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3D Freeciv-Web (Beta) Released (freeciv.org)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the popup-city dept.

It's the open source web version of the classic Linux strategy game, and now Slashdot reader Andreas(R) -- one of its developers -- has an announcement. Now the developers are working on bringing the game to the modern era with 3D WebGL graphics [and] a beta of the 3D WebGL version of Freeciv has been released today. The game will work on any device with a browser with HTML5 and WebGL support, and three gigabytes of RAM... It's a volunteer community development project and anyone is welcome to contribute to the project. Have fun and remember to sleep!
The developers of Freeciv-web are now also working on a VR version using Google Cardboard, according to the site, while the original Freeciv itself has still been maintained for over 20 years -- and apparently even has its own dedicated port number.

12 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. do you really need VR support? by Osgeld · · Score: 3, Interesting

    its a empire building game, even the use of 3d is on the unnecessary side

    1. Re:do you really need VR support? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I did a 3D version of Nethack for my senior design project. The characters were rendered at different angles, so you got depth perception with the goggles. I added extra emphasis to the pipes so you knew how tall the walls were!

  2. Feedback is welcome! by Andreas(R) · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm one of the developers of Freeciv-web. Please post your questions and feedback here or on the Github issue tracker. This is a beta-version, so there are many things to improve in the game. If you are a good developer or 3D artist perhaps you would be interested in helping improve the game also. Creating an open source game like this can be a lot of fun!

    1. Re:Feedback is welcome! by Andreas(R) · · Score: 2, Informative

      The game itself uses about 800 MB of RAM on a typical map. On mobile devices with just 2GB of RAM the game will crash. 3 GB of total RAM always works without any problems. Most gaming devices have more than 3 GB of RAM these days anyway.

  3. Re:3 GB of RAM?! Does it work in FF? by Andreas(R) · · Score: 3, Informative

    The game works nicely in Firefox and any other modern browser. It requires that your computer or mobile device has at least 3 gigabytes of memory, and will not work so well if you have less.

  4. Re: 3 GB of RAM?! Does it work in FF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why does it require so much memory? Is it because JavaScript is such an awful and inefficient language? It makes me laugh when JavaScript clones of old DOS games need multiple gigabytes of memory, while the original DOS games ran fine with only 1 or maybe 2 MB!

  5. Re:React? Angular? NoSQL? by Andreas(R) · · Score: 4, Informative

    The client is using JavaScript, jQuery, jQuery UI and the Three.js 3d engine. The server is running a Java web application on Tomcat, the Freeciv server is implemented in C and there are processes which use Python.

  6. IE 6 support? by Billly+Gates · · Score: 2

    This is your boss. Important clients use IE 6. Can we get it to work in IE 6 before the end of today?

    Thanks

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
  7. AI by Princeofcups · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Everyone spends their time making a prettier game, whereas most of the players just want an AI that doesn't suck. I know, graphics are easy. The results are obvious. No one wants to spend time doing something hard that can't even be seen on the surface.

    --
    The only thing worse than a Democrat is a Republican.
    1. Re:AI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Dunning-Kruger in full effect.

      Good graphics are not easy. The results are not always obvious (e.g., shaders on TF2 or Civ6 are believed to be simplified but are rather complex in order to do a lot of trickery with the environment such as FOW representation and reveals)

      And if you believe no one spends time on AI, go to http://mobygames.com and look up your favorite AAA title. For most, if not all games that have a 70 or higher on Metacritic and require a computer to make decisions, there is at least one, if not a few, programmers dedicated *just* to AI.

  8. FreeCiv needs to catch up by unixisc · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I quite agree. The original Freeciv game is at par w/ Civ 3: we are now at Civ 6. While Freeciv has some great advantages over mainstream Civ games - like 500+ 'nations', they could use a few of the other advances that have been added to subsequent versions, like culture, religion and so on. It would even be nice if they had things like cultural victories, diplomatic victories, religious victories and so on, like in Civ 6.

    1. Re:FreeCiv needs to catch up by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 2

      I quite agree. The original Freeciv game is at par w/ Civ 3: we are now at Civ 6.

      In some ways that might not be a bad thing. I haven't tried Civ6 yet, I'm waiting for the inevitable gold version at 1/4 the cost and loaded with all the expansions.

      Some of the "middle civs" maybe 2, but definitely 3, and 4, were amongst the best for playability and enjoyment. 5 was visually stunning, and no counter that UI has improved over time; but I feel playability peaked at 3, or 4 (with all expansions). 5 wasn't even playable until the 2nd expansion came out. It was a hideous joke at launch.

      I haven't played 6 yet, but I get the impression it's been dummy-proofed with the console market in mind, rather that a traditional civ game. I will buy it, I've played all the others, I'll just wait a little bit for the expansions.

      Freeciv being at a Civ 3 level might be perfect for those of us who care more about the game than the graphics. More about the fun than the User Interface.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch