Egoboo (computer game)

Infobox VG
title = Egoboo
developer = Egoboo Ressurection Team
publisher = Ben Bishop
designer = Aaron Bishop
license = GNU GPL v2 [http://egoboo.sourceforge.net Official website] ]
engine = SDL, OpenGL
genre = Action RPG
modes = Single player, Hot seat, Multiplayer (1 to 4 players)
ratings = N/A
platforms = Linux, Windows, Mac OS X
requirements = SDL compatible platform, OpenGL compatible video card, 256MB RAM
input = Keyboard, mouse and up to 2 joysticks

"Egoboo" is a 3D open source dungeon-crawling action role-playing game with current, full support for Windows XP and Vista. Linux, Mac OS X, and prior versions of Windows are also supported to various degrees. According to Sourceforge statistics users have downloaded "Egoboo" over 400,000 times since its first release, [ [http://sourceforge.net/project/stats/detail.php?group_id=12221&ugn=egoboo&type=prdownload&mode=alltime&package_id=0 SourceForge.net: Project Statistics for Egoboo ] ] but this number is incomplete, since "Egoboo" can be downloaded from many other sites.

History

The original "Egoboo" was the creation of Aaron Bishop (who was at first known only as "Programmer X"). With the help of his brother Ben Bishop, he eventually released it as open source. But soon he grew tired of the project and it was more or less abandoned. Fairly soon after this, the "Zippy Project" took over, and the game's development continued. Unfortunately, the Zippy project eventually died as well. After this, it was taken over by Johan Jansen (alias "Zefz") and his "Resurrection" project.

Now, "Egoboo" is progressing steadily, and "Resurrection" has become the fully official [http://egoboo.sourceforge.net/ Egoboo project] .

Development

"Egoboo" is developed primarily by a four-person "devteam," but several others also work on creating new modules, items, monsters, and character classes.

"Egoboo" can be very easily edited and so new weapons, monsters, etc. can be added without any altering the underlying source code. "Egoboo" has its own scripting language that is used for editing all objects (which includes characters, items, monsters, furniture, etc.). All these objects use 3D models with a .md2 format, and textures in .bmp format.

"Egoboo"'s modules are edited and created with an external program called Egomap. Unfortunately, Egomap has a reputation for being very buggy, and is not being actively developed.

Gameplay

The game has no world map. Instead, locations are selected from a list of available "modules". When modules are finished, more are unlocked. Most modules are only accessible to saved characters, except starter modules that must be completed to create new characters with which to play the game.

Much of the game revolves around combat. There are several different types of weapons (crushing, slashing, etc.) that do different types of damage (e.g. cuts, piercings, fire, ice). Each type of weapon has its own advantages and disadvantages, and depending on the type of damage they deal, they may be more or less effective against certain monsters.

In addition to normal melee (or ranged) combat, some character classes are able to use magic. Magic is divided into two types, divine and arcane. Divine magic focuses on healing. It can be used when no weapons are in the characters hand to heal nearby allies, or it can be channeled by special Relics with even more powerful effects. Arcane magic is used through books, which can create various magical effects, some more powerful than others. Most Arcane magic focuses on attacks or enchantments. All magic uses up mana, which can be restored with special potions.

Though "Egoboo" involves frightening monsters and serious situations, it is very lighthearted and often humorous.

tory

"Egoboo"'s story revolves around the capture of Lord Bishop, the king of Bishopia. He was taken away by the evil Dracolich for unknown reasons, and brave adventurers have risen up to try to rescue him. The Dracolich hid in the Abyss, which is only accessible through secret Catacombs. The Catacombs are sealed, however, and can only be unlocked by the Legendary Sporks of Yore. [http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20080526100448762/Egoboo.html]

Characters must progress through the five Palaces in order to retrieve the Sporks so that the Catacombs can be opened.

Classes

"Egoboo" currently features nine playable character classes, each with its own unique abilities and skills. Each one has its own special "starter module." When the player completes a starter module, the character is saved and can enter the other areas of the game. There is no limit to how many of each class the player saves, but there is a limit to how many total characters can be displayed on the character selection screen.

All of the classes but the Zombi are available at the beginning of the game. The Zombi is unlocked when certain secret requirements are met.

World

The primary areas the player must progress through are five palaces which must be completed in order. Once the five magical Sporks have been obtained from each of the palaces, the Catacombs can be unlocked. The Catacombs consist of two levels, and after that, there are two Abyss levels that must also be completed to finish the main storyline.

Besides the main dungeons, there are also peaceful towns and cities character can enter. Currently there are only two: Zippy Village and the Capital City of Bishopia.

There are also special challenge modules only playable by certain character classes, like K'nife's Heist, which is only available to Rogues. It is unlocked if the Rogue starter is completed with K'nife still living.

Multiplayer

Currently only "hotseat" multiplayer (multiple people playing the game on the same machine) is available. It is the eventual goal that the game will have full online multiplayer support, with multiple modes of play (co-operative, race, "capture the spork," etc.).

References

* [http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2003/03/13/egoboo.html Linux Dev Center Review ] . Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
* [http://newsforge.com/newsforge/02/04/18/1621223.shtml?tid=8 Newsforge Interview] . Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
* [http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2003/03/27/egoboo_interview.html Linux Dev Center Interview] . Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
* [http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=2106 Egoboo on Home of the Underdogs] (outdated information). Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
* [http://linux.softpedia.com/get/GAMES-ENTERTAINMENT/Arcade/Egoboo-3936.shtml Egoboo on Softpedia] . Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
* [http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/game/egoboo Egoboo on Great Games Experiment] . Retrieved on 2008-05-18.

External links

* [http://egoboo.sourceforge.net/ Official site]
* [http://egoboo.sourceforge.net/forum/ "Egoboo" forums]
* [http://egoboo.informe.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page EgoWiki]
* [http://www.linux.com/articles/22382?tid=8 Interview: Developing Open Source games] at Linux.com