A GAME OF ACADEMIC INTEREST
(18 February 2004, 09:28 | CtP2 | 5 comments) It turns out that Call to Power II is quite literally a game of academic interest. Colin T. McCarthy wrote a dissertation for his Master`s Degree in Education from the University of London, titled `Playing with computer games: an exploration of computer game simulations and learning`. In this article he describes a study of three boys playing Call to Power II to investigate the role of computer games (specifically simulations) as learning environments. The piece offers some interesting insights into both the role of games and simulations in education and into the design of CtP2 as a game. The author concludes that:
[W]hilst games clearly motivated and interested the students in this research, the educational value of the game chosen for this study was limited. This may have implications for the widespread use of educational simulation games in schools.
So it would seem it might not be such a good idea after all to miss classes so you can play CtP2. The full 70-page essay can be found here. Thanks to :) Smiley for the heads-up. - Locutus
SOURCE CODE PROJECT UPDATE II
(11 February 2004, 16:06 | CtP2 | 15 comments)
Work has been briskly continuing on the CTP2 Source Code project. If you`ve not already done so, you can read the FAQ, website(still fairly bare, unfortunately) or join the team, if you`d like to contribute to the project. If you`d just like to see the current progress, and plans, visit the forum.
Current Developments since the last update:
- The source code team, and fromafar in particular, is methodically going through the CTP2 code fixing CTDs (crash to desktop) and memory leaks. The game is smoother and more stable, now, (and seems to improve a few intermitent crashing problems that were specific to Windows XP,) but there is still work to do, in this area.
- A number of game fixes and enhancements have been implemented, including (but not limited to):
- Implemented Flat Map and Neptun (y-wrap, no x-wrap) world support
- Implemented Pollution graph
- Fixed infinite rush build (Big MP exploit)
- Display the underlying terrain information when clicking on an enemy object. This prevents easy detection of invisible enemy units.
- Implemented Veteran status
- Improved (or fixed) Trade route pathing (takes account of freight costs, and tile improvement costs)
- Implementation of many SLIC 2.1 (patch 1.1) functions
- DB access for SLIC, as per SLIC1.1 (with stability and flexibility improvements)
There are many, many more- too many to list here. Take a peek at the Altered Source Files thread for full details, and credits.
- Linux porting work is progressing well, with reports of successful compilation, and one report of the game working, including starting a game and building cities, etc.
- ctplinux fan has been working on an SDL implementation of the sound system, which works under Linux and Windows.
- I`ve been working on a number of database flexibility enhancements, including the option to include modified records, for different governments, for items that you can construct, called GovernmentsModified. Another flexibility enhancement is a system of universal prequisites, separate from advances, which allow some profound flexibility in game data. The system uses identifiers called BuildClasses.
- There are a large number of discussions and polls about a large number of improvements that are intended. Since we`ve mandated that posts are coded based on their content, its relatively easy to find what you`re looking for, although its reasonably busy. To find all of the discussions about possible game improvements, just search by keyword DESIGN (and choose the Search titles only option) in the CTP2 Source Project forum.
Again, watch this space for future developments.
This newsitem was written by freelancer MrBaggins. - Gramphos
SPECIAL FEATURE: 3 YEARS OF CTP2
(25 November 2003, 19:33 | CtP2 | 19 comments) On November 14th was the third anniversary since the release of Call to Power II.
In celebration Apolyton Civilization Site's Locutus has prepared a feature on the History of CtP modmaking and the release of the source code.
Everything is there, from the CTP1 days to the release of the CTP2 source code. Read on and shout: "Happy Birthday CTP2!" :) - MarkG
SOURCE CODE PROJECT UPDATE
(8 November 2003, 19:50 | CtP2) Almost two weeks have passed since the Call To Power II source code has been released and a lot of things have happened in the community.
- The project website has opened at this location. For now it`s mostly a collection of useful links, but it is expected to expand rapidly over the coming weeks and months.
- Apolyton has been in contact with Activision regarding some legal issues with the license, the answers Activision provided have been incorporated in the FAQ. There`s also a seperate discussion thread for any legal questions in the forum, where we will try to answer any license-related questions.
- One of the outcomes of the correspondence with Activision is that we can now host a zip version of the source code for the Mac and Linux users. It can be downloaded from the aforementioned project website.
