FreeOrion Wikipedia Page

[peerLAN]

I looked on Wikipedia for FreeOrion and noticed that it was deleted (twice). I wasn't able to see the previous versions but I wrote a new one. I don't know what was wrong with those versions but please improve what you can before some crazy ass admin starts feeling important. I will oppose any deletion of this version I just wrote anyway.

The link to wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeOrion

Cheers and keep up the great job!

[Geoff the Medio]

It would be nice to have the visibility and traffic that a Wikipedia article would provide, but I'm skpetical that another go at a FreeOrion article will not be deleted as soon as someone who cares notices it. The first version lasted about two years, and but the most recent deleted version was only there for a few months, as far as I saw. The project hasn't suddenly gotten any more notable by Wikipedia's standards as far as I can tell by googling.

At the very least, try to write it to sound a bit less like PR-spiel. Directly quoting the FreeOrion Visition Statement is not a good idea.

[peerLAN]

I'm not really the writing type, so I find it hard to rephrase that. But anyone who has something to add or rewrite in a better way, please do. The more edits it will have, the more stability it should gain (instead of being just one person who wrote it)... I'll think of what useful stuff to add also.

Edit: Added the source code part.

[pd]

I agree with the reasons for deleting the page. The project is simply not notable (yet). It's an incomplete piece of software, barely playable. This has nothing to do in an encyclopedia.

[peerLAN]

Well it was deleted again, but this time it was my work! I'm freaking infuriated! I managed to pull it back online but I don't know exactly for how long so I'll just backup the wiki code here for any future problems:

Code: Select all

{{Infobox VG
|title=FreeOrion
|image=[[File:Fo_wiki_logo.jpg]]
|developer=''FreeOrion'' developers
|publisher=
|license=[[GNU General Public License]] 2.0
|version=0.3.12
|released={{Release date and age|2009|03|16}}
|genre=[[4X game|4X]], [[Turn-based strategy]]
|modes=[[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|ratings=
|platforms=[[Linux]], [[Mac OS X]], [[Microsoft Windows]]
|media=[[Downloadable content]]<ref>http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=75752&package_id=111134</ref>
|requirements= 600MHz [[MHz]] processor, 128[[Megabyte|MB]] [[RAM]], [[OpenGL]], [[display resolution]] of 1024x768 or higher <ref>http://www.freeorion.org/index.php/System_Requirements</ref>
|input=[[Computer keyboard|Keyboard]] and [[Computer mouse|mouse]]}}

'''FreeOrion''' is an [[open source video game]] inspired by [[Master of Orion]], but is not a clone or remake of that seires or any other game <ref>http://www.freeorion.org/index.php/Main_Page</ref>. It is a [[turn-based game]] of epic space strategy that builds on the classic [[4X]] model by incorporating the nation-building elements of games such as [[Europa Universalis 2]] and a versatile tactical combat engine.

Players take the helm of a newly-spaceborne Empire to explore and colonize the stars. Sometimes thought of as "Civilization in space," FreeOrion's design also provides for a tactical combat engine along the lines of [[Homeworld]] and the [[Total War (series)|Total War]] series.

While its modular, open-source design allows for a significant degree of customization of the game engine and the story elements by the community, the FreeOrion team is dedicated to the construction of a living, breathing universe in a 'grand campaign' model.

==Game play==
FreeOrion is a turn-based, futuristic science fiction computer strategy game. The purpose of the game is to lead one of a number of races to dominate the galaxy through a combination of diplomacy and conquest while developing technology, exploring and colonizing star systems. The game uses a point-and-click interface as well as keyboard shortcuts to control the management of colonies, technology, ship construction, diplomacy and combat.

== Source code ==
FreeOrion's [[source code]]<ref>https://freeorion.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/freeorion/trunk/</ref>, licensed under the [[GNU General Public License]] 2.0, is primarily written in the [[C++]] [[programming language]] with the exception of its [[AI]] which is written in [[Python (programming language)|Python]]. The developers also worked on providing a [[Software development kit|SDK]] for rapid deployment on Windows that includes pre-built binaries for Windows ( [[MSVC]] 8.0/9.0 ) for all the FreeOrion dependencies and has a full checkout of the code, fully configured so that you should just be able to download and build with very few (or possibly no) modifications required.<ref>http://www.freeorion.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1787</ref>

All artwork, music and sounds, and in-game text are released under the the [[Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike]] 3.0 license.<ref>http://www.freeorion.org/index.php/FreeOrionWiki:Copyrights</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Video games|Gamepad.svg}}

* [[List of open source games]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.freeorion.org/index.php/Main_Page ''FreeOrion'' Wiki]
*[http://www.freeorion.org/forum/ ''FreeOrion'' forums]
*[http://sourceforge.net/projects/freeorion/ ''FreeOrion'' [[SourceForge.net]] page]

[[Category:4X video games]]
[[Category:Turn-based strategy video games]]
[[Category:Free, open source strategy games]]
[[Category:Science fiction video games]]
[[Category:Games about extraterrestrial life]]

Thanks pd for the support </sarcasm>. Yes, I know it is not complete yet, but what percentage of open source games are? If this will speed up the development I'm all for it.

[pd]

Other incomplete open source games aren't notable either. We really don't want to annoy the moderators at wikipedia and end up with a ban or blocked page, because "we" repeatedly pull back a deleted, not notable page.

[peerLAN]

Your logic is incongruous. The number of times a page is rewritten has nothing to do with some kind of motivation to ban it. Also the new page I wrote from scratch, I haven't even saw the previous versions. Help if you can, information about unit customization, developers, version history maybe, Factions/story, Music, tactical battles, Features, etc. are very useful.

[pd]

My logic is fine, my knowledge about wikipedia policy is limited though. Just trying to be careful here. I still believe freeOrion is not notable for an encyclopedia, but I'm sure there are wiki's for (open source) games out there...

information about unit customization, developers, version history maybe, Factions/story, Music, tactical battles, etc. are very useful.

None of these things are completed, some of it is decided on or currently in the making.

[peerLAN]

Ok, well I tried my best. I don't know if it will be kept, Wikipedia admins look more frustrated then I previously anticipated. I usually contributed to Wikipedia but I must say that it feels like they personally have something against this page. The whole wikipedia system is quite crazy.

Lesson learned... more reviews on open sourced websites needed, maybe more google results and better quality, more work on "notability" (or so they say) even though the game is quite well known by open-source game standards imho.

I'll try to help you in other ways also, I'm a programmer after all and I know both C++ and python, unfortunately I'm very busy until summer time.

Cheers and sorry for any trouble caused, I was just trying to help with a well written article!

[IConrad]

The problem with Wikipedia is the Personal Fiefdom Effect. "This is MY page/decision; and how dare //you// undo it!" Edit flame wars are frequent with this.

Have you considered giving FreeOrion an "honorable mention" in other wikipedia entries?

Also -- it would probably help if you added some third-party links. Consider:

http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/freeorion/

http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20080 ... Orion.html

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=122408

http://sourceforge.net/project/stats/ra ... =freeorion


Pull information and verification from these. Try to reference FreeOrion in terms of it being a "specific example" of the 'next generation of Open Source games'... etc.