Flashpoint - The web game preservation project <no RetroPie> <no Emulation>
-
This is not exactly for RetroPie or emulation, but since it is for preservation of old otherwise losing games, this is still relevant I think. This is a collection of web based games for offline usage with 38.3GB or a lite version, where all the games can be downloaded like in Steam and it comes with a launcher. It works under Windows and Linux, but Linux users get only a subset of all the games (Flash games only). I did not try this, thought it could be interesting for others. The webpage says, it saved 6000 games currently, which is pretty impressive. Those games would be lost otherwise.
http://bluemaxima.org/flashpoint/
http://bluemaxima.org/flashpoint/datahub/Game_Master_List -
I've actually considered checking this project out to see if some of the older games run well on the Pi via Gnash.
-
@supercatfooz The Flash games are working under Linux. So, maybe there is not additional testing with Gnash needed. But I don't understand well all those things behind it.
-
I would kill or die to play Atomica again...
The Epic Battle Fantasy series is well worth playing too. Can't wait for EBF 5, currently in production.
-
@thelostsoul Do I need a package manager to install this or just run the executable in a shell?
EDIT: I just realized this would be an x86 executable, but doesn't seem to run even with Exagear enabled. I'll try the Windows version under Wine/Exagear.
-
@victimrlsh I just did not try out this, just saw it at reddit and posted it. I am personally not interested in browser games, but I can imagine that many others are. I didn't test this.
From the readme: http://bluemaxima.org/flashpoint/readme.txt
It launches three things in succession: the web server, the redirector (whether our custom one or Fiddler), and finally Flashpoint Launcher.
-- Flashpoint on Linux --
Flashpoint on Linux requires PHP to be installed on your system. (sudo apt-get install php should work for most Ubuntu based distros.)
Flashpoint on Linux requires a 64-bit install.Flashpoint on Linux is supported by Flashpoint Launcher, but due to most of the supporting tech for every non-Flash technology only supporting Windows, the only games that will work on Linux are Flash games that launch via the Flash Player Projector.
Flashpoint on Linux is only made available in an Infinity version. If you wish to download a full copy of 5.0 without wasting time grabbing the Windows version and overwriting the launcher, download the zip file linked below and extract it to Arcade\Games\Flash (so the htdocs folders line up).
-
@thelostsoul There are some truly great flash games. Epic Battle Fantasy series is IMHO far superior turn based RPG to the early Final Fantasy games. Ironhide Studios' huge line of RTS games are also top notch.
BTW, you have one of the Flash greats without even realizing it. Bookworm was ported to GBA. One of the best word games ever (fans of Word Womp will argue this point, but they suck). Try it out if word games are your thing.
EDIT: IMHO the best Flash word game ever is Clockwords, a real-time (typing speed is a plus) steampunk themed word game with an actual storyline.
-
The Windows version won't start up under Wine/Exagear either. So for now, not a RetroPie thing, but this could change soon.
-
I still have not succeeded in getting this to work on the Pi, but DID succeed in installing the visual C++ runtime, .NET framework 4.5, and learned how to use Winetricks to install things that Wine would normally choke on. Definitely an educational experience. I'll have to stick to playing Gemcraft: Chasing Shadows on the PC for now.
-
@victimrlsh I see, you really want it. :D
Why do you try the Windows version? There is already a Linux version for it. -
@thelostsoul I can't get that to run either, even with Exagear. The executable won't even launch. I'll probably come back to that next. As for really wanting it, sure I can play these on my PC, but the lure of adding 6020 games to my already mammoth Pi selection can't be passed up. :P
-
@victimrlsh Hi! It's great to see people interested in Flashpoint. I'm a developer of its launcher and I think it would be pretty cool if it would work on a Raspberry Pi.
The launcher is open source. So you could try "compiling" it for ARM and see if that executable works.
If that doesn't do it then I'm out of ideas (I'm mostly a Windows guy). But I'm sure the Linux people over at the Flashpoint discord server will help you out if you ask them.
If you have any questions or make any progress I'd be happy to hear it!
Discord server: https://discord.gg/y2UDTRm
Flashpoint Launcher GitHub: https://github.com/FlashpointProject/launcher -
@tbubba I'll check that out, of course if I get on Discord my World of Warships clan is going to see that I'm on and ask me why I haven't played in weeks. LOL...
-
Actually, you CAN play these games on your Pi, but not through Flashpoint. Most of the stuff on Armor games I can play through Chromium on the Desktop.
-
@VictimRLSH You can also run them on the Pi using Gnash, which has the advantage of not requiring installing the desktop [only requires installing
xinit], so you can launch and exit it like a standard emulator with the correct launch arguments.Granted, only the oldest of games will run full speed, but it's still pretty neat.
-
@SuperCatFooz Yeah, when playing Gemcraft Chasing Shadows you definitely notice the slower speed. Turning down the render quality on explosions and tower effects helps. I wonder how many monsters on screen it takes to break Flash on the Pi? If you summoned enough extra ones, it would just freeze, but took thousands.
-
Here is a brand new and interesting summary article about Flashpoint. I guess it is by one of the developers. It talks a bit about the story and what it is now. 10k games are saved, 4k more in about 3 month!
-
This reminds me of another hidden gem in there (already).
Infectionator Survivors. Action RPG fighting zombies and finding other survivors to add to your party. You can craft weapons and healing items from junk found in the wasteland, and find weapon emplacements and other bonuses in building you clear of zombies. Also a VERY DIFFICULT game, and I love those...
EDIT: After reading the article, I wonder if their new launcher CAN be ran on the Pi? I might need to take another crack at that.
-
FINALLY got this to run, but I had to resort to the darkest magick....
I went through the herculean procedure to get the Midnight Falcon version of Windows 10 on ARM running on the Pi 4 and Flashpoint Infinity WILL install and run games. They run a tad slow, but not as slowly as you would expect from every bit of code for both the OS and apps being rammed through a dynarec.
-
197,065 total entries, 56467 of which are playable games. They have been busy...
Contributions to the project are always appreciated, so if you would like to support us with a donation you can do so here.
Hosting provided by Mythic-Beasts. See the Hosting Information page for more information.