Jun 4, 2004

Open source strategy remakes

I am a fan of old strategies - many of which is abandonware and easy to find for free. The new ones...seem to me 2 dumbed down, overflowing with SFX but losing the complexity AND easy interface that made old games stand out. The oldies like Civ, Transport Tyccon, SMAC, BIsle, MOO, Stars!, UFO, Frontier, Privateer...rings a bell?

So I found today that they are coming back, with a venegance, and free :)
How is that possible? Open source, of course...

To start with what made me make the below list in the first place - mention of TTD in the sf.net update @.
1. "An open source clone of the Microprose game "Transport Tycoon Deluxe"."
http://www.openttd.com/about.php
https://sourceforge.net/projects/openttd
I to Development Status: 5 - Production/Stable

Now many people know civilisation and might have heard of...
2. Freeciv
Freeciv is a multiplayer strategy game, released under the GNU General Public License.
It is generally comparable with Civilization II®, published by Microprose®.

But what about SMAC?
3. Freeciv Alpha Centauri - SMAC Open Source...mam smaka :)
The Freeciv Alpha Centauri Porting Project aims to incorporate features from Firaxis Games' "Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri" into the main "Freeciv" project.
Development Status: 3 - Alpha

Personally, the old strategy game I hold most dear is not Civ, it is Battle Isle 2. And it is here as well!
4. Advanced Strategic Command - ASC is a free, turn based strategy game in the tradition of Battle Isle. Its features both single player gameplay against an AI as well as extensive Play-By-Mail multiplayer functionality.

* Development Status: 4 - Beta

In two versions :)
4. JBI - a Java Battle Isle Clone. A Remake of the turn-based strategy game Battle Isle by Blue Byte.

Development Status: 2 - Pre-Alpha, 3 - Alpha

Od tego momentu przestalem sie dziwic. Privateer/Frontier?
5. Final Frontier Trader.
Final Frontier Trader is a 2D single player space strategy, combat, and trading game. You pilot a starship which is upgradable. You can buy, sell, or trade parts and even new starships. You can even join a fleet for experience in missions and combat.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/fftrader/
http://fftrader.sourceforge.net/
Development Status: 1 - Planning, 3 - Alpha

Time for my favourite genre, the 4X games - eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate :)
6. NodeWars
NodeWars is a Space Empire Management game. Imagine a game with the speed of StarChamber and the detail of STARS! and you're about halfway there...
Development Status: 1 - Planning

Another one...
7. Fate - A Space Trading and Combat Game
Massively Multiplayer Space Trading and Combat game. This is an online strategy game, not a 3D space sim. Incorporating ideas from games such as Stars!, SE3, MOO, Tradewars, MUD/MOOs, Dune II, SimCity
Development Status: 1 - Planning, 2 - Pre-Alpha

And another one...
8. Stellar Legacy
Stellar Legacy is a turn based strategy game (similar to stars!, MOO etc.) set in space. The player controls an inter-stellar empire in a galaxy of other empires who could be friendly, secretive, hostile or however the other players wish to play.
Development Status: 2 - Pre-Alpha

Finally, the remake of game I still play regulary in multiplayer:
9. Freestars
FreeStars is a project to create an easily modifiable clone of the 4X turn-based strategy game Stars!. With version 1, the goal is to clone Stars! as closely as possible. For version 2, the goal is to make improvements in the balance and gameplay.
Development Status: 2 - Pre-Alpha

Well, thats not the end, by no means. XMAS is early this year:

10. Skrupel - Tribute Compilation
Skrupel – Tribute Compilation is a webbased cross between amazing games like, VGAPlanets, Ascendancy an for example Master of Orion. After installing on webspace (php,mysql) up to 10 player in a round can fight against each other using their browser.
Development Status: 4 - Beta

11. FreeOrion
FreeOrion brings nation building to a galactic scale with its full-featured grand campaign and in-game racial histories, in addition to the classic 4X model of galactic conquest and tactical combat.
Development Status: 2 - Pre-Alpha, 3 - Alpha

12. Space Opera
Space Opera is a space colonization game similar to 'Master of Orion' or 'Galactic Civilizations'. You can explore the universe, colonize planets, fight aliens and research technologies. Images were created with Povray and Terragen.
Development Status: 1 - Planning, 3 - Alpha, 4 - Beta

13. SLASH'EM
SLASH'EM (SuperLotsaAddedStuffHack - Extended Magic) is a variant of Nethack. It is a roguelike, single-player role-playing game where the hero must venture through the depths of the Dungeon of Doom to retrieve the Amulet of Yendor.
Development Status: 4 - Beta, 5 - Production/Stable

14. UFO2000 aka X-COM: Gladiators
Multiplayable remake of microprose\'s X-COM: UFO Defense (UFO: Enemy Unknown) game. Uses Allegro game programming library, so it should run at most platforms Allegro has been ported to.
Development Status: 5 - Production/Stable

15. Xenocide
3D multiplayer and turned based game inspired by X-COM: UFO Defense. Coded in C++ and developed to be mostly platform independent.
Development Status: 2 - Pre-Alpha

16. X-Force: Fight For Destiny
X-Force is a remake of the classic X-Com-Games.You have to defend earth from alien intruders by intercepting their UFOs, accomplishing tactical ground missions and researching the mystery of the invasion. The game features action, stategy and economic
Development Status: 3 - Alpha

A note - remember that all prodcutions before 5 - Production/Stable are likely to be UNSTABLE and unfinished, so play at your own risk (no, they will not fry your comp, but they may be disappointing - as in lacking lots of options and stuff). Just keep checking their production pages every few weeks - or if u can, help out with the work and make it ready sooner!
One way or another, enjoy.

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