Open Empires

Open Empires
Hi, I had started a project with similar intentions a short while ago (i.e. make an AOE clone). I have gone through the details of Free Empires and I like how much energy is going into this. However, I feel I should continue working on my version cause there are some differences with regards to what we hope to achieve. One of the major goals that I am aiming at, is cross-platform compatibility. Initially it would be developed and verified on Windows, Linux and MacOSX, and later tested across as many *nix/*BSD as possible. This mandates the usage of C++ and cross-platform libraries as much as possible. Though I am not sure of the feasibility at the moment, porting to mobile phones and other handhelds is also a long-term goal. The point I am getting to is that looks like we are travelling on parallel roads. I feel we can get there faster if we help each other. I shall post updates as to the progress of Open Empires. (The website is still under construction) - sparkymat

I set up a small web page for the project. Check it out at http://www.openempires.net

I agree at your assertion that we should help each other. Feel free to use all our graphics and sounds (Since they are under the GPL except for the ones specified as being from AoE under Ensembles permission). We are releasing a source release soon so our full graphics library will be inside it. I also notice that on your website you say Open Empires is also based on Empire Earth. I have never heard of it. Also you also seem less dedicated to the history so yes your project is definitely different then ours. I feel that we can co-exist and help each other quite easily and I look forward to playing Open Empires. 8) I also congratulate you on sharing our vision on invigorating Unix Real time strategy.

Re: Open Empires
Hello, and good luck with your project. I hope we can share our resources. 8)

I also notice that on your website you say Open Empires is also based on Empire Earth. Empire Earth is quite similar to Age Of Empires concept-wise. The parts I liked were the larger number of epochs/ages - starting from the prehistoric and ending in the future. This does give the creative freedom to add technologies and campaigns that explore a possible future of the human race. Imagine, the Mighty Human Empire spreading across the galaxies :) . All in good time though, since our first priority is starting the campaigns from the prehistoric age. Also you also seem less dedicated to the history so yes your project is definitely different then ours. Actually, Open Empires will be very much dedicated to the history of the human race,with respect to the rise and fall of empires. It's just that we are currently concentrating on getting the core engine up and running first, before making the game that uses it.

Re: Open Empires
Hello, and good luck with your project. I hope we can share our resources. 8) Thank you :) . And good luck with Free Empires too.

We have decided to go for a distinct artistic style that differs (hugely) from the realistic look-n-feel of AOE. Do check out the Open Empires site for some concept art (www.openempires.net)

We are getting more different as time goes on, which is a good thing really. We do not want to compete with each other. Nice Drawings though, I could never draw anything like that. But as soon we may have models anyway. :wink:

We have decided to go for a distinct artistic style that differs (hugely) from the realistic look-n-feel of AOE. Do check out the Open Empires site for some concept art (www.openempires.net) Interesting drawings. They look like people from a Hanna-Barbara cartoon in some ways, only slightly better drawn. I believe that both our projects will produce great RTS's, and this is one thing that is sorely needed in Free Software (Though I have not seen any good Corporate ones recently just things like AoE III YUCK!). What about later ages? Or are they to be disgruntled cave men all the way to the present and beyond? :lol: I see that you have FE in the links, we will return that courtesy. You may have also noticed that we have links to FreeCiv and FreeCol, you may want to add those as well as they are of similar inspiration though your project is not intended to be a clone but one with loose inspirations from other titles. Also maybe add a little descriptions for the links. :)

Hey, I read through your forum, and saw your post about using C++ (which you later switched to Ruby), I can see why you would be concerned about rendering real time on Gambas but I do have sound logic for this one, apart from just thinking that Gambas is really cool. 1. Gambas 2 is infinitely better for game rendering, consider that it has OpenGL 3D rendering abilities. A 2.5D RTS engine such as that from AoE is not as far out of reach as you seem to consider (we are not after a true 3D engine like AoE 3, frankly I think that things like that are a truly wrong idea given the game play of an RTS). 2. SDL, is a game rendering software created by the guys who eventually rode through the rise and fall of Loki Software, as such it is fine for RTSs games. Gambas 2 supports it fully, and a in-development component was available before then. This will provide FE with the necessary speed, this is why the non-SDL first two SRs where purely feature show-cases. 3. Recreating AoE is not our only goal, we want lots of games to come out of this. We wish to make an engine that any newbie can open up in Gambas and make a good game, without any real knowledge. 4. People underestimate BASIC, its name was bad PR. It was not made to be base, it was made to be in plain English, such as C's "Printf" is "Print" in BASIC. Simplicity itself, QBasic was used to make fast-paced RTS games so that seems to show that we can do better with a modern form like Gambas.

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