Initial release | November 1, 2000 |
---|---|
Stable release | 1.0 (final) / 2016 |
Written in | Delphi, C++, HTML5 |
Operating system | Linux, macOS, Windows, FreeBSD, Android, iOS |
Platform | x86, x86-64, ARM |
Available in | Multi-language |
Type | Casual, sports |
License | GPLv2, Freeware/Donationware (PC, Browser), Commercial (mobile) |
Website | http://blobby.sourceforge.net/ |
Blobby Volley is a free and open-source sports computer game series in which two blobbed shaped entities play volleyball against each other. There are multiplayer and single-player modes.
The rules used in Blobby Volley are derived from the standard volleyball rules. Unlike real volleyball, the movements of the players are limited to the two-dimensional space of the screen. The borders of the screen acts as an invisible wall which the ball bounces off, which is completely legal to use. Since there is only one player on each side of the field, it is permitted (unlike standard volleyball) for the player to touch the ball several times in a row.
The protagonists, blob like creatures without arms, can move left and right, jump and interacting with the ball by hitting it with their "head", therefore resembling a Header like gameplay.
The game ends when one of the two players reach 15 (or more) points and also there is a two-point lead over the other. Points may only be achieved by the player that serves the ball. Therefore, each of the players tries to make the other one commit a fault so they can serve and score points. A player can commit the following faults:
Network games are possible in Blobby Volley where the players can play against another human opponent. Locally, they can also play with another human opponent on the same system or against the AI. Blobby Volley allows players to configure keyboard and mouse controls, the colors of the blobs and the background image. The game is available in three languages (German, English and French) and also gives an insight into a history of game statistics (wins, losses).
There are community made mods available for the game. For instance Quick Game is a modification for Blobby Volley which speeds up the game and reduces the winning number of points to 10.
Blobby Volley was originally written in Delphi by Daniel Skoraszewsky with graphics by Silvio Mummert. Version 1.0 was released in November 2000 on the authors' homepage as Freeware for PCs with Windows. [1] Development ended around 2005 with version 1.8.
Started in 2007 on SourceForge under the GPLv2 license, Blobby Volley 2 is the official continuation written by new programmers and based on the original assets. The continuation is programmed in C++ (gcc) instead of Delphi. This new version uses OpenGL/SDL for rendering which allows cross-platform ports for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The game is offered as freely downloadable and shareable Freeware, while also asking for donations for further development and server funding, which makes the game also donationware.
This version has several improvements over the first iteration of the series, for instance better bots, by using the Lua scripting language. There is now the ability to store multiple settings, which can be also exchange, due to a XML configuration files. A Replay functionality was added as also native Gamepad/Joystick support. It is now possible to change the game speed as also alter the default volleyball rules. There is improved network support with dedicated servers, to reduce lag.
In November 2013 a commercial Android version was released, [2] and later in 2014 a version for iOS. [3] In 2016 a commercial version for Windows mobile followed. [4]
Since 2016 there is also a version of Blobby Volley 2 available for browsers which utilizes HTML5 for rendering.
The Blobby Volley series became quite popular freeware game, either as single player casual game and also as competitive tournament game on LAN parties, for instance the GameCon. [5] [6] [7] There is an online Sports league, running since several years organized by the community. [8] [9]
It is offered from many freeware download outlets, for instance it was downloaded between 2007 and May 2017 alone from SourceForge.net over 700,000 times, [10] Chip.de counted over 1 million downloads (in May 2017). [11] [12] Blobby Volley was also included on several video game magazines' cover disks with freeware game compilations, for instance CD-Action 1/2007, [13] GameStar 01/2012, [14] or the Open Source Software CD. [15] The game is also included in several Linux distributions, for instance Ubuntu OS. [16]
In 2001 Gamehippo.com's staff awarded 9 of 10 points. [17] A jeuxvideo.com retrospective described Blobby Volley as fun multiplayer game in 2009. [18] Chip.de rated the game "very good" [11] and called it a "fun volley ball game for one to two players". PCWorld.pl gave 4/5 points in March 2014. [9] Linux For You September 2009 ranked Blobby Volley 3/5. [19] Linux Format December 2014 selected Blobby Volley as "HotPick". [20]
A Linux distribution is an operating system made from a software collection that includes the Linux kernel and often a package management system. They are often obtained from the website of each distribution, which are available for a wide variety of systems ranging from embedded devices and personal computers to servers and powerful supercomputers.
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summer Olympic Games since Tokyo 1964. Beach volleyball was introduced to the programme at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics. The adapted version of volleyball at the Summer Paralympic Games is sitting volleyball.
A computing platform, digital platform, or software platform is the infrastructure on which software is executed. While the individual components of a computing platform may be obfuscated under layers of abstraction, the summation of the required components comprise the computing platform.
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, Doom, and Unreal Tournament series. Alien Arena focuses mainly on online multiplayer action, although it does contain single-player matches against bots.
FooBillard is a free and open-source, OpenGL-based sports simulation video game.
Several sports related to volleyball have become popular. Indoor volleyball and beach volleyball are both events at the Olympics, and sitting volleyball is an event at the Paralympics. Other varieties are localized, or are played at an amateur or informal level.
OtherOS is a feature of early versions of the PlayStation 3 video game console, allowing user installed software, such as Linux or FreeBSD. The feature was removed since system firmware update 3.21, released on April 1, 2010.
Bossaball is a team sport that originated in Brazil and was conceptualised by Belgian Filip Eyckmans in 2004. Bossaball is a ball game between two teams, combining elements of volleyball, football, and gymnastics with music into a sport. It is played on an inflatable court featuring a trampoline on each side of the net. The trampolines allow the players to bounce high enough to spike the ball over the net.
Crayon Physics Deluxe is a puzzle video game designed by Petri Purho and released on January 7, 2009. An early version, titled Crayon Physics, was released for Windows in June 2007. Deluxe won the grand prize at the Independent Games Festival in 2008. It features a heavy emphasis on two-dimensional physics simulations, including gravity, mass, kinetic energy and transfer of momentum. The game includes a level editor and enables its players to download and share custom content via an online service.
OpenCity is a free and open-source software 3D city-building game started in 2003 by France-based Vietnamese programmer Duong-Khang Nguyen. The game mechanics are similar to SimCity, although the game developers do not strive to make it a direct SimCity clone.
X-Moto is a free and open source 2D motocross platform game developed for Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows, where physics play an all important role in the gameplay. The basic gameplay clones that of Elasto Mania, but the simulated physics are subtly different.
Teeworlds is a free, open-source sidescrolling multiplayer shooting game originally created by the Swedish developer Magnus Auvinen and now maintained by the community. It features simple cartoon-themed graphics and physics and relies heavily on classic shooter weaponry and gameplay. Currently there are official versions for Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS as well as being available via the digital distributor Steam since 2015. The source code is publicly available.
TripleA is a free and open-source turn based strategy game based on the Axis & Allies board game.
Ubuntu Touch is a mobile version of the Ubuntu operating system, being developed by the UBports community. Its user interface is written in Qt, and is designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, but the original goal of convergence was intended to bring Ubuntu Touch to laptops, desktops, IOT devices and TVs for a complete unified user experience.
Snap is a software packaging and deployment system developed by Canonical for operating systems that use the Linux kernel and the systemd init system. The packages, called snaps, and the tool for using them, snapd, work across a range of Linux distributions and allow upstream software developers to distribute their applications directly to users. Snaps are self-contained applications running in a sandbox with mediated access to the host system. Snap was originally released for cloud applications but was later ported to also work for Internet of Things devices and desktop applications.
Librem is a line of computers manufactured by Purism, SPC featuring free (libre) software. The laptop line is designed to protect privacy and freedom by providing no non-free (proprietary) software in the operating system or kernel, avoiding the Intel Active Management Technology, and gradually freeing and securing firmware. Librem laptops feature hardware kill switches for the microphone, webcam, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Zorin OS is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu with both free and paid versions. It uses a GNOME 3 and XFCE 4 desktop environment by default, although the desktop is heavily customized for users more familiar with Windows and macOS.
AsteroidOS is an open source operating system designed for smartwatches. It is available as a firmware replacement for some Android Wear devices. The motto for the AsteroidOS project is "Free your wrist."
The Linux kernel can run on a variety of devices made by Apple, including devices where the unlocking of the bootloader is not possible with an official procedure, such as iPhones and iPads.