPenguin Racer''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/77349-Extreme-Tux-Racer-Released|title=''Extreme Tux Racer'' Released|first=Corvus|last=Elrod|work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|publisher=[[Defy Media]]|date=September 27, 2007|access-date=August 10, 2016|archive-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820120207/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/77349-Extreme-Tux-Racer-Released|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LinuxVoice-7>{{cite magazine|title=FOSSpicks|last=Saunders|first=Mike|magazine=[[Linux Voice]]|date=October 2014|issue=7|page=73}}</ref> An arcade version of the game was released by [[Roxor Games]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2005/08/01/smallb1.html|title=Stepping out|last=LeClaire|first=Jennifer|work=[[Austin Business Journal]]|date=July 31, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2019|archive-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114235440/http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2005/08/01/smallb1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> making it the first [[GPL]]-licensed video game to receive an arcade adaption.<ref name=LinuxJournal-136>{{cite magazine|title=Editors' Choice Awards 2005|last=Marti|first=Don|magazine=[[Linux Journal]]|date=August 2005|issue=136|page=86}}</ref>

==Reception==
<!-- Please do not add 'Template:Video game reviews' without first obtaining consensus. -->

''Tux Racer'' was well-received, with the latest version seeing over one million downloads as of October 2001 since its release in January, according to Sunspire Studios.<ref name=tr-news>{{cite web|url=http://tuxracer.sourceforge.net/|title=Tux Racer news|publisher=Sunspire Studios|access-date=July 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618092317/http://tuxracer.sourceforge.net/|archive-date=June 18, 2019}}</ref><ref name=LinuxJournal-136/> It was a favorite among Linux users, who often ranked it as the best or one of the best free games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/12/20/linux.games.idg/index.html|title=Top 10 Linux games for the holidays|last=Anderson|first=Lee|website=[[CNN]]|publisher=[[IDG]]|date=December 20, 2000|access-date=July 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040829071650/http://edition.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/12/20/linux.games.idg/index.html|archive-date=August 29, 2004|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=pcmag-award>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L_kqs7qfoQ4C&q=tux+racer&pg=PA71|page=71|title=Best Free Software—2007|last=Hoffman|first=Tony|magazine=[[PC Magazine]]|date=2007-02-20|access-date=August 13, 2016|volume=26|issue=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
 |url          = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7724
 |title        = 2004 Readers' Choice Awards
 |author       = Heather Mead
 |journal      = [[Linux Journal]]
 |publisher    = Belltown Media, Inc.
 |date         = November 1, 2004
 |access-date  = September 1, 2007
 |archive-date = February 11, 2012
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120211131759/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7724
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
 |url          = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7029
 |title        = 2003 Readers' Choice Awards
 |author       = Heather Mead
 |journal      = [[Linux Journal]]
 |publisher    = Belltown Media, Inc.
 |date         = November 1, 2003
 |access-date  = April 1, 2008
 |archive-date = May 12, 2013
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130512084659/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7029
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
 |url          = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/10065
 |title        = 2008 Readers' Choice Awards
 |author       = James Gray
 |journal      = [[Linux Journal]]
 |publisher    = Belltown Media, Inc.
 |date         = May 1, 2008
 |access-date  = May 10, 2008
 |archive-date = May 9, 2013
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
 |url          = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/10451
 |title        = 2009 Readers' Choice Awards
 |author       = James Gray
 |journal      = Linux Journal
 |publisher    = Belltown Media, Inc.
 |date         = May 1, 2009
 |access-date  = May 8, 2009
 |archive-date = May 4, 2009
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090504091453/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/10451
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=2005 ''Tux'' Readers' Choice Awards|last=Gray|first=James|magazine=Tux|date=September 2005|issue=6|page=27}}</ref> In August 2000, Lee Anderson of [[LinuxWorld.com]] commended the game's graphics, speed, and the easiness of the ability to create tracks.<ref name=idg-review>{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxworld.com/linuxworld/lw-2000-08/lw-08-tuxracer.html|title=Game review – ''TuxRacer''|last=Anderson|first=Lee|work=[[LinuxWorld.com]]|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001018104046/http://www.linuxworld.com/linuxworld/lw-2000-08/lw-08-tuxracer.html|archive-date=October 18, 2000}}</ref> In 2001, ''[[TuxRadar]]'' said the game provided a "shining light" of what free applications could achieve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuxradar.com/content/archives-best-games-2001|title=From the archives: the best games of 2001|work=[[TuxRadar]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=2009-04-09|access-date=2016-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114122352/http://www.tuxradar.com/content/archives-best-games-2001|archive-date=January 14, 2017}}</ref> In its 2001 preview, the Brazilian magazine ''SuperGamePower'' considered the game's graphics to be the best aspect and described the sound as not innovative, but good.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=PC/Arcade Preview|magazine=SuperGamePower|language=pt|date=January 2001|issue=82|page=46}}</ref> Also in 2001, ''[[MacAddict]]'' compared the game's fast-paced style to [[podracing]] in ''[[Star Wars]]'' and summed up the Macintosh port as "more fun".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Indoor Fun for the Summer!|magazine=[[MacAddict]]|date=July 2001|issue=59|page=8}}</ref>

