From:	 ajr@ecs.soton.ac.uk
To:	 lwn@lwn.net
Subject: WorldForge News: Acorn 0.4 released
Date:	 Thu, 19 Jul 2001 15:11:08 +0100

The WorldForge project would like to announce the release of Acorn 0.4.

Acorn is the second in a series of games created as part of the WorldForge
bootstrapping endeavour, aimed at creating an engine for massively
multiplayer online games. The previous demo featured skeletons moving
across crude maps, Acorn builds on this by incorporating the following
features:

    * Python scripted, event-driven rule system
    * Client/server architecture using the Atlas Protocol System
    * Goal-motivated artificial intelligence
    * Herding behavior and nutrient-based growth simulation
    * Sound detection and automated reaction
    * Richer collection of artwork, sound effects, and music

This release contains these new features:

    * New larger map, with elevated terrain. Lots of new graphics.
    * Server side collision detection and buildings handled.
    * Massive performance improvements.
    * New population of village characters.
    * New user interface.
    * Automatic detection of running servers using metaserver.

The main Acorn page can be found at:
http://www.worldforge.org/website/rules/acorn/

The Acorn downlaod page can be found at:
http://www.worldforge.org/website/rules/acorn/download.html

The Installation Instructions can be found at:
http://www.worldforge.org/website/rules/acorn/install.html

The background story can be found at:
http://www.worldforge.org/website/rules/acorn/release.html 

For more details and information please contact Al Riddoch, the Acorn
development coordinator at alriddoch@zepler.org