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

[Colin McGregor]

On 2/25/09, Tyler Aviss <tjaviss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> 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

A sort of third route that has been taken by ID Software for their
older games is to release the source code under the GPL, but not
release the data files. So, want to produce a first person shooter
type game, well, the source for some older games is out there, but you
will have to come up with your own monster definitions and level
descriptions...

Colin McGregor

> 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/
>> TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
>> How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists
>>
>
>
>
> --
> 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
>
--
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