Freeciv

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Freeciv
Image:Freeciv-2.1.0-beta3-sdl slack11.0.png Freeciv 2.1.0-beta3, with the SDL client
Developer(s)	The Freeciv developers
Publisher(s)	The Freeciv project
License	GNU General Public License
Platform(s)	cross-platform
Release date	January 5, 1996 (1.0) January 23, 2008 (2.1.3)
Genre(s)	Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)	Multiplayer, single player
Input methods	Keyboard, mouse

Freeciv is a multiplayer, turn-based strategy game for workstations and personal computers inspired by the commercial proprietary Sid Meier's Civilization series. The latest stable version of Freeciv is 2.1.3, released on January 23, 2008. The game's default settings are closest to Civilization 2, both in gameplay and graphics (including the units and the isometric grid).

Freeciv is included with most desktop Linux distributions, and continually rated as one of the best available free/open source games.^[1] Released under the GNU General Public License, Freeciv is free software.

1 Description
2 Design
3 Compatibility
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

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, 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) barbarians should invade player settlements
How close cities can be built to one another
How continents and islands are supposed to be distributed over the map

Graphics and sounds can be replaced; there are isometric, two-dimensional and hexagonal graphics packages (tilesets).

Freeciv uses TCP/IP networking and all games connect to a centralized server; Freeciv allows players to run a server on their own machine against artificial intelligence (AI) computer players in addition to multiplayer games versus other humans. In releases before the 2.0 release, 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.

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.

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.^[2]

Freeciv most 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 3)

Freeciv omits 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, along with a large number of other operating systems including Ultrix, QNX, OS/2, Cygwin, AmigaOS, ZETA, SkyOS and various BSDs. Freeciv is included with many popular Linux distributions.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Freeciv

v • d • e Sid Meier's Civilization series
Official series	Civilization (CivNet) · Civilization II (Test of Time) · Civilization III (Play the World · Conquests) · Civilization IV (Warlords · Beyond the Sword) · Civilization Revolution
Related games	Colonization · Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (Alien Crossfire)
Other games	Civilization: Call to Power · Call to Power II · Freeciv · FreeCol · C-evo · CivCity: Rome