Isn't it about time they release the civ2 source code?

[DarthVeda]

It's been a looooong time since civ first came out. A lot of games from that time period have released their source out under the GPL. For instance: Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, Quake, and even Quake 2. I think it's about time Atari/Microprose do the same for Civ2/MGE/ToT ... if it's even on a hard drive anywhere anymore. Only we hardcore fans play it any more and I seriously doubt it's a major seller anymore for Atari.

What do you guys think?

[Cruddy]

Whether or not source code is released is entirely at the discretion of the copyright holder - I'm not sure who that is, but I can see one snag.

There was a Playstation version of Civ. Persuading Sony to release would be a major, major headache. Not impossible - but they hate setting precedents (a lot of other people ask for source for other games then, "because you released Civ".

Don't hold your breath.

[Ming]

Yeah... don't hold your breath is probably true.

But it would be nice at this stage

[DrSpike]

What could be done with the source code that can't be done now?

[Shaka Naldur]

we could do something, massive emails or something like that

[Panag]

Originally posted by DrSpike
What could be done with the source code that can't be done now?

hi ,

indeed , ...... what

look at the countless excellent scen's and tools , maps , etc , .... poly has in its download chapter

we should ask some-one like capt nemo what he would do with it , ......

have a nice day

[Mercator]

Everything!

"bugs" can be fixed (e.g. the goto bug, or even rewrite the AI), hard-coded limits can be changed (like that of the number of units, cities, civilizations, or map size). You name it... Of course, while some of that could be easy, most things would be harder to change.

I don't think it will ever be released though. You say more games have had their source code released, but has Microprose ever done that?

[Panag]

Originally posted by Mercator
Everything!

"bugs" can be fixed (e.g. the goto bug, or even rewrite the AI), hard-coded limits can be changed (like that of the number of units, cities, civilizations, or map size). You name it... Of course, while some of that could be easy, most things would be harder to change.

I don't think it will ever be released though. You say more games have had their source code released, but has Microprose ever done that?

hi ,

wait a min , ( civ2 is while ago ) but what about the "tweak" then , ..... and arent there a couple other tools around also , ....

who has problems with limits , they never where a problem in any of the scen's , ....

have a nice day

[Mercator]

Sure, civ2 is pretty decent as it is... And the limits weren't really problems with any scenarios, but that's mostly because the scenario creators have been so inventive in trying to bend the rules and use and abuse all of civ2's features and bugs.

And wouldn't all Deity players like a civ2 with a more challenging AI, better diplomacy, non-stupid automated settlers, a working goto function.

And wouldn't scenarios makers and players like a vastly extended events language, scenarios-specific AI, more possible civs, improved editors, 24-bit graphics, larger tiles...

Of course, doing all this would take a tremendous amount of work. But out of the civ2 source code we could make Civ3 as it should have been. And the FreeCiv'ers would sure be happy too, since they could make it entirely civ2 compatible much easier.

[DrSpike]

Ok you convinced me.

[H Tower]

Originally posted by panag


hi ,

wait a min , ( civ2 is while ago ) but what about the "tweak" then , ..... and arent there a couple other tools around also , ....

yeah, we can do more still

who has problems with limits , they never where a problem in any of the scen's , ....

Red Front for units and Age of War for cities.

[lord of the mark]

id wager there are more scenarios that are unrealistic due to the number of civs limit, then there are scenarios that arent. Think of all the scens that have a "neutrals" or "others" or "independent cities" civ, which make no sense because of those groupings.

[JJJ]

If this happened I might just die. We'd have to set up some system for plugins though, we wouldn't want it to be that you could only have one tweak at a time. Plugins... yes, that could work somehow.

If only they would ever actually release it. The point about Sony is a good one.

[SlowThinker]

Originally posted by DrSpike
What could be done with the source code that can't be done now?

There is many design flaws, especially the black hat bug is a big problem.

Also I would like a replay (for PBEM), bookmarks associated with squares, cities, units, maybe undo for some situations.

[Scouse Gits]

It would be nice - but it ain't going to happen...

SG[1]