The 12 Best Open Source Games

We all know that free and open source software it has multiple advantages, which we have listed countless times on the pages of this magazine. However, for video game fans, the term "Open source" is almost unknown, since the immense effort involved in developing a modern video game seems only within the reach of a company, which can hire and pay a full team of people to create the code, the graphics, the music, the sound effects, the script and the other elements that make up today's computer games. However, recent development tools and today's powerful computers provide hobbyists with media previously only available to large specialist companies. It is also known that programmers dedicated to free software tend to have a high level of knowledge and, on several occasions, are able to produce higher quality code in less time than those who dedicate themselves to developing proprietary applications. In addition, they are used to working in a team, even with people who live in other countries. Although there have been open source games for several years, written by teams of fans of the genre and released free of charge together with their source code, in recent years some titles have achieved a graphic quality and playability worthy of competing with the games made by the gigantic North American, European and Japanese corporations, several of which already have almost four decades of experience in this market. To know more you just have to keep reading ...

ONE FOR ALL

In addition to the very high price of original commercial games, many users find their desire to play and entertain themselves with their PC frustrated for one reason: the vast majority of computer games are developed exclusively for Windows operating systems. Only a handful are also ported to run on the Mac, and a few titles have been suitable to run on GNU / Linux, many years after they were released for Microsoft OSs. Due, among other reasons, to the fiasco that resulted in Windows Vista, more and more people are choosing to abandon the problems that Windows traditionally causes in search of stability and performance in a modern GNU / Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu 8.10. For those of you who have taken that path, but miss being able to play games on the PC, don't despair. It happens that the main virtue of developing a game with the free and open source model is that it is very easy to port the game to run on different platforms, that is, the same program is capable of running on all Operating Systems. Most Open Source games can run on GNU / Linux, Mac OS X, and of course Windows. Also, some can run in other members of the great family of clones UNIX, like Solaris or BSD. Also, usually are prepared to work in multiple languages, which is a blessing for those who don't get along with English. Another interesting advantage of these games, with respect to commercial titles, is that on the websites of the games, both in blogs and in forums, we can interact directly with the game developers and let them know our concerns, requests and opinions. Finally, it is important to note that, for those who want to learn to program video games, the source code and documentation of these games constitutes an invaluable teaching material, since one of the best ways to learn about programming techniques, as is well known. , is to analyze the code written by other people and the approaches that are used to solve different problems.

GAMES FOR EVERYONE

We know that the universe of videogames is immense, and fans, just like in movies, often prefer a particular genre over others. That is why in our selection, carried out among the most popular titles in the world of free software, we will find exponents of four different genres. The frantic action of the First Person Shooter (FPS), the realism of simulators, the use of intelligence and the management of resources characteristic of the games of digital workplace strategy, and the quick and easy fun provided by the classic genre of "Arcadian" they are present among our chosen ones. We do not forget the passionate "Multiplayer": several of them allow you to play against other people over the Internet or through a local network. Regarding the plot aspect, a field in which traditionally free games (both open source and proprietary "public domain") were weak, in these times has been significantly improved. First of all, some of these games have taken inspiration (or are directly clones) of classics of all time, such as, for example, "Sim City". In other cases, although we cannot pretend such elaborate and impressive storylines from this type of games as those of the commercial "heavyweights", they have evolved satisfactorily. All of these games can be downloaded free of charge over the Internet, and the download sizes are very small compared to recent commercial games, usually between 40 and 400 Mb. But enough of words, let's open the game so that the readers can judge its quality for themselves. We hope you enjoy them.