- Discussions on the organization of the project and the tools that will be used have started all over the forum. If you want to join the project team, you can sign up here.
- By now a large group of Visual C++ programmers have gotten the game to compile without errors. Some of the .NET programmers have as well, though not everyone. Running the game is a bit more troublesome though, a lot of people are experiencing a very stubborn crash. A promosing start with a Linux port has also been made.
- Inspite of the problems with getting the game to run, numerous known bugs already appear to have been fixed (though for most further testing will be needed). The greatest success was undoubtably made by jonwil, who has gotten the sound working again. A setback however was the discovery that the source code is not that of the patched v1.1 version of the game, but rather the unpatched v1.0 version.
The forum is very active and the project is so far rapidly moving forward. Watch this space for new developments. - Locutus
ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS
(29 October 2003, 10:48 | CtP2 | 64 comments) Since a lot of people seem to be having the same type of questions regarding the release of the CtP2 source code and the Apolyton CtP2-Source Code Project, a brief FAQ was created to answer most of these questions. If you still have any questions after reading this, or if you have any feedback on the existing issues, you are of course encouraged to let us know. - Locutus
DAMMIT, INITIALIZE!
(29 October 2003, 09:15 | CtP2 | 178 comments) A lot has happened already in the CtP2 community since the source code for the game was released. Most notably, a number of people has tried to get the code to compile, but so far without success. This is mostly due to some problems with the the custom build steps required for the yacc compiler (if you have no idea what that means, you probably don`t want to know) and the missing Miles Sound System library. Reports of the failed attempts so far and on continuous attempts to compile the code can be found in the forum. As Mr Ogre would say: `Dammit, initialize!` - Locutus
RELEASE PARTY CHAT TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE
(29 October 2003, 09:03 | CtP2 | 5 comments) To celebrate the release of the CtP2 source code, there was a spontaneous source code release party chat in the Apolyton Chat room last night. Many interesting issues were discussed during this chat and many questions answered (though a lot of new questions were raised as well). A full transcript of this chat and a compilation of highlights organized by topic are available in the brand new CtP2-Source Code Project forum. - Locutus
CTP2 SOURCE CODE RELEASED!!
(28 October 2003, 14:58 | CtP2 | 55 comments) A dream come true! Activision today released the source code of Call to Power II.
First and exclusive, Apolyton is proud to present it to the gaming community. The 8mb file contains the main code of the game minus parts like the Miles audio and Microsoft DirectX libraries.
Links:
- Source code
- ReadMe
Our thanks to former CTP1/2 development team members Joe Rumsey (aka Mr Ogre), without whom nothing would have happened, Doug Pearson ("our man" in Activision) for the final work, and David Ray and Winnie Lee for their help (in many ways :)). Of course our gratitude to Activision for doing something most companies would not even consider!
The effort to create something out of this will be hosted in the new CtP2-Source Code Project forum. - MarkG
SOURCE CODE RELEASE IMMINENT!
(27 October 2003, 19:22 | CtP2 | 30 comments) We`ve just recieved word from Activision, we are officially counting days for the release of the CTP2 source code!
The legal issues are behind us, what remains is some documentation and packaging. The size of the file will also be reasonable.
More details as things settle down... - MarkG
DEMOCRACY GAME CONTINUES
(23 October 2003, 08:51 | CtP2 | 25 comments) After a long hiatus due to non-Apolyton related issues, the Call To Power community, led by forum user Gilgamensch, has restarted the CtP2 Democracy Game. Gilgamensch reports:
The masses of Lemuria have decided! Our old corrupted government has been overthrown. Our citizens were so fed up with hearing the same old story from our old government: "I am sorry, but RL has stopped me from working for the best of our nation" that they decided to unite behind First Consul Gilgamensch, who was leading the unbloody Coup d`etat.
When the masses were storming the governmental buildings they already found them deserted and plundered by the government. Intelligence already predicted it beforehand, but the leader behind the revolution wasn`t sure, if the government will not try to fight back and try to stay in power against the wish of the citizens.
Gilgamensch`s comment after the storm of the capitol: "For Lemuria`s sake, they vanished. Let`s pray for the new times"
A turn chat was held last weekend and another one will be held this weekend. If you want to get involved in this Democracy Game, check out the forum, where you can also find details on Gilgamensch`s coup d`etat. - Locutus