FreeCol 0.8.0

FreeCol 0.8.0 - Released 15 January 2009 (after a few months of alpha versions). See http://www.freecol.org/news/freecol-0.8.0-released.html. Works fine on the 9-year-old unsupported Windows Millennium Edition.
*Four new nations possible (with option, in single-player mode, to have any number of European rivals from 0 to 7)
*New sound effects (though no music)
*Forests' appearance changed, and some changes to other terrain
*Units slide instead of jumping
*Player may name geographical features (when starting a game with the "Exploration Points" option) - regions, rivers (both the traditional sort and the new-style "great rivers"), mountain ranges
But the big thing is reportedly the ability to use XML to define gameplay mechanics.
==New nations==
*Portugal, of course: Brazil being the obvious reason, with Vasco da Gama helping swing the pendulum
*Denmark, which colonized Greenland long before other European powers were up to such exploits
*Sweden, a major power centuries ago. The Swedes settled in New Jersey before the Netherlands took over it.
*Russia, which approached the northwestern side of America but eventually sold Alaska to America.
They have default advantages, but see below.
==National advantages==
Human player can choose to play as any power with any power's advantage, not restricted to the default advantage of the chosen power.
==Founding Fathers==
Choosing FFs is apparently more restricted. No longer can you "ESC" to get a fresh selection next turn if your favourite is not on offer: you have to choose one of the five. So if really keen to get De Soto on board you should, choose whichever explorer is on offer.
Category:FreeCol versions