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{{For|the book with similar name|Alien Arena (novel)}}{{short description|2004 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Alien Arena
| image =
| developer = COR Entertainment, LLC
| engine = CRX Engine ([[Quake II engine|''Quake II'' engine]] with [[Open Dynamics Engine|ODE]])
| released = October 2004
| genre = [[First-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[OS X]], [[Linux]], [[FreeBSD]]
}}

'''''Alien Arena''''' (initially '''''CodeRED: Alien Arena''''') is an [[open-source]], stand-alone [[first-person shooter]] video game. Begun by COR Entertainment in 2004, the game combines a 1950s-era [[sci-fi]] atmosphere with gameplay similar to the ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'', ''[[Doom (series)|Doom]]'', and ''[[Unreal Tournament]]'' series. ''Alien Arena'' focuses mainly on [[Online game|online]] [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] action, although it does contain single-player matches against [[Computer game bot|bots]].

''Alien Arena'' has been released for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[OS X]], [[Linux]], and [[FreeBSD]]. While the game's content is [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] [[freeware]], prohibiting commercial re-sale, the CRX [[game engine|engine]] is [[Open-source software|open source]]. In 2013 the assets [[Software license|license]] was loosened somewhat, which allowed the game package to be included in certain [[Linux distribution]]s, such as [[Fedora (operating system)|Fedora]], [[Debian]] and [[Ubuntu]].<ref>[http://red.planetarena.org/forum/showthread.php?tid=716 License of Alien Arena Content] on red.planetarena.org (2013)</ref>

Since July 2023, Alien Arena is available on the Linux App Store Flathub. Since August 2023, Alien Arena is also available for free on the indie games website itch.io.

==Gameplay==
The game features an internal server browser for finding other players online, and the external ''Galaxy'' program performs the same function without having to launch the game, akin to [[The All-Seeing Eye]]. It also serves as an [[Internet Relay Chat|IRC]] [[Client (computing)|client]] for chat between players. The game uses modified ''Quake II'' physics. Most ''Quake II'' [[trickjump]]s, such as [[strafejumping]], will work in ''Alien Arena''. However, dodging, which isn't found in ''Quake II'', has also been added to the game.

==Development==
Although it had been in development since 2003, ''Alien Arena'' was first released as a [[Software release life cycle#Beta|beta]] in August 2004, with the title ''CodeRED: Alien Arena''. The first stable version was released in October. Two [[single-player]], [[Campaign (role-playing games)|campaign]]-style games, ''CodeRED: Battle for Earth'' and ''CodeRED: Martian Chronicles'', were released during 2003. Following these games, ''Alien Arena'' received greater development focus. The final upgrade to the two single-player games was made available on February 18, 2005. The "CodeRED" title continued to be used until ''Alien Arena 2006'' was released in November 2005, promoted as a "sequel" to the old CodeRED version.{{cn|date=June 2017}}

In September 2012, ''Alien Arena'' was also made available as an online version through [[Roozz]]. By installing a small plugin, players can play the game in any browser on the Windows operating system.

===Game engine===
The game is powered by the [[Quake II engine|''Quake II''-based CRX game engine]], which has been rewritten to include support for such features as 32-bit [[Image resolution|high-resolution]] [[Texture mapping|textures]], 3D models used as architecture in maps, [[GLSL]] per-pixel lighting effects, [[parallax mapping]], [[normal mapping]], ragdoll physics using the Open Dynamics Engine, server-side [[Lag (online gaming)|antilag]] code, [[shader]]s ([[GLSL]] and rscript), textured [[Particle system|particles]], semi-true reflective water with per-pixel distortion shaders, reflective surfaces on entities, [[Bloom (shader effect)|light bloom]], real-time shadows, overbright bits, real-time [[Gouraud shading|vertex lighting]], and other graphical effects, all of which can be turned on or off in the menu. As of CRX version 7.30, [[OpenAL]] is used for sound on all platforms.<ref>[https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=alien_arena_2009&num=1 Alien Arena 2009 review] at [[Phoronix.com]]</ref> Physics support was added in version 7.50 using the [[Open Dynamics Engine]].

==Reception==
''Alien Arena'' has been compared to ''[[Quake III]]'' and ''[[Unreal Tournament]]'', and is considered one of the best free first-person shooters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.linux.com/news/new-alien-arena-610-blows-away-its-fps-competition/|title=New Alien Arena 6.10 blows away its FPS competition|date=October 12, 2007|last=Barr|first=Joe|work=[[Linux.com]]|accessdate=2010-01-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raiden.net/?cat=2&aid=402|title=Open Source Game Review: Alien Arena 2008|work=Raiden's Realm|date=April 14, 2008|author=Lake, Steve|accessdate=2010-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803033447/http://www.raiden.net/?cat=2&aid=402|archive-date=2010-08-03|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reloaded.org/download/Alien-Arena-2007/257/|title=Alien Arena 2007|work=Abandonia Reloaded|author=DeathDude|access-date=2009-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212082225/http://www.reloaded.org/download/Alien-Arena-2007/257/|archive-date=2012-02-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[GameSpot]] noted the use of 1960s-style sci-fi imagery and good selection of weapons and maps in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6201226/|title=Cheaper by the Dozen |work=[[GameSpot]] |accessdate=2010-01-07 |author1=Kevin VanOrd|author2=Aaron Sampson|date=November 19, 2008}}</ref> In 2008 [[APCMag.com]] named ''Alien Arena'' among the ''Top 5 best (free) open source games''.<ref>[http://www.apcmag.com/top_5_best_free_open_source_games.htm/ Top 5 best (free) open source games] by [[APCMag.com|APC]] (January 21, 2008)</ref> In a 2009 review of [[Linux Format]] Alien Arena was rated 8/10.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/Linux_Format_123_October_2009#page/n23/mode/2up/search/receptions Linux_Format_123_October_2009]</ref> Alien Arena was selected in February 2014 as "HotPick" by [[Linux Format]].<ref>[https://archive.org/details/pdfy-YMANeizFZbozgHUT#page/n63/mode/2up/search/hotgames Linux Format February 2014] page 64</ref>

==Alien Arena: Warriors of Mars==
On November 3, 2017 COR Entertainment released ''Alien Arena: Warriors of Mars'' on Steam for Windows and Linux platforms.<ref>[https://store.steampowered.com/app/629540/Alien_Arena_Warriors_Of_Mars/ Alien Arena: Warriors of Mars on Steam]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Video games}}
* [[First-person shooter]]
* [[List of freeware first-person shooters]]
* [[List of open source games]]

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

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.alienarena.org Official ''Alien Arena'' page]
* [https://martianbackup.com Old official Alien Arena page]

{{Quake series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alien Arena}}
[[Category:2004 video games]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Free game engines]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Quake II engine games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Freeware games]]
[[Category:Arena shooters]]

Alien Arena - Revision history

207.148.176.244: Category:Arena shooters/* External links */