Planets Command Center II

Introduction

Planets Command Center 1.x is an advanced VGA Planets 3.x client. Its major drawback is that it runs on DOS only. This is becoming more and more of a problem, especially with newer Windows versions whose DOS support is getting worse. Besides, DOS just is not state-of-the-art any longer.

PCC2 is a port of PCC 1.x to newer platforms. Actually, the term rewrite probably fits better because PCC2 is in portable C++ while PCC 1.x is in Turbo Pascal.

PCC2 is based upon the Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) library. Hence it runs under Windows (with and without DirectX), and verious Unix flavours, probably even on other platforms.

Like PCC 1.x, PCC2 is going to be a whole suite of related programs.

PCC2 is still incomplete. On this page, you'll find a beta version of the program suite, as well as the source code of the project. I'm working on the program, and making progress.

Currently, the program suite includes four parts:

• the VCR player and simulator, PlayVCR is the most complete part. It is still lacking a lot of chrome, but otherwise already bypassing its predecessor CCBSim in speed and function. It includes support for Tim's HOST, PHost 2, 3 and 4, and FLAK, an experimental fleet combat system.
• the actual client, PCC2, is a playable client, with a comfort level somewhere between DOS planets and Winplan. Beta 4 has now proven its virtues in a real game.
• the turn parser, Un-TRN, a tool for hosts and developers.
• since Beta 4, we also include a few command line utilities: c2unpack and c2sweep (not the most useful ones, but those are the tools PCC 1.x comes with, and I had to start somewhere...), and, since beta 6, c2dump (mostly aimed at developers and curious hosts).

Features & Downloads

The following briefly describes updates for each release:

• New 03/Dec/2002: Sound in the VCR
• New 03/Mar/2003: PHost 4.0 support
• New 16/Jan/2004: Italian language support by Matteo Boccafoli
• New 15/Apr/2004: Spanish language support by Lucas di Pentima
• New 02/Dec/2006: Built-in fast multi-ship simulator
• New 18/Mar/2007: Updated Italian language support by Matteo Boccafoli
• New 17/Dec/2008: third beta with tons of improvements
• New 30/May/2009: fourth beta, now really playable
• New 04/Jul/2009: fifth beta, adds more gimmicks: ship trails, auto-tax, mine lay/scoop prediction, improved display quality
• New 15/Nov/2009: sixth beta, adds "team" configuration and improves many other things
• New 15/Jan/2010: seventh beta, adds "list ship" dialog and commands to deal with PHost command messages
• New 14/Mar/2010: eighth beta, adds first version of the script interpreter, with the F7 search function, planet labels, console, etc.
• New 01/Jun/2010: ninth beta, adds script execution, user-bindable keys, etc.

General feature overview:

• Fully playable client. I'm currently playing plist119 at PlanetsServer with it. (Unless the server is down. D'ooh.)
• Client can read RSTs and TRNs directly (no unpack/maketurn needed)
• Client can run in any resolution you want (more than just 640x480)
• Client has similar keybindings to PCC 1.x (and thus, DOS Planets)
• Zoomable map
• Supports same starchart database file format as PCC 1.x
• VCR plays THost battles from any 3.x THost, and battles from PHost 2.4 to 4.1, with a pretty advanced display engine and full VCR controls
• Windows version uses DirectX when possible, but also runs without
• Optional Winplan integration: when you hit Winplan's VCR button, you get the PlayVCR player.
• Can use Winplan/PCC graphics.
• Built-in game selection.
• Screen shots (of beta 10)

The following things are still missing:

• advanced stuff like "auto tasks", "help"
• no pictures included
• people keep asking for a "32-bit VPA"; I want to implement that by offering some sort of skinnability (user-defined keybindings are already supported as of beta 9)

Windows Downloads:

Note that there is no longer a separate PlayVCR download. The two distributions contain all components.

If you want it for other platforms, get the source code and compile it yourself.

If you have problems, check the FAQ.

Help File

The PCC2 Help File is installed by the Windows installer under Start Menu -> Programs -> PCC2 -> PCC2 Help File. It is also included with the "manual" version and the source code in the doc folder.

You can also read it online.

Source Code

Note that, because PCC2 is work in progress, these are snapshots of the development. I will probably overthrow large parts of it sometimes, so don't do too much with the code :-) For example, one change I'll probably do someday is to replace the cpluslib thing with the more professional boost.

The PCC2 source tree contains FLAK, an experimental fleet combat system. Therefore, it currently requires the PDK to build.

To build it, get the first two archives, unpack them into the same directory, cd into the pcc-v2 directory, and type the usual sequence ./configure && make (Unix). More details are in the file INSTALL included with the source code.

You need a pretty decent C++ compiler. I use gcc-3.3, but have for a long time used 2.95.x. In order to build the graphics stuff, you need:

• SDL: http://www.libsdl.org/
• SDL_image: http://www.libsdl.org/projects/SDL_image/ (Note: without this library, the VCR will compile but crash on ship/planet fights. Sorry. We'll solve this later). SDL_image needs
  • libjpeg: http://www.ijg.org/
  • libpng: http://www.libpng.org/
  • zlib: http://www.gzip.org/zlib/
• a means of graphics output, for example X11 or SVGAlib.

Platforms known to work:

• Linux/x86 with SVGAlib or X11 using g++
• Solaris/Sparc with X11 using g++ ...works sometimes. There are heavy disagreements between Solaris' header files and manpages, I have not yet figured out all necessary workarounds
• Windows using MinGW (and, if you're lucky, Borland C++ 5.5)
• MacOS X