XPilot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids XPilot |
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Screen capture of XPilot NG running under fvwm on Linux.
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| Developer(s) | Various |
| Platform(s) | Unix-like, Windows, Mac OS, iOS |
| Release date(s) | 1992 |
| Genre(s) | Multiplayer online game, multidirectional shooter |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
XPilot is an exciting multiplayer video game where many players can join in at once. It's an open-source game, which means its code is free for anyone to use and improve. This game works on many different computer systems.
Even though its 2D graphics have gotten better over time, they still look a bit like the classic game Thrust. In XPilot, you can play different types of games. These include Capture the Flag, defending a base, racing, and deathmatches. XPilot uses a special system where a main computer, called a server, connects all the players. This main server keeps track of all the XPilot games happening online.
Contents
The Story of XPilot
How XPilot Started
Back in 1991, two computer science students, Bjørn Stabell and Ken Schouten, started creating XPilot. They were studying at the University of Tromsø and were inspired by an older game called Thrust. They first built the game using the C computer language on special Unix computers.
After the game was first released to the public in 1992, players from all over the world started sending in their ideas and improvements. Other XPilot fans even helped write instructions and add new code to the game. By 1996, there were almost 100 XPilot servers running globally.
Different Versions of XPilot
Over the years, XPilot's code has been used to create several new versions, like different branches from a tree.
- XPilot5 is a completely new version of XPilot written in C++. Unlike the first game, it has sound and comes with tools to set up your keyboard, ship shapes, and how your ship moves. The most recent stable version of XPilot5 is 5.0.0.
- In late 2000, another group of developers started a new version called XPilot NG, which stands for "Next Generation." This version is also programmed in C. It offers two ways to play: one for X11 systems and another using SDL/OpenGL for better graphics. XPilot NG has smooth frame rates and uses polygon maps, which are more detailed than the blocky maps of the original game. A new map editor, made with Java, makes it easier to create new maps. The latest version of XPilot NG is 4.7.2.
- In 2009, a company called 7b5 Labs released XPilot iPhone. This version lets you play XPilot on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch devices. It uses parts from both the original XPilot and XPilot NG, and you control it using the touchscreen. Even with all these new features, most of these modern versions can still play together with the original game.
How to Play XPilot
Game Modes and Objectives
The main XPilot server, called the metaserver, has a list of all the maps created by players on the internet. These maps offer many different ways to play the game.
- In deathmatches, you earn points by destroying other players or computer-controlled robots.
- To get stronger, you can pick up items like missiles, mines, and lasers.
- You can also find items to protect yourself, such as cloaks (to become invisible), shields, ECMs (to block enemy attacks), and armor.
In racing maps, your goal is to finish the race as quickly as possible. You get points based on your finishing spot.
Team games have a different goal: you need to "destroy" the opponent's special ball by putting it into a treasure chest. Team games can also be played in a Capture the flag style, where you try to capture the other team's flag.
There are other fun modes too! For example, you might try to survive as long as you can while dodging bullets from cannons, or play combinations of different game types.
The XPilot Community
Connecting with Other Players
XPilot's in-game chat and multiplayer features helped create a strong community of players. People could easily talk to each other while playing.
Players also connected through online discussion groups called newsgroups, like alt.games.xpilot and later rec.games.computer.xpilot. Since 1991, players have held several yearly team tournaments, known as "Cups." These tournaments bring players together for friendly competition.
After the first HTML and image-showing web browsers came out, members of the XPilot community helped create the game's online instructions and guides.
See also
- List of open source games
