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The Spring Project – An Open Source Strategy Game Engine With An Impressive Selection of Free Games

Posted on 07 January 2011. Tags: Engine, Free, game, Games, Impressive, Open, Project, Selection, source, Spring, Strategy

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SpringIconmkII.png" alt="strategy game engine" width="175" height="175" />Spawned off the back of popular real-time class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/strategy-games/">strategy (RTS) game Total Annihilation, Spring is an open source freeware strategy game engine designed to run on class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/service/windows">Windows and class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/getting-started-guide-linux">Linux, with a Mac version still under development.

Developers can take the engine and use it as they please, without having to pay the creators any money for the licence. This has helped the Spring engine build up a class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-awesome-free-opensource-games-enjoy-windows-mac-linux/">roster of games that will please even the most seasoned RTS fan.

There are also a selection of commercial projects, but it’s the free ones I’ll be focusing on in this article.

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The Engine

Licensed under the class="vt-p" href="http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html">GNU GPL, the engine is free to download, use and adapt upon. The development team comprises of community members who have surpassed the project’s initial aims of bringing Total Annihilation into 3D, with support for all the mods and third-party extras the original could handle.

Spring is a desirable platform for developers as it has evolved to support some fairly advanced features and is limited solely by the hardware you have available. Within one arena there is support for up to 30,000 units with 250 players taking part with deformable maps, realistic weapon trajectories and varied units, economy and maps.

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In order to play games that make use of the Spring RTS engine, you’ll need a minimum of: 1GHz single core CPU, 512MB of RAM and a graphics card with 64MB of VRAM. The minimum install is 200MB, and this depends on what else you’re after (be it extra maps, units or add-ons).

If you really want to get the most out of the engine then these requirements shoot up to a 2GHz processor, 1GB or more RAM and a 256MB GeForce 6600 or better. Your install directory can also reach several gigabytes if you’re determined to try the lot, so class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-analyze-your-disk-usage-pattern-in-linux/">make sure you’ve got space.

Installing Games

For Windows the install process is fairly straightforward. You simply need to class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/Download">download the Spring installer executable, run it and you’ll be able to choose from a selection of games to install as optional components during the install procedure.

You are also able to download maps and mods from a link within the Spring client. This community-made video explains the ins and outs of getting to grips with the Windows setup procedure and the client in general:

classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="580" height="460" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"> name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ll58N26aDgU" /> type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="580" height="460" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ll58N26aDgU">

For Linux users there is a class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/SetupGuide">setup guide to follow, and if you’re using Ubuntu or a package that uses Synaptic then you only need to punch a couple of lines into the console before you’ll be playing.

Note: Linux users will need to add the class="vt-p" href="https://launchpad.net/~spring/+archive/ppa?field.series_filter=maverick">Spring repository and install (or update) from there to use the latest versions.

class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/repositories-package-management-ubuntu/">Ubuntu users can open Terminal and use:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:spring/ppa /> sudo apt-get update /> sudo apt-get upgrade

Some games have their own individual installers, but for most you’ll simply need to place the main game files in your Spring “mods” folder and maps into the “maps” folder.

Whilst many of the games are focused on pure class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/multiplayer-war-games-fps-assaultcube/">multiplayer mayhem, some have single player campaigns and full support for bots so you can play on your own if you feel like it.

The Games

Here’s a selection of four of my favourite Spring derivatives. Some of these are stable and popular titles whereas others show promise and demonstrate what the Spring engine is really capable of. You can download more at class="vt-p" href="http://www.springfiles.com/">SpringFiles, or check out the official Spring class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/Games">games page.

class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/Balanced_Annihilation">Balanced Annihilation

Currently the most popular game utilising the Spring strategy game engine, Balance Annihilation provides players with a very in-depth, tactical and competitive online battlefield. The game is home to many refugees from the original Total Annihilation and new players are encouraged to read class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/Balanced_Annihilation:Starting_With_TA">this guide before jumping in.

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Regarded as a mature and well-developed game, updates now only include minor tweaks as opposed to big upgrades. Tactical options open to each player invariably shape the way each game is played out, with strategies focusing on map control, air superiority and aggression amongst others.

class="vt-p" href="http://www.spring1944.org/">Spring: 1944

Still under development, the only World War II themed Spring game to date has a keen following thanks to the aspirations of the development team. Eventually the team would like to create four playable sides (Britain, the US, Germany and the USSR) with historically accurate units and attributes.

