It is a turn based strategy/evolution simulation game, there you control a race of robots strandet on a megnetic planet and have to survive. Each round has several phases. The most important are the reproduction phase, there you control your race on the world map, and conquer territory and the survival phase, there you control an individual that has to eat, reproduce and avoid getting killed.
Legal stuff:
* The original game files are shareware, and can be redistributed, but should not be used commercial. (We asked the original developer for permission for a remake)
* The remake game engine is made by me and open source (written in C)
* The HQX-library is under GNU-LGPL, the modified source code is linked.
* The MIDI-decoder is public domain (and in the download package for the engine).
New features:
*Zoom: As a GUI-Application, the 640x480 Window would look small on high resolutions. The remake features zoom using the HQX-Algorithm (or optional nearest neighbour or liniar interpolation)
*Velocity settings: You can turn of scrolling in survival phase (as it is possible in Q-Pop). Further, you can shorten the combat animations in reproduction phase and let AI-Players automtically hit continue.
*Multiplayer: It supports hotseat multiplayer, as Q-Pop does.
*Translations are now possible. The game was originally in German only, but now supports other languages, that can be chosen from text files. I made an English translation, and hope forum members make their own translation. (look at the comments in the ENGLISH.INI for help). No recompilation is needed for that.
To run it, execute the MPLAN32.EXE, the new engine. The MPLANET.EXE is the old executable, that is still needed for its resources, but doesn't work on 64bit windows.
Download Game (for Windows) as Zip-File:
https://yadi.sk/d/IWLru8fnLNdDiA
Download source code of the new engine:
https://yadi.sk/d/vCG99K_zZJ-vnw
Download modified HQX Library (GNU-LGPL):
https://yadi.sk/d/PnbrD0_bIWvamA
Some screenshots:
The survival round. 640x480
Meteor impact after the reproduction round. 1280x960 with hq2x.
Links:
https://www.frunit.de/qpop/ - Q-Pop fanpage (in German)
https://qpop.fandom.com/de/wiki/Q-Pop_und_Magnetic_Planet_Wiki - Q-Pop and Magnetic Planet Wiki (in German)
FAQ:
F: Why do I need a programe with "32" in title for 64-bit computer.
A: 64-bit computers are downward compatible with 32-bit computers, but not with 16 bit computers (including the 80286). Native 64-bit code is only needed for programes that need gigabytes of RAM, while this only needs ~10MB of RAM. Also the compatiblity problems started with Windows XP, that typically runs on 32bit computers.
F: How can I set the zoom ?
A: It choses automatically that highest zoom possible (integer multiples of 640x480) with your desktop resolution . If you want a higher resolution choose a higher desktop resolution. Tipp: 1280x960 gives you full screen (at least on 4:3 screens).
F: It says, I cannot execute 16-Bit executables:
A: Run the MPLAN32.EXE, not the MPLANET.EXE. (the old EXE-File is still needed for its resources.)
F: The Window cannot be moved !
A: This wasn't possible in the orginal too. Maybe future versions will support it.
F: The music doesn't work !
A: Make sure you have a MIDI-synthesizer set in your system settings. Sometimes the music also failes without reason, in this case restart the programme.
F: The text is in German, how to set it to English ?
A: click on the button labeled "DE" on the top bar (it is missing in the screenshots here). Now you get a menu to select english (or another language if someone makes the translations)