--- name: "pingus" section: "6" platform: "linux" package: "pingus" version: "0.7.6-29" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/pingus" --- # pingus(6) A puzzle game where you have to save penguins ## NAME pingus - A puzzle game where you have to save penguins ## SYNOPSIS **pingus** \[OPTION\]... \[FILE\] ## DESCRIPTION Pingus is a side-scrolling puzzle game where the player has to guide a group of penguins from the entrance of a level to the exit, in between the path is blocked by numerous obstacles and dangers that the player has to overcome by assigning actions to the penguins. ## OPTIONS ### GENERAL OPTIONS - \-h, --help Displays this help - \-V, --version Print version number and exit - \-v, --verbose Enable info level log output - \-D, --debug Enable debug level log output - \-Q, --quiet Disable all log output ### DISPLAY OPTIONS - \-w, --window Start in Window Mode - \-f, --fullscreen Start in Fullscreen - \-r, --renderer=RENDERER Use the given renderer, defaults to sdl. Available renderers are: - sdl A simple software renderer based on SDL, this is the default and the safest options. - opengl The OpenGL renderer will use hardware acceleration to render the graphics, it is much faster then the SDL renderer and recommended when the hardware supports OpenGL. - delta The delta renderer uses SDL for rendering and doesn't use hardware acceleration, it will however try to increase rendering performance by only re rendering screen elements that have changed. Using the delta renderer will disable some effects such as scrolling background to allow maximum benefits. - \-g, --geometry=WIDTHxHEIGHT Set the window resolution for pingus (default: 800x600). Note that FC**--geometry**F\[0\] only applies to the window resolution, for the fullscreen resolution use FC**--fullscreen-resolution**F\[0\] - \-R, --fullscreen-resolution=WIDTHxHEIGHT Set the resolution used in fullscreen mode (default: 800x600) - \--software-cursor Enable software cursor ### GAME OPTIONS - \--no-auto-scrolling Disable automatic scrolling. Automatic scrolling will cause the screen to scroll whenever the mouse reaches the border of the screen. Automatic scrolling will only be active in fullscreen mode or when mouse-grab is enabled. - \--drag-drop-scrolling Enable drag'n drop scrolling. By default Pingus will use a rubber-band scrolling where the scroll speed depends on how far away the cursor is from the position when the mouse button has been clicked. In drag&drop mode scrolling will behave more like in traditional GUI applications such as Gimp, where clicking the scroll button will 'pick up' the playfield and allow to move it around till it is released again. ### SOUND OPTIONS - \-s, --disable-sound Disable sound - \-m, --disable-music Disable music ### LANGUAGE OPTIONS - \-l, --language=LANG Select language to use with Pingus - \--list-languages List all available languages ### EDITOR OPTIONS - \-e, --editor Loads the level editor ### DIRECTORY OPTIONS - \-d, --datadir=DIR Load game datafiles from DIR - \-u, --userdir=DIR Load config files and store savegames in DIR - \-a, --addon=DIR Load game modifications from DIR. Files in DIR will be used instead of the files in found in the main datadir of Pingus, thus allowing to modifications, such as sprites replacements, additional levels, etc. to the game, without changing the main data files. - \--no-cfg-file Don't read ~/.pingus/config - \-c, --config=FILE Read config from FILE - \--controller=FILE Uses the controller given in FILE ### DEBUG OPTIONS - \--developer-mode Enables some special features for developers - \-t, --speed=SPEED Set the game speed (0=fastest, \>0=slower) - \-k, --fps=FPS Set the desired game framerate (frames per second) - \--tile-size=INT Set the size of the map tiles (default: 32) ## KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS ### GAMEPLAY All gameplay related keyboard shortcuts are configurable via a controller config file, see FC**--controller**F\[0\] and FC*controller/default.scm*F\[0\]. - W, A, S, D Scroll in the level - Space Hold to ast-forward - P, R Pause the game. - S, F Advance the game by a single frame. - Backspace Activate armageddon. - Escape Leave the current screen/level. ### ENGINE - F10 Show/hide the FPS counter. - AltReturn, F11 Switch to fullscreen/window mode. - Ctrlg Toggle mouse grab, when active, the mouse can not leave the window. - Ctrlo, F5 Show the option menu. - F12 Make a screenshot. Screenshots are stored in FC*~/.pingus/screenshots/*F\[0\]. - Ctrlm Toggle the developer mode, see FC**--developer-mode**F\[0\] - c (only in developer-mode) Show the collision map overlayed over the regular groundmap. - k (only in developer-mode) Clear the screen for delta mode debugging. ## ACTIONS - Basher The Basher will to a horizontal dig, leaving behind it a tunnel. It is not able to dig through