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At present you can play with German and British troops, which is good enough for a very tactical game of toy soldiers. Like many of the other Spring games, 1944 strives for realism so you might benefit from reading class="vt-p" href="http://www.spring1944.org/wiki/doku.php?id=guide">the documentation first.

class="vt-p" href="http://zero-k.info/">Zero-K

Once known as Complete Annihilation, Zero-K is another dynamic and action packed RTS that promises to provide hassle-free tactical gameplay. Perhaps the most impressive aspect are the hundreds of available units that shape your tactical choices, and the game’s eventual outcome.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/zerok.jpg" alt="spring strategy game" width="580" height="435" />

Whilst continuing to be a very in-depth game, aspects are simplified like the streamlined economy which requires careful monitoring of resources but little in the way of micromanagement. Zero-K makes for a very balanced and approachable game in an often over-complicated genre. As always, if it’s your first game you’ll probably benefit from class="vt-p" href="http://zero-k.info/guide-newbie.php">reading the guide.

class="vt-p" href="http://www.imperialwinter.com/">Star Wars: Imperial Winter

Completely free and unofficial, this non-Lucas Arts RTS is set in the politically unstable post-Return of the Jedi universe and should keep even the most dedicated Star Wars fans happy.

style="text-align: center;"> class="alignnone size-full wp-image-62248" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/starwars.jpg" alt="strategy game engine" width="580" height="464" />

With more than a hundred units available for either the Rebel Alliance or Galactic Empire, this free community-driven project attempts to provide more units than any game released under the Star Wars guise yet.

Currently in beta, this one’s worth keeping an eye on if you’re a strategy-obsessed fan of the Force.

Conclusion

Whilst many of the games on the Spring strategy game engine are still in need of time, developers and refinement – some are ready for you to play right now. If you are an class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/dyson-ambient-real-time-strategy-game/">avid RTS fan, longing for a decent multiplayer effort to latch onto then there’s bound to be something using this engine that ticks the box. Hopefully the Mac version will be stable enough for a proper release soon.

Do RTS games do it for you? Have you got any favourite Spring based games and maps? Let us know in the comments. />
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Perfects Roulette System Tool Strategy

Posted on 04 September 2010. Tags: Perfects, Roulette, Strategy, System, Tool

How to Win at Roulette?

MMM from $180 to $611

Well, I wasn’t sure if this thing would work.

But I had some money; so, why not give it a go.

Still don’t fully understand the software.

But hey, made a profit.

And that is the main thing.

I can video the next session.

So if anyone is interested, in seeing a live game.

Let me know.

Still not sure how to increase the speed of the thing.

But that don’t matter.

Look out for more hints and tips from me.

As I get use to using this tool.

When I first looked at this software, I used it to play for fun.

Just to see if it did work. And how it worked.

Then my time ran out. As in the demo mode was over.

So I didn’t look at it for a few weeks after that.

Then I reinstalled my PC.

And reinstalled the Money Maker Machine Roulette Tool.

Didn’t pay for it at the time.

However, I downloaded the Casino software.

Put in about $100 and tried it out.

Made $140 and took the money out.

Just recently I came into some cash.

And had a few extra $$$ to spare.

So I purchased the software.

And put in $180 into Online Casino.

That the one that you are given when you don’t purchase the software.

I had set up an account there.

I will be posting more on that, and other stuff as I get more money.

Anyway. I am playing for real.

Not collecting any numbers.

Just playing.

Look out for some tips from me in the very near future.

And a Video that I will posting of me playing with real cash.

So lots of stuff to look forward to from me.

Perhaps I don’t fully understand the use of the software.

But my purpose was to use it to make me some extra cash.

That is all I am concerned about.

Making money.

I not one for collecting data.

Or collecting numbers.

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All my focus is on.

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Making some cash with some of the online casinos.

That is the only reason I purchase the MMM tool.

It worked. I made some money.

If I make any more.

Then perhaps I will share that info as well.

The house allways wins.

In a previous forum topic.

I posted something about the insidious ways the Casinos try and keep you playing.

So to prove my point.

Here is an email that I just got from OnlineCasino.com

This was after I asked for a withdraw request.

So they have not processed it yet.

Because the know human nature all to well.

There keeping it there for as long as they can.

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But since I already learnt that lesson with 888.com

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If you see the pending withdrawals on your screen, you can cancel the amount you wish. If you are unable to access your withdrawals, please contact our customer support TOLL FREE number that is located on our website and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Please note that we strongly advise to cancel your withdrawal, because it is a cost effective way for you to continue playing and withdrawing at the same time.

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Feel free to contact us if you require any assistance!

GOOD LUCK,

As you can see that the online casino try every dirty trick that they can to make sure that you only make deposite and play but not withdraw. The more you play the more chance they will have your money because of the house favor odd on any game that they have over us. I have so many bad experience with online casino when I win money and start to cash out some of winning money then I notice some thing that very common is that it very hard to win after that. The casino tend to make the withdraw process take longer for a simple purpose to make sure that they win back their money so that they will adapted to any system that you play at that time. They have a history log of what you bet on so that they have a chance to analyst what trend or methodology of how you play so that they will overcome it. I have play online for some time and over all I did not win because of all the trick that the online casino pull again me. One and the most valuable experience for me was with the 888 casino. I make deposite of $240 US and win to $970. I decide to withdraw $500 and some how they adapt to my system of winning and they make it very difficulty for me to win from the point that I make the withdraw and at the end I loss all the winning money back plus my deposite. As you can see that we are all human and therefore we have human nature where you are keep chasing what you winning when you lossing and when you winning then you beging to believe that your sytem or methodology is unbeatable. I try to beat the online casino with many winning roulette system out there but the true is that there is not any roulette system out there that have 100% winning. I only see MMM project to be a system that can possible of give a Win-Win-Win situation for the roulette player if the MMM analyst for real money play is as good as the fun money play.

