Changes: C-evo

Revision as of 20:02, 7 May 2021

Civilization Evolution (old)

C-evo (new)

C-evo (a.k.a. Civilization-evolution) is a free-to-play game similar to Civilization II. The game was written in the Delphi programming language, with the main programming done by Steffen Gerlach. The source code is in the public domain, but the graphics are freeware.

Gameplay

Main article: Gameplay (C-evo)

C-evo is an empire building game, dealing with the history of humans from antiquity to the Space Race. This includes aspects of exploration and expansion, war and diplomacy, cultivation and pollution, industry and agriculture, research and administration. Players must constantly make decisions such as whether and where to build cities, roads, irrigation, and fortresses, whether to form an alliance with a neighboring nation or risk attacking it, and whether to devote resources to education/research/production, warfare, or the well-being of the populace.

A successful player manages to find a balance among these choices. Very early, a player develops The Wheel, and the game ends when the first player has successfully constructed the first off-planet spaceship headed out into the Solar System. As the game progresses, the player finds that the building of factories, for example, increases material output but leads to increased pollution, which reduces output and should be cleaned up and could be eliminated through development of cleaner technologies. At all stages, cities that grow larger than size 4 have reduced productivity because of unrest until suitable buildings or police are in place to keep the populace under control.

C-evo1 — Examining a city screen selected from the cities menu at an advanced stage of the game

Platforms and players

The game can be played in Single or Multiplayer (hotseat) or Supervisor mode with a total of 1 to 15 player nations: computer-controlled players, human players, or both.

It has a limited client–server architecture, and can be played easily over either a LAN or the WWW using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol when the game is run from a game server.

AI's available

Main article: AI (C-evo)

In addition to the standard AI that comes with C-evo, a number of different AI's (programs that play C-evo) with different skills and strategies are available for C-evo. Most of the following links are direct links to the zipped files to download:

Seti AI 0.3 Strongest AI for C-Evo
ASAI v07.07b
Crystal AI for Cevo 1.1.1 Passive, good for beginners.
Capital AI for Cevo 1.04
AI_UO Specialist airborne tactics (link)
kIAi version 0.01
CivSeed AI 0.101
Shah AI v00.01 Has bugs, especially on small maps.

Strategy and tactics

Main article: C-evo: Strategies

As with the commercial and the other free civ games, there are a variety of strategies possible, though the ultimate launch of a spaceship is the only way of officially winning. The game goes through several somewhat distinct phases, based on the advances a player has researched:

Feudal
Scientific
Mass Production
Race to Stars

Given that the AIs are supposed to operate in a range of map sizes and unknown environments (sea/land, hostile/friendly opponents) they often have different counter-strategies for each (overlapping) phase.

eXplore - initial start, unknown extent, unpredictable opponents. Need to scout and contact adjacent nations and exchange knowledge
eXpand - .often an early (aggressive) land-grab where each nation tries to stake out as much territory as possible
eXchange - given that AIs have same standing as humans, they are allowed to form alliances and trade amongst themselves (money, tech, unit designs, information)
eXploit - once the territories/borders are firmly established, develop the cities and build an advantage, sometimes polishing off weak opponents if opportunity arises.
eXtinguish - the end-game relies on achieving the primary objective of assembling components for a spacecraft and more importantly surviving long enough to do so, which often involves conquering or at least fending off strong enemies.

AIs can be broadly classed into 4 basic postures:

Passive - focus on peaceful economic/tech development, often surrounded by friendly allies
Defensive - keeping minimal forces in core cities but looking to out-tech competitors and build wonders
Aggressive - expansionist, looking to knock out weak/small players, especially after a major advance, but can leave cities inadequately defended
Insane - occasionally when a long way behind and little opportunity to win, goes into a fanatical spoiler mode.

Different tactics are required depending on the opposing posture and your form of government.

Technical resources

On the C-evo webpage, the game, its source code, AI modules, player contributions such as many additional nations, maps, mods, and utilities are available.

The game has an open AI interface, which means the player can replace the standard AI contained in the package with other AI algorithms, either for all nations or for individual nations. The documentation of the AI's DLL-interface is available from the project homepage. There is also an AI development kit.

