GSoC/GCI Archive
Google Summer of Code 2010

Thousand Parsec

Web Page: http://www.thousandparsec.net/wiki/Ideas_for_Programmers

Mailing List: tp@thousandparsec.net

Thousand Parsec is a bunch of games based on a common framework for building turn based space empire building games. Some of the games, such as our first demo game MiniSec, are developed by the Thousand Parsec developers themselves. In the near future we hope that other developers will create their own games using Thousand Parsec framework.

 

Some examples of games which Thousand Parsec draws ideas from are, Stars!VGA PlanetsMaster of Orion and Galactic Civilizations. These games are often called 4 X's from the main phases found in the games, eXplore, eXpand, eXploit and eXterminate. If you haven't heard of them, other games which are a bit similar include, CivilisationHero's of Might and Magic and Starcraft. Thousand Parsec includes everything you need for

 

  • playing any of the currently running games,
  • seting up your own game using already designed games, and
  • building your own space empire building game.

 

Links for Thousand Parsec:

 

Projects

  • Campaign Mode and Scenario Editor Single player has opened the doors for Thousand Parsec to expand gameplay for challenging preset scenarios and fleshed out campaigns. My proposal is to create the means to accomplish these features by adding a save and load feature leading to customizable scenarios and campaigns. This can be accomplished by using SQLite and a user friendly interface to create scenarios.
  • Daneel-ai python support and AI for MTSec I would like to add a simple way of coding AI in python (not just CHR) so future developers could write pure python AI if they choose. This will also enable writing AI that is not just rule based. In my opinion AI player for MTSec is crucial if TP wants to get more players. I plan on writing an AI with adaptable behaviour. While working on the AI for MTSec I would try to simplify the process of creation of AI for new rulesets as much as possible.
  • Development and improvement of Thousand Parsec python-wxWidgets client This is a project of development of Thousand Parsec python-wxWidgets client. The main focus of it is improving GUI and, consequently, internals. The current visual appearance of this client can be named "in very active development" -- it's full of information, more suitable for programmer than a gamer, it's not customizable, etc. I'm going to make it more usable and add several new features (like tech browser).
  • Improving upon tpclient-pyweb The focus of this project is to improve upon the tpclient-pyweb version of the Thousand Parsec game.
  • Parsek improvement Improve thousand parsec's KDE4 client Parsek to the point that it is possible to play a game with it. The improvement includes a user friendlier user interface which looks more like a game client than a chat client. Add missing client parts like star-map, proper account-manager, settings, chat. Also integrate the client more into KDE4.
  • Thousand Parsec Python Server The main goal of this project is to rewrite TP python server to use Twisted Network Framework. Twisted is a full featured event-driven platform suited at writing network application. Reimplementing TP python server with Twisted will bring many benefits including: increased performance and responsibility, ease of adding new features to TP protocol and server, better code maintainability. This project might be crucial for convenience of TP gamers using current python server implementation.
  • tpserver-cpp boost::asio integration and asynchronous architecture The following project has two major goals -- the primary goal is moving tpserver-cpp network layer into the Boost.ASIO framework, and preparing the rest of the server for taking advantage of the Proactor architecture that is weaved into ASIO. The secondary goal is to take advantage of the new architecture to rewrite the tpserver-cpp systems to be asynchronous, basing on ASIO's framework.