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Inspired originally by Master of Orion, the free and open source FreeOrion project has a brand new release.

For the FreeOrion, this was a reasonably quick release considering they had another release back in February and they don't usually update too often. For a good reason this time though, as they've managed to do a major tech move from Python 2 to 3 to enable FreeOrion to stay up to date with modern code. That wasn't the only big change though.

Some highlights:

  • The Arc Disruptor weapon part and techs have been added, which are useful with bad pilots, against large numbers of cheap targets, and against ships without shields
  • The possible targets for each weapon type has been limited, making weapon types useful in different situations
  • Fighters have been rebalanced and the Heavy Bomber fighter type was added
  • Added happiness requirements for normal planet resource meter growth
  • Added team-based player homeworld placement for multiplayer games
  • Added separate empire affiliation for peace, distinct from allied
  • Rebalanced some bonuses from techs and specials to make high population less important and mitigate runaway empire growth "snowballing"

Outside of their highlights, there's of course plenty more changed you can see in the full log. More AI improvements, quite a lot of bug fixes, scripting optimizations, improved online multiplayer, translation updates and so on.

For Linux specifically, they also now supply a FreeDesktop.org AppStream metainfo file to help integrations.

You can check out more on the official site and install it as a Snap.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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2 comments

Purple Library Guy Aug 5, 2020
Sound like good improvements, except . . . I like snowballing. Get those key tech advantages, press them to the limit and smite those techno-peasants!
emphy Aug 6, 2020
A venerable project; I distinctly recall it getting started shortly after the disastrous release of the master of orion II sequel that shall not be named.

That's in 2003 ...


Last edited by emphy on 6 August 2020 at 1:12 pm UTC
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