We are happy to announce that we are releasing FreedroidRPG 0.13, release candidate 1.

It is currently available as a source tarball. Microsoft Windows binaries will follow.

Download FreedroidRPG 0.13rc1

FreedroidRPG 0.13 is the result of one year of work, and brings the following improvements :

Contents

• Translation support was removed, as a consequence of the lack of a translation team, and technical glitches in our use of gettext for the translation system.
• New graphics for various items (mostly weapons and ammunition), contributed by infrared
• Improved graphics of some floor tiles
• Added graphics for a few map elements
• Different difficulty levels, accessible in the Options menu

Engine

• Removal of level "interfaces" (the black borders between levels). Transitions between levels are now completely transparent, for a better immersion.
• Performance improvements in game startup as well as loading and saving games
• Improve script API, giving the ability to start a takeover game
• Add a random dungeon generator mechanism, used for now only on level 43
• Compress savegames to save disk space
• Removed "examine mode", a feature that was almost unused
• Add a persistent NPC inventory system for more realism in shops
• Change the armor system to use a "damage reduction" ratio instead of armor class
• Fix takeover game display in SDL mode
• Lots of bug fixes in all areas

Level editor

• interface improvements
• ability to edit the contents of chests on the map
• two-level zoom out mode when using OpenGL

Note that the savegames from previous versions of FreedroidRPG will not be compatible with FreedroidRPG 0.13.

This release candidate is intended to help us find and fix important bugs.

FreedroidRPG 0.12.1 fixes a bug in 0.12 that prevents the game from being finished because the entrance of the Hell Fortress could not be open.

We are happy to announce FreedroidRPG 0.12. FreedroidRPG 0.12 represents 3 months of work and over 400 changes since the last intermediate release of 0.11.1.

We hope to get as much feedback and bug reports as possible so we can make sure 0.12 final is as good as possible.

There are many improvements and bug fixes since last release, the main being:

Content

• A Tutorial is now implemented
• Completely new starting level that makes much better sense with the storyline
• Big changes on old starting level layout
• Totally remade entrance to Disruptor Shield Control Base as well as adding connecting sections inside the base
• New music tracks

Engine

• Cleaned up even more bugs in robot AI and path finding
• Fixed some bugs in hit stun and chance to hit (hit% now actually corresponds to chance to hit stats)
• Added Lua coding language to dialogues, greatly increasing the possibilities of rich and alternating content.

Level editor

• Drag select area
• Cut, copy, delete and paste area
• Drag and drop movement (both area and single objects)

Note: Save games from 0.11.x are not compatible.

We are happy to let you know that FreedroidRPG will be present at FOSDEM in Brussels in February (FOSDEM). A lightning talk (15 minutes) is planned on Sunday, February 8th, at 14h. Come and meet us!

Update on March 3rd 2009: the video of the talk is available at video.fosdem.org/2009/lightningtalks/freedroidrpg.xvid.avi.

FreedroidRPG 0.11.1 is out. It is an intermediate release that fixes several bugs from 0.11, and introduces interesting new features in the engine. The maps have not changed significantly for gameplay.

Here are the most important modifications :

• improved internationalization support
• added two projectile weapons (AK47 and barrett sniper rifle), with complete graphics, courtesy of Whisnu aries
• added ancient sword graphics courtesy of Laszlo Gy. Perger
• support for a keychart with reassignable keys (press F1 while in game)
• remove lots of useless (unused) files
• handling more than 7 savegames now (load and delete game menus provide scrolling functionnality)
• more updates on collision detection
• fix the secret quest bug that marked the game as finished incorrectly
• added new screen resolutions and fixed light radius for non 4:3 ratios
• added a level validator to run some checks when doing mapping work
• each hero now has a "backup" savegame that represents the last-but-one savegame. "load backup" in the game menu loads it.
• level editor interface has changed for the better - now accessing the level editor from the game is only possible through a cheat key combination, and does not allow saving. Accessing the level editor from the main menu provides the "test level" feature that enables the user to test his level without screwing up the world's state.
• emergency shutdown is now triggered when you are at near lethal overheating

Some mostly cosmetical map changes:

• Kevins place exterior remade.
• Area NW of town is moved N of Kevins place (has entrance to shield controll bunker).
• Entire east edge of "world" is now towards a water front.

Note that savegames from 0.11 are not compatible with this version of FreedroidRPG. Sorry about this.

Download FreedroidRPG 0.11.1 now!