The designer's website explains the six Design Principles:

Low Risk
Fun by Challenge
AI Liberation
Focus on Strategy
Compact Rule Set, and
Balance of Strategy and Micro Management

Game mechanics

Main article: Game mechanics (C-evo)

C-evo by design, is completely deterministic: Its only randomness lies in what the map looks like, where each player starts and what the player(s) choose to do. There are no random events, goodie-huts, or random rewards for exploration.
C-evo by design, says AIs play by the same rules as humans and therefore AIs cannot cheat or bend the rules to favor themselves. However, one may set any of the 15 players to an easier or harder level at the start of the game and may edit the map to set AI and human starting positions.
C-evo by design, says military unit designs must be created by a player and then researched before that unit can be built. One must strategically choose what qualities (for example: mobility, attack power, defense, etc.) will be built into the units before designing and building them.

In contrast to Civilization II, a player cannot immediately gain the advances acquired from other nations or the Great Library: a reduced amount of research is still necessary to achieve the new technology.
In contrast to Civilization II, a player does not acquire knowledge from capturing a city unless that player possesses the Temple of Zeus Wonder and it is still active (or obsolete but restored with the Eiffel Tower Wonder).
In contrast to Civilization II, irrigation does not require the connection to a nearby sea or river, irrigation may be built on any qualifying tile anywhere.
In contrast to Civilization II, a diagonal step requires 1.5 movement points. All units have at least 1.5 points possible, the most primitive ships have 2.5, and the most primitive aircraft have 4.5.

In C-evo, a new city does not gain trade resources or contribute to research until it has at least a town hall or courthouse built.
In C-evo, a stealth aircraft is hidden and cannot be attacked unless your own spy or stealth aircraft has uncovered it in that turn, in which case your other planes can attack it.
In C-evo, building a spaceship requires scarce modern resources, and without access to the territories containing these resources, as well as the advancements to see or use these resources, the game cannot be won.

How it differs from Civilization II

Some of the differences are summarized above, but a separate article goes into detail.

Main article: C-evo: How it differs from Civilization II

External links

Official

C-evo homepage - Downloads, Info, FAQs, etc. - Latest Update (as of January 2020): Version 1.2.0.
IRC channel - at irc.forestnet.org (channel #cevo)
C-evo Forum - The official C-evo forum, open to all questions, issues, and ideas.
- Latest page of forum archive (postings from 2010-2013)

Reviews

Review by Sid Gingham - very positive: "Although C-Evo might be little more than a clone of Civilization , it actually turns out to be better than its inspiration in many ways and which thus makes it more than worthy of investigation by any serious strategy fan. ... Although C-Evo doesn't really do anything that's new for the genre, it's in the execution where it scores so highly and which means this is a must play if you have any interest in such things. Right from the start, this is highly accessible, so even if you haven't played such a game before, you'll be able to leap in without any difficulty. ... does a fantastic job at getting rid of tedious micromanagement ..."

Other

C-evo's LinkedIn group - Another side of the game, a place where players show their professional side, and do some personal networking.
Tribe Editor

C-evo [edit]
Advances Buildings Cheating Civilizations Playing guides Terrain Units Wonders

Civilization Series
Game	Expansion packs
Civilization	None
Civ II	Conflicts in Civilization Fantastic Worlds Test of Time
Civ III	Play the World Conquests
Civ IV	Warlords Beyond the Sword Colonization (Total conversion)
Civ V	Gods & Kings Brave New World
Beyond Earth	Rising Tide
Civ VI	Rise and Fall Gathering Storm New Frontier Pass

Official Spinoffs	Sid Meier's Colonization Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Alien Crossfire Civilization Revolution CivWorld Civilization Revolution 2 Sid Meier's Starships Civilization: Eras & Allies
Other Games	Pirates! Railroad Tycoon XCOM (IP) Freeciv Imperialism C-evo Civilization: Call to Power Call to Power II FreeCol Pirates!: Live the Life CivCity: Rome Railroads! NewCol Unciv Humankind

Comparisons	Comparison between Civilization games Civilizations Glossary of Civilization terms

