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Changed from video infobox to software, because wikipedia thinks that open source videogames don't exist, and therefore has removed the version number tag. thanks.
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{{Infobox VG|title=Angband
{{Infobox software|title=Angband
|image=[[Image:Angband.gif|256px]]
|screenshot=[[Image:Angband.gif|256px]]
|caption=Town level of ''Angband''.
|caption=Town level of ''Angband''.
|license=Angband license/[[GNU General Public License|GPL]] dual-license
|aspect ratio=
|genre=[[Roguelike|Roguelike video game]]
|resolution=
|developer=
|publisher=
|distributor=
|license=[[Moria/Angband license]]/[[GNU General Public License|GPL]] dual-license
|series=Moria, Rogue, NetHack
|engine=
|version=
|released=
|genre=[[Roguelike]]
|modes=[[Single-player]]
|modes=[[Single-player]]
|platform=[[Cross-platform]]
|ratings=
|platforms=[[Cross-platform]]
|media=Download
|requirements=
|input=[[Keyboard (computing)|Keyboard]]
|input=[[Keyboard (computing)|Keyboard]]
|designer=Angband Development Team
|developer=Angband Development Team
|status=Active
|writer=
|programming language = [[C (programming language)|C]]
|artist=
|latest release version=3.5.0
|composer=
|latest release version=3.4.1
|latest release date={{release date and age|2013|12|24}}
|website={{URL|http://rephial.org/}}
|latest release date={{release date and age|2012|10|20}}
|latest preview version=
|latest date=
}}
}}
'''''Angband''''' is a [[dungeon crawl|dungeon-crawling]] [[roguelike]] [[Personal computer game|computer game]] derived from ''[[Moria (computer game)|Umoria]]''. It is based on the writings of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], in which [[Angband]] is the fortress of [[Morgoth]]. The current version of ''Angband'' is available for all major operating systems, including [[Unix]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Mac OS X]], and [[Android (operating system)|Android]].
'''''Angband''''' is a [[dungeon crawl|dungeon-crawling]] [[roguelike]] [[Personal computer game|computer game]] derived from ''[[Moria (computer game)|Umoria]]''. It is based on the writings of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], in which [[Angband]] is the fortress of [[Morgoth]]. The current version of ''Angband'' is available for all major operating systems, including [[Unix]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Mac OS X]], and [[Android (operating system)|Android]].

Revision as of 20:58, 26 March 2014

Angband
Developer(s)Angband Development Team
Stable release
3.5.0 / December 24, 2013; 10 years ago (2013-12-24)
Repository
Written inC
PlatformCross-platform
TypeRoguelike video game
LicenseAngband license/GPL dual-license
Websiterephial.org

Angband is a dungeon-crawling roguelike computer game derived from Umoria. It is based on the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien, in which Angband is the fortress of Morgoth. The current version of Angband is available for all major operating systems, including Unix, Windows, Mac OS X, and Android.

Gameplay

The game revolves around exploring a 100-level dungeon, in which the player seeks to amass enough power and equipment to ultimately defeat Morgoth. A new dungeon level is randomly generated each time the player enters a new level for the first time; so no two games are the same. It has been described by GameSetWatch as "perhaps the purest representation of roguelike tactics in any game".[1]

Angband gameplay is combat and tactics based, with inventory management as an important aspect of gameplay. Angband games can last for weeks. The game is fiendishly difficult, and players can play for years without getting even a third of the way through the game.[2][3]

History

The first version of Angband was created by Alex Cutler and Andy Astrand at the University of Warwick in 1990. They wanted to expand the game Umoria by adding items, monsters, and features. After Cutler and Astrand, the source code was maintained at the University of Warwick by Geoff Hill and Sean Marsh. They released "2.4.frog_knows", which was enhanced by others and widely ported to non-Unix platforms.

Following their departure, the later principals of Angband have included Charles Swiger, Ben Harrison, and Robert Rühlmann. Harrison was the maintainer responsible for the "Great Code Cleanup", modularizing, extending, and greatly improving the readability of the Angband source code. This in turn led to the large number of variants currently available, as well as the rather large number of ports. Like other maintainers, he eventually moved on to other interests, passing the title to Robert Rühlmann in 2000.

