ORTS is a development tool designed for real-time strategy (RTS) games that provides a programming environment.
ORTS offers a programming environment for real-time strategy (RTS) games, with a focus on studying real-time AI problems such as pathfinding, dealing with imperfect information, scheduling, and planning. These games have become increasingly popular due to their fast-paced nature. Unfortunately, the current state of RTS game AI is bleak, largely due to the lack of planning and learning capabilities that machines currently possess, but which humans excel in. As a result, RTS games present a compelling test-bed for AI research.
However, commercial RTS games can be limiting as they are closed software, preventing researchers from connecting remote AI modules to them. Additionally, commercial RTS games are based on peer-to-peer technology, which allows players to run the simulation on their machines and only hides part of the game state. This creates the possibility of gaining an unfair advantage by tampering with the client software, which is unacceptable for online gameplay.
To address these issues, the ORTS project was started to create a free software system that enables players to enjoy fair RTS games. The communication protocol is public, and all source code and artwork are freely available. Users can connect any client software of their choice thanks to the server/client architecture that sends only the currently visible parts of the game state to players. This openness creates exciting opportunities ranging from online tournaments of autonomous AI players to hybrid systems that allow human players to delegate tasks to AI helper modules of increasing performance.
Requirements for ORTS include the Boost library, OpenGL, SDL, SDL_net, zlib, and glew. For the graphics client (ortsg) under Linux to reach frame rates of over 20 fps, a mid-range NVIDIA graphics card is needed due to the poor Linux ATI drivers as of mid-2005. Under Windows, no such restriction exists. Having at least 128 MB of video RAM and 512 MB of system RAM minimum when using ortsg is also recommended.
Overall, ORTS is a promising programming environment for real-time strategy games that offers a free, open-source solution for fair online gameplay. Its potential for AI research and gameplay innovation makes it an exciting tool for the gaming community.
However, commercial RTS games can be limiting as they are closed software, preventing researchers from connecting remote AI modules to them. Additionally, commercial RTS games are based on peer-to-peer technology, which allows players to run the simulation on their machines and only hides part of the game state. This creates the possibility of gaining an unfair advantage by tampering with the client software, which is unacceptable for online gameplay.
To address these issues, the ORTS project was started to create a free software system that enables players to enjoy fair RTS games. The communication protocol is public, and all source code and artwork are freely available. Users can connect any client software of their choice thanks to the server/client architecture that sends only the currently visible parts of the game state to players. This openness creates exciting opportunities ranging from online tournaments of autonomous AI players to hybrid systems that allow human players to delegate tasks to AI helper modules of increasing performance.
Requirements for ORTS include the Boost library, OpenGL, SDL, SDL_net, zlib, and glew. For the graphics client (ortsg) under Linux to reach frame rates of over 20 fps, a mid-range NVIDIA graphics card is needed due to the poor Linux ATI drivers as of mid-2005. Under Windows, no such restriction exists. Having at least 128 MB of video RAM and 512 MB of system RAM minimum when using ortsg is also recommended.
Overall, ORTS is a promising programming environment for real-time strategy games that offers a free, open-source solution for fair online gameplay. Its potential for AI research and gameplay innovation makes it an exciting tool for the gaming community.
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Version SVN r7349: N/A