metal. - Blocker The Blocker will stop and stay in position, directing other penguins to turn around when they reach him. - Bomber The Bomber will blow up on the spot and take a bit of surrounding ground with it. - Bridger The Bridger will build a small bridge, useful for crossing small chasm. - Climber The Climber actions allows a Pingu to travel upwards a vertical wall. Unlike other actions the climber action is a permanent addition to the Pingus ability. - Digger The Digger will dig a hole into the ground. It can't dig through metal. - Floater The Floater action will give a penguin a small propeller that lets him gently glide down from great heights that would otherwise be deadly. - Jumper The Jumper will let the Pingu do a big leap forward, allowing him to cross chasm and small vertical obstacles. - Miner The Miner will dig a diagonal hole into the ground. - Slider The Slider will make a tiny leap forward, gliding on its belly for a short while, allowing the Pingu to make it through narrow tunnels. ## LEVEL EDITOR Pingus comes with a build in level editor. The level editor can currently be used to edit level files (\*.pingus) as well as prefabricated objects (\*.prefabs). Worldmaps (\*.worldmap) can currently not be edited with the editor. All Pingus data files, except the sound and images, are raw text files and can be edited in a text editor if the editor isn't sufficient. If you want to submit a level to be included in the next release follow the following naming convention: FC*{theme}{number}-{nickname}.pingus*F\[0\] Do not use space or uppercase in the levelname and keep the levelname simple (i.e. FC*snow1-grumbel.pingus*F\[0\] not FC*pingus-go-on-a-long-journey-in-snowland-grumbel.pingus*F\[0\]). The filename should not reflect the actual level title, it simply should be unique and not conflict with other peoples levels. If you plan on building a whole levelset, name the levels after the levelset. To submit a level send it to \. ### PREFABS A prefab, short for prefabricated object, is a group of objects that have been combined into a new single object. A classic case of a prefab would for example be a snowman, it is build out of multiple smaller snowball objects and then saved as prefab to allow easy reuse in multiple levels. Unlike simple object groups, prefab are saved as reference in the level, thus if the prefab is updated, all levels will see the change. Like object groups prefabs can be ungrouped to break them back down to individual objects if individual editing is needed, they are seizing to be prefabs at that point and changes to the .prefab file will no longer be reflected in the level. Prefabs behave pretty much like regular levels, to create a prefab simply start a new level and insert the objects as usual, unlike regular levels the level size is ignored and thus you have to place your object around the center of the levels, marked by a cross, to have the prefab function properly. To save a prefab as prefab instead of level you have to append .prefab suffix to the filename. Thumbnail generation for prefabs is currently done offline with the script FC*./tools/generate-prefab-images.sh*F\[0\] available from the Pingus source tree. ### UI QUIRCKS The Pingus level editor is best used with a combination of mouse and keyboard, all essential functions have keyboard shortcuts. Unlike more traditional GUIs, the Pingus editor lacks scrollbars, so to move around the level or the object list on the right simply use the middle or right mouse button and drag&drop the list around. Objects from the object list can be inserted into the level by drag&dropping them over to the level. ### KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS - **Delete**, **Backspace** Delete all currently selected objects - **A** Select or unselect all objects - **D** Duplicate the currently selected objects - **I**, **K**, **J**, **L** Move the current selection by one pixel, if **Shift** is held, move it by 32 pixel. - **PageUp**, **PageDown** Raise or lower an object - ShiftPageUp, ShiftPageDown Raise or lower an object to the top or bottom - **R**, ShiftR Rotate an objects 90 degrees, if **Shift** is held rotate it the other way around - **F**, ShiftV Flip an object horizontally - **V**, ShiftF Flip an object vertically - **B**, ShiftB Toggle the background color to make it easier to see small pixel errors. If shift is hold the color will be toggled in the opposite direction. - **+**, **=**, **-** Increase/decrease the repeat value of selected objects, this will only have an effect on objects having an repeat value (switchdoors, liquids, ...). ## COPYRIGHT Copyright (C) 1998-2011 Ingo Ruhnke \ See the file AUTHORS for a complete list of contributors. Pingus comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain conditions; see the file COPYING for details. ## SEE ALSO http://pingus.seul.org