Maelstrom helped shareware Mac game and utility publisher Ambrosia Software build one of the most enduring and beloved niches in the Mac market. The Asteroids-like arcade game proved early on that Macs could deliver a compelling game experience with the right combination of programming talent and artistic savvy. Now the classic has returned, built for Mac OS X.
Sam Lantinga got permission to port Maelstrom to Linux some time ago, adding network play and other neat features to make the game attractive to users of the alternate operating system. Today Ambrosia Software announced that Lantinga has released a version of the Linux port for Mac OS X, as well.
“Now we’ve come full circle,” said Ambrosia. “Sam has ported his Linux port of Maelstrom to OS X. It’s fun, it’s free, and you can even download the source code and play with it if you are so inclined.”
The Mac OS X version of Maelstrom is free. The game isn’t supported by Ambrosia, but it’s being distributed with the company’s expressed permission.
The Mac OS X version of Maelstrom can be downloaded from the Maelstrom 3.0 Web site, where you’ll also find links to add-on files, source code, and other goodies.