Zero-K
Encyclopedia
Zero-K is a free
multi-platform open source
real-time strategy
computer game. Initially based on content from Total Annihilation
on the open source Spring Engine, it was forked and all proprietary content replaced, and evolved into a completely new game with unique features. Among the games powered by the Spring game engine
, Zero-K is particularly notable for its extensive use of Lua scripting for interface and gameplay changes/enhancements, as well as unique RTS concepts such as a flat technology tree.
and its spiritual successor Supreme Commander
. Tens of thousands of units can be seen on the screen at once. As computers grow faster, Zero-K will scale with them, allowing players to crank up their resolution and crank up the unit limits with virtually no top end.
Players start out with a construction-capable bipedal mech known as the Commander which acts as the player's avatar in commanding vast armies of robots. Players use their commander to construct a base of operations from which they can build an army to fight and ultimately destroy any opposing players. Players earn customizations for their commander in Zero-K and then use the same customization over and over in many battles.
Players will earn some experience points for each Zero-K game they play, and these experience points can be used to unlock new units for use in game or to customize their commander. After they play enough games, players will be able to unlock the entire Zero-K unit collection. This feature exists to prevent new players from building units that are not designed to be used by inexperienced players, thus, they must gain experience playing Zero-K before they can use those units.
The game includes 10+ factories each with 8+ unique units for a huge variation of viable build orders on most maps. Aside from the factories, there are many important buildings that create resources, provide radar coverage of a large area, shield units from artillery, conceal units from enemies, provide defence to a static location, and many others.
Energy is produced by certain structures that can be built anywhere; each of these structures is ideal for its own set of situations. Energy is consumed in all build projects 1:1 with metal, for repairs to damaged units and structures, during "Resurrection" of unit wrecks, powering structures like radar towers and charging shields, and is used to activate the biggest defenses such as the "Annihilator" energy weapon.
Metal is either extracted from metal in the map using "Metal Extractors" or reclaimed from wrecks and debris of destroyed units and structures. Each and every unit or structure requires a specific amount of metal to be built, making capturing areas suitable for metal extraction or reclaiming wrecks of utmost importance in every game.
Connecting energy production to Metal Extractors allows "Overdrive", automatically producing additional metal. However, Overdrive has diminishing results, requiring more and more energy to continue increasing the production bonus until additional attached energy has only negligible increases in production.
Chickens comes in various levels of difficulty, as well as the ability to set custom difficulty options.
In a game of "Chickens" the goal is to survive an onslaught (Or, Exterminate an infestation) of various semi-sentient alien creatures until their "Queen" attacks. The focus of a game of chickens is first, to survive, second, to exterminate "Burrows" placed around the map - keeping the attacking chickens from becoming more powerful, and third, to prepare for the Queen's attack. The Game ends with either annihilation of the players, or the death of the Chicken Queen.
However, ever since season 8, a new faction system has been implemented. Each clan and player is randomly assigned to a faction, and all the influence that person or clan makes will count as the faction's.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
multi-platform open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
computer game. Initially based on content from Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation is a real-time strategy video game created by Cavedog Entertainment, a sub-division of Humongous Entertainment, and released on September 30, 1997 by GT Interactive for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. It was the first RTS game to feature 3D units and terrain...
on the open source Spring Engine, it was forked and all proprietary content replaced, and evolved into a completely new game with unique features. Among the games powered by the Spring game engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
, Zero-K is particularly notable for its extensive use of Lua scripting for interface and gameplay changes/enhancements, as well as unique RTS concepts such as a flat technology tree.
Gameplay
Zero-K provides a RTS experience not unlike the gameplay in Total AnnihilationTotal Annihilation
Total Annihilation is a real-time strategy video game created by Cavedog Entertainment, a sub-division of Humongous Entertainment, and released on September 30, 1997 by GT Interactive for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. It was the first RTS game to feature 3D units and terrain...
and its spiritual successor Supreme Commander
Supreme Commander (video game)
Supreme Commander is a real-time strategy computer game designed by Chris Taylor and developed by his company, Gas Powered Games. The game is considered to be a spiritual successor to Taylor's 1997 game Total Annihilation,, alongside the Spring remake...
