Free and open source RTS 'Zero-K' is going to release on Steam on April 27th, along with a single-player campaign and multiplayer.
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Direct Link
Direct Link
Features:
- Traditional real time strategy with physically simulated units and projectiles.
- 100+ varied units with abilities including terrain manipulation, cloaking and jumpjets.
- 70+ mission galaxy-spanning campaign to be enjoyed solo or co-op with friends.
- Challenging, (non-cheating) skirmish AI and survival mode.
- Multiplayer 1v1 - 16v16, FFA, coop. Ladders, replays, spectators and tournaments.
- PlanetWars - A multiplayer online campaign planned to start in May.
- Really free, no paid advantages, no unfair multiplayer.
It's actually built on the Spring RTS Engine, something that's been in development for years. As a huge fan of traditional RTS games, this has me quite excited to see it "finished". Should be good fun to play some games with the community, possibly something we will livestream. Hopefully plenty of you are interested to join me on that!
Sadly, it seems they removed the direct downloads from their site, at least I couldn't find the downloads any more so everyone will need to use Steam now. There's also itch.io, but I'm not sure how up to date those builds are.
Thanks for the tip, Toric!
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
stretch611 12 Apr 2018
That looks pretty cool...
And Free too... WOW, I'm impressed.
And Free too... WOW, I'm impressed.
1 Likes, Who?
I don't know if it was mentioned, but this looks like the src:
https://github.com/ZeroK-RTS/Zero-K
https://github.com/ZeroK-RTS/Zero-K
0 Likes
ElectricPrism 12 Apr 2018
The graphics have a old schol charm and the 3d models remind me of G-NOME by 7th Level.
I have the feeling this is going to be amazing. It might even have some of the "it's so bad it's so good" like a good B-Movie where you enjoy it but lol a little.
I am hopeful that the balance has some really OP choices and that everything isn't muttled down to the point that 1000 $1 units are better than $2000 of combo units.
I actually would be happy if there was a limit on the # of units -- say 30 or 40 just like chess or rock paper scissors.
I have the feeling this is going to be amazing. It might even have some of the "it's so bad it's so good" like a good B-Movie where you enjoy it but lol a little.
I am hopeful that the balance has some really OP choices and that everything isn't muttled down to the point that 1000 $1 units are better than $2000 of combo units.
I actually would be happy if there was a limit on the # of units -- say 30 or 40 just like chess or rock paper scissors.
0 Likes
I actually would be happy if there was a limit on the # of units -- say 30 or 40 just like chess or rock paper scissors.What THE HELL are your rock paper scissors rules?
7 Likes, Who?
Yup will be added to my library as soon as its out a single player campaign too yeah def down I hate the fact there are no rts games like this around anymore.
0 Likes
Looks supcom/Total annihilation ish which is a good thing, free to boot :D
1 Likes, Who?
ElectricPrism 12 Apr 2018
I actually would be happy if there was a limit on the # of units -- say 30 or 40 just like chess or rock paper scissors.What THE HELL are your rock paper scissors rules?
Haha. It's a RTS insight that some StarCraft and Risk players reference. The idea in risk is that there are 3 kinds of units -- marine, zergling and tank or in the board game, soldier, horse and cannon -- referenced as rock, paper scissors.
StarCraft 1 had 16 units for Terran 19 for Zerg 17 for Protoss (52 Units total)
[One area that StarCraft 2 fucked up BIG time was they had many units [at least 20 not including the ones they removed] and buildings](http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Category:StarCraft_II_Terran_units) 27 for Zerg 20 for Protoss (67 Units total not including heros or units removed from multiplayer like flying zergling from the campaign, etc...)
(Actually the difference used to be more -- Expansion #3 of SC2 has improved this a lot more.)
The principle idea behind my statement is that if you change games like Chess or Rock Paper Scissors to add new units it changes the gameplay for the worse.
Imagine they remade Super Mario Brothers NES and decided to change the core mechanics by making mario jump twice as high and eat blocks and enemies instead of climb over them -- the mechanics are critical.
