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0 A.D. (video game)

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0 A.D.
Developer(s)Wildfire Games
Publisher(s)Wildfire Games
EnginePyrogenesis
Platform(s)Linux, Windows, Mac OS X
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

0 A.D. (zero eh-dee) is a free, open-source, cross-platform real-time strategy game under development by Wildfire Games. It is a historical war and economy game focusing on the years between 500 B.C. and A.D. 500[3][4] The game will be cross-platform, playable on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.[5] The game aims to be entirely free and open-source. In addition, the developers do not get paid for their work, nor will they charge for their product. The game has been in development since 2000, with actual work starting in 2003. There is no official release date set for the finished version.[6]

History

0 A.D. originally began as a huge total conversion mod concept for Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings in June 2001. With limited design capabilities, the team soon turned to trying to create a full independent game based on their ideas.[7][8][9]

In November 2008 developers confirmed soon releasing the project as open source.[10] On July 10, 2009, Wildfire Games released source code for 0 A.D. under the GPL 2, and made the art content available under the CC-BY-SA.[11][12][13][14]

There were about ten to fifteen people working on 0 A.D. around March 23, 2010, but since development started there have been over 100 people who have contributed.[15]

Version history

Version Name Release date Features
Pre-Alpha 1 2 April 2010 Snapshot for developers with source code, resources and compiled version of project.[16][17]
2 12 June 2010 New unit movement system (precise pathfinding and obstacle avoidance); training queues in buildings; added units to the minimap.[18][19]
3 11 July 2010 Added multiplayer support, redesigned GUI; improved pathfinding: added terrain passability constraints and terrain movement costs, added floating units.[19][20]
Alpha 1 Argonaut 16 August 2010 New maps, animal AI, redesigned unit AI, added in-game multiplayer chat.[21][22][23][24]
2 Bellerophon 20 October 2010 Added fog of war, group movement and basic formations; victory conditions; improved pathfinder performance, improved in-game GUI; added new biome (savanna), remodeled Celtic buildings, added new maps.[22][25]
3 Cerberus 11 December 2010 Added resource shuttling, circular maps, garrisoning, improved pathfinding; new Hellenic and Celtic ships, Greek buildings; improved game setup screen, redesigned loading screen and added summary screen; new maps.[22][26]
4 Daedalus 12 March 2011 Added initial prototype version of opponent AI; improved fog of war rendering, added opt-in automatic feedback system; new naval units, siege weapons, bridges, new in-game sound effects.[22][27]
5 Edetania 20 May 2011 New civilisation: Iberians; improved bot: JuBot; random map scripting; unit promotions; improved formations; particles: fire, smoke, construction dust, sparkles near mines, falling leaves; unit silhouettes; new map, sound effects, music track.[22][28]
6 Fortuna 10 July 2011 Unit stances: Violent, Aggressive, Defensive, Stand ground, Avoid; new terrain textures, sound effects, maps, units and buildings; scenario editor interface improvements; flying units support and test map with P-51 Mustang planes.[22][29]
7 Geronium 17 September 2011 New civilisation: Carthaginians; all-new dynamic territory design, a brand new main menu design, several new music tracks, new maps.[1][30]
8 Haxāmaniš 23 December 2011 New civilisation: Persians; bartering system, support for saving and loading games, multiplayer reconnection support, improved AI, and three new music tracks.[31]

Game content

0 A.D. Main Theme
Main Theme of 0 A.D.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

0 A.D.'s Gameplay features the familiar real-time strategy components of building your base, training your army, combat, and researching of technologies.[32] The game is about economic development and warfare.[4] Wildfire Games aims to deliver an experience that is refreshingly innovative but at the same time familiar, focusing mostly on the military aspect of real-time strategy. The game will pursue a strong sense of historical accuracy without damaging gameplay. It also aims for a high degree of replay ability by being easily moddable and the formation of a large online community. The player will have to build a city and an army following the rules of standard real-time strategy games, collecting resources and constructing buildings. The game will include multiple units and buildings specific to each civilisation as well as both land and naval units.[33]

Multiplayer functionality has been implemented that uses peer-to-peer and it has been confirmed that there will be no central server.[34]

In-game screenshot, showing a Hellenic (Greek) town

Civilisations

Wikinews has related news:

0 A.D. will allow the player to control any of six ancient civilisations from antiquity.[35]

  • Carthaginians will have the strongest navy in the game, as well as the best trade. Units include the war elephant and the Sacred Band. Most of their troop roster, however, is made up of expensive mercenaries.
  • Celts excel in hand-to-hand combat. They have minimal navy and siege. They construct mostly wooden buildings, which are fast and inexpensive to construct, though far less robust than their stone counterparts.
  • Hellenes have strong buildings, strong triremes, cheaper technologies, and the phalanx formation, which makes their Hoplites nearly invulnerable when attacked from the front.
  • The Iberians' foot units are some of the fastest and most rapid-firing in the game, particularly their Balearic Slingers. A number of their ranged units also have the unique ability to fire flaming missiles. Toledo steel grants them superior metal weaponry.
  • Persians are the most cosmopolitan civilisation, levying a wide variety of troops from their vassal satrapies. Their infantry are weak and poorly-equipped, but can be massed in vast numbers. They have the strongest (though most expensive) cavalry in the game, and are the only civilisation that features all forms of cavalry, including cavalry archers in the form of scythe chariots. Their buildings are also the strongest in the game.
  • The Romans train the strongest swordsman (the Hastatus) in the game as well as construct the most powerful siege equipment. Other bonuses include the ability to construct siege walls to circumvallate enemy cities in enemy territory.[35]
System Requirements
Minimum Recommended
Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux[2]
Operating system Windows 2000 or greater (or GNU/Linux)
CPU 1 Ghz Processor1.6 Ghz Processor or greater
Memory 512 MB RAM1024+ MB RAM
Graphics hardware 64 MB Geforce3/Radeon 8500 (or equivalent)256 MB Geforce6/Radeon 9800 (or equivalent)