Rühlmann's contributions included releasing version 3.0, which included many monster and object changes contributed by Jonathan Ellis. He also introduced Lua, a lightweight scripting language, with the intention of simplifying development of both the main game and its variants. The Angband community, however, did not generally embrace the addition of scripting, with many expressing confusion over its usage, and it was therefore later removed.

While Rühlmann was maintainer, he started the Angband Open Source Initiative, designed to place Angband under a Free Software license. Although the original license (Moria/Angband license) allows distribution of the game, it only does so if "not for profit", which precludes packaging with many Linux distributions or inclusion within a magazine cover disc. The license also does not explicitly allow code modification, something which is in practice ignored by the Angband community. In light of these perceived issues, an effort to re-license Angband under the GNU GPL[4] was started in 2000[5] and completed on January 9, 2009.[6]

Rühlmann stepped down in October 2005,[7] leading to a brief period of uncertainty.[8] However, Julian Lighton was soon announced as the new maintainer in March 2006, but did not release a new version of the game.[9] Due to the absence of Julian, Andi Sidwell assumed maintainership, with the support of the community, in December 2007.[10] Under their watch, other developers have come on board and the game has seen significant gameplay and internal code changes.

Community

The Usenet newsgroup rec.games.roguelike.angband and the Angband Forum are the loci of the Angband community, places to discuss all aspects of the game. An IRC channel, #angband, exists on the WorldIRC network, and another, #angband-dev exists on the freenode network. Some players are still playing Angband decades after they were introduced to it.[11]

Variants

Angband has spawned many derivatives. A family of around sixty variants exist, of which roughly half a dozen are active.[12] Each differs in purpose and degree of alteration. The multiplayer variant MAngband was developed in 1997; it includes real-time elements to support simultaneous gameplay. ZAngband (Zelazny Angband), is largely based on Roger Zelazny's The Chronicles of Amber. Topi Ylinen initiated development, though the project involved others, including Robert Rühlmann.[13] Most development ceased in 2006.[14] Formerly Tolkien-flavoured variant Tales of Middle Earth (ToME) (now Tales of Maj'Eyal) was originally derived from the ZAngband code base,[15] but was rewritten from scratch for version 4.0.0, and no longer uses a Tolkien setting as it now has its own original fantasy setting.

References

  1. ^ Harris, John (January 19, 2008). "COLUMN: @Play: Angband - At Last!". GameSetWatch. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
  2. ^ Morgan, Dale (25th October, 2013), Angband Retrospective, Allaboutthegames.co.uk. Retrieved 3rd November, 2013.
  3. ^ Nuttall, Aaron (April 5th, 2010), Is Angband Olde Schoole?, Like Being Read To From Dictionaries. Retrieved 3rd November, 2013.
  4. ^ "OpenSource". Play Angband. Archived from the original on 31 December 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Rühlmann, Robert (2000-06-07). [http:// groups.google.co.uk/group/rec.games.roguelike.angband/msg/f391c73356981524?dmode=source "Angband OpenSource Initiative"]. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  6. ^ Sidwell, Andi (2009-01-09). "Re: Angband 3.1.0 beta released". Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  7. ^ Ruehlmann, Robert (2005-10-09). "Stepping down as Angband Maintainer". rec.games.roguelike.angband. Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "So Who is the New Maintainer?". rec.games.roguelike.angband. 2005-11-18. Retrieved 2007-12-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Ruehlmann, Robert (2006-03-05). "Stepping down as Angband Maintainer". rec.games.roguelike.angband. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Sidwell, Andrew (2007-03-23). "Re: Angband Maintainer". rec.games.roguelike.angband. Retrieved 2007-12-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ Savage, Laurence (21st April, 2013), "Well Into Its Second Decade Angband Still Delights", Videogamegeek.com. Retrieved 3rd November, 2013.
  12. ^ "Angband variant list". Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  13. ^ "zangband.org". Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "/zangband/src CVS listing at sourceforge.net". Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  15. ^ Harris, John (January 19, 2008). "COLUMN: @Play: Angband - At Last!". GameSetWatch. Retrieved 2010-01-28.

External links

Template:Open source video games