Perl and The Lacuna Expanse

There is a lot of discussion in the Perl community about how to make Perl more popular.

And there is a place where people are regularly asking questions like, 'Can someone help me install Strawberry Perl?'

I have no involvement in the project. I just play the game. But I wanted to draw the community's attention to new ways in which Perl could be made popular.

The game is written in Perl, yes. But the speciality of the game is that it makes an API available, and there is a Perl client which uses the API. Players of the game are able to do things with Perl scripts that they wouldn't be able to do as easily with the web client.

That is what gives the players an incentive to learn Perl. Or at least to install it and to run scripts written by other players. Most players who play the game for any length of time end up learning to use Perl scripts.

A little about the game (copied from the website)
The Lacuna Expanse is a region of space with millions of habitable worlds. You can play with or compete against thousands of players as you build your empire, fight off spies in a battle for cold war supremacy, form alliances, search the expanse for lost ancient artifacts, and more. Join thousands of players online right now in this massively multiplayer online space strategy game

Play for free on the web or on your iPhone.

A few links:
The Lacuna Expanse Home Page
Click Here to Play
The Perl client code
Perl Server code

Comment on Perl and The Lacuna Expanse

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Perl and The Lacuna Expanse by GrandFather (Saint) on Aug 25, 2012 at 04:06 UTC
Well, that sure fooled me. I thought it was straight up spam, but it's not. The OP is drawing attention to a large and successful Perl project. Indeed, it even got notice at the YAPC::NA - 2012. If the OP is involved in the project he may like to follow up with a little information about how the system is put together. True laziness is hard work	[reply]
Re^2: Perl and The Lacuna Expanse by Old_Gray_Bear (Bishop) on Aug 25, 2012 at 15:13 UTC
Then the Original Poster should specify it as such in the post. This node as current constituted is SPAM with no mention of any relevant Perl content. If the OP wants to alter the text to reflect that the game is written in Perl, then I withdraw my objection. Note: Written BC (Before Coffee). ---- I Go Back to Sleep, Now. OGB	[reply]
Re^3: Perl and The Lacuna Expanse by jdporter (Paladin) on Aug 25, 2012 at 20:53 UTC
++OGB! Here is an interesting interview of the "game"'s creator by chromatic; it has a lot of the background which we monks might find relevant.	[reply]
Re^3: Perl and The Lacuna Expanse by Anonymous Monk on May 11, 2013 at 12:27 UTC
This is not only a great game but it is also how i learned some perl. Very cool way to see how scripts can automate stuff. This is empire isaacssv558.	[reply]
Re: Perl and The Lacuna Expanse by Haarg (Priest) on Sep 02, 2012 at 01:11 UTC
I'm not aware of any involvement the OP has in the project, but I worked on multiple parts of the Lacuna Expanse code and gave the talk on it at YAPC::NA 2012. The backend code is all written in Perl, using modern techniques and modules. It communicates with the clients using JSON-RPC 2.0. The API is open, allowing users to develop their own tools aside from the standard clients. All of the components are open source and available on github: Backend server code Web client iPhone Client Game missions All of the game art is also available for use with custom clients. The community has also created a set of CPAN modules for interacting with the game through perl: Games::Lacuna::Client	[reply]
Re: Perl and The Lacuna Expanse by RedOrion (Initiate) on Jun 01, 2013 at 02:26 UTC
This is a game that will keep you around for hours with endless fun. You get to simulate an empire in space, colonizing planets in a ever big universe. Keep it up TLE. This game gives you the most you can ask for with space exploration to conquering other empires. The possibilities are endless. The decisions are yours. You choose your fate. Join me, use this link to be placed next to me and other great things. https://us1.lacunaexpanse.com/#referral=2ed993b8-4ab4-3a5c-913f-35b15471ab95 RedOrion	[reply]