Free Empires
From Pigasoftware
 Free Empires being edited in Gambas on Fedora Core 4 | |
| Operating System(s): | Linux Microsoft Windows |
|---|---|
| Engine: | Gambas Genie |
Free Empires is a Piga Software project to make a Free Software clone of Microsoft's and Ensemble Studio’s Age of Empires . It is intended to run on Linux and Microsoft Windows .
Contents |
Linux Development
Development on The Linux Version was started in April of 2007. It released its first Source Code Release on June 21 2007 and another was supposed to be released on October 26 2007 Age of Empires Tenth Anniversary. However, because of technical difficulties it was not released until November 9, 2007. A tehcnical demo for Gambas Genie showacseing Unit Movement was relased on July 15, 2008. Free Empires for Linux is being made in Gambas with primary development being on Griffindor, with more and more development being done on Snape.
Microsoft Windows Development
Microsoft Windows Development began on July 6 2007. There is currently no Source Code release. The Microsoft Windows version of Free Empires is being developed using Visual Basic 2005 Express on a Laptop running Windows XP Home, Service Pack 2
History
The idea for making a Age of Empires like game came soon after the Piga Software developers first played Age of Empires II The Age of Kings in 2005. The original idea was to make a Age of Kings like Game called Age of Kingdoms. However that was Abandoned. Then development on Free Empires was started. It was originally being developed in Game Maker , but it stopped being Developed in April 2007.
Units and Buildings Currently in Free Empires
Villager
The Villager is a usable object that says "Rogan" when engaged. When the player left clicks on the map it exclaims "Ommos" and zips instantaneously to the players cursor. It can gather wood when placed EXACTLY on top of a tree, this action is also instantaneous. This action is also done when hunting the Gazzelle. The unit is to come in both Male and Female forms however only the Male is present in the latest release. The Villager can be slain with the Delete key. The Graphics for the Male villager is under the GPL 3 but the "Rogan" and "Ommos" sounds are used under the permission of Ensemble Studios which allows its use under non-commercial purposes. GPLed sounds are to be added in SR 3.0
Wild Men Villager
What will one day be the CaW version of AoE's Gaia Villagers. Currently it just stands there exclaiming "Rogan" if engaged. The Wild Men Villager's graphics and under the GPL 3. The "Rogan" sound is used under permission from Ensemble Studios for the use under non-corporate conditions. A GPLed sound is intended to be added in SR 3.0.
House
The house usable object that makes a sound when engaged. Eventually going to be used to store units, right now however it is just a decorative object. It can be destroyed by hitting the Delete key. The graphics and sounds for the House is under the GPL 3.
Town Centre
The Town Centre is an object that may be clicked on by the player. It can be used to start a building sequence for a new villager. This sequence is as of yet flaky and does not ever actually build a villager. Advancements on this front are to be added in SR 3.0 The option to go to the "Neolithic Age" is also available but is not aloud in CaW. It can be destroyed by hitting the Delete key. The graphics and sounds for the Town Centre are under the GPL 3.
Market
The most functional of the objects in SR 2.0 the Market allows one type of resource to be traded for another (I.E trading Stone for Food). This is done though mathematical formulas controlled by various buttons. Be warned that the formula is not yet complete and still occasionally allows for bugs (I.E getting in Debt). It can be destroyed by hitting the Delete key. The Market graphics and the sounds are under the GPL 3.
Pine Tree
The Pine Tree is usable source for Wood. If you click on it you see the objects title, icon, and how much wood is to be gained by it's destruction. If you place the Villager EXACTLY on top of it you hear a single axe chop and the tree disapears and wood is added to your tribe's stockpile. The Tree graphics are under the GPL 3.
Cave Bear
The Cave Bear is a menance for Villager. Click it and hear its growel. It may kill your Villager if you place it EXACTLY on top of it (Okay, so it is only dangerous if the villager is a moron). Better hunting of humans and the abilaie to hunt Gazelles is an idea for future SRs. The Cave Bear graphics and sounds are under the GPL 3.
Gazelle
The Gazelle is another resource that may be gatherd by the Villager. Place your Villager on top of it and BOOM! Juicy meat! The Gazelle graphics are under the GPL 3.
Games in Series
There are four games planned from the Free Empires project. Each game is set in a different period of Human history.
- Free Empires: Chiefs and Warriors (Pleistocene)
Currently being developed, it is to only contain Neanderthals originally however later other hominids will be added.
- Free Empires: Emperors and Barbarians (The Ancient World)
From the dawn of farming to the era of world wide decline between 500 CE and 1000 CE.
- Free Empires: Kings and Tyrants (Medieval to Renaissance)
The world slowly advances and recovers from the age of decline, the modern state of Europe and Asia emerges.
- Free Empires: The Renaissance (The Age of Discovery to 1800 CE)
Having surpassed the Ancients the European powers explore and conquer new worlds, hacking their way though the locals.
- Free Empires: The Age of Superpowers (1800 CE - 2000 CE)
This game is mostly to focus on the major super powers of the modern age: Britain, Germany, France, America, and the Soviet Union.
