** Intermediate snapshot release of base GGZ Gaming Zone components
** Version 0.99.5 - targeted at developers only - API+ABI breakage included
** Please follow the GGZ 0.0.14 branch to get a complete and stable version

The GGZ Gaming Zone (GGZ) is an open-sourced Internet gaming center.
Similar to other online gaming sites, players login and sit at tables
where they can play their favorite games and chat with other players
(and grubby, the chat bot) as well as watching them play.
GGZ supports multiple rooms with varying skill levels, and records your
statistics so you can see how you match up against other players,
and even review past games.
A web interface allows for tournament, team and rankings tracking,
and includes a karma and matchmaking system, and a GGZ applet to play
some games directly in the browser.
GGZ support can be added to existing multiplayer games easily.

We're very pleased that a number of game projects have already
chosen GGZ as their internet gaming platform. Let's work hard to
bring as many multiplayer features into as many games as possible!

** The snapshot series contains staggered releases. 0.99.1 contained libggz,
** ggz-server, ggz-client-libs and ggz-txt-client. 0.99.2 added ggz-python,
** ggz-java and ggz-grubby. 0.99.3 added ggz-docs, ggz-community,
** ggz-gtk-games, ggz-gtk-client and ggz-utils. 0.99.4 added
** ggz-kde-center to complete the package list. 0.99.5 now starts
** the package consolidation.
** Note that the final package structure might change.

New and pending features in this snapshot release (0.99.5):

- {general} ggz-client-libs and libggz were replaced by ggz-base-libs
- {general} ggz-gtk-games was merged into ggz-gtk-client
- {general} several core clients are now 100% non-blocking
- {general} code cleanups, especially constness and printf conventions
- {general} the GGZ functionality is now showcases with starterpacks

- [ggz-base-libs] support for asynchronous name resolver, internal & asyncns
- [ggz-base-libs] internal support for asynchronous connection creation
- [ggz-base-libs] support for multiple ggz.modules files
- [ggz-base-libs] experimental garbage collection support in libggz
- [ggz-base-libs] better handling of TLS encryption policies
- [ggz-python] some extensions to ggz-faketable like player information
- [ggz-python] alternative SVG renderer based on PyQt4, and PNG fallbacks
- [ggz-python] resizable SDL window in GGZBoard
- [ggz-community] dynamic room support to the web service API
- [ggz-community] tournament setup now with player signups
- [ggz-community] web service API now covers buddies and foes
- [ggz-server] ongoing improvements and consolidation of database plugins
- [ggz-server] deprecation of Berkeley DB and DBI plugins
- [ggz-docs] documentation of Connect the Dots savegame format
- [ggz-utils] move of some of the runtime applications from ggz-client-libs
- [ggz-utils] translations for ggz-cmd
- [ggz-kde-center] addition of CMake macros for to configure a GGZ build
- [ggz-kde-center] embedded kggzcore support so that games can connect to GGZ
- [ggz-kde-center] addition of generated protocol and GGZ highscores in KTicTacTux
- [ggz-kde-center] addition Qt4-ported and much improved KDots game
- [ggz-kde-center] new kggzlib connection profile dialogue with server list
- [ggz-kde-center] new kggzlib integration class for kggzcore
- [ggz-kde-center] new kggzlib table configuration dialogue
- [ggz-kde-center] several further enhancements to kggzcore library
- [ggz-kde-center] synchronisation with GGZ-Community through Lokarest
- [ggz-kde-center] addition of Vencedor, the new KDE 4 core client
- [ggz-kde-center] new Oxygen player icons

New and pending features in this snapshot release (0.99.4):

- {general} ggz-kde-{games,client} were replaced by ggz-kde-center
- {general} ggz-sdl-games was moved back into playground
- {general} many global and shadowed variable cleanups in C applications
- {general} linker map support for C libraries to reduce symbol count

- [ggz-kde-center] new application Plasma-KGGZ
- [ggz-kde-center] new libraries KGGZDMod and KGGZCore
- [ggz-kde-center] new Tic-Tac-Toe game server Kryds
- [ggz-kde-center] KTicTacTux and KGrubby ported to KDE 4

- [ggz-community] export of tournament tables as SVG
- [ggz-community] implementation of registration policies
- [ggz-community] first-time setup configuration wizard
- [ggz-gtk-client] several usability and code improvements
- [ggz-gtk-games] several code improvements
- [ggz-server] individually selectable database plugins, and other updates
- [ggz-server] improvements to the savegame handling
- [ggz-server] enhancements to the GGZCards and Tic-Tac-Toe servers
- [ggz-server] integration of real-time statistics functionality
- [ggz-server] updates to the MySQL database plugin and stored procedures

New and pending features in the previous release (0.99.3):

- {general} pkg-config files for the GGZ libraries
- {protocol} transmission of untranslated/internal room name