Assaultcube

Type: FPS
Platforms: GNU / Linux, MacOS X, Windows
Website: http://assault.cubers.net/

In 2005, the Dutch programmer Aardappel (real name Wouter van Oortmerssen) made a 3D graphics engine for first-person games, which he called "Cube", and released it in conjunction with a simple demo video game that he named after the 3D engine. Several open source FPS were developed based on the Cube engine and, of them, Assaultcube It's one of the most important. Thought as a combination of Action Quake (a popular European mod for Quake II) and Counter-Strike, AssaultCube was carried out, like these, to be played exclusively online. There are more than 80 AC servers where you can play against opponents from around the globe. While it cannot compete in graphical richness with Counter-Strike, it is equally highly entertaining, especially played one by one, and the pace of action is frenetic. In addition, it has a large number of maps and there are various mods and plugins that allow you to modify or improve the characteristics of the game. By the way, Aardappel already made public Cube 2, known as "Sauerbraten", which stands out for the graphic detail of its maps, and which, truly, is worth having. It can be downloaded from [http://www.sauerbraten.org/]

Nexuiz

Type: FPS
Platforms: GNU / Linux, MacOS X, Windows
Website: http://www.alientrap.org/nexuiz/

Nexuiz is an engine based FPS Dark Places, which, in turn, comes from the Quake engine, whose source code was released by ID Software, although DarkPlaces has undergone a large number of extensive modifications to improve its appearance and performance. Nexuiz is quite reminiscent of Quake III ArenaSince it has colorful graphics that refer to the maps of that game, and the characteristics and abundance of weapons and other power-ups is also similar. A nice touch, reminiscent of the excellent "Unreal Tournament"Old glory of the genre, it is the secondary firing mode of each weapon using the right mouse button. The action is incessant and the pace of the game is very fast. Like the Q3 Arena, the idea is to play mainly in multiplayer, competing over the Internet or on a local network (you will find a list of Nexuiz servers in [http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=nexuiz]), but also includes a "single player" campaign, that is, for a single player, in which we will battle on all maps against bots handled by the computer, in some cases, with deadly efficiency.

BZ Flag

Type: Simulator
Platforms: FreeBSD, GNU / Linux, MacOS X, Solaris, Windows
Website: http://bzflag.org/

BZ Flag take the concept of battle zone, veteran arcade tank simulation game that, in 1980, was one of the first to implement three-dimensional graphics using the “vector graphics” system, and takes it back to modern times: in addition to the logical choice of an engine Full-fledged 3D, instead of old vector graphics, BZ Flag is a multiplayer team-based combat game. Originally developed for powerful SGI workstations, it has been ported to numerous platforms and has become tremendously successful as it has been downloaded more than a million times. There are more than 250 BZ Flag servers around the world and, at any time, we can play a game over the Internet with other participants, since many servers are usually “inhabited” practically 24 hours a day. As you may have guessed from its title, the goal of the game is "Take the flag", that is, occupy the opposite positions long enough to conquer them. When our team has taken all the enemy positions, it will have won the round. Tip: Be careful not to destroy a teammate's tank by mistake or they will be mercilessly kicked off the server.

FlightGear

Type: Simulator
Platforms: FreeBSD, GNU / Linux, MacOS X, Solaris, Windows
Website: http://www.flightgear.org/

Although there are several open source flight simulators, FlightGear stands out widely above the others. Written in the C ++ language, it has been in continuous development for 12 years, and the game is constantly being improved and refined. Undoubtedly inspired by the "Flight Simulator" From Microsoft, FlightGear stands out for its great performance on modest machines and for its graphical richness on those with more powerful video cards. If we have several video cards, we can play with a multi-monitor configuration, in which it is feasible, for example, to show the booth (cockpit) on the center monitor and exterior views on two side monitors. You can also play with other network players, both on a LAN and over the Internet, and do cool things, like fly one-on-one in formation. Although, perhaps, the most important thing is, as with the FS, the huge community of users formed on the web around this game, whose members constantly contribute new planes, new airports, locations, etc. It is a title that aviation enthusiasts should not stop trying.

LinCity-NG

Type: Simulator
Platforms: GNU / Linux, MacOS X, Windows
Website: http://lincity.sourceforge.net/

LinCity-NG it is a clone of "Sim City", the classic simulation of Will wright, the renowned video game designer who rose to fame by launching "The Sims". It is a concept that many gamers are passionate about: effective resource management. We must create and organize our own city, opening roads, building hospitals and schools, trying to make its inhabitants progress demographically and economically. Of course we will have to collect taxes to finance the works, but if we set them too high, we could provoke an urban protest. The objective is to achieve a city as large as possible within the limits of the map, which is self-sustaining. In addition, we must promote technological evolution, which will allow us to improve the efficiency of the city. Natural disasters and other disasters will occur periodically and it is necessary to be prepared to contain and overcome them if we are to win. LinCity has been in development for XNUMX years, through which it has evolved dramatically. This new generation version (hence the "NG" of the title) is completely redesigned in the graphic aspect, since it presents a three-dimensional isometric perspective, in which we can zoom in and out of the camera, either to contemplate the city in all its splendor or to see a specific building in detail.

