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0 A.D. [Official Site] the free and open source RTS from Wildfire Games has a new alpha build available and it's a pretty huge release.

I'm always amazed at the progress of 0 A.D. as they really do put the effort in to make it looks so incredibly detailed and professional. This release is no different, with a lot of work going into all aspects of the game.

At a glance, here's what's changed:

  • New Civilization: Kushites
  • Mod Downloader (Using the mod.io open API we recently wrote about)
  • Cavalry and Spartan Building Models
  • Combine Victory Conditions
  • Attack Range Visualization
  • Diplomacy Colors
  • Destruction Damage
  • Unit Information Dialog
  • AI Behavior
  • Lobby Authentication to prevent impersonation
  • Nomad Mode on all Random Maps
  • New Random Maps: Lower Nubia, Jebel Barkal, Elephantine, Fields of Meroë, Hellas, Dodecanese, Scythian Rivulet

Here's their update trailer:

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It might be quite some time between each new alpha release, but they sure are a dedicated bunch.

If you wish to download it, head here. The Ubuntu PPA has not yet been updated, hopefully it will be soon. I enjoyed my time with the previous alpha, can't wait to test this one. Maybe we can get some community multiplayer events going soon.

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7 comments

KohlyKohl May 18, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised when the snap updated yesterday. Didn't see any community mods yet but I expect it won't be long before a few show up.
razing32 May 18, 2018
I do like this game.
It is a very good AOE like game.
The AI can be a bit brutal to beginners though.
My only issue is this has been in Alpha since I was in college 10 years ago. Wondering if I'll die of old age before they ever reach Beta status.
STiAT May 18, 2018
Very nice. Didn't try it for some time now, will have to play a bit again.
CJOR May 19, 2018
Still missing the option "Do not minimize on focus lost"
Until then: SDL_VIDEO_MINIMIZE_ON_FOCUS_LOSS=0 0ad
Cyba.Cowboy May 21, 2018
Quoting: KohlyKohlI was pleasantly surprised when the snap updated yesterday.

Is that the snap from Ubuntu Software? I'm still on Alpha 22...

Also, I have a question - with my NVIDIA laptop, is there any (graphical/performance) benefit over using one version (snap or "regular" installation) over the other?


Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 21 May 2018 at 9:51 am UTC
KohlyKohl May 28, 2018
Quoting: KohlyKohlI was pleasantly surprised when the snap updated yesterday.

Quoting: Cyba.CowboyIs that the snap from Ubuntu Software? I'm still on Alpha 22...

I was mistaken, it was the flatpak version: https://flathub.org/apps/details/com.play0ad.zeroad

Quoting: Cyba.CowboyAlso, I have a question - with my NVIDIA laptop, is there any (graphical/performance) benefit over using one version (snap or "regular" installation) over the other?

Being that it just packages the libraries I don't see why it would.

I could see startup taking longer as all of the libraries would need to be loaded into memory. With a traditional setup, shared libraries can exist in memory already which helps with load time.
Cyba.Cowboy May 28, 2018
Quoting: KohlyKohlI was mistaken, it was the flatpak version: https://flathub.org/apps/details/com.play0ad.zeroad

Oh okay.

Hopefully the snap update shouldn't be too far away then...


Quoting: KohlyKohlBeing that it just packages the libraries I don't see why it would.

I could see startup taking longer as all of the libraries would need to be loaded into memory. With a traditional setup, shared libraries can exist in memory already which helps with load time.

Yeah, I have noticed that with snaps...
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