FreeCol 0 9 2 Mac-SladePub

FreeCol.0.9.2.Mac-SladePub

Homepage: http://www.freecol.org
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Alternate Download: http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/freecol/freecol-0.9.2-mac.tar.bz2?download
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License: GPL http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html
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Releaser: SladePub http://sladepub.com
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Distributer: Mininova http://www.mininova.org

Installation

Mac OS X users should download freecol-0.9.2-mac.tar.bz2. Just double click the downloaded file and copy the resulting 'FreeCol' to some place (e.g. your Applization folder). FreeCol has some problems running on Mac OS X, so you should save your game frequently.

Description

FreeCol is a turn-based strategy game based on the old game Colonization, and similar to Civilization. The objective of the game is to create an independent nation.


You start with only a few colonists defying the stormy seas in their search for new land. Will you guide them on the Colonization of a New World?

Recent Updates

This is a bug/feature-fix release, the main changes being:

* The increased native land claims in 0.9.1 have been reverted to the more moderate 0.9.0 behaviour, following comment that this made the game too difficult. This feature will be back in a later release, but only after implementing the feature that at least exempts your first colony from having to buy its land (as was the case with the original Colonization).


* Fixed a serious bug in privateer combat.

No new features were introduced with this release, and saved games from previous 0.9.x versions should remain compatible. We hope this release will provide a stable, playable and enjoyable version of FreeCol.




About FreeCol

The FreeCol team aims to create an Open Source version of Colonization (released under the GPL). At first we'll try to make an exact clone of Colonization. The visuals will be brought up to date with more recent standards but will remain clean, simple and functional. Certain new 'features' will be implemented but the gameplay and the rules will be exactly the same as the original game. Examples of modern features are: an isometric map and multiplayer support.

A Colony with a Fort. This clone will be developed incrementally and result in FreeCol 1.0.0 which will be an almost exact Colonization clone. Incremental development basically means that we'll add features one at a time. This allows us to have a running program at all times and also to release an unfinished but working game once in a while.

Once FreeCol 1.0.0 is finished we'll start working towards FreeCol 2.0.0. FreeCol 2 will go beyond the original Colonization and will have many new features, it will be an implementation of our (and our users') image of what Colonization 2 would have been.

You can read more on the history of FreeCol.

The Original Colonization

The original Colonization was released in 1994 by Microprose. Colonization is heavily based on Civilization which is generally considered to be the best turn-based strategy game for the PC in the history of mankind.

In Civilization the objective was to build a nation that could stand the test of times and that could also do one of the following: conquer the world or be the first to launch a spaceship. In Colonization things are bit different ...

A Colonization game starts in 1492 and the objective is to colonize America. You begin the game with one vessel and two colonists.

As in Civilization you need to build a powerful nation, but fortunately in the early part of the game you'll be able to send ships back to Europe in order to sell the goods you've produced or to bring back some colonists. Getting colonists into the new world is a very important aspect of the game as one game turn takes one year and later on even one season and as a result colonies don't grow as rapidly as they do in Civilization. You can pay colonists to come to the new world or you can show off with the religious freedom of your people in which case they will hop on your vessels for no money at all.

Another important aspect is trade: the source of all income (apart from Inca and Aztec gold). In a land filled with precious resources it is important to build your colonies at the right location and to place craftsmen where they belong. This is not only to have an income but also to be able to live off the land when you can no longer count on the support of Europe.

Through all this you'll have to decide whether or not you want to live next to the native Americans peacefully. They can teach your colonists new skills that cannot be tought anywhere else and they will offer you goods in case you choose to treat them as your friends. On the other hand, their villages can be attacked and their valuable goods can be taken from them and sold in Europe.

Other European forces are also busy occupying their piece of the new world. Should their borders go too far then take over some of their colonies by force because they wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing to you.

The object of Colonization is to declare your independence and survive an attack of the King's forces. Before declaring your independence you need to have the majority of the people behind you. This can be done by promoting free speech and by providing a strong governmental system.