The proprietary version of ''Tux Racer'' attracted little attention. Andon Logvinov of ''[[Igromania]]'' described it as a "pure arcade game" featuring nothing but four selectable characters and a set of courses with fish scattered about. He described the gameplay as calm and addictive and the music as relaxing, and praised the character models and track layout, with his only criticism being the system requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.igromania.ru/article/7008/Kratkie_obzory_Tux_Racer.html|title=Brief reviews. Tux Racer|last=Loginov|first=Andon|work=[[Igromania]]|language=ru|date=June 5, 2002|access-date=August 3, 2019|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804021318/https://www.igromania.ru/article/7008/Kratkie_obzory_Tux_Racer.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Seiji Nakamura of the Japanese website Game Watch described it as cute and humorous and praised the game's graphics and shadow and reflection effects, but found the game to lack appeal for adults.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20020206/demo0206.htm|title=本日到着！DEMO & PATCH|last=Nakamura|first=Seiji|work=Game Watch|language=ja|date=February 6, 2002|access-date=August 3, 2019|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806212914/http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20020206/demo0206.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Even after its production's cessation, ''Tux Racer'' has continued to be generally well-received. ''[[Linux Journal]]'' gave it an Editors' Choice Award in the "Game or Entertainment Software" category in 2005.<ref name=LinuxJournal-136/> ''[[Digit (magazine)|Digit]]'' applauded the graphics and replayability, as well as the speed of the game and the abundance of courses, but found the music to be monotonous.<ref name=Digit-Dec05>{{cite magazine|title=Gaming Resources – Tux Racer|magazine=[[Digit (magazine)|Digit]]|date=December 2005|page= |pages=107–108}}</ref> Daniel Voicu of ''[[Softpedia]]'' praised the ''Extreme Tux Racer'' for being relaxing and funny and having the ability to reset Tux, as well as noted the game's fast pace, but criticized its perceived lack of interactivity and having Tux look like a "plastic puppet".<ref name=Softpedia-review>{{cite web|url=http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/linux/Extreme-Tux-Racer--85748.shtml|title=''Extreme Tux Racer'' Review|first=Daniel|last=Voicu|work=[[Softpedia]]|date=May 15, 2008|access-date=August 6, 2016|archive-date=October 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013082844/http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/linux/Extreme-Tux-Racer--85748.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Linux For You]]'' called it entertaining but also criticized its bugs and the "plastic" look of Tux.<ref name=LfY-7-7>{{cite magazine|title=Review – Extreme Tux Racer|last=Pal|first=Sayantan|magazine=[[Linux For You]]|date=September 2009|volume=7|issue=7|page=24}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[SuperTuxKart]]'', another racing video game featuring [[Tux (mascot)|Tux]] and friends

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Tux Racer}}
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [http://tuxracer.sourceforge.net/ ''Tux Racer'' on SourceForge]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031231092002/http://tuxracer.com/ Official website for proprietary ''Tux Racer'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312171110/http://www.roxorgames.com/tux.html Tux Racer Arcade] and the new [http://www.roxorgames.com/tux/ Tux2 Arcade]
* {{moby game|id=/tux-racer|name=''Tux Racer''}}

{{Tux games}}

[[Category:2000 video games]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Formerly open-source or free software]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Open-source video games]]
[[Category:Racing video games]]
[[Category:Split-screen multiplayer games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Canada]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Winter sports video games]]
[[Category:Roxor Games games]]
[[Category:Tux video games]]