Xconq
Encyclopedia
Xconq is an open source
computer strategy game
and game engine
. First posted to comp.sources.games in 1987, it is notable as one of the first multi-player games to be released for the X Window System
. It was for several years the only turn-based graphical war game available on Unix/X systems.
, later versions included the ability to define rulesets for different kinds of games, first using a Forth-like syntax, then a more powerful version based on Lisp
syntax. It was also ported to other computer systems, including Macintosh
, Amiga
, and Windows
.
Xconq is designed to be portable
and re-definable. The default rule set is similar to Empire
, but the rule set, graphics and maps can be altered to represent different time periods and strategic scales.
Example rule sets provided with the game include Napoleonic strategy, Beirut guerilla fighting, World War II grand strategy
and Godzilla
destroying Tokyo.
It can be played by multiple human or AI-controlled players over a network or via hot seat play.
for its interface, then adding an X10
interface. He posted this version to comp.sources.games in July 1987. It used a map based on squares rather than hexes, and supported multiple players by exploiting X's capability for a single program to open windows on multiple displays, although it accepted input from only the player whose turn it was; other players could not even scroll their map display. Even this first version included support for three rulesets (the "standard" Empire-like game, a Napoleonic-era game, and ancient Greeks), but they were defined by C structures and had to be compiled in.
Shebs switched the game to use hex-based maps, added a postfix language to define the ruleset to be used when a game started, and changed the X interface to allow all players to interact simultaneously; these versions were numbered 2, 3, and 4, but were not released widely. After the addition of an X11 interface written by Chris Peterson, version 5.0 was posted to comp.sources.games (as "xconq5") in June 1988.
1989 saw the first attempt at a client/server version, uconq.
The Macintosh port was developed in 1993.
Although work had started on version 7.5, there has been little development since 2004, with the last CVS commit made in 2007
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
computer strategy game
Strategy game
A strategy game or strategic game is a game in which the players' uncoerced, and often autonomous decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome...
and game engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
. First posted to comp.sources.games in 1987, it is notable as one of the first multi-player games to be released for the X Window System
X Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
. It was for several years the only turn-based graphical war game available on Unix/X systems.
Gameplay
Originally a straightforward clone of EmpireClassic Empire (computer game)
Empire is a turn-based wargame with simple rules, conceived by Walter Bright in 1971 based on various war movies and board games, notably Battle of Britain and Risk. In the game, each player starts with one city in an unexplored world, and uses the city to build armies, aircraft, and various...
, later versions included the ability to define rulesets for different kinds of games, first using a Forth-like syntax, then a more powerful version based on Lisp
Lisp programming language
Lisp is a family of computer programming languages with a long history and a distinctive, fully parenthesized syntax. Originally specified in 1958, Lisp is the second-oldest high-level programming language in widespread use today; only Fortran is older...
syntax. It was also ported to other computer systems, including Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
, Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, and Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
.
Xconq is designed to be portable
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
and re-definable. The default rule set is similar to Empire
Classic Empire (computer game)
Empire is a turn-based wargame with simple rules, conceived by Walter Bright in 1971 based on various war movies and board games, notably Battle of Britain and Risk. In the game, each player starts with one city in an unexplored world, and uses the city to build armies, aircraft, and various...
, but the rule set, graphics and maps can be altered to represent different time periods and strategic scales.
Example rule sets provided with the game include Napoleonic strategy, Beirut guerilla fighting, World War II grand strategy
Grand strategy
Grand strategy comprises the "purposeful employment of all instruments of power available to a security community". Military historian B. H. Liddell Hart says about grand strategy:...
and Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
destroying Tokyo.
It can be played by multiple human or AI-controlled players over a network or via hot seat play.
History
Stan Shebs started working on a simple Empire clone in 1986, initially using CursesCurses (programming library)
curses is a terminal control library for Unix-like systems, enabling the construction of text user interface applications.The name is a pun on the term “cursor optimization”. It is a library of functions that manage an application's display on character-cell terminals .- Overview :The curses API...
for its interface, then adding an X10
X10
X10 may refer to:* North American X-10, an unmanned technology demonstrator for advanced missile technologies* SL X10, a Swedish suburban train* X10 Wireless Technology, a vendor of home automation products...
interface. He posted this version to comp.sources.games in July 1987. It used a map based on squares rather than hexes, and supported multiple players by exploiting X's capability for a single program to open windows on multiple displays, although it accepted input from only the player whose turn it was; other players could not even scroll their map display. Even this first version included support for three rulesets (the "standard" Empire-like game, a Napoleonic-era game, and ancient Greeks), but they were defined by C structures and had to be compiled in.
Shebs switched the game to use hex-based maps, added a postfix language to define the ruleset to be used when a game started, and changed the X interface to allow all players to interact simultaneously; these versions were numbered 2, 3, and 4, but were not released widely. After the addition of an X11 interface written by Chris Peterson, version 5.0 was posted to comp.sources.games (as "xconq5") in June 1988.
1989 saw the first attempt at a client/server version, uconq.
The Macintosh port was developed in 1993.
Although work had started on version 7.5, there has been little development since 2004, with the last CVS commit made in 2007