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OpenSE4 0.3.0

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@lowlevelmetal lowlevelmetal released this 01 Oct 09:08
· 590 commits to main since this release
v0.3.0
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OpenSE4 is an open-source engine for Space Empires IV Deluxe. It plays the classic game on your own installed copy of Space Empires IV Deluxe and contains nothing from the original game.

OpenSE4 is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the game's publishers.

What changed since 0.2.1

Learn to play

  • Tutorials: seven guided lessons take you from your first turn to colonizing, research and construction, ship design, fleets and movement, combat, and diplomacy and intelligence. Each step outlines the button or window it is about and waits until you have done it.
  • Training games: five practice games with objectives, briefings, hints and deadlines: a land rush, a research sprint, a fortress, a conquest and a diplomat.
  • An in-game manual in 24 chapters, with contents, search, and links that open the game's windows. Press Shift+F1 for the page about the window in front. If your install has the original's manual, a button opens it in your browser.
  • Open them from the title screen's Tutorial and Scenario buttons, from Manual, or from Learn in the Game Menu. During a lesson, Ctrl+H or the T button in the status bar brings the lesson panel back.

All lessons and the manual are our own writing.

Closer to the original

Every remaining question about the original's rules and interface was settled from its executable, and the engine and client now follow the answers:

  • Diplomacy: contact between empires is lost when no warp path joins their colonies any more.
  • Combat:
    • how computer-controlled pieces choose targets and squares;
    • formations, launches, boarding and ramming;
    • mine strikes, battle checks, and the combat simulator's sides.
  • Ships and fleets:
    • every object shares one slot order;
    • orders given to a fleet are copied to its members;
    • turn-based attacks and cloaking follow the original;
    • ships are named " NNNN".
  • Computer players:
    • how they answer messages and demands;
    • transports, repairs and warp-point work;
    • mine and satellite layers;
    • rebel empires.
  • Interface:
    • Windows: Options (per computer and per empire), Log, Planets, Construction Queues and all the combat windows;
    • Main window: the system grid, which order buttons are available, colours, status icons and ship headings;
    • Keys: every hotkey, all of them rebindable;
    • Yes/No prompts: Enter and Esc mean No;
    • Sound: sound effects and music;
    • Title screen: the original's buttons and a Credits screen.

Saved games from earlier versions can't be loaded (save format 3).

Downloads

File For
OpenSE4-0.3.0-windows-x86_64-setup.exe 64-bit Windows 10 and 11: the installer
OpenSE4-0.3.0-windows-x86_64.zip 64-bit Windows 10 and 11: the same programs to run from any folder
OpenSE4-0.3.0-linux-x86_64.tar.gz 64-bit Linux with glibc 2.34 or later (Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12, Fedora 35, RHEL 9, SteamOS 3 and newer)
OpenSE4-0.3.0-SHA256SUMS.txt SHA-256 checksums of the three downloads

Every download holds three programs:

  • the game (opense4);
  • the dedicated server for network and play-by-e-mail games (opense4-server);
  • a data checker (opense4-datacheck).

Libraries, fonts, the manual and the lessons are built in. The game needs a GPU with Vulkan or OpenGL 3.3.

Running it

  • Windows: run the installer, then start OpenSE4 from the Start menu. You can also unpack the zip and run opense4.exe. Neither is code-signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen may warn the first time ("More info", then "Run anyway").
  • Linux: unpack and run ./opense4, or run ./install-desktop-entry.sh once to start it from your desktop's application list.

The game looks for a Steam install of Space Empires IV Deluxe. See README.md for other locations and command-line options (opense4 --help).

Known limitations

  • This is still an early build, marked as a pre-release.
  • The Windows build and installer have been tested under Wine, not yet on real Windows.
  • The lessons have been checked step by step and by computer-played runs, but not yet played through by hand. The fortress and conquest training goals depend on how you play and are untested.
  • In network and e-mail games, every battle is resolved strategically, as in the original.

License

OpenSE4 is free software under the GNU General Public License, version 3 or later. The Noto Sans fonts are under the SIL Open Font License. THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.txt in each download lists the bundled libraries and their licences.

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