. Tens of thousands of units can be seen on the screen at once. As computers grow faster, Zero-K will scale with them, allowing players to crank up their resolution and crank up the unit limits with virtually no top end.
Players start out with a construction-capable bipedal mech known as the Commander which acts as the player's avatar in commanding vast armies of robots. Players use their commander to construct a base of operations from which they can build an army to fight and ultimately destroy any opposing players. Players earn customizations for their commander in Zero-K and then use the same customization over and over in many battles.
Players will earn some experience points for each Zero-K game they play, and these experience points can be used to unlock new units for use in game or to customize their commander. After they play enough games, players will be able to unlock the entire Zero-K unit collection. This feature exists to prevent new players from building units that are not designed to be used by inexperienced players, thus, they must gain experience playing Zero-K before they can use those units.
The game includes 10+ factories each with 8+ unique units for a huge variation of viable build orders on most maps. Aside from the factories, there are many important buildings that create resources, provide radar coverage of a large area, shield units from artillery, conceal units from enemies, provide defence to a static location, and many others.
Interface
While most games shackle players with unit limits and queue limits and a very basic AI, Zero K removes all possible interface limitations. With just a few clicks you can start executing very sophisticated strategies. In 5 or ten clicks, you can queue up hundreds of units, order a constructor to build hundreds of different buildings, and order a factory to build planes that would automatically patrol a route as they roll off the assembly line. In fact, those planes will automatically break off of a patrol to attack an enemy, then circle around to land at a repair station, then zip back into their patrol route—automatically! The interface allows gamers to build up obscene armies and bases with such ease that the player is free to concentrate on actual tactics and strategy. Few games even come close to this level of control.Economy
Economy in Zero-K consists of two resources, Metal and Energy.Energy is produced by certain structures that can be built anywhere; each of these structures is ideal for its own set of situations. Energy is consumed in all build projects 1:1 with metal, for repairs to damaged units and structures, during "Resurrection" of unit wrecks, powering structures like radar towers and charging shields, and is used to activate the biggest defenses such as the "Annihilator" energy weapon.
Metal is either extracted from metal in the map using "Metal Extractors" or reclaimed from wrecks and debris of destroyed units and structures. Each and every unit or structure requires a specific amount of metal to be built, making capturing areas suitable for metal extraction or reclaiming wrecks of utmost importance in every game.
Connecting energy production to Metal Extractors allows "Overdrive", automatically producing additional metal. However, Overdrive has diminishing results, requiring more and more energy to continue increasing the production bonus until additional attached energy has only negligible increases in production.
Technology
In Zero-K any player can use any units he has unlocked by building the appropriate factory, there is no technology progression during a game. Each unit's reason for being used or built is its appropriateness for the battle at hand, not devoting resources to gain access to it.Chickens
Zero-K includes a unique game mode called Chickens.Chickens comes in various levels of difficulty, as well as the ability to set custom difficulty options.
In a game of "Chickens" the goal is to survive an onslaught (Or, Exterminate an infestation) of various semi-sentient alien creatures until their "Queen" attacks. The focus of a game of chickens is first, to survive, second, to exterminate "Burrows" placed around the map - keeping the attacking chickens from becoming more powerful, and third, to prepare for the Queen's attack. The Game ends with either annihilation of the players, or the death of the Chicken Queen.
Online Play
Zero-K is primarily meant be played online in individual Team or FFA style battles, as well as cooperatively(Or not!) with "Chickens".Planet Wars
Planet Wars is a MMO style strategy game tied to Zero-K where individual battles are fought in Zero-K against other players to gain "Influence" on planets. Each player can either create or join a clan, and all the influence he.she earns will count as the clans. Planet Wars resets each time one clan achieves one or more of the 3 victory conditions - Conquest, Economy, Technology.However, ever since season 8, a new faction system has been implemented. Each clan and player is randomly assigned to a faction, and all the influence that person or clan makes will count as the faction's.