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'VCMI' is an open-source engine for Heroes of Might and Magic 3

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Fans of the classics may be interested to know about 'VCMI' [Official Site], an open-source engine for Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

It needs the original data files, much like other open-source efforts do. You can find it on GOG if interested.

It currently features:
- Complete gameplay mechanics
- Almost all objects, abilities, spells and other content
- Basic battle AI and adventure AI
- Many GUI improvements: high resolutions, stack queue, creature window
- Advanced and easy mod support - add new towns, creatures, heroes, artifacts and spells without limits or conflicts
- Launcher for easy configuration - download mods from our server and install them immediatelly!
- Random map generator that supports objects added by mods
- Linux, Mac OS and Android ports

Not a bad list, sounds like it's probably quite playable.

The developer of it emailed me to let me know about it. You can find the github here. It's under the GPL license.

They need fresh developers too, so if it interests you, why not go ahead and contribute to it?

The project also has an IRC channel: #vcmi on freenode. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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20 comments
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stickyparadigm Nov 4, 2016
I love these open-source re-implementations. Thanks for pointing this one out.
ElectricPrism Nov 4, 2016
Looks like stratagus. I wish stargus was more developed I love these reimplementation too.
SXX Nov 4, 2016
Quoting: ElectricPrismLooks like stratagus.
HoMM 3 is not an RTS, but classical turn-based strategy with town building, heroes that have skills / artifacts / spells and tactical battles. So it's somewhat close to Battle for Wesnoth (another close game is Age of Wonders).


Last edited by SXX on 4 November 2016 at 7:58 pm UTC
whizse Nov 4, 2016
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A Similar project for HOMM2:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/fheroes2/
Kimyrielle Nov 5, 2016
Awesome to see that this is still in active development. HOMM3 is probably the best fantasy strategy games ever made.
DJViking Nov 5, 2016
HOMM3 was previously released on Linux by Loki Software. It really should be re-released on Steam.
salitynam Nov 5, 2016
Quoting: DJVikingHOMM3 was previously released on Linux by Loki Software. It really should be re-released on Steam.
Where can I buy it now?
Kimyrielle Nov 5, 2016
Quoting: salitynam
Quoting: DJVikingHOMM3 was previously released on Linux by Loki Software. It really should be re-released on Steam.
Where can I buy it now?

I still have an old copy of it, but it's a hassle to get to run these days, due to library dependency issues. I guess you are better of with VCMI, really. You can get the game from GOG for cheap if you don't have it.
Jahimself Nov 6, 2016
If I have the game from gog, can I use this VCMI to play it on linux? The Gog version is windows only for now.
g000h Nov 6, 2016
VCMI as available so far is a bit of a pain for us Linux users. No binary installer, so if you want it you need to compile it from source, and make sure all the many dependencies are also installed. After 20 minutes of trying, and having issues along the way, I gave up. Shame the site doesn't provide a deb binary package for Debian/Ubuntu/Arch/Mint platforms. For Windows, there is an exe install file - so nice and easy for Windows users.
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