FreeCol team aims to create an Open Source version of Colonization. At first we'll try to make an exact clone of Colonization.

The visuals will be brought up to date with more recent standards but will remain clean, simple and functional. Certain new 'features' will be implemented but the gameplay and the rules will be exactly the same as the original game. Examples of modern features are: an isometric map and multiplayer support.

This clone will be developed incrementally and result in FreeCol 1.0.0 which will be an almost exact Colonization clone. Incremental development basically means that we'll add features one at a time. This allows us to have a running program at all times and also to release an unfinished but working game once in a while.

Once FreeCol 1.0.0 is finished we'll start working towards FreeCol 2.0.0. FreeCol 2 will go beyond the original Colonization and will have many new features, it will be an implementation of our (and our users') image of what Colonization 2 would have been.

What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

Graphics:
· building graphics (thanks to NewCol and the defunct SweCol project)
· prettier panels and dialogs due to the use of MigLayout
· more useful for small displays (1024x600)
· pretty borders
· some more anti-aliasing

AI:
· AI breeds horses more effectively
· AI uses pioneers more effectively
· AI distributes workers more effectively
· AI creates and assigns soldiers more effectively
· AI builds constructs more advanced buildings

Rules:
· stockades no longer prevent abandoning a colony
· together with a custom house, de Witt circumvents boycotts
· the Treaty of Utrecht