Freeciv 11122 225958831 2008-07-16T05:27:56Z RussBot 279219 Robot: moving pages out of redirected category {{Infobox VG | title = Freeciv | image = [[Image:Freeciv-2.1.0-beta3-sdl slack11.0.png|300px]] | caption = ''Freeciv'' 2.1.0-beta3, with the SDL client | developer = The Freeciv developers | license = [[GNU General Public License]] | publisher = The Freeciv project | released = [[January 5]], [[1996]] (1.0)<br />[[June 17]], [[2008]] (2.1.5) | genre = [[Turn-based strategy]] | modes = [[PC Multiplayer|Multiplayer]], [[single-player]] | platforms = [[cross-platform]] | input = [[Keyboard (computing)|Keyboard]], [[Mouse (computing)|mouse]] }} '''''Freeciv''''' is a multiplayer, [[turn-based strategy]] game for [[workstation]]s and [[personal computer]]s inspired by the commercial [[proprietary software|proprietary]] ''[[Civilization (series)|Sid Meier's Civilization]]'' series. The latest stable version of ''Freeciv'' is 2.1.5, released on [[June 17]], [[2008]]. The game's default settings are closest to ''[[Civilization II]]'', both in gameplay and graphics (including the units and the isometric grid). ''Freeciv'' is available for most desktop [[Linux distribution]]s. Released under the [[GNU General Public License]], ''Freeciv'' is [[free software]]. ==Description== Players take the role of a tribe leader in 4000 BC and have to guide their people through the centuries. Over time, new technologies are discovered, which allow the construction of new city buildings and the deployment of new units. Players can wage war on one another or form diplomatic relationships. The game ends when one civilization has eradicated all others, accomplished the goal of [[space colonization]], or at a certain deadline. If more than one civilization remains at the deadline, the player with the highest score wins. Points are awarded for the size of a civilization, its wealth, and cultural and scientific advances. ==Design== ''Freeciv'' is very configurable, down to the specific rules, so it can be played in ''Freeciv'' (default) mode, ''[[Civilization (computer game)|Civilization]]'', ''[[Civilization II]]'', or in a custom mode. One or several players act as game administrators and can configure the game rules. Typically modified rules are: * Number of players required before the game can be started * Speed of technological development * Whether there should be computer controlled players * Whether (computer controlled) [[barbarian]]s should invade player settlements * How close cities can be built to one another * How continents and islands are generated and distributed over the map * Map size * Map topology (rectuangular or hexagonal tiling; whether it wraps horizontally and/or vertically) The graphics system is very configurable as well: originally, map display was always in overhead mode (like in ''[[Civilization (computer game)|Civ I]]''), which many players found rather crude<ref>[http://www.free-games-net.com/games/freeciv.shtml a review on Free Games Net (1998)]</ref>; [[Isometric projection|isometric]] mode (like in ''[[Civilization II|Civ II]]'') was added later. In both modes, look can be further customized by switching to an alternative set of graphics (called a ''tileset''). The sounds can be replaced as well. Freeciv supports human-to-human multiplayer gameplay and [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) computer players. While the game is turn based, human players move simultaneously. The AI players move separately, partly at the start of a turn, partly at the end. In releases before 2.0, AI players could not engage in diplomatic relationships with human players. Under the current release, AI players will engage in a very predictable, rules-based diplomacy. In order to play a game of Freeciv, a user must start up a Freeciv client and connect with that client to a Freeciv [[server (computing)|server]]. Initially, the server is in pre-game phase; in this phase, clients can connect and game configuration parameters can be changed. At some point, the server may be ordered to start a game; in response, it creates game players (nations) and the game map, and assigns every player to either a Freeciv client or a computer player, as specified by the configuration. From that point on, the game will run until it ends or is terminated; the server can never get back into pre-game state. The user can also start a game directly from the client: this automatically starts a Freeciv server, connects to it and starts the game. ''Freeciv'' has a map and scenario editor called Civworld available as a separate download. Civworld is being integrated into the main release for the planned 2.2 version, and development snapshots as of 2007 already have some map editing capabilities built-in.