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ''C-evo'' is an empire building game, dealing with the history of humans from antiquity to the Space Race. This includes aspects of [[exploration (C-evo)|exploration]] and [[expansion (C-evo)|expansion]], [[war (C-evo)|war]] and [[diplomacy (C-evo)|diplomacy]], [[cultivation (C-evo)|cultivation]] and [[pollution (C-evo)|pollution]], [[industry (C-evo)|industry]] and [[agriculture (C-evo)|agriculture]], [[research (C-evo)|research]] and [[administration (C-evo)|administration]]. Players must constantly make decisions such as whether and where to build [[city (C-evo)|cities]], [[road (C-evo)|road]]s, [[irrigation (C-evo)|irrigation]], and [[fortress (C-evo)|fortress]]es, whether to form an [[alliance (C-evo)|alliance]] with a neighboring nation or risk attacking it, and whether to devote resources to [[education (C-evo)|education]]/research/production, warfare, or the well-being of the populace.
-A successful player manages to find a balance among these choices. The game starts with the development of the [[wheel (C-evo)|wheel]], and ends when the first player has successfully constructed the first off-planet [[spaceship (C-evo)|spaceship]] headed out into the Solar System. As the game progresses, the player finds that the building of [[factory (C-evo)|factories]], for example, leads to increased pollution, which must be cleaned up and could be eliminated through development of cleaner [[advance (C-evo)|technologies]]. At all stages, cities that grow larger than size 4 have reduced productivity because of unrest until suitable buildings or police are in place to keep the populace under control.
+A successful player manages to find a balance among these choices. Very early, a player develops The [[wheel (C-evo)|Wheel]], and the game ends when the first player has successfully constructed the first off-planet [[spaceship (C-evo)|spaceship]] headed out into the Solar System. As the game progresses, the player finds that the building of [[factory (C-evo)|factories]], for example, increases material output but leads to increased pollution, which reduces output and should be cleaned up and could be eliminated through development of cleaner [[advance (C-evo)|technologies]]. At all stages, [[city (C-evo)|cities]] that grow larger than size 4 have reduced productivity because of unrest until suitable buildings or police are in place to keep the populace under control.
 [[File:C-evo1.png|thumb|650px|Examining a city screen selected from the cities menu at an advanced stage of the game]]{{clr}}
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 It has a limited [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Client%E2%80%93server client–server] architecture, and can be played easily over either a [[wikipedia:LAN|LAN]] or the [[wikipedia:WWW|WWW]] using Microsoft's [[wikipedia:Remote Desktop Protocol|Remote Desktop Protocol]] when the game is run from a [[wikipedia:game server|game server]].
-== AIs available ==
+== AI's available ==
+{{main|AI (C-evo)}}
-In addition to the standard [[AI]] that comes with C-Evo, a number of different AIs (programs that play C-Evo) with different strategies are available for C-Evo; most of the following links are direct links to the zipped files to download:
+In addition to the standard [[AI]] that comes with C-evo, a number of different AI's (programs that play C-evo) with different skills and strategies are available for C-evo. Most of the following links are direct links to the zipped files to download:
 * [http://www.c-evo.org/files/download.php?fmie.fmie.zip Seti AI 0.3] Strongest AI for C-Evo
@@ Line 25: / Line 26: @@
 * [http://www.c-evo.org/files/download.php?airemi.airemi.zip Shah AI v00.01] Has bugs, especially on small maps.
-== Strategy / Tactics ==
+== Strategy and tactics ==
+{{main|C-evo: Strategies}}
-As with the commercial and the other free civ games, there are a variety of [[C-evo: Strategies|strategies]] possible, though the ultimate launch of a [[spaceship]] is the only way of officially winning. The gsme goes through several distinct phases:
+As with the commercial and the other free civ games, there are a variety of strategies possible, though the ultimate launch of a [[spaceship]] is the only way of officially winning. The game goes through several somewhat distinct phases, based on the [[advance]]s a player has researched:
-#Feudal / Seige
+#Feudal
+#Scientific
+#Mass Production
+#Race to Stars
-#Scientific / Gunpowder
-#Mass Production / AirMobile
-#Race to Stars / Invasion{{main|C-evo: Strategies}}
 Given that the AIs are supposed to operate in a range of map sizes and unknown environments (sea/land, hostile/friendly opponents) they often have different counter-strategies for each (overlapping) phase.
-*'''eXplore '''- initial start, unknown extent, unpredictable opponents. Need to scout and contact adjacent tribes
+*'''eXplore '''- initial start, unknown extent, unpredictable opponents. Need to scout and contact adjacent nations and exchange knowledge