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Posted in UtilitiesComments (0)

Blow Each Other Up In The Realistic Turn Based Strategy Game Scorched 3D

Posted on 24 August 2010. Tags: Based, Blow, Each, game, Realistic, Scorched, Strategy, turn

style="border: 0px none;margin-left:20px;float:right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/scorched3d.jpg" alt="turn based strategy games"/>Long time gamers around the world will likely recognize the name of one of the greatest turn based strategy games of all time – Scorched Earth. Scorched Earth was created by Wendell Hicken in 1991. With great humbleness, he deemed it the “Mother of All Games.” Whether or not you agree, one this is for certain – Scorched Earth consumed many hours of our lives back in the 90s. Your friendly author is no exception.

I really like turn-based strategy games, because it’s a lot like chess on a whole different level. A few cool games previously covered at MakeUseOf include those like href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/battle-dex-turnbased-online-war-strategy-game/">BattleDex which Simon reviewed, and the cartoonish href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/raft-wars-fun-pirate-turnbased-shooter-timewaster/">Raft Wars, which Karl covered. The beauty of Scorched Earth wasn’t just the graphics – which, at the time were fairly decent.

id="more-51329"> /> The real beauty of this game was that no two situations or battlefields were exactly the same. You choose your weapons and shields, and then enter the battlefield against a computerized opponent that represented one of the more advanced examples of artificial intelligence at the time. The AI enemy would gradually land missiles and bombs closer to you. Your goal for survival – take out the enemy before he takes you out.

For those of you who became addicted to Scorched Earth, what could be better than a complete redesign of that original concept, with the latest computer graphics, animation and sound effects? Enter href="http://www.scorched3d.co.uk/">Scorched 3D – the product of an amazing open source design team from the UK that recreated the old classic in 2009.

Optimizing the Scorched 3D Configuration

When you first launch Scorched 3D, there are two things that you’re sure to notice – the graphics and the sound. The opening scene is a fairly impressive image of a rocky island in the middle of an endless sea. The background soundtrack is very cool. It’s hard to believe that this is a free, open source game.

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Optimizing the settings for your system is fairly straightforward. Focusing on the resolution and whether you play the game in full screen will ensure that the game doesn’t crash your system. If you have an awesome graphics card, go ahead and play full-screen in high res, but if you have a standard video card it’s best to keep the default resolution and remove “Full Screen.”

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Another important area in the setup is the configuration screen for the control keys. The game is pretty straightforward – you’ve got your aiming controls which are up, down left and right, and of course firing your weapon. Also, you can adjust the power level of your shot with either Page Up/Down or the “+” and “-” keys.

When you first launch the game – you have an opportunity to choose your weaponry. Are you going to used a high-power turret, or a more mobile unit, like the A.T.S.T. Walker (of Star Wars fame) or a plain old Abrams tank?

Once you click ‘Play’ – the game begins. Prepared to get blown away by the quality of this game. There’s weather, high quality animation like birds, incoming missiles and ships in the background. The game makers did a brilliant job creating an atmosphere of a battlefield, and so it’s very easy to immerse yourself in this virtual world.

As shown above, your particular weapon is highlighted when it’s your turn. The red and blue lines represent your elevation selection, and you can spot enemy bots highlighted with their name and an arrow.

At the lower right corner of the screen, you’ll find your weapon status including fuel level, life level and what sort of defenses and shielding you have enabled. Grab and move the scene around with your mouse, and use the right mouse button to rotate the scene. Turn your weapon (or move it, if you have fuel), adjust the power level of your shot, and then fire. Pay close attention to where your missile lands, that will help you make the right adjustments for a more accurate shot next time.

The game animation is just awesome. In this next scene, my turret was perched on the side of a mountain, and I moved the 3D scene down to the level of the enemy bot named Jezebel so that I could get a good look at where the missile lands. You can see the enemy tank at the base of the mountain, and here comes my incoming missile – a bit of an overshot.

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Status indicators over your own weapon and the enemy show the remaining “life.” Make enough direct or nearby hits, and eventually you’ll destroy the enemy. Of course, a game like this just wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t offer network play where you can compete against real players from across the world. This just takes Scorched Earth to a whole new level of competition and addictive fun.

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On the main screen, just click “Play Online” and you’ll be presented with a list of active and available servers from across the world. The server screen shows the number of players already in the game, what round they are actively playing, and the game setup – either turn by turn – or a “TurnSimultaneous” free-for-all which is a real blast to play.

If you’re up for some battlefield strategy, cool weaponry and a lot of explosions – then try out href="http://www.scorched3d.co.uk/">Scorched 3D and let us know what you think of the game. How does it compare to other commercial games like it? Do you know of any similar turn based strategy battlefield games? Share your insight in the comments section below. />
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