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Cyanite
8y

Should I Close-Source my project?

I have been working on a Desktop/hacking simulator game and up until now the project has been Open-Source. I'm at a point now where I haven't gone too far to turn back.

Last night I got to thinking about my game, and what I want to do in the future. The game will always remain Free, but I might sell it to another company later down the line, something I can't do if I stay Open. I want to makea good game. And I don't want to do it for money (because that has never worked out for me in the past) but I want to *be able* to make money if I wanted to. I mean, I have been told by several developers that my game will be "ground breaking/a worldwide phenomenon/a Minecraft competitor" while being Open is one of my main selling points, besides populatity, what do I have to gain? I said I don't want to develop for money (mainly because the pressure gets to me) but I'm so poor I'm almost literally starving. I make $3/mo from Patreon and survive from donation from relatives. I feel like I need this. But I also feel selfish. Information should be free, ya know?

Idk.. This started serious and turned into a ramble.. Guess that's what this app is all about.

Leave your opinions below.

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to open or to close? that is the question.

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  • 18
    8y
    Maybe keep the core of the game closed and then some other things that could be modded leave open, so people can hack around and maybe build plugins and mods for the game.
    Idk just a random thought I got.
  • 6
    8y
    I don't know how people make money from open source projects but it always turns it something big.
    Maybe you can make the game engine thing open source.

    Closed source maybe good for money, but it's​ also possible with open source.

    You should take into many factors like how long you will be maintaining, etc.

    Other people here might have good opinions.
  • 1
    8y
    You can do whatever you want, it is yours. If you really want to contribute to the open source community though you can open source libraries and basic functionality stuff you used to make it if that stuff feels like it would be useful to others.
  • 2
    8y
    This is what I plan to do.
    If project is open source, open assets and source.
    If project is really commercial, open only source. (remove all assets from repos)
    (but you want to sell ur projects to another company right?
    If you go to that road -> close it and just give player free copy of compiled game.)
  • 1
    8y
    In your shoes, I would open source the core engine and close source the game mechanics. You could contribute and receive contribution to your core engine, enabling community to write other games, and gain some fame. Still, you could sell the game itself to a company.
  • 4
    8y
    I really like the idea of a closed core system but an open plugin/mod idea. So every body would be able to make of it what the want but still you could sell the core, since as far as I've followed the project (hacking simulator in an own linux distro?) it sounds so fucking awesome!
  • 1
    8y
    I like partaking in the open source portion of this, but if you absolutely must close source it, I understand.
  • 3
    8y
    Here's the thing.. The game is in java and I use the standard Javac compiler to build. I've heard that this is "insecure" and that people can hack it to get my source (like they have done for minecraft) this is a good thing. It would allow for serious modders to get there hands on my source, but not just anyone could have it. And I wouldn't take legal action against anyone tearing apart and modding my game. Legally it would be closed, so I could also sell it if I wished.

    An alternative would be to keep it Open and to use a strict-er license to not allow the source to be used without permission. Though I have no Idea how this would actually work.
    Maybe I could disallow source editing/distribution in a license but then say "Look, as long as you are only modding and not trying to steal my game then I won't pursue these terms."
  • 1
    8y
    @amahlaka ads are the worst part of video games it is awful I would rather pay!
  • 2
    8y
    Regardless, I might Close source the game for now that way I can decide later. If I keep it Open for too long then I can't change my mind (things on the internet never die) but I can always Open it again.
  • 0
    8y
    @Cyanite one thing you can do is let everything open-source except of files like 3d/2d objected and textures
  • 1
    8y
    @Pekira
    I really want to include ads, but if I did then you would be able to toggle them off for free in the settings menu. And they would only populate in-game webpages to add to the immersion.
  • 2
    8y
    @Cyanite when I said that about the ads it was because a lot of games with ads have had every stage of the game I didn't want to insult you. BTW what is the game name? I am curious.
  • 0
    8y
    @Pekira
    I agree, ads are the bane of games. I hate them just as much as the next player. If I do include them, my game being a desktop simulator, expect them to look like they belong in my game.
  • 1
    8y
    Well if you are really serious, you can decompile every thing to assembly and work your way back from there... Probably not a lot of people will do this for a game, so I guess javac should be fine. Although, since it teaches about hacking, maybe a couple of CTF teams want to "hack" it and modify it...
  • 3
    8y
    @Cyanite if is a hacking simulator you could do when the player is hacked/infected it appears real adds in the games as if it was pop-ups
  • 1
    8y
    @pascalwacker
    MinecraftForge (the unofficial modding API) does just this for every major version of Minecraft to help Modders.
  • 2
    8y
    @Pekira
    Thats really brilant actually.. Of course of you accidently click one then it minimises the game and opens up your REAL webbrowser making you loosing precious time (and getting me a ad commision ;3) this would be both funny and annoying.. I like your thinking.. ^~^
  • 1
    8y
    @Pekira
    The name is ExitCode.
    I was going to send you the logo, but devRant wont let me attach images. (the app just crashes when I select an image @dfox)
  • 1
    8y
    @relentlessCoder
    I still feel guilty. I promised to keep the game open. What about my honor? But at the same time.. I'm broke. I'm surviving off of $3/mo from Patreon and charity from my relatives.

    I released the newest update for my game as Patreon-only. So anyone who wants to test it has to donate atleast $1.
  • 1
    8y
    I tried the game in the state of your github release.
    Looks like something already ;D

    Couldn't find your patreon though

    Edit: oh, devrant - > github - > Twitter - > patreon
    Well then ;)

    And there's a sreenshot of it looking nice :D
  • 1
    8y
    @aile11
    Should be a link to my patreon on my Github. Also, should be a link to my twitter on my devRant.
  • 1
    8y
    @relentlessCoder
    Maybe your right.
  • 1
    8y
    @Cyanite if you're have trouble with image uploads please make sure you're using the latest version of the app.
  • 0
    8y
    @dfox just checked, I do. Still can't send the image.
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