[Solatar]

Yes, but you can't buy Freespace2 any more. Oh well, let's all just pause for a moment of silence to be thankful we have Freespace2.......Okay, minute's up.

[Vertigo1]

Originally posted by GalacticEmperor
The CODE is free. You still need all the data files to run it.

Exactly.  The source code and the game are two seperate entities and definitely different in terms of legality.  Just because the source code is out doesn't mean the game is free.  It just gives the users the ability to make utilities and such for the game or mod it even further.  Even then, its only enough to compile a single exe.  As the poster I'm quoting said, you still need the other data files to run the game.  The original copyright still applies until otherwise stated by Interplay or Volition.

[Stryke 9]

MD: No. That's not what open-source means. Read up or look at other open-source games and apps or something.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Stryke 9
MD: No. That's not what open-source means. Read up or look at other open-source games and apps or something.

No it's you who is confused. Freespace is not open source. The code has been released as open source. The rest of the game was not.
ID was the first company I can think of who did this. You release the code. People port the code to other platforms and improve the game code. More people buy the game and you increase sales. ID did it with Doom. The result was ports to AmigaDOS and Linux which resulted in more sales. It worked so well they did it again with Quake.
 It's a way of extending the shelf life of a game that is reaching the end of it's viable life.

Considering what wankers Interplay have been do you really believe they would give the game way for free? Or do you find it easier to believe that they would use this method to try to squeeze every last penny they can out of the Freespace series at no extra cost to them?

[penguin]

The FS2 code (the engine) has been released under a fairly non-restrictive license.  However, I would hesitate to call it "open-source," as that term has specific licensing requirements which the Volition source code license does not meet.  Most open-source licenses allow you to sell a product based on that code, provided you make the source available; the Volition source code license prohibits that.

And the game itself -- the campaigns, models, graphics, etc.  -- have not been released at all under the source code license, so the only license that applies to them is the one that comes with the game.

In other words:

• you may distribute the source code, for free
  
• you may distribute executables, libraries, etc. for for free; AFAIK you are not required to redistribute the source along with it (a major distinction between the Volition source code license and the GPL)
  
• you may not charge for the source code, nor for anything built with the released source code
  
• you may not redistribute the original game -- executables, models, movies, etc. -- it is not covered under the source code license, and the applicable Freespace/Freespace2 license prohibits it.

Obviously, this last rule is bent a little: people release mods that contain TBLs (with original Volition data), and/or modified/re-skinned Volition models; this seems a little questionable from a strict IP perspective, but it is done all the time...

IANAL, but that's my interpretation of it.  Do whatever you feel is right

[Solatar]

Cut and paste DIRECTLY from the copyright you are shown when installing fs2
You may make copies of the Software
for your personal noncommercial home entertainment use and to give to
friends and acquaintances on a no cost noncommercial basis.

Here it is.

It is still controversal whether we can give it to people SAYING that their CDs are scratched up.

[penguin]

Originally posted by Hades

You may make copies of the Software
for your personal noncommercial home entertainment use and to give to
friends and acquaintances on a no cost noncommercial basis.

Here it is.

It is still controversal whether we can give it to people SAYING that their CDs are scratched up.

Whoa.

I had no idea... I'd better go re-install (and actually read the license agreement this time)... That's very interesting.

[Solatar]

I thought you guys would think so. Anyway, read about to the middile, or end of the first paragraph.

[Sandwich]

Originally posted by Hades


Here it is.

It is still controversal whether we can give it to people SAYING that their CDs are scratched up.

Oh my gosh. My apologies; you were right. I saw it with my own eyes. *shakes head* I can't believe that has been completely missed for the past 3 years! Shows how often people actually read those liscense agreements.

But anyway, what does this mean for us? It sounds like we can freely copy the discs and give, not sell, those copies to friends and aquaintances. So what does it matter if someone's disc is scratched or if he's just claiming to have a scratched disc; essentially, there's no such thing as a warez copy of FS2, so long as it's the full 3 discs? Where's DaveB? I wanna hear his views on this!

[Stryke 9]

You DO realize that he probably had to okay it before it bot released, yeah? Might say something there.

[Sandwich]

Originally posted by Stryke 9
You DO realize that he probably had to okay it before it bot released, yeah? Might say something there.

No duh! I wanted to hear what were the reasons behind the decision to release it with this clause in the Agreement.

[Stryke 9]

Because Volition is secretly a front for the Communist Party. Vive el Revolucion!

It's a lot less effective without the little funny accent marks.

[Ace]

With a game with a title like Red Faction you honestly wonder.

[Solatar]

So who wants to post it in the downloads section?

[Sandwich]

Originally posted by Hades
So who wants to post it in the downloads section?

In all actuality, I prefer to hear from DaveB about this regardless of what the liscense agreement says, just to be sure.

[daveb]

I have no idea what the wording of the agreement intends. And I'm not a lawyer.

However, common sense dictates it would be a very very stupid thing to do to post the game data or executables (that is, those that come with the game).

As for the source code being "open source" - I don't even know what open source means. What you can do :

- pass the source code and any utilities or other goodies generated from this around on a hobbyist basis. You need to make sure any source code needs to contain the license agreement/notice in all the files.

What you cannot do :

- profit in any way shape or form from the source code or parts thereof.  That includes derived executables, sections of code brought into other codebases etc.

Basically, you can't make any money from it, or use it in any commercial form. Its for fun only.

[aldo_14]

I wonder....if you recompiled the code, and created new versions of every data, interface, etc file, you could distribute it as a freeware game, then, surely?

[CP5670]

I suppose so, but that would take a lot of work...

[penguin]

To be honest, this is what I would like to see as a result of the source code project -- a complete game.  I've posted this in the FSSCP forum, and I still maintain that it wouldn't be that tough...

The graphics (UI and HUD) -- all 2D.  We'd need sounds, including persona voices, etc. (a lot of the ones are getting old already, anyhow -- I cringe whenever I hear "get this bandit off of me" )  Wrap it up w/ a campaign or two and you have a nice TC complete w/ engine.

I'm surprised no one has jumped on the "custom HUD" thing yet at least...

[Galemp]

Hmmmm, they don't have to be DETAILED, just functional. You don't need the skin to be pretty to use the model, you just need a skin. Someone with a lot of time could make a very basic interface.