Changes between Version 7 and Version 8 of WfgAcademiaInto
- Timestamp:
- May 15, 2007, 3:49:34 PM (17 years ago)
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WfgAcademiaInto
v7 v8 4 4 == Introduction == 5 5 6 Wildfire Games (WFG) is a group of hobbyist game developers in the process of producing a freeware real-time strategy (RTS) game. The name of this project is 0 A.D. (``zero ey-dee"). In short, it is a historically 6 Wildfire Games (WFG) is a group of hobbyist game developers in the process of producing a freeware real-time strategy (RTS) game. The name of this project is 0 A.D. (``zero ey-dee"). In short, it is a historically-based war/economy game that allows players to relive or rewrite the history of western civilizations, focusing on the years between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. The project is highly ambitious, involving state-of-the-art 3D graphics, detailed artwork, sound, and a flexible and powerful custom-built game engine. 7 7 8 Our game engine, called Pyrogenesis, is specifically designed for flexibility and ease of modification. Game logic, art work and data can easily be changed through data files. The engine itself is designed to provide maximal flexibility while while remaining efficient. Pyrogenesis therefore provides a solid platform on which to work on individual features of RTS games, and can be used to create a completely different game from 0 A.D.Wildfire Games is actually developing a second project based on the Pyrogenesis engine in parallel - a Lord of the Rings-based game called The Last Alliance.8 Our game engine, called Pyrogenesis, is specifically designed for flexibility and ease of modification. Game logic, artwork and data can easily be changed through data files. The engine itself is designed to provide maximal flexibility while while remaining efficient. Pyrogenesis therefore provides a solid platform on which to work on individual features of RTS games, and can be used to create a completely different game from 0 A.D. Wildfire Games is actually developing a second project based on the Pyrogenesis engine in parallel - a Lord of the Rings-based game called The Last Alliance. 9 9 10 0 A.D. has been in development for five years. The team members are largely students and game development hobbyists. The game has always been intended to be released as freeware and available to all, and none of the participants have been or will be compensated financially for the contributions they have made.The reward for us is the experience we have gained and the pleasure of creating a game RTS enthusiasts like us have been waiting for.10 0 A.D. has been in development for five years. The team members are largely students and game development hobbyists. The game has always been intended to be released as freeware and available to all, and none of the participants have been or will be compensated financially for the contributions they have made. The reward for us is the experience we have gained and the pleasure of creating a game RTS enthusiasts like us have been waiting for. 11 11 12 Wildfire Games is now creating a new branch of development. As students ourselves, we are aware that working on interesting problems in an academic setting is often difficult due to lack of access to a complete real-world system. Therefore, Wildfire Games would like to offer the source code of 0 A.D. to universities under an open-source license, as a means of enabling coursework, theses and research based on problems in game development.In return, we would benefit from the contributions of students and researchers that are experts in their fields.12 Wildfire Games is now creating a new branch of development. As students ourselves, we are aware that working on interesting problems in an academic setting is often difficult due to lack of access to a complete real-world system. Therefore, Wildfire Games would like to offer the source code of 0 A.D. to universities under an open-source license, as a means of enabling coursework, theses and research based on problems in game development. In return, we would benefit from the contributions of students and researchers that are experts in their fields. 13 13 14 14 == Pyrogenesis Features == … … 26 26 OpenAL, OpenGL, Boost, Crypto++, !CxxTest, DevIL, SDL, 27 27 !SpiderMonkey, Vorbis, wxWidgets, Xerces 28 - O Ses:28 - Operating Systems: 29 29 * Windows 2000, XP, 2003, XP64, Vista 30 30 * Linux … … 36 36 37 37 GRAPHICS 38 - OpenGL 38 - OpenGL-based rendering engine with shaders 39 39 - Hierarchal skeletal animation and deformation system based on COLLADA 40 40 - Fancy animated water with refraction, reflection … … 89 89 == Licensing == 90 90 91 For the source code, we suggest a common open-source license such as the GPL. The artwork would be made available for academic and non-commercial use (this is to prevent unscrupulous people from selling the finished product). 91 For the source code, we suggest a common open-source license such as the GPL. The artwork would be made available for academic and non-commercial use (this is to prevent unscrupulous people from selling the finished product). 92 92 93 The GPL is oft misunderstood, so a brief summary follows. 94 You are allowed to access and use source code placed under GPL after you accept the GPL license. No restrictions or obligations are placed on you, with one exception: As soon as you make a binary release of a program containing GPL-ed code, you must thereafter license all of the code constituting it under the GPL. 95 As a concrete example, three use-cases are discussed. 96 1) You use GPL-ed source code to generate screenshots of an interesting graphical effect. As long as you do not publically release a compiled version of the program, you are under no obligation to place the source code under GPL. This means that the modifications you have made to the code can remain your property and secret, though we would appreciate seeing your changes so that 0 A.D. may be improved to the benefit of all. 97 2) You compile an unmodified version of the game source code and release it to the public (e.g. to act as a mirror). The GPL then requires you to also release the source code, or to provide a written offer promising to make the code available to anyone who asks. 98 3) You make changes to the initial GPL-ed code and wish to also distribute a compiled demo to the public. Note that the GPL is not concerned with any modifications you may make to code; this act is not restricted in any way. The only obligation you are under is to also place the entire source code that generated the demo under GPL, i.e. make it available to the public. This means that the next person who downloads your demo can further tweak it, and ensures he has the same chance you had to modify the source code. 93 99 94 100 == FAQ == 95 101 96 102 When can this get started? 97 <<We need to make arrangements for efficiently distributing the data files and would like to finish the second revision of the network code. However, we are in principle available for collaborative work starting now.>> 103 We need to make arrangements for efficiently distributing the data files and would like to finish the second revision of the network code. However, we are in principle available for collaborative work starting now. 98 104 99 105 What is WFG's angle? 100 <<Two of our programmers have had the pleasure of being able to work on parts of 0 A.D. within the scope of a course project. This yielded attractive results because the new work could be shown in the context of a full game and also advanced the project's development. Having seen the success of this approach, we would like to extend the same chance to interested students and hopefully integrate new developments into the public version of the game.>> 106 Two of our programmers have had the pleasure of being able to work on parts of 0 A.D. within the scope of a course project. This yielded attractive results because the new work could be shown in the context of a full game and also advanced the project's development. Having seen the success of this approach, we would like to extend the same chance to interested students and hopefully integrate new developments into the public version of the game. 101 107 102 108 }}}
