HoverRace
HoverRace is a game created by GrokkSoft in 1996 as shareware. GrokkSoft claimed it was the first internet-based online multiplayer game. The source code was released to the public in 2006, and HoverRace is still under active development.
Gameplay
HoverRace allows players around the world to race against each other in a 3D environment. The player can choose one of several HoverCrafts before the race begins and competes against others on a track created either by GrokkSoft or by other users. The game supports dial-up connections and does not require a server for races. Instead, up to 10 players connect directly through their IP address. However, users can connect to the in-game chat server called the Internet Meeting Room (IMR) where they can race and chat with others. While racing, players are able to send messages, shoot missiles, drop landmines, and use speed boosters placed in the race track.
In addition, sports tracks have been made. In some of these tracks a stationary player is used as a ball or puck and other players must hit it where they need it to go. Missiles and other items are very rarely allowed in these games.
HoverRace as shareware
HoverRace was created in 1996 though there are some pieces of information cached on the internet that suggests it may have origins in 1995. It was designed by GrokkSoft with Richard Langlois as its most well-known programmer and John Ferber who was responsible for the company's marketing and advertising of the game[1]. A limited demo of the game was free for everyone where users could only race with the basic hovercraft and race three of the company's tracks. Users who bought a registration key for $16 could race with all hovercrafts, play any track, and/or even create their own.
To boost popularity, GrokkSoft advertised HoverRace on newsgroups and had a HoverRewards program to pay people who referred new players. GrokkSoft also gained affiliations with MBnet, and E-on. These affiliations were short-lived and as a result the company had to release a new version which removed the E-on hovercraft and the MBnet IMR.
In 1998, GrokkSoft stopped selling registration keys. The reason for this was not mentioned by GrokkSoft. Many players had their own websites with tracks and information about HoverRace. The IMR rooms hosted on GrokkSoft worked until the end of 1999 when GrokkSoft decided to pull down the server due to Daniel Young's use of social engineering, where he was able to acquire the source code for the IMR. After the GrokkSoft server went down, the community quickly eroded. However, the game was able to live on with Evan Byl hosting the IMR, and a group of others hex editing and resource hacking the game executables. The game was even reviewed by GamePro after GrokkSoft abandoned it [2]. Since 2001, the activity of the HoverRace community has been somewhat sinusoidal; with periods of long activity followed by relatively quiet times.
HoverRace as abandonware
When Grokksoft abandoned HoverRace, the source code to the IMR (Internet Meeting Room) was stolen and used to set up another IMR. The game was modified (through the use of hex editors and similar tools) to use this new server, and as a result the game continued to survive for many years. To compensate for the game's aging graphics and interface, attempts were made to entice new players. Players modernized websites, implemented forums, designed an interactive scoreserver, interactive room bots, and controlled versions with cheats, attempting to maintain the number of current players as well as bringing in new ones.
HoverRace as open-source software
In August 2006, Ryan Curtin (known as Igglybob) obtained the source code from Richard Langlois. The process was preceded by an exchange of emails that took place over nine months. Previously, other attempts to contact Langlois for the code were made but were unsuccessful. The original license, written in 2006, source code license was temporary, expiring in 2009. Later, on November 29th, 2008, Langlois modified the license and removed the expiration date [1]. The source code is available to the public on HoverRace.com's development website.
From 2006 to summer 2008, little development work was done on the source code. Without an active source code repository and bug-tracking website, and without motivated coders, nothing happened. Then, in summer 2008, development was kickstarted by the creation of a Trac instance, which attracted a few dedicated programmers.
On November 25th, 2008, HoverRace 1.23 was released. A number of changes were made, including higher supported resolutions (up to 1600x1200), fixed misspellings, a revamp of network code, and several other changes that help make HoverRace playable under Windows without requiring the use of 8-bit color to play. The current release of HoverRace requires the user to modify router settings to enable port forwarding, which can be major obstacle when it comes to attracting new players.
In the future, for HoverRace 1.24, several improvements are planned, including more detailed craft meshes, the re-introduction of the E-On craft, several gameplay bug fixes, and more. Work is also in progress to provide a native Linux port of the game, using OpenGL and OpenAL. More information can be found on the HoverRace Trac Milestones webpage.