What if Space Empires VI went Open Source?

[inigma]

Just think, SEVI as an Open Source with Aaron at the helm... what do you think?

[Wade]

Elaborate,please, on "Open Source" as it would apply to the game.

[Phoenix-D]

Will not happen, as SFI has the rights to the game.

Would be a really bad idea, seeing as the open source people object to making money on a program and this is Aaron's *income*.

Would not help game development in any signifcant manner.

[StarShadow]

"Will not happen, as SFI has the rights to the game."

SFI has rights to all future versions?

[Phoenix-D]

StarShadow said:
"Will not happen, as SFI has the rights to the game."

SFI has rights to all future versions?

That's how I read the press release they put out when SFI aquired MM, yes.

Fyron: most open source groups would say Civ4 doesn't count. You still have to buy the software, restricve EULA, etc. And I still doubt it would help much if MM went that route..

[StarShadow]

I hope Aaron doesn't end up regretting that, with SFI in control they could decide to disallow any future releases.

[Fyron]

That depends... "open source" does not really mean "free source," just that the source code is open for inspection and modification (and not necessarily to the public). Open source apps tend to be free, but the two things are different beasts. Most of the important Civ4 source is open, it is just not "free" (though the SDK is free, you still need a bunch of closed source backbone in the exe to make much use of it).

[David E. Gervais]

Phoenix-D said:

That's how I read the press release they put out when SFI aquired MM, yes.

Let me set something straight, either the press report was badly written or totally wrong.. SFI Aquired 'Intellectual Property' From Malfador. The Intellectual Property is the Space Empires Brand/Lable/Franchise (this includes All Past, Present and Future Space Empires Games) Aaron is still the owner, opperator and main man behind Malfador Machinations.

Now the questions that pop into my mind are..

Q1: "Will SFI go with a different Developer for SE6" (Would be a really stupid decision but they have made worse)

Q2: "Did Aaron sell the Space Empires Franchise because he feels he has done it to death and wants to move on? (Remember he has been doing this for over 10 years now)

Q3: If the answer to #2 is 'Yes',.. "what wonderfull ideas are growing in Aaron's mind as we speak." (I trust Aaron to do what is right for himself, his company and his family. You should have trust in him too.)

Anyone care to answer? Hmmm, wait.. asking questions or speculating on info we don't know, only fans the rumor mill fires. Someone call the fire department, we got some bushfires to put out.

Nuf Said,.. returning to lurk mode.

Cheers!

[Fyron]

Civ 4 is almost open source, you know. Much of the game logic is in python scripts, the data is in XML files. They released the source code SDK for the gamecore.dll file, which contains most of the rest of the game logic that is not done in the python scripts. Seems to be working well for them.

[Urendi Maleldil]

A project can be open source and still be commercial. "Free and Open Source" means free as in "speech," but not necessarily free as in "beer."