Development on this embedded project ended in 2005 as I have since become a developer on the Sourceforge GNU Robbo project where all future releases for all platforms will be hosted.

Please visit the official GNU Robbo website for more information http://gnurobbo.sourceforge.net

Description

GNU Robbo for Embedded Linux is a port of Arkadiusz Lipiec's Linux desktop game which is a port of Robbo for the Atari XE/XL from the late 1980s. Arkadiusz Lipiec's game can be located here http://gnurobbo.sourceforge.net

Features

• 88 levels converted from Robbo VI, VII and VIII.
• Different resolutions and orientations suitable for many embedded devices.
• Game area resizing for higher resolution devices.
• Configurable keys.

Requirements

• libSDL

Licence

GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2, June 1991

Sharp Zaurus

Source Tarballs

• Latest gnurobbo_0.57.041_zaurus_source.tar.gz
• gnurobbo_0.57.040_zaurus_source.tar.gz
• gnurobbo_0.57.03_zaurus_source.tar.gz
• gnurobbo_0.57.02_zaurus_source.tar.gz

IPKs

• Latest gnurobbo_0.57.041_arm.ipk
• gnurobbo_0.57.040_arm.ipk
• gnurobbo_0.57.03_arm.ipk
• gnurobbo_0.57.02_arm.ipk

Binary Tarballs

• Latest gnurobbo_0.57.041_zaurus.tar.gz
• gnurobbo_0.57.040_zaurus.tar.gz
• gnurobbo_0.57.03_zaurus.tar.gz
• gnurobbo_0.57.02_zaurus.tar.gz

Extras

Optional desktop file for SL-5X00 models that starts GNU Robbo in 320x240 landscape mode.

• gnurobbolandscape_0.57.041_arm.ipk

SDL Libraries

If you do not already have this installed on your Zaurus then you will need it to play GNU Robbo.

• For SL-5X00 models libSDL_1.2.6cvs-1_arm.ipk
• For other models libSDL_1.2.6-zports-5_arm.ipk

SDL Development Libraries

You will need the SDL headers for Zaurus development on your PC if you want to compile GNU Robbo yourself. Extract to /opt/Qtopia/sharp/.

• SDL-dev-1.2.6cvs.tar.gz

Sharp Zaurus

Download the latest source tarball from Downloads, extract it and read the file called COMPILING.

Help with setting up the ARM development environment can be found here. As GNU Robbo is an SDL application you will need the SDL development packages both for the Zaurus and your Linux desktop PC. The development package for the Zaurus can be found in Downloads.

Sharp Zaurus

For general game help see Arkadiusz Lipiec's original documentation here http://gnurobbo.sourceforge.net

Controls and Settings

You can play this using both thumbs like a Gameboy or with just one thumb i.e. holding the Zaurus in your palm whilst playing the game with your free hand. To facilitate one handed play the shoot button is a toggle. After you've pressed the shoot button (default SPACE) the shoot light will appear on the scoreline :-

Now when you press up/down/left/right you will shoot in that direction. After you've finished shooting press the shoot button again to return to walk mode :-

This toggling feature can be turned off in the options screen. You can also choose which button you use for shooting: CANCEL, SPACE, HOME or the OK key.

The game speed can be adjusted depending on how you like to play.

The game area for higher resolution VGA models can be resized.

Sharp Zaurus

I have a C Series Zaurus and if I run GNU Robbo via the desktop icon nothing happens until I press Enter! This problem doesn't occur if I run the game via the terminal, so what's going on?
This is a known problem with SDL as it is also mentioned in the Crimson Fields FAQ/Troubleshooting. It is not something I can do anything about so just press Enter.

On clicking the GNU Robbo desktop icon, nothing happens!
Open a terminal and type 'gnurobbo' (without the quotes). Any error messages will be displayed here, and you will have a better understanding of the problem.

I have a C Series Zaurus and the game flickers slightly. Why is this?
Possibly it's because the game area on the VGA models is 4 times that of the SL-5X00 models and the Zaurus is struggling. Go into the game options and reduce the game area width and height to speed up the game.

When playing on the SL-5X00 in 320x240 landscape mode, the game runs way too fast!
Interesting isn't it, that SDL seems to prefer this orientation. Go into the game options and slow it down a couple of notches.

Sharp Zaurus

Zaurus User Group
Open Embedded Software Foundation Forums
Embedded Linux Software Index
Handheld Linux Software Index
Zaurus Software Index
Open Source Operating Systems for Handheld Devices

Zaurus on Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

irc.freenode.net: #zaurus, #openzaurus, #cacko, #oe