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0 A.D. is a free and open source in-development real-time strategy game from Wildfire Games, one that hasn't seen a big release for quite some time (Alpha 23 was in 2018) but work continues on with it pulling in lots of goodies and Alpha 24 should be quite an exciting one.

What's always impressed me with 0 A.D. is the quality of the visuals, and they're set to look even better whenever Alpha 24 arrives. Before now it had no Anti-Aliasing but thankfully that was merged into the game earlier this year so it's going to look even better. As their team shared on Twitter, it's a nice difference:

It's most clear to see the difference on the roof.

Matches in 0 A.D. are going to get more lively too, with new animals making their introduction including the Eurasian Brown Bear, Polar Bear, Hippopotamus, plus Aurochs Bull and Aurochs Cow. Not only that, some previous issues with animals have been solved like speed not matching walking animation and building construction issues when animals are present.

Additionally, looking further over what they've done, there will also be tons of improvements to other areas of the game. New unit animations, a bunch of enhanced textures for various units, a new map with Sahyadri Buttes (the next picture below), another new map with Atlas Valleys, improved game icons and more.

If you're like me and you want building placement to match up we've got good news there too, as building-snapping has also been added in. When you hold down CTRL as you're moving around a building blueprint, it can then snap right against the sides of existing buildings. It's real handy! You can see a quick demo here first showing normal building placement, then the sudden snapping is the new feature when holding CTRL:

I have to admit my fondness for 0 A.D. is also due to another reason with their built-in scenario editor tool. You can use it to make maps of your own and do pretty much anything. It's also gained quite few new assets to include in maps from flora to cliffs, multiple new types of trees and just a lot more biodiversity to add in maps.

There's of course hundreds, if not thousands of other changes and improvements coming that I've not mentioned. 0 A.D. Alpha 24 is going to be good.

Want to try out the latest development version that will eventually be Alpha 24? You can download 0 A.D. as a Snap Package across many Linux distributions, look for the "edge" channel for all the latest bits. Keep in mind obviously that's all development code and there will be bugs.

If you've never seen 0 A.D. before head to the official site for more info.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Avikarr May 10, 2020
This game is amazing! Are there more high-quality opensource games like this (not specifically RTS, any genre will do)?
Mountain Man May 10, 2020
Many, many years ago before Steam for Linux, I started keeping track of open source game projects because they were pretty much the only games available for Linux at the time. 0AD was one of them. As I look through my few dozen archived internet bookmarks now, most of the sites are either gone or haven't been updated in years. And yet here's 0AD still going strong and looking better than ever. Given its professional quality, I'm surprised it hasn't been given a price tag and sold as an "early access" project on Steam.
DerpFox May 10, 2020
I really love that gale. It's a pleasure to see it constantly evolve.

The only thing important to me it lacks for me is a voiced tutorial/campaign with a clear objective system.
Brisse May 10, 2020
Quoting: AvikarrThis game is amazing! Are there more high-quality opensource games like this (not specifically RTS, any genre will do)?

After a few YouTube-tutorials and a bit of wiki-reading I have had a really great time with OpenTTD. Not as fancy graphics as 0AD, and at first a bit daunting with it's seemingly clunky user interface, but it's actually not bad once you get to know it and learn the most important hotkeys.
Tchey May 10, 2020
Quoting: AvikarrThis game is amazing! Are there more high-quality opensource games like this (not specifically RTS, any genre will do)?

Another RTS i’m playing from time to time is Zero-K.
On Steam you won’t see Linux, but if you ask on the Discord they grant a beta key.
Out of Steam you can download and play the Linux version.
Phlebiac May 10, 2020
Quoting: AvikarrThis game is amazing! Are there more high-quality opensource games like this (not specifically RTS, any genre will do)?

I've enjoyed FreeCiv and Battle for Wesnoth.
Avikarr May 10, 2020
Quoting: BrisseAfter a few YouTube-tutorials and a bit of wiki-reading I have had a really great time with OpenTTD. Not as fancy graphics as 0AD, and at first a bit daunting with it's seemingly clunky user interface, but it's actually not bad once you get to know it and learn the most important hotkeys.

Quoting: PhlebiacI've enjoyed FreeCiv and Battle for Wesnoth.

I know these games very well :) And still play them to this day, from time to time!

Quoting: TcheyAnother RTS i’m playing from time to time is Zero-K.
On Steam you won’t see Linux, but if you ask on the Discord they grant a beta key.
Out of Steam you can download and play the Linux version.

This one I did not knew! Thanks, and I'll check it out definitely! Looks cool :)


Last edited by Avikarr on 10 May 2020 at 9:33 pm UTC
silmeth May 10, 2020
Quoting: AvikarrThis game is amazing! Are there more high-quality opensource games like this (not specifically RTS, any genre will do)?

If you enjoy Thief-like stealth games, then The Dark Mod (which contrary to the name is a full game, not a mod) is definitely worth recommending (code on GPL and BSD, assets on CC by-nc).

And there is a space-sim commercial game but with the source code fully open source (still you need to buy it to play, assents aren’t free): Helium Rain (BSD-licensed source code on GitHub ).


Last edited by silmeth on 10 May 2020 at 10:06 pm UTC
Kercus May 11, 2020
I usually play 0 A.D. for some time every 2 or 3 versions, it's impressive to see how the development progresses.

It is currently the best game in its category, and it is OSS :D
Lanz May 11, 2020
0 AD is a fantastic game. My friends and I play it frequently. It would definitely benefit from allowing multiplayer rejoining when AI is in the match though, and from a general performance increase/optimization. It runs slow, even on my Ryzen 3800X with Radeon 5700XT.
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