-*'''eXpand '''- .often an early (agressive) land-grab where try to stake out as much resources as possible
+*'''eXpand '''- .often an early (aggressive) land-grab where each nation tries to stake out as much territory as possible
 *'''eXchange''' - given that AIs have same standing as humans, they are allowed to form alliances and trade amongst themselves (money, tech, unit designs, information)
-*'''eXploit''' - once the terrirtories/borders are firmly established,  develop the cities and build an advantage, sometimes polishing off weak opponents if opportunity arises.
+*'''eXploit''' - once the territories/borders are firmly established, develop the cities and build an advantage, sometimes polishing off weak opponents if opportunity arises.
-*'''eXtinguish '''- the end-game relies on achieving the primary objective of assembling components for a spacecraft and more importantly surviving long enough to do so.
+*'''eXtinguish '''- the end-game relies on achieving the primary objective of assembling components for a spacecraft and more importantly surviving long enough to do so, which often involves conquering or at least fending off strong enemies.
-AIs can be broadly classed into 3 basic postures:
+AIs can be broadly classed into 4 basic postures:
-*'''Passive '''- focus on peaceful econoic/tech development, often surrounded by friendly allies
+*'''Passive '''- focus on peaceful economic/tech development, often surrounded by friendly allies
 *'''Defensive '''- keeping minimal forces in core cities but looking to out-tech competitors and build wonders
-*'''Agressive '''- expansionist, looking to knock out weak/small players, especially after a major advance
+*'''Aggressive '''- expansionist, looking to knock out weak/small players, especially after a major advance, but can leave cities inadequately defended
-*'''Insane '''- occassionally when no capital and little opportunity to win, goes into a fanatical spoiler mode.
+*'''Insane '''- occasionally when a long way behind and little opportunity to win, goes into a fanatical spoiler mode.
-Different tactics are required depending on the opposing posture and your form of government.
+Different [[C-evo: Tactics|tactics]] are required depending on the opposing posture and your form of government.
+==Technical resources==
-==Resources==
 On the [http://www.c-evo.org ''C-evo'' webpage], the game, its source code, AI modules, player contributions such as many additional nations, maps, mods, and utilities are available.
 The game has an open AI interface, which means the player can replace the standard AI contained in the package with other AI algorithms, either for all nations or for individual nations. The documentation of the AI's DLL-interface is available from the project homepage. There is also an AI development kit.
-The designer's website explains the six Design Principles: Low Risk, Fun by Challenge, AI Liberation, Focus on Strategy, Compact Rule Set, and Balance of Strategy and Micro Management.
+The designer's website explains the six Design Principles:
+*Low Risk
+*Fun by Challenge
+*AI Liberation
+*Focus on Strategy
+*Compact Rule Set, and
+*Balance of Strategy and Micro Management
 ==Game mechanics==
 {{main|Game mechanics (C-evo)}} <!-- now trim this since that article has been started -->
-*''C-evo by design,'' is '''completely [[deterministic]]''': Its randomness lies in what the map looks like, where each player starts and what the player(s) choose to do. An inferior [[unit (C-evo)|unit]] cannot randomly defeat a superior unit - the nominally superior unit must have taken some damage before it can be defeated. Similarly, If a player were to reload a saved game, the outcome of a unit attacking the same enemy unit in the same way will always remain the same. There are no random events, goodie-huts, or random rewards for exploration.
+*''C-evo by design,'' is '''completely deterministic''': Its only randomness lies in what the map looks like, where each player starts and what the player(s) choose to do. There are no random events, goodie-huts, or random rewards for exploration.
-*''C-evo by design,'' says '''AIs play by the same rules as humans''' and therefore AIs cannot cheat or bend the rules to favor themselves. The game server does not distinguish between the AI and human players, it sees the human as just another AI client; however, one may set any of the 15 players to an easier or harder level at the start of the game and may edit the map to set AI and human starting positions.
+*''C-evo by design,'' says '''AIs play by the same rules as humans''' and therefore AIs cannot cheat or bend the rules to favor themselves. However, one may set any of the 15 players to an easier or harder level at the start of the game and may edit the map to set AI and human starting positions.