So in the same way, the graphics, and creative units are important, but having what "100+ varied units with abilities including terrain manipulation" could actually make the game so complex that it's not fun and unintendetly alienates a large potential audience.
Having a clear vision for the core mechanics a game or kind of game is critical. Having event timing and clearly identifiable units with clear advantages and disadvantages against other units is important. And I do realize that it is a RTS but not going to town adding complexity where it doesn't need to be will KISS like chess instead of it being a pizza with 2ft of toppings.
Less is more.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 12 Apr 2018 at 6:57 pm UTC
0 Likes
Looks almost like someone took the Ravenfield archipelago map and decided to make an RTS out of it, which is actually very cool... Looking forward to it, especially with a non-cheating AI.
0 Likes
I play it from time to time since several years.
Steam may give them more viewers... and troubles, too.
Hope it will become bigger, better, badder, then !
Steam may give them more viewers... and troubles, too.
Hope it will become bigger, better, badder, then !
0 Likes
And this is why I am a Fire Emblem diehard fan.I actually would be happy if there was a limit on the # of units -- say 30 or 40 just like chess or rock paper scissors.What THE HELL are your rock paper scissors rules?
Haha. It's a RTS insight that some StarCraft and Risk players reference. The idea in risk is that there are 3 kinds of units -- marine, zergling and tank or in the board game, soldier, horse and cannon -- referenced as rock, paper scissors.
StarCraft 1 had 16 units for Terran 19 for Zerg 17 for Protoss (52 Units total)
[One area that StarCraft 2 fucked up BIG time was they had many units [at least 20 not including the ones they removed] and buildings](http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Category:StarCraft_II_Terran_units) 27 for Zerg 20 for Protoss (67 Units total not including heros or units removed from multiplayer like flying zergling from the campaign, etc...)
(Actually the difference used to be more -- Expansion #3 of SC2 has improved this a lot more.)
The principle idea behind my statement is that if you change games like Chess or Rock Paper Scissors to add new units it changes the gameplay for the worse.
Imagine they remade Super Mario Brothers NES and decided to change the core mechanics by making mario jump twice as high and eat blocks and enemies instead of climb over them -- the mechanics are critical.
So in the same way, the graphics, and creative units are important, but having what "100+ varied units with abilities including terrain manipulation" could actually make the game so complex that it's not fun and unintendetly alienates a large potential audience.
Having a clear vision for the core mechanics a game or kind of game is critical. Having event timing and clearly identifiable units with clear advantages and disadvantages against other units is important. And I do realize that it is a RTS but not going to town adding complexity where it doesn't need to be will KISS like chess instead of it being a pizza with 2ft of toppings.
Less is more.
0 Likes
Looks supcom/Total annihilation ish which is a good thing, free to boot :DWell it should. Spring RTS Engine started as a 3D engine for Total Annihilation, which then spawned mods and full games like this.
0 Likes
This actually looks really awesome. I hope it gets a lot of attention.
0 Likes
Looks like they will allow downloading from their site again after the release on steam. It is also still possible to download the game from their website, it is just the instructions have been removed for now.
Korhaka - Today at 12:34 AM
played on/off since 2010 or so, really dont want to have to use steam to play if i can avoid it
GoogleFrog - Today at 12:34 AM
it seems that the site downloads are not on the main site.
GoogleFrog - Today at 12:35 AM
the main download will be back on release. I think we're avoiding any early influx using the site infrastructure
Korhaka - Today at 12:34 AM
played on/off since 2010 or so, really dont want to have to use steam to play if i can avoid it
GoogleFrog - Today at 12:34 AM
it seems that the site downloads are not on the main site.
GoogleFrog - Today at 12:35 AM
the main download will be back on release. I think we're avoiding any early influx using the site infrastructure
0 Likes
I never tried this one. Will certainly get it and donate, because I really like the RTS genre and would enjoy a nice RTS in Linux.
0 Likes
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me