FTJava 2.0

FTJava

Is a very capable Full Thrust client written by Jon Davis and Dan Blezek

Authors include Jon Davis, Dan Blezek, Tony Christney, Mike Riddle, Damond Walker, and Tom Tongue. Contributors include Brian Bell, Roger Burton West, Nick Dingle, Scott Field, Noam Izenberg, Mark Kochte, Al Muller, Brendan Robertson, George Ryon, and Bob Yeager.

This team did an amazing job it's a work of art and shows such love of the game.

History

The history of the game is that it was written in Java. In the 2000s Java was the way to write cross platform applications. The game evolved over the years and was an automated play by email client that emailed opponents moves via an online mailbox with a game moderation server attached. 

The online aspect evolved the game was free to use, but a donation was asked for to cover running costs. Nobody was making anything off of it including rhe author of Full Thrust Jon Tuffley. 

The game reached its peak around from 2007 till 2019 when it was taken down and no trace of it remains aparts for a few copies of it that were saved by archivists. The last version of the game was lost like tears in the rain, as were all the scenarios it had bundled with it. The last found version was 1.3.2 but screenshots of 5.0 exist in the web archive of the now offline website.

The last features added were a full scenario editor and planets and space terrain like asteroids. Version 1.3.2 could not create planets but the game supported them. 

The game at its peak had an online match making service where players could sign up for accounts and slots in games scenarios which were live PvP games. However the turnaround on these games could be quite slow, it wasn't like playing a round of CS Go.

Players would fail to submit orders and there was some degree of waiting about. Interest waned and that's why it was deprecated and taken offline.

Another issues was Java by the 2020s it had basically died out to be replaced by Javascript and web browser based apps for cross platform compatibility. The irony being Javascript was named after Java to make it seem cool but it was nothing like it in any form. Players found it hard to setup and it certainly was a click and go experince, you needed an SDK installed or a Java runtime and it had to be on the PATH. 

Over the years it has surfaced briefly, when someone may say they I have got it working only for them and it to vanish like a Romulan on a border incursion. 

Appeals for information or even a copy of the game and it's scenarios have met no reponse, so the logical conclusion is the authors have moved on to other projects in their lives. and are no longer interested in the project.

Redux

So, what if we could bring FTJava back to life, not as only an online game, with its player issues.  But also a simple standalone game where you could play against quite capable automated opponets, try out ship designs and scenarios and have fun. 

What if the bugs in the original could be fixed over time and the user interface improved. A new and in depth manual helped you learn the ropes.? 

What if it allowed you to step through a completed game and produce detailed AARs, maps and play through reports?

What if it supported the depth and systems of the original but had been play tested and refined using modern agents?

Well dear viewer behold ...

FTJava 2.0 Beta Release

This is a beta version of FTJava 2.0. It has now gone through some extensive static  testing and it really does work. It currently contains three practice scenarios, and a selection of other scenarios. 

The scenario builder is fully funtional - this will be expanded in the future. Hopefully users will also submit their scenarios for the community to share and enjoy.

A new game manual has also been written, the Play Guide, Online play Scenario Editor and Ships Editor are fully up to date for FTJava 2.0.

Feedback on this release is encouraged to improve it so please get in touch.