LGPL, GPL, BSD licenses [Was: OSS/Linux Games Programming]

Tyler Aviss tjaviss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org
Wed Feb 25 17:39:16 UTC 2009


One of the things I would eventually like to do is develop some small
commercial products. Even if they're just something small and silly
like an iPhone game.
My initial thoughts would be to have a short closed-source release
cycle for the project's core, possibly with a "modding" SDK. Once
enough time passes or some form of sustainable revenue cycle emerges,
to release to full source (I believe that ID et al did this with some
older engines).

I know that most Linux/Unix users are fairly against the concept of
any non-open software (and one has to be careful with how/what
libraries one uses to avoid (L)GPL issues), but how do you all think
the concept of a to-be-open release would work? One could even
incorporate wording into a new license that basically says the game
source would be "liberated" upon certain conditions being met, which
would prevent things from becoming like WineX/Cedega.

Again, I know a lot of people are against the idea of such things, but
in these times it's fairly hard as it is to find time for the
projects. Enough money to pay the bills could mean more dedication to
the project itself.

Actually, one thing I considered also would be to allow source
releases for one platform, and binaries for another. Give the windows
users binaries and the linux users source (or source for "opened"
iphones and binaries for the iTunes store, etc).

- TJA

On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 10:57 PM, Marc Lanctot <lanctot-yfeSBMgouQgsA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> Herb Richter wrote:
>>
>> This month's NewTLUG meeting will be held at Seneca College on the YorkU
>> campus in room S2168 (SEQ building) - upper kaleidoscope room
>>
>
> I'm sorry that I could not make it out tonight, but here's an email I sent
> to Colin that I realize is relevant to the list.. I was hoping to talk about
> this with some of you tonight...
>
> ----
>
> What an excellent subject! (The NewTLUG meeting subject)
>
> I've been thinking about forming or joining an existing "Linux/OSS Gaming
> Project" (a group of people interested in programming open-source games)
> lately. I'd like to know if there are any LUG members who would be
> interested in this as well, or even just forming a small group that would
> develop games in their spare time in the hopes that eventually it got big
> enough and be like a Sourceforge for games but with more emphasis on
> building a community of OSS games programmers that would contribute to each
> other's game projects.
>
> A few days ago I've been playing around with GCCG (http://gccg.sf.net/). I
> don't know if you've tried it or will be talking about it but if not maybe I
> can offer a few words. It's a general CCG engine; it has a virtual economy
> etc. for buying/trading/selling cards-- right now it has servers running 5-6
> games and it's active, meaning there are people playing games on the servers
> so you can find people to play with. I haven't looked much into the code yet
> but I probably will because I wanted to make such a thing and had started
> but never had the time to finish it; now, I'm hoping to use it for a game I
> had in mind.
>
> I also had another idea a while back about an "Open Gaming Site". Sort of
> like a completely open/Web 2.0 version of Yahoo Games where anybody can
> develop and submit a game for others to play. Like Richard Rognlie's PBEM
> server but for games played in real-time. I've had a friend working on this
> since I had to bow out due to lack of time.. not sure how far he's gotten,
> though. Also, I think Kongregate might beat us to this. But it may be worth
> mentioning. The great thing about this idea is that it would catch on fast
> and have tons of good games eventually but the server maintenance would be
> something someone would have to do full-time.
>
>
> Marc
>
> --
> A computer without Windows is like chocolate cake without mustard.
>  -- Unknown
> --
> The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://gtalug.org/
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-- 
Tyler Aviss
Systems Support
LPIC/LPIC-2
(647) 302-0942
--
The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://gtalug.org/
TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists





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