This is a special pre-Alpha 5 release for Debian-based Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Mint, Kubuntu, etc. Please contact me if you need help, and have fun!
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Extract the Sylph executable (Sylph.gambas) from the archive you downloaded (Sylph Pre-Alpha 5.tar.gz).
Sylph is programmed in GAMBAS. To install GAMBAS execute the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gambas-team/gambas-daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gambas3
Once GAMBAS has been installed you may run the Sylph executable by double-clicking it or executing the following command:
gbr3 [path]/Sylph.gambas
SYSTEM RECOMMENDATIONS
Sylph uses OpenGL, so you should have the binary drivers for your ATI/AMD or NVIDIA video card installed for maximum performance. Vertical synchronization (vsync) is recommended, although Sylph automatically regulates its frame rate regardless.
Medium to high CPU, RAM and VRAM specifications should achieve a high frame rate (60 FPS).
Keyboard input (WASD, arrow keys, space bar and escape key) is fully supported, but a twin-stick gamepad is highly recommended for optimal gameplay (it is fast-paced).
CONTROLS
WASD Keys: Lateral (left/right) and Vertical (up/down) thrust
Arrow Keys: Lateral (left/right/in/out) thrust
Space Bar: Full-Automatic Fire
Escape Key: Back/Previous
Pause/Break Key: Pause/Unpause
F Key: Fullscreen/Window
Left Analog: Lateral (left/right/in/out) thrust
Right Analog: Vertical (up/down) thrust
Programmable Gamepad Buttons: Pause/Unpause, Back/Previous, Camera Mode, Semi-Automatic Fire, Full-Automatic Fire, Continuous Fire (see Flight Control menu)
WHAT'S NEW IN ALPHA 4
Much has been done since the release of Alpha 3 over a month ago. A proper "start screen" with gamepad button mapping, some new and original music by the excellent Mordi (placeholder songs by Mecano Associates, Mark Seibert and Joey Carbone and Richie Zito), automatic save games with manual loading that include score and weapon upgrades, true keyboard control (even if you're mashing multiple keys simultaneously), improved SA-08 handling, better detailed planets, new ship models, bullet rendering optimization and innumerable bug fixes.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR ALPHA 5?
With Sylph's "engine" nearing completion I'll be moving toward the creation of final assets such as stages/areas, ship models/textures, effective and interesting AI, weapon balancing, score (Mordi) and ensuring a balanced progression across the twenty stages. Alpha 5 will contain the first three finished stages then enter "swarm mode" as with previous Alphas. Expect destructible force fields and capital ships stirring within the bowels of base stages (AREA 03), destructible civilian housing and skyscrapers on Earth (AREA 01) and more dramatically-realized asteroid fields.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?
Sylph: Project Miyaji
YouTube
Twitter
Silpheed