Netwhack

Netwhack is a roguelike game written in Java by Oliver Richman.

Netwhack
Developer	Oliver Richman
Theme	Fantasy
Influences	NetHack
Status	Beta 0.5.0
Released	24/06/1997
Updated	06/01/2006
Licensing	Closed Source, Freeware
P. Language	Java
Platforms	Java
Interface	ASCII, Emulated ASCII, Keyboard
Game Length	15 minutes
Official site of Netwhack

Description

Netwhack is under development, currently on Step 14 of How to Write a Roguelike Game in 15 Steps.

Key features in version 0.5.0:
o Different kinds of dungeons (LCave, BDungeon, etc)
o A movement cost and priority system.
o Magic items (such as a sword of strength).
o Load and save ability
o Extremely small size (102kb)
o Better monster AI than in 0.4.8.

I've taken time to write a developer's journal, a captain's log if you will, as I write this game over the years. This and the game itself is available on the game's homepage.

Coming Soon

There are already many new features in the development version. I am currently bug-hunting and making some small tweaks to the code.
o 20% smaller size (only 85k)
o NPCs! (i.e. Shopkeepers and Quest-givers)
o items can now be "unidentified" and "cursed"
o All the other things which make the above easier (for example, a talk-to command, and scrolls of identify)

Versions and platforms

Netwhack requires Sun Java 1.5 or higher. Get Java Now!

Latest release version is v. 0.5.0, dated January 4th, 2006.
Latest development version is v. 0.5.1, dated January 6th, 2006.

Boring Facts

o Netwhack simulates an old IBM PC's 80x25 screen, and even contains it's own 24bit colormap for 100% portability. . It always looks exactly the same on any system it runs on.
o Reccomended operating systems are Linux, Windows or Macintosh.
o Reccomended hardware: 500mhz Pentium Compatable or better. 512mb ram.
o Netwhack v0.5 is 102 kb in size and is comprised of 4,371 lines of source code.
o Netwhack v0.5.3 is 79 kb in size and is comprised of only 3,460 lines of code.
o The 58 source files in Netwhack compile in under two seconds on my AMD 1.7ghz linux system.

Known Bugs in 0.5.0

Here, fixed means i've fixed the bug in the latest development version.
If you find a new bug in my game, or just want to tell me what you think, please send me an email.
o Problems relating to pre-costed actions (attacking thin air, random crashes after traversing stairs, etc) (fixed)
o You can eat items you're holding and they don't dissapear from your inventory. (fixed)
o The game crashes on Windows XP on "Dimension d = getPreferredSize();" (FIXED but I *hate* the solution)
o Problems with inventory selection system (fixed)
o Serialization problems when loading and saving games (mainly fixed)
o Monsters which attack each other display "You hit..." (fixed)

Thanks

The development of this game would not have been possible without the following people's assistance.
Mike Anderson - for "The Algorithm", and a great game to look up to (Tyrant)
Dr. Lowenthal - for the DDungeon algorithm (no longer used)
Jim Babcock - for the Cellular Automata method of generating cave-like levels
R.Alan Monroe - for the L-Cave algorithm
The Nethack Devteam - for the inspiration to write a roguelike game

See also

Netwhack Homepage
Concept Art
CryptRL - homepage
Dweller - homepage
Guardian Angel - homepage
JADE - homepage
Kalyp - homepage
NG Java Roguelike Engine - homepage
Tyrant - homepage

Art with Wanny ^^

Related topics

• Beta projects