[Tux4kids-tuxtype-dev] [Tuxmath-devel] ¿New Game?

[Jesus Mager]

Hi!

> I would have to say that tux4kids currently has a feel of "too many
> loose ends", and I feel a need to try to focus on resolving some of
> them before adding more complexity.  I'm in favor of GSoC projects
> that would work in this direction (integration of tux4kids-admin,
> libt4k, solidifying the LAN support).

I completely agree with david! I think for tux4kids, it's more
important improve and complete   the main projects. Last summer we got
very goos stuff with GSoC, one of them Tux4kids-admin is not complete
jet and to include it in a stable we need a tux* integration.

However,  I want make the proposal because I really like strategy
games, special Real Time  Strategy games, and the idea of this game
has been a long time in my mind. I think if we can write some game
like this, we will win a big track for education :)

The idea is make a game like Age of Empire (The first of the series)
or Empire Earth (all in 2d) combine with the city and economic design
game (Tycoon) . Establish some civilizations and ages of development
of each civilization. Each new age will provide to the culture new
building, technology and units, advantages. So the general game will
be very similar to the original ones, but the educational win here is
the ¿default? campaign mode: The players must recreate the history of
each civilization playing like the big ones: Alexander the Grate, the
roman empire, the maya or aztek culture, etc... Of course the idea
here is that we provide some campaigns, but the community should write
new ones, recreating the history of each country, culture, etc...
Imagine: a Nepal teacher what to teach the history of his country, but
no software is available for this, so he can create a camping special
for his students. The best of this campaings can be included in the
default package.
In AoE and EE the main goal is a military one, but we should put a
bigger importance to cultural improvements, economic grow, society
wellness, etc... And, very important, in many RTS the natural
resources have a limit, and can not be regenerated, we can improve it
adding  Ecology conscience to the game!

What is needed??

A GUI for the simple tasks, and Tux4kids have it! Tux4kid games also
have Sound a sound system, and a build system, so we have a step
forward!
A representation of the actual stage of the game using a 2D Tile Map
and a collection of ¿objects?.
A calculation system using the game rules on the object collection and
the map grid. Are the goals reached?
A draw unit of all this!
And of course a map representation system ¿XML? and the campaign file
¿also XML or LUA?

Also we need:
A IA engine for the computer players. (Yes Lua Scripting!! :p ) with a
good internal stuff.
A own map editor


It is possible ???

The basics YES. we can use a combination of C and Python (Python In C)
to write it (to maintain the integrity with the rest of Tux4Kids
code), and the traditionally libraries of Tux4Kids . A big way is
already done with the existing infrastructure, so I need only work on
the internals of the game. Of course some important features will not
be a goal at the end of the summer (visual map designer, a complete
AI, etc...) and some other will need still work, but the main body of
the game can be completed! I also want to reuse some code from other
GPL or compatible games to improve time of
development[1][2][3](another good game source?). And you can be sure I
will maintain the game ;)

I hope it can be considered! It will be great work on it this summer
with some google financing, but you can be sure that this game idea
will be still in my mind and may be in code soon. :p

I know, it need more specification, it is not the proposal, only a
little introduction and, maybe, disperse ideas, I really need some
feedback! And thanks for the confidence :)

[1] http://springrts.com
[2] http://www.wesnoth.org/
[3] http://www.freecol.org/
-- 
Jesus Mager
[www.h1n1-al.blogspot.com]