<ref>[http://freeciv.wikia.com/wiki/Civworld Civworld]</ref> Gameplay in ''Freeciv'' mode resembles ''[[Civilization II]]'', with some improvements. For example: * Multiplayer capability (available on ''Civilization II Gold'') * Queued production * New units (Workers, AWACS) * Improved "go" command with intended route shown * Ability to view city production and turns to growth without opening the city screen * The concept of national borders (much like the "culture" borders used in ''Civilization III'') ''Freeciv'' omits some features available in the original ''Civilization II'', including: * Disasters * Ability to zoom in/out from map * Music * Throneroom or palace construction subgame/prize * Movies for wonders * Ability to view city * Advisors ==Compatibility== Originally developed on [[IRIX]], ''Freeciv'' has been reported to run on [[Linux]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Mac OS X]] and [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]], along with a large number of other operating systems including [[Ultrix]], [[QNX]], [[OS/2]], [[Cygwin]], [[AmigaOS]], [[magnussoft ZETA|ZETA]], [[SkyOS]] and various [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]]s. ''Freeciv'' is included with many popular [[Linux distribution]]s. ==History== In the 1990s, it was quite common for departments of computer science to offer computing facilities to students in the form of rooms of Unix workstations, attached to central servers, and with excellent Internet connectivity, and graphics capabilities based on the [[X Window system]]. Several graphical, multiplayer games were developed for this platform, such as [[XTank]], [[XPilot]], [[xbattle]] and [[Xconq]]. At DAIMI, the [[computer science|CS]] department at [[Aarhus University]], three CS students, avid players of XPilot and of Sid Meier's ''Civilization'', which was a stand-alone PC game for [[DOS]], decided to find out whether the two could be fused into an X-based multiplayer Civilization-like strategy game.<ref>[http://freeciv.wikia.com/wiki/In_The_Beginning Freeciv:In the Beginning]</ref> Development started in November 1995; the first playable version was released in January, 1996, with bugfixing and small enhancements until April.<ref>[ftp://ftp.freeciv.org/freeciv/stable/OLD/freeciv-1.0a.tar.gz Freeciv 1.0a source code (1996)]; see DESIGN</ref><ref>[ftp://ftp.freeciv.org/freeciv/stable/OLD/freeciv-1.0k.tar.gz Freeciv 1.0k source code (1996)]; see CHANGES</ref>. The rules of the game were close to Civilization, while the client/server architecture was basically that of XPilot. Surprisingly, Xconq doesn't appear to have been much of an influence. For the developers, Freeciv 1.0 was a successful [[proof of concept]], but a rather boring game, so they went back to XPilot. But Freeciv was already playable and addictive enough to pick up other students as players, bugfixers and feature extenders. Designed to be portable, it was ported to many platforms, which helped its survival. Freeciv playing and development continues until the present day, although the spells with little development activity have grown longer and more frequent over time. The development history is strictly incremental: while there have been many serious improvements, the basic design and architecture have not changed since the early versions. Over 15,000 source [[patch (computing)|patch]]es have been applied to Freeciv since it was started. A very brief overview: * 1996: main development at DAIMI labs, but always with international contributions * 1997: development moves away from DAIMI and becomes fully international * 1998: computer players; Civilization II features; graphics improvements * 1999: [[GTK+]] client; [[Amiga]] client; public gameserver pool with post-game reporting and player ranking * 2000: isometric view; much extended nations set and language support * 2001: [[Win32]] client; improved handling of networking problems * 2002: city management agents * 2003: start of [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|SDL]] client; team play; sound * 2005: alternative map topologies; massive game rebalancing; better AI, with diplomacy * 2007: [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]] scripting; usable SDL client; [[GGZ Gaming Zone]] support ==See also== {{Portal|Video games|Gamepad.svg}} * ''[[FreeCol]]'' * [[List of open source games]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons|Freeciv|Freeciv}} *[http://www.freeciv.org/ ''Freeciv'' home page] *[http://www.longturn.org/ ''Longturn'' (''Freeciv'' variant with one turn each day)] *[http://www.civ.alkar.net Freeciv game hosting at alkar.net] (not operational) {{civilization}} [[Category:Free, open source strategy games]] [[Category:1996 video games]] [[Category:4X video games]] [[Category:Linux games]] [[Category:Mac OS X games]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Civilization franchise]] [[Category:Fanmade computer game remakes and sequels]] [[Category:Turn-based strategy video games]] [[Category:Open source video games]] [[Category:Panhistorical video games]] [[Category:Isometric video games]] [[Category:Cooperative video games]] [[Category:Free video games]] [[ca:Freeciv]] [[cs:Freeciv]] [[de:Freeciv]] [[el:Freeciv]] [[es:Freeciv]] [[fr:Freeciv]] [[ko:Freeciv]] [[it:FreeCiv]] [[he:Freeciv]] [[hu:Freeciv]] [[nl:Freeciv]] [[ja:Freeciv]] [[no:Freeciv]] [[nn:Freeciv]] [[pl:Freeciv]] [[pt:Freeciv]] [[ru:Freeciv]] [[fi:Freeciv]] [[sv:Freeciv]] [[tr:Freeciv]] [[bat-smg:Freeciv]] [[zh:Freeciv]]