freeciv

Type: Strategy
Platforms: FreeBSD, GNU / Linux, MacOS X, Windows
Website: http://es.freeciv.wikia.com/

Another clone of an all-time classic, this time "Civilization" I and II, the glorious games from the developer Sid Meier. In this game, we begin as the leaders of a small tribal settlement in 4000 BC. The goal will be to expand our territory ... until we dominate the world! Naturally, this end so typical of "Pinky & Cerebro" will only be possible after the passage of numerous generations, through which we will fight battles with our neighbors to conquer territory, taking advantage of technological innovations (as long as we have taken the precaution of invest in that sense) to improve our defensive equipment and weapons. In this way, with the passing of the centuries, we will go from having small armies, armed with bow and arrow or swords, to amassing powerful regiments, armed with futuristic technology, that will destroy everything in their path. But not all conflict is resolved by fighting: many times the most beneficial tactic will be to resort to diplomacy. In this way, we will continue until we reach the era of space colonization. We can compete with our friends through a local network or the Internet, which is the best way to get the most out of this classic turn-based strategy.

The Battle for Westnoth

Type: Strategy
Platforms: AmigaOS, GNU / Linux, MacOS X, OS / 2, Solaris, Windows
Website: http://www.wesnoth.org/

The project wesnoth was started in 2003 by the programmer David white. His idea was to create a fantasy game, within the genre of turn-based strategy, inspired by the Sega Genesis console game "Masters and Monsters". His aim was to ensure that the game had simple rules and was easy to learn, however, the objective, in addition, was that the artificial intelligence of the rival managed by the computer was high enough to represent an entertaining challenge for the most experienced players of the genre. There is no doubt that the goal has been met, since the game is learned quickly and the first missions are overcome without difficulty, but, as we progress, things get quite complicated and we will be forced to use all our cunning to beat. Many people are drawn to games set in Tolkienian-style universes, in which humans coexist with fantastic creatures such as elves, dwarves, and orcs. For those who like to create their own levels, an editor is included to generate our own maps and missions. The careful graphics and the appropriate musical setting contribute to rounding out a very well-made game, which fans of the genre will undoubtedly celebrate.

UFO: Alien Invasion

Type: Strategy
Platforms: GNU / Linux, Windows
Website: http://ufoai.sourceforge.net/

Like the other strategy titles on our list, UFO: Alien Invasion is heavily inspired by a successful commercial game series: X-COM, and, mainly, has taken several elements of X-COM: UFO Defense. This game uses the engine ID Tech 2 (formerly called Quake 2 Engine) whose source code was timely released by Id Software, creators of the very popular Doom and Quake sagas. In this game, he combines the turn-based strategy with actions in real time, as in the genre RTS (real time strategy), we are in the year 2084 and we are in charge of defending the Earth from a massive alien attack. To do this, we must build, equip and staff our bases around the planet, where, among other relevant tasks, we must prioritize scientific research in order to discover more about the alien enemy and its malevolent targets. As in X-COM, we have two game modes: Geoscape, in which resource management tasks and the use of strategy will prevail, and Battlescape (or “Tactical”), where we will fight the enemy face to face with units individually selected by us, in a turn-based system closer to real-time strategy. This is a fairly complex game that takes a while to master. To help, we can turn to the community wiki, located at [http://sourceforge.net/projects/ufoai/]. Notably, UFO: AI was awarded the "Sourceforge Community Choice Award" for "Best Game Project" in 2007 and 2008.

