After long (and unfortunate) delays, I've just posted the first offical beta test release to the RHDN database. So please grab it and give it a spin. It should show up in the DB shortly, but in the meantime you can get it at
my new website.
Now before anyone gets their hopes up, there are no major changes in this release. Just a few minor tweaks and a README. I haven't added any new enemies, new power ups or any of that. I know many of you where looking forward to those changes, but I simply don't have the time (at the moment) to impliment them. So, rather than leave the project in limbo, me and Frantik (he's busy with other things too) have decided to release the 1.0 version.
To that end, we're running an official beta test before we wrap the project up. If all goes well, this will be the 1.0 version. If not, we'll run some more betas. So please test this release if you're at all interested in this hack. I'm assembling a list of playtesters (see the README for details), so you'll all get your fair share of the credit. Testing on hardware would be especially appreciated.
Also, I'm running a mini screenshot contests. The final details havn't been worked out yet, but the best four will get thier screenshots featured in the database (and full credit, of course). So if you've got better skillz than me (I suck at Mario and cheat like crazy to test), grab a shot of anything cool or funny (or buggy, but that's another matter) and hold onto it. I'll work out the full rules and post them shortly.
I know a lot of you wanted more, but I'm not going to promise what I can't deliver, so I won't. Once 1.0 is out, I'll release another source package, so anyone who wants to take it to the next level can do so. (I've already started working on making it possible to build on a platform other than un*x, so that issue should be fixed by then.)
Once again, I'm very sorry that several planned (and much anticipated) features got cut and that I've dissappeared on you so many times. I'm very thankful for all the support, encouragement, advice, critiques, testing, and bug reports you've provided. It's been a great experiance.