0 A.D.

0 A.D.
Developer(s)	Wildfire Games
Publisher(s)	Wildfire Games
Engine	Pyrogenesis
Platform(s)	GNU/Linux, Windows, Mac OS X
Latest release	Alpha 10 (May 16, 2012; 6 days ago (2012-05-16))[1]
Genre(s)	Real-time strategy
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer
Media/distribution	Download
System requirements Windows/Linux/Mac OS[2] Minimum: 1 Ghz Processor 512 MB RAM 64 MB Geforce3/Radeon 8500 (or equivalent) Recommended: 1.6 GHz Processor or greater 1024+ MB RAM 256 MB Geforce6/Radeon 9800 (or equivalent)

0 A.D. (zero eh-dee) is a free, open-source, cross-platform real-time strategy game under development by Wildfire Games. It is a historical war and economy game focusing on the years between 500 B.C. and A.D. 500.^[3][4] The game is cross-platform, playable on Windows, Mac OS, and GNU/Linux.^[5] The game aims to be entirely free and open-source, using GPL license for game engine and CC-BY-SA for game art. In addition, the developers do not get paid for their work, nor will they charge for their product. The game has been in development since 2000, with actual work starting in 2003. There is no official release date set for the finished version.^[6]

Gameplay

In-game screenshot, showing a Hellenic (Greek) town

	0 A.D. Old Main Theme Main Theme of old releases of 0 A.D.
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0 A.D. features the familiar real-time strategy gameplay components of building your base, training your army, combat, and researching of technologies.^[7] The game is about economic development and warfare.^[4] Wildfire Games aims to deliver an experience that is refreshingly innovative but at the same time familiar, focusing mostly on the military aspect of real-time strategy. The game will pursue a strong sense of historical accuracy without damaging gameplay. It also aims for a high degree of replay ability by being easily moddable and the formation of a large online community. The player will have to build a city and an army following the rules of standard real-time strategy games, collecting resources and constructing buildings. The game will include multiple units and buildings specific to each civilization as well as both land and naval units.^[8]

Multiplayer functionality has been implemented that uses peer-to-peer and it has been confirmed that there will be no central server.^[9]

Civilizations

0 A.D. will allow the player to control any of eight ancient civilisations from antiquity.^[10][11]

• Carthaginians will have the strongest navy in the game, as well as the best trade. Units include the war elephant and the Sacred Band. Most of their troop roster, however, is made up of expensive mercenaries.
• Celts excel in hand-to-hand combat. They have minimal navy and siege. They construct mostly wooden buildings, which are fast and inexpensive to construct, though far less robust than their stone counterparts.
• The three Hellenic factions share a number of attributes including strong buildings, strong triremes, cheaper technologies, and the phalanx formation, which makes their Hoplites nearly invulnerable when attacked from the front.
  • Athenians possess strong culture, exemplified in a number of unique structures including the theatre and gymnasium. Additionally, the Athenian navy is the most powerful among the Hellenistic civilizations.
  • The Macedonians field a varied and well-rounded military with the unique syntagma formation available to its infantry. Their siege capabilities are considerable, including their unique siege towers, immense, mobile wooden constructs able to garrison large numbers of archers.
  • Spartans field a less-varied military than that of the other Hellenistic civilizations, but are able to use their melee infantry to deadly effect in the phalanx formation.
• The Iberians' foot units are some of the fastest and most rapid-firing in the game, particularly their Balearic Slingers. A number of their ranged units also have the unique ability to fire flaming missiles. Toledo steel grants them superior metal weaponry.
• Persians are the most cosmopolitan civilization, levying a wide variety of troops from their vassal satrapies. Their infantry are weak and poorly-equipped, but can be massed in vast numbers. They have the strongest (though most expensive) cavalry in the game, and are the only civilisation that features all forms of cavalry, including cavalry archers in the form of scythe chariots. Their buildings are also the strongest in the game.
• The Romans train the strongest swordsman (the Hastatus) in the game as well as construct the most powerful siege equipment. Other bonuses include the ability to construct siege walls to circumvallate enemy cities in enemy territory.^[10]

History

0 A.D. originally began as a huge total conversion mod concept for Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings in June 2001. With limited design capabilities, the team soon turned to trying to create a full independent game based on their ideas.^[12][13][14]

In November 2008 developers confirmed that they would soon be releasing the project as open source.^[15] On 10 July 2009, Wildfire Games released source code for 0 A.D. under the GPL 2, and made the art content available under the CC-BY-SA.^{[16][17][18][19]}

There were about ten to fifteen people working on 0 A.D. around 23 March 2010, but since development started there have been over 100 people who have contributed.^[20]

Version history

Reception

0 A.D. was voted one of the Top 100 Best Mods and Indies of 2008 by Mod DB.^[33] For 2009, it made it in the Top 100 Best Mods and Indies^[34] as well as winning third place for Player's Choice Upcoming Indie Game of the Year.^[35] For 2010, 0 A.D. received an honorable mention for Player's Choice Upcoming Indie Game of the Year.^[36] 0 A.D. has been generally well received.^[37]

See also

	Video games portal
	Free software portal

• List of open-source video games
• Ancient history
• Age of Empires

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 0 A.D.

• Official website
• Mod DB Summary
• GameBoom Summary