# Trackballs

> open source video game

**Wikidata**: [Q10383993](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10383993)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/trackballs

## Summary
Trackballs is an open source video game designed for IBM PC compatible computers, featuring classic arcade-style gameplay. It is freely available under the GNU General Public License version 2.0, with source code hosted on GitHub and regular development updates.

## Key Facts
- Trackballs is an open source video game running on IBM PC compatible computers
- It is licensed under GNU General Public License version 2.0 (as of April 28, 2020)
- The latest stable version is 1.3.4, released on December 22, 2022
- The project has been actively developed with multiple releases between 2017 and 2022
- Trackballs is available through package managers for various Linux distributions
- Its official website is hosted at trackballs.github.io
- The source code repository is located at https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs

## FAQs
### Q: What is Trackballs?
A: Trackballs is an open source video game that replicates classic arcade-style gameplay for IBM PC compatible computers. It features freely accessible source code under the GNU General Public License version 2.0.

### Q: How can I install Trackballs?
A: Trackballs can be installed through package managers on Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE, and others. For Windows systems, it can be run through Wine with the AppDB ID 17951.

### Q: What platforms does Trackballs support?
A: Trackballs is designed for personal computers, specifically IBM PC compatible systems. It runs natively on Linux systems and can be emulated on Windows through Wine, making it accessible across multiple platforms.

### Q: How often is Trackballs updated?
A: Trackballs has a history of regular updates, with releases spanning from 2017 to 2022. The development team has maintained active maintenance with version increments including 1.2.x series (2017-2018) and 1.3.x series (2018-2022).

## Why It Matters
Trackballs represents a significant contribution to the open source gaming community by preserving and enhancing classic arcade experiences through collaborative development. Its dual-license approach under GNU GPL v2.0 allows for both personal enjoyment and commercial integration, making it accessible to a broad audience. The game's presence in multiple Linux package repositories demonstrates its integration into the open source ecosystem, showcasing how proprietary gaming concepts can be adapted within free software frameworks. By maintaining active development over multiple years, Trackballs serves as an example of how community-driven efforts can sustain digital heritage and provide alternative gaming options in an increasingly commercialized industry.

## Notable For
- Being a fully open source arcade-style game with regular development updates spanning multiple years
- Its integration into multiple Linux distribution package repositories, including Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE, and others
- Maintaining active development since 2017 with consistent version releases and improvements
- Having specific Wine compatibility (AppDB ID 17951), demonstrating cross-platform functionality
- Its presence on both SourceForge and GitHub, showing traditional and modern open source hosting approaches

## Body
### General Information
Trackballs is an open source video game designed for IBM PC compatible computers. The project has maintained a consistent development cycle with regular updates since its inception. The game has been documented in multiple open source gaming repositories and wikis, including the Linux Game Database (LGDB) with ID trackballs and Libregamewiki ID 1214.

### Licensing
Trackballs is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0, with the license information last updated on April 28, 2020. The licensing terms are documented in both the COPYING file and README.md within the source code repository. This open license allows for free distribution, modification, and use of the software.

### Version History
The project has undergone several major version updates:
- Version 1.2.0 series (2017): Released between June 4 and October 28, 2017, with incremental updates (1.2.1 to 1.2.4)
- Version 1.3.0 series (2018-2022): Began with 1.3.0 on March 11, 2018, and continued with updates including 1.3.1 (May 16, 2018), 1.3.2 (December 26, 2020), 1.3.3 (September 26, 2021), and 1.3.4 (December 22, 2022)

Each release includes specific release notes that document changes and improvements over previous versions.

### Platforms and Availability
Trackballs is designed for personal computers, specifically IBM PC compatible systems. It is distributed through multiple channels:
- Official websites: trackballs.sourceforge.net and trackballs.github.io (preferred)
- Package managers for various Linux distributions:
  * Debian/Ubuntu: trackballs
  * Fedora: trackballs
  * openSUSE: trackballs
  * Mageia: trackballs
  * FreeBSD: games/trackballs
  * SlackBuilds: games/trackballs

The project is also compatible with Windows systems through Wine, with a specific entry in the Wine App Database (ID: 17951).

### Technical Details
- Source code repository: GitHub (https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs)
- Project tracking in multiple databases:
  * Repology: repology_project_name: trackballs
  * Holarse: article_id: trackballs
  * Pro Linux.de: dbapp_id: 7326
  * Gamer Profiles: game_id: 8g7l5
- Flatpak ID: io.github.trackballs.Trackballs
- AUR package name: trackballs

## References

1. [Source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trackballs/trackballs/master/COPYING)
2. [Source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trackballs/trackballs/master/README.md)
3. [Release 1.2.0. 2017](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.2.0)
4. [Release 1.2.1. 2017](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.2.1)
5. [Release 1.2.2. 2017](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.2.2)
6. [Release 1.2.3. 2017](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.2.3)
7. [Release 1.2.4. 2017](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.2.4)
8. [Release 1.3.0. 2018](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.3.0)
9. [Release 1.3.1. 2018](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.3.1)
10. [Release 1.3.2. 2020](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.3.2)
11. [Release 1.3.3. 2021](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.3.3)
12. [Release 1.3.4. 2022](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.3.4)
13. [Release 1.3.5. 2025](https://github.com/trackballs/trackballs/releases/tag/v1.3.5)
14. Q124398839