vcmi/vcmi

★ 5,639C++Audience · developerComplexity · 4/5Setup · hard

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((vcmi))
    What it is
      Open-source engine
      HoMM III recreation
      C++ reimplementation
    Platforms
      Linux
      macOS
      Windows
      Android and iOS
    Use cases
      Play original game
      Modding
      Custom content
    Audience
      Gamers
      Modders
      C++ developers

mindmap root((vcmi)) What it is Open-source engine HoMM III recreation C++ reimplementation Platforms Linux macOS Windows Android and iOS Use cases Play original game Modding Custom content Audience Gamers Modders C++ developers

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Play Heroes of Might and Magic III on Linux, macOS, iOS, or Android using your own copy of the original game data.

USE CASE 2

Develop mods, new maps, or custom campaigns for Heroes of Might and Magic III using VCMI's extended modding tools.

USE CASE 3

Study how a classic turn-based strategy game engine is structured by reading through the C++ source code.

Tech stack

C++CMakeAndroidiOS

Getting it running

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires building from C++ source with CMake and supplying original Heroes of Might and Magic III game data files.

No license information is available from the sources provided.

In plain English

VCMI is an open-source recreation of the game engine for Heroes of Might and Magic III, a classic turn-based strategy game from 1999. The original game's engine is not available as open source, so the VCMI project rebuilds it from scratch in C++. The goal is to match the original game's behavior while also adding support for modern operating systems and hardware. This means that if you own a copy of Heroes of Might and Magic III, you can use VCMI to run the game on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. The project does not include the game's copyrighted art, music, or maps, which must come from your own copy. VCMI acts purely as the engine that reads those files and runs the game. The project is built using CMake, a standard build tool for cross-platform C++ projects. The cross-platform support spans desktop operating systems and mobile platforms, which expands where players can run a game that was originally designed for older Windows systems. The topics listed for the project include Android, iOS, Linux, and macOS, confirming this breadth. Because VCMI is an engine reimplementation, anyone interested in modding Heroes of Might and Magic III can use it to add content that the original engine did not support. Modders and community developers have used VCMI to create new campaigns, creatures, spells, and map features beyond what the shipped game allowed. No README is available in the repository root, so this description is based on the project metadata. The project's documentation and build instructions are likely hosted on an external wiki or documentation site.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I have a GOG copy of Heroes of Might and Magic III and I want to set up VCMI on Linux. What files do I need from my original game and how do I point VCMI to them?

Prompt 2

I want to create a new mod for Heroes of Might and Magic III using VCMI. Where do I start and what format do the mod files use?

Prompt 3

Help me understand how VCMI handles pathfinding in C++. I want to add a custom movement rule for a new unit type. Which source files should I look at first?

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