-*''C-evo by design,'' says '''''military unit designs'' must be created''' by a player and then researched before that unit can be built. One must strategically choose what qualities (for example: mobility, attack power, defense, etc.) will be built into the ''units'' prior to building them. Features add weight (and cost) and there is a weight limit (raised as later [[advance (C-evo)|advances]] are made). As a game progresses, scientific advancements and [[wonder (C-evo)|wonder]]s give additional unit capabilities, but with a minimum of early research advances (prerequisite [[Warrior Code (C-evo)|Warrior Code]], and desirably also [[Horseback Riding (C-evo)|Horseback Riding]] and [[Bronze Working (C-evo)|Bronze Working]]) a player will be able to construct new ''units'' that are better than the two pre-designed basic units.
+*''C-evo by design,'' says '''''military unit designs'' must be created''' by a player and then researched before that unit can be built. One must strategically choose what qualities (for example: mobility, attack power, defense, etc.) will be built into the ''units'' before designing and building them.
 *'''In contrast to ''Civilization II''''', a player cannot immediately gain the [[advance (C-evo)|advance]]s acquired from other nations or the [[Great Library]]: a reduced amount of research is still necessary to achieve the new technology.
 *'''In contrast to ''Civilization II''''', a player does not acquire knowledge from capturing a city unless that player possesses the [[Temple of Zeus (C-evo)|Temple of Zeus]] Wonder and it is still active (or obsolete but restored with the [[Eiffel Tower (C-evo)|Eiffel Tower]] Wonder).
-*'''In contrast to ''Civilization II''''', [[irrigation (C-evo)|irrigation]] does not require the connection to a nearby [[sea (C-evo)|sea]] or [[river (C-evo)|river]], irrigation may be built on any suitable tile anywhere (but that does not include desert).
+*'''In contrast to ''Civilization II''''', [[irrigation (C-evo)|irrigation]] does not require the connection to a nearby [[sea (C-evo)|sea]] or [[river (C-evo)|river]], irrigation may be built on any qualifying tile anywhere.
 *'''In contrast to ''Civilization II''''', a diagonal step requires 1.5 [[movement points]]. All units have at least 1.5 points possible, the most primitive ships have 2.5, and the most primitive aircraft have 4.5.
@@ Line 80: / Line 85: @@
 ==See also==
 * [[C-evo HOWTO|C-evo HowTo]] - A How To guide for playing C-evo geared for someone who has never played any of the Civilization games before ('''recommended reading''' even for those who have, because C-evo is NOT exactly like Civ2).
-* [[Forum:C-evo forum|C-evo wiki forum]] - An alternative to the official C-evo forum, primarily for discussing content of this wiki, but open to all questions and ideas and more easily searchable than the official forum.
+* [[Board:C-evo|C-evo wiki forum]] - An alternative to the official C-evo forum, primarily for discussing content of this wiki, but open to all questions and ideas and more easily searchable than the official forum.
-* [[C-evo advances affecting units]]
+* [[C-evo advances affecting units]] - Detailed page, with subpages for air, ground, and naval units
+* [[Cheating (C-evo)]] - Well, not really!
 ==External links==
+===Official===
-* [http://www.c-evo.org/ C-evo homepage] - Downloads, Info, FAQs, etc.
+* [http://www.c-evo.org/ C-evo homepage] - Downloads, Info, FAQs, etc. - Latest Update (as of January 2020): Version 1.2.0.
 * [irc://irc.forestnet.org:6669/cevo IRC channel] - at irc.forestnet.org (channel #cevo)
 * [http://www.c-evo.org/forum/index.html C-evo Forum] - The official C-evo forum, open to all questions, issues, and ideas.
+** [http://c-evo.org/forum/index2010.html Latest page of forum archive (postings from 2010-2013)]
+===Reviews===
+* [http://www.squakenet.com/download/civ-evolution/1360/ Review by Sid Gingham] - very positive: "Although C-Evo might be little more than a clone of Civilization , it actually turns out to be better than its inspiration in many ways and which thus makes it more than worthy of investigation by any serious strategy fan. ... Although C-Evo doesn't really do anything that's new for the genre, it's in the execution where it scores so highly and which means this is a must play if you have any interest in such things. Right from the start, this is highly accessible, so even if you haven't played such a game before, you'll be able to leap in without any difficulty. ...  does a fantastic job at getting rid of tedious micromanagement ..."
+===Other===
 * [http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2131260 C-evo's LinkedIn group] - Another side of the game, a place where players show their professional side, and do some personal networking.
-* [http://www.freeformatics.com/store/show_by_tags/C-evo Tribe Editor, Nation & Terrain Extension Packs]
+* [http://c-evoeditor.sourceforge.net/ Tribe Editor]
-*[http://lodsw.stormpages.com/critique.html Detailed critique, possibly out of date in some respects]
-[[category:C-evo| ]]
+{{C-evo}}
+{{Civilization}}
-[[category:games]]
+[[Category:C-evo| ]]
+[[Category:Games]]
+[[Category:Free games]]