Colobot

Last updated

Colobot
Original author(s) Epsitec SA
Developer(s) ICC & TerranovaTeam
Initial release2001
Preview release
0.2.2 / 23 December 2024;3 months ago (2024-12-23)
Repository
Operating system Linux, Windows
Platform Cross-platform
Type Real-time strategy
License GPL-3.0-or-later
Website colobot.info
Screenshot of Colobot. Left, game scene with two bots and one explorer. Right, the program editor to create the code which controls the bots. Screenshot of Colobot.png
Screenshot of Colobot. Left, game scene with two bots and one explorer. Right, the program editor to create the code which controls the bots.

Colobot (Colonize with Bots) is an educational, post-apocalyptic real-time strategy video game featuring 3D graphics, created by Swiss developer Epsitec SA. The objective of the game is to find a planet for colonization by the human race by establishing a basic infrastructure on the surface and eliminating any alien life forms endangering the expedition. The game takes place on the Earth, Moon, and seven fictional planets. The main feature of the game, which makes it educational, is the possibility for players to program their robots using a programming language similar to C++ or Java.

Contents

Plot overview

Life on earth is threatened by a devastating cataclysm, forcing mankind to move out and search for a new home. A first expedition composed solely of robots was sent to find another habitable planet, but for unknown reasons, the mission was a disaster and never returned.

With only a few robots for companions, the player must travel to new planets. Houston, Earth Mission Control as well as a spy satellite will transmit valuable information to the player. The player needs to build the infrastructure necessary to gather raw materials, energy supplies, and produce the weapons necessary to defend themselves. By programming robots, the player can delegate tasks to them, allowing the player to continue their mission while their robots upkeep the base, fight off enemies, harvest materials, and perform any other tasks assigned to them.

Missions

Screenshot of colobot gameplay Colobot screenshot.png
Screenshot of colobot gameplay

In the game, the player explores Earth, Moon and seven fictional planets.

No.Level's nameObjectCharacteristics
1Leaving Earth Earth The planet where the game begins.
2On the Moon Moon Where the previous expedition was last seen.
3On TropicaTropicaTropical planet.
4On CrystaliumCrystaliumA low-temperature planet featuring crystals.
5On SaariSaariDesert planet.
6On VolcanoVolcanoVolcanic planet.
7On CentuaryCentuaryDry planet.
8On OrpheonOrpheonElectric planet.
9On TerranovaTerranovaPlanet similar to Earth.

Language overview

Bot in colobot Colobot bot.png
Bot in colobot

The programming language used in Colobot is CBOT, syntactically similar to C++ and Java. Example code for a bot to find a piece of titanium ore and deliver it to a purification facility:

externvoidobject::FetchTitanium(){objectitem;// declare variableitem=radar(TitaniumOre);// find a piece of titanium oregoto(item.position);// go to the oregrab();// pick up whatever is in front of the robot (presumably the ore)item=radar(Converter);// find the ore convertergoto(item.position);// relocate to the converterdrop();// drop the piece of oremove(-2.5);// back up 2.5 meters to allow the converter to start processing the ore}

Legacy

Epsitec released the games' source code in March 2012 under GNU GPL-3.0-or-later after being contacted by the Polish game enthusiast community PPC. [1] [2] [3]

ICC & TerranovaTeam (formerly PPC [4] ) was given the source code by Epsitec under the GPL-3.0-or-later license. [2] [3] TerranovaTeam is in the process of updating the game, titled Colobot: Gold Edition. [5]

Similar games

CeeBot, also made by Epsitec, is a similar series of games that spans four titles:

Reception

The game has been recommended by the Polish Ministry of National Education as a teaching aid for learning the basics of algorithms and object-oriented programming. [6]

References

  1. ↑ (in Polish) Announcement on Polish Portal of Colobot Archived 2012-08-07 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 License
  3. 1 2 Updated license after PPC rebranded to ICC&TerranovaTeam
  4. ↑ Rebranded Name for PPC
  5. ↑ Colobot: Gold Edition README
  6. ↑ (in Polish) Educational aids - site of Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Poland Archived 2008-02-16 at the Wayback Machine


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