FreeOrion

So I've tried FO and it seems like there's a big showstopper bug: the computer players don't fight back. They don't build anything. Their initial fleets move (sometimes), but don't colonize new planets. Hence winning the game is just a matter of building a couple Mark 1s and flying around until you find them all.

Is this a known problem? If so, shouldn't it be written in big print somewhere obvious to avoid frustrating new players?

The latest release does not have AI, though in the SVN build, AI players will explore the galaxy with their starting ships. This is not a bug, however; it is an unimplemented feature... one of many in FO, which is not a completed game. The releases aren't meant to be fun, complete, playable games, which is indicated by the major version number of 0 (not 1 or 2, etc.). Rather, the releases are for showing progress and allowing non-programmers to test and contribute content or participate in design. Once we release v1.0, FO will be intended to be playable and fun, and will hopefully have some degree of playable AI.

In other words, if you are willing and able to code an AI, you are welcome to do so.
IIRC correctly there is no major game design planning that needs to take place before an AI can be implemented.

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