Reception

0 A.D. was voted one of the Top 100 Best Mods and Indies of 2008 by Mod DB.[36] For 2009, it made it in the Top 100 Best Mods and Indies[37] as well as winning third place for Player's Choice Upcoming Indie Game of the Year.[38] For 2010, 0 A.D. received a honorable mention for Player's Choice Upcoming Indie Game of the Year.[39] 0 A.D. has been generally well received.[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "0 A.D. Alpha 7 code name Geronium has been released". Unixmen. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  2. ^ a b "Official FAQ :: 0 A.D. :: Wildfire Games". October 2, 2004. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  3. ^ Oded Yaron (8 August 2010). "0AD: לוקחים את ההיסטוריה ברצינות" (in Hebrew). Ha'aretz. Retrieved 21 July 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b Justin McElroy (13 July 2010). "The Joystiq Indie Pitch: 0 A.D." The Joystiq Indie. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  5. ^ Christopher Tozzi (13 October 2009). "0 A.D. Promises Real Gaming for Ubuntu". The Var Guy. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  6. ^ IAN RIDGWELL (20 June 2011). "An interview with Wildfire Games". Geek Haven. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  7. ^ Jason Adams (14 June 2006). "A First-Look at 0 A.D." GameDev.net. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  8. ^ How long has 0 A.D. been in development? "Official FAQ". {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  9. ^ Baptiste Domps (22 March 2011). "Wikinews interviews 0 A.D. game development team". Wikinews. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Does everyone like the Revision Log?". Wildfiregames.com. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  11. ^ "0 A.D. Goes Open Source". Moddb.com. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  12. ^ "Real-time strategy game 0 A.D. goes open source". The H Open Source. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  13. ^ Charlie (13 July 2009). "0 A.D. Now Open Source". Free Gamer. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  14. ^ feneur (July 10, 2009). "0 A.D. development moves to open source". Archived from the original on 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2009-07-13. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Christopher Tozzi (23 May 2010). "RTS Game 0 A.D. Needs You!". The Var Guy. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  16. ^ Jeru (2 April 2010). "0 A.D. Debuts Pre-Alpha Version". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  17. ^ Christopher Tozzi (2 July 2010). "0 A.D. Releases Alpha Build, Launches PPA". The Var Guy. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  18. ^ Jeru (12 May 2010). "0 A.D. Pre-Alpha 2 Released". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  19. ^ a b Christopher Tozzi (19 August 2010). "0 A.D. Reaches Third Pre-Alpha Release". The Var Guy. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  20. ^ Jeru (11 July 2011). "0 A.D. Pre Alpha 3 Released". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  21. ^ Jeru (16 August 2010). "New Release: 0 A.D. Alpha 1 Argonaut". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  22. ^ a b c d e f Christopher Tozzi (22 July 2011). "Open Source Game 0 A.D. Making Leaps and Bounds". The Var Guy. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  23. ^ Julius (16 August 2010). "0 A.D. Alpha 1 Argonaut". Free Gamer. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  24. ^ "Playable alpha for real-time strategy game 0 A.D. released". The H Open Source. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  25. ^ Jeru (19 October 2010). "New Release: 0 A.D. Alpha 2 Bellerophon". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  26. ^ Jeru (11 December 2011). "New Release: 0 A.D. Alpha 3 Cerberus". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  27. ^ Jeru (12 March 2011). "New Release: 0 A.D. Alpha 4 Daedalus". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  28. ^ Jeru (20 May 2011). "New Release: 0 A.D. Alpha 5 Edetania". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  29. ^ Jeru (10 July 2011). "New Release: 0 A.D. Alpha 6 Fortuna". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  30. ^ Jeru (17 September 2011). "New Release: 0 A.D. Alpha 7 Geronium". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  31. ^ Jeru (23 December 2011). "New Release: 0 A.D. Alpha 8 Haxāmaniš". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  32. ^ "0 A.D. - PC - IGN". IGN. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  33. ^ John Knight (1 January 2011). "0 A.D.—Stunning Real-Time Strategy Game". Linux Journal. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  34. ^ Scipii (17 December 2009). "Wildfire Games Interview". HeavenGames. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  35. ^ a b "Factions :: 0 A.D. :: Wildfire Games". Wildfire Games. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  36. ^ "2008 Mod of the Year Awards event - Mod DB". Moddb. DesuraNET Pty. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  37. ^ "2009 Mod of the Year Awards event - Mod DB". Moddb. DesuraNET Pty. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  38. ^ Henley (5 February 2010). "2009 Players Choice - Indie Game of the Year feature - Mod DB". Moddb. DesuraNET Pty. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  39. ^ Henley (23 December 2010). "Indie of the Year 2010 Players Choice - Upcoming Indie". Indiedb. DesuraNET Pty. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  40. ^ Tim Brookes (25 October 2010). "8 Awesome Free Open-Source Games You Can Enjoy On Windows, Mac and Linux". Make Use Of. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
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