- [ggz-docs] documentation of the Connect-the-Dots protocol
- [ggz-docs] documentation of savegame formats and game restoration
- [ggz-docs] documentation of local and remote socket usage
- [ggz-docs] extended hosting and game development guides
- [ggz-docs] more talks about GGZ were given and are now referenced
- [ggz-community] integrated forum software in addition to phpBB integration
- [ggz-community] Web Service API for some statistical functions
- [ggz-community] experimental support for OpenID, both provider and consumer
- [ggz-community] improved installation instructions and feature list
- [ggz-community] improved tournament support including graphical plans
- [ggz-community] more modular configurability of feature sets
- [ggz-community] additional savegame handlers for ConnectX, Go and Reversi
- [ggz-community] more functionality on the personal page
- [ggz-community] confirmation for new accounts, and host player upgrades
- [ggz-community] administrator menu for room changes
- [ggz-community] Freeciv theme to give Freeciv players on GGZ a web frontend
- [ggz-gtk-games] use ggzcomm-generated protocol code in TicTacToe
- [ggz-gtk-games] removal of obsolete Spades client
- [ggz-gtk-games] improved SVN graphics for the Chess client
- [ggz-gtk-client] convert Gaim plugin into a Pidgin plugin
- [ggz-gtk-client] several GUI fixes taken from gnome-games project
- [ggz-gtk-client] large number of translations, all from gnome-games project
- [ggz-utils] convenience tool ggz-sql to connect to the ggzd database
- [ggz-utils] several improvements and fixes to the TelGGZ tool
- [ggz-utils] much more robust protocol generation in ggzcomm
- [ggz-utils] ggzcomm now supports the KGGZRaw class as networking backend

- [ggz-python] new application t-rex for automatic tournament table launching
- [ggz-python] completion of Submarine server for the KBattleship client
- [ggz-python] improved Unicode handling for command-line output
- [ggz-python] inclusion of the Uri class into the ggz-python library
- [ggz-python] Portuguese translation for some games
- [ggz-server] support for TCP wrappers to be able to blacklist connections
- [ggz-server] savegame support for Reversi and Chinese Checkers
- [ggz-server] rooms can now be reconfigured through the database, too
- [ggz-server] zero-configuration database upgrades for PostgreSQL backend

New and pending features in the previous release (0.99.2):

- [ggz-grubby] support for Python 2.5 and Tcl 8.5 plugins
- [ggz-grubby] support for SILC 1.1 API for network core plugin
- [ggz-grubby] unification of several execution and embedded plugins
- [ggz-grubby] French translation
- [ggz-python] PyAncillary, wrapper library for libggz's ggz_send_fd function
- [ggz-python] game server Submarine for KBattleship client
- [ggz-python] completion of ggz(d)mod wrapper libraries
- [ggz-python] ggz-faketable, a new developer tool for launching games
- [ggz-java] handling of player permissions
- [ggz-java] improved chat widget with emoticons, autocompletion and history

- [libggz] compilation fixes, in particular for non-Linux platforms
- [libggz] new utility functions such as ggz_strbuild()
- [ggz-client-libs] bugfixes and extensive protocol documentation
- [ggz-txt-client] player registration at GGZ server
- [ggz-txt-client] persistent command line history
- [ggz-server] game restoration architecture in ggzd, ggzdmod, ggzdmod++
- [ggz-server] game restoration implemented for Tic-Tac-Toe server
- [ggz-server] external Lineup4 AI player in ConnectX server
- [ggz-server] extensive protocol documentation for ggzdmod
- [ggz-server] confirmation policies for account registration

New and pending features in the previous release (0.99.1):

- [libggz] experimental support for NSS library backend for TLS encryption
- [libggz] improved support for non-GCC compilation and unusual paths
- [libggz] URI parser to handle ggz:// URIs
- [libggz] handling of translated strings for language changes at runtime
- [ggz-client-libs] improved support for parallel and non-Linux installation
- [ggz-client-libs] support for GGZ top players rankings per room
- [ggz-client-libs] several cleanups in the API of ggzcore
- [ggz-client-libs] import of dozens of translations for ggzcore messages
                    from gnome-games
- [ggz-txt-client] ability to connect with TLS encryption
- [ggz-txt-client] selection of frontend when launching a game
- [ggz-txt-client] updated translations
- [ggz-txt-client] more robust handling of batch commands without lockups
- [ggz-server] password strength checks for new users based on (omni)crack
- [ggz-server] removal of deprecated libdb 2.x/3.x database backends (use 4.x)
- [ggz-server] compilation of multiple modular database backends at once
- [ggz-server] automatic setup of database tables on startup
- [ggz-server] Unicode string checks for usernames and passwords
- [ggz-server] stored procedure for Unicode handling in the database
- [ggz-server] translation of games and rooms information
- [ggz-server] improved automatically generated network code for Tic-Tac-Toe
- [ggz-server] various fixes in the GGZCards server, and better randomness
- [ggz-server] implementation of GGZ top players rankings per room feature
- [ggz-server] better logging in the server
- [ggz-server] automatic recalculation of player rankings within the server,
               taken from the previously external tool in ggz-community
- [ggz-server] more robust XML handling in the server code
- [ggz-server] symbolic privilege roles in ggzduedit for easier user creation

See README.GGZ for an overview, or QuickStart.GGZ to get started with one
of the GGZ core clients to be able to start playing.

Additional information:
http://www.ggzgamingzone.org/releases/snapshot/