Warzone 2100

Type: Real Time Strategy
Platforms: GNU / Linux, Playstation, Windows
Website: http://wz2100.net/

Warzone 2100: Resurrection Project it was originally a commercial game. It was released in 1999 for Playstation and Windows, and was the first game of its time of the genre RTS in implementing an absolutely 3D engine. In 2004, its source code was released under the GPL license. Although doubts persisted about the rights of the rest of the game's content (graphics, music, etc.), in 2008 it was completely released, which made it a fully open source title. With the source released, it was ported to other platforms, mainly GNU / Linux, although there are unofficial ports for other OS of the UNIX family. In the universe of WZ 2100, we find ourselves in the XNUMXst century, on an Earth devastated by a global thermonuclear war. While most of the survivors have formed isolated groups, precariously armed and antagonistic to the rest of the world, a group of people has established an organization called "The Project", which seeks to return to pre-war civilization, through the use of modern technology that could be saved. We must complete various missions for The Project, building and managing bases, creating and commanding units such as tanks and other combat vehicles, which we will use to attack enemy bases and defend our own. The 3D terrain allows very interesting maps, with geographical features such as gorges or mountains that force us to refine our tactics to be able to complete the mission. Having been a commercial project in principle, the gameplay, graphics and sound effects are much more polished than those of other open source games, so this title must appear in our free games library.

Armagetron Advanced

Type: Arcade
Platforms: BSD, GNU / Linux, MacOS X, Windows
Website: http://www.armagetronad.net/

Those who have seen the Disney movie "Tron", a 1982 classic, pioneer in the use of computerized animation, they will enjoy this game very much. In Armagetron AdvancedAs in a famous scene in the film, each player (can be played online) has a motorcycle that leaves behind a “wall of light” of the same color as the vehicle. This wall is actually solid, and when another player (or ourselves!) Collides with it, it will explode into thousands of fragments, thus eliminating you from the current round. As you may have deduced, the idea is to lock up the opponents before they imprison us and destroy us. It is an ultra-fashionable version of the famous "little worm" that grows infinitely and we must prevent it from colliding with its own body. A simple game, very fun to play in pairs, and with well-managed 3D graphics and camera management. It has a good number of options, among which are those that allow you to activate advanced visual effects, if we have a powerful graphics card.

Frets on fire

Type: Arcade
Platforms: GNU / Linux, MacOS X, Windows
Website: http://fretsonfire.sourceforge.net/

Taking advantage of the tremendous success of the saga Guitar Hero, the Finnish group of programmers "Unreal Vodoo" developed in language Python this clone of Guitar Hero I. In this game, which almost all gamers know well, we must emulate the role of the guitarist of a band, playing the various notes that appear as small discs of different colors on the fingerboard that appear just in time. onscreen. If we play the correct note at the right moment, the guitar will sound in all its splendor; If we fail, a horrendous blunder will be heard. This simple concept fascinated thousands of console players around the world thanks to the fact that the songs that can be interpreted are renowned rock, blues and heavy metal hits, performed by some of the most famous bands, such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Megadeth, etc. Frets on fire It can be played with a keyboard, USB joystick and even with the USB “guitar controllers” for XBOX 360. Graphically it is somewhat precarious, and although the game does not include any known songs, which in principle makes it uninteresting (although not the creators of a free game can be expected to acquire the corresponding rights), it is possible to download many more themes from the Internet from different interpreters.

Scorched 3D

Type: Arcade
Platforms: GNU / Linux, MacOS X, Windows
Website: http://www.scorched3d.co.uk/

Another "remake", this time of "Scorched", an ancient computer game in which we commanded a tank that, separated from its enemies by windy and steep randomly generated gorges, had to hit the opponents, establishing the angle of altitude, the rotation and the force of its shots to get a target direct and thus be able to destroy them. A version of the Quick Basic Microsoft that came with DOS brought a more than rudimentary clone of this game, replacing tanks and rockets with monkeys and “explosive bananas” (!?). In this case, Scorched 3D allows you to play against various opponents, whether they are handled by the computer, or against other friends on the network or over the Internet. The primitive 2D terrain generator from the original has been replaced by a well-crafted 3D engine, with more realistic shell physics, as well as pleasing graphics and highly varied terrain, with islets and mountains that are challenging when it comes to aim at the opponent. We can also choose from various types of tanks, including a AT-ST from Star Wars!

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