A new version of the Starship Traders multiplayer strategy game. The new version, ST2, has a 3D interface and includes an X-Window-based client program. ST2 is considerably faster than its WWW predecessor and integrates a graphical display and point-and-click mouse controls with a complete keyboard interface. Linux users are needed to participate in the first test game since no other operating systems are yet supported.

The new server is up and running now and a Linux version of the client is available. The client is a dynamically linked Linux x86 binary and requires the Mesa3D or OpenGL libraries -- which should already be installed on most modern distributions. Internet access is also required to play in the test game, of course.

The screenshot shows a sector with a starbase, a planet, a tradingpost, some sector debris, a few fighters, a wormhole, and, if you look closely, a couple of small starships in the lower left quadrant intermixed with the text. This screenshot is with the window at 640x480. For a less cluttered appearance you can click resize -- while playing -- to expand (or shrink) the window.