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Hi,
I've played vendetta longer time ago and as many others said: It is a great game. In this respect I have nothing to add. And I would also pay some money - only to be able to play vendetta test.
But what about the future? Because I'm an OpenSource fan, I'll incline to ask: What about going OpenSource?
Sure, I understand that Vendetta was a bunch of work and the step to publish such a project as opensource is a big one and in most cases not reversible. Additionally this step would imply that vendetta would become non-commercial - and so propably no one would gain money out of this project. But as it seems for me this won't be the case anyway...
This step has the big advantage, that there would be certainly some sponsors which could provide servers and other resources. (btw there is another free OpenSource MMOPRG which is propably not so professional like vendetta, but it shows that this way works: http://www.planeshift.it/).
Additionally this way some qualified developers and designers could be found. I don't want to say, you are not qualified ;-) You really have done great work. But everyone has to get his income and nobody would cry if some of your team would say, that they have no time anymore to work for vendetta for free. But also there are a lot of people who would be happy to spend some time this way and participate in such a great project.
I know that this way was never the one, vendetta was supposed to go - but it is the one, which surely would preserve this really good game and the great vendetta community. And I think, everyone agrees that this is better than if the big red button is pressed someday...
It would be nice if someone would like to discuss this idea!
At this point I would like to thank guildsoftware for the nice hours I had playing vendetta! It would be nice if this also would be possible in future.
I've played vendetta longer time ago and as many others said: It is a great game. In this respect I have nothing to add. And I would also pay some money - only to be able to play vendetta test.
But what about the future? Because I'm an OpenSource fan, I'll incline to ask: What about going OpenSource?
Sure, I understand that Vendetta was a bunch of work and the step to publish such a project as opensource is a big one and in most cases not reversible. Additionally this step would imply that vendetta would become non-commercial - and so propably no one would gain money out of this project. But as it seems for me this won't be the case anyway...
This step has the big advantage, that there would be certainly some sponsors which could provide servers and other resources. (btw there is another free OpenSource MMOPRG which is propably not so professional like vendetta, but it shows that this way works: http://www.planeshift.it/).
Additionally this way some qualified developers and designers could be found. I don't want to say, you are not qualified ;-) You really have done great work. But everyone has to get his income and nobody would cry if some of your team would say, that they have no time anymore to work for vendetta for free. But also there are a lot of people who would be happy to spend some time this way and participate in such a great project.
I know that this way was never the one, vendetta was supposed to go - but it is the one, which surely would preserve this really good game and the great vendetta community. And I think, everyone agrees that this is better than if the big red button is pressed someday...
It would be nice if someone would like to discuss this idea!
At this point I would like to thank guildsoftware for the nice hours I had playing vendetta! It would be nice if this also would be possible in future.
[post deleted on better judgement]
I don't know enough about coding to benifit from an open source program. Open source is truely a better option then simply watching a project vanish into the air. i.e vendetta.
Yet, I am unsure if "going open source" will do anything benificial to keep the project going. Most open source projects have opened up, spread out into 15 different versions each 5 or six modifications different, and then silently faded into nothing. Not much farther then the original project. And vendetta is multiplayer, which requires server, and bandwidth. Somthing that doesn't come free.
Yet, I am unsure if "going open source" will do anything benificial to keep the project going. Most open source projects have opened up, spread out into 15 different versions each 5 or six modifications different, and then silently faded into nothing. Not much farther then the original project. And vendetta is multiplayer, which requires server, and bandwidth. Somthing that doesn't come free.
Indeed, going opensource may actualy cause more harm than good
There are a lot of examples of really good OpenSource-Projects. Perhaps some of you are thinking OpenSource=everyone has his hands on modifiying the source. That isn't true.
OpenSource simply means, that the source is open, everyone can lookin and propose changes e.g. bugfixes. The devs would have a look on them and commit it. But not everyone can modify the source itself!! Certainly there are the core-developers which are only allowed to release new versions.
OpenOffice is an example for a very powerful Office solution which is OpenSource - in core source of the commercial StarOffice. And there are not 15 different version - but only one, which will be developed in future and supported by many companies. And this is not the only example for powerfull opensource software. Seems that some people still are thinking, opensource = free = poor stuff. That are 3 different aspects.
Also for games I can imagine that a company would agree to spend some bandwith or hardware for supporting it (e.g. sourceforge).
OpenSource simply means, that the source is open, everyone can lookin and propose changes e.g. bugfixes. The devs would have a look on them and commit it. But not everyone can modify the source itself!! Certainly there are the core-developers which are only allowed to release new versions.
OpenOffice is an example for a very powerful Office solution which is OpenSource - in core source of the commercial StarOffice. And there are not 15 different version - but only one, which will be developed in future and supported by many companies. And this is not the only example for powerfull opensource software. Seems that some people still are thinking, opensource = free = poor stuff. That are 3 different aspects.
Also for games I can imagine that a company would agree to spend some bandwith or hardware for supporting it (e.g. sourceforge).
Well, Open Source does have its benefits and drawbacks. As my flawed understanding of the GPL runs, it states that anyone may modify, compile and release the program so long as the source code is included in its original form, or otherwise made available in an obvious fashion for those downloading the binaries.
The benefits are that the years of your work would not be for nothing. The project would continue as thousands of developers put their ideas forth in their own iterations of the engine. Drawbacks are that not every developer who took the project on would have the same commitment to high quality and cross-platform portability that Guild holds. More than likely, we'd see different versions of the engine develop in different directions, as some developers dropped the OpenGL code altogether to make a cool DirectX project, and others stayed true to the source.
Like it or not, the code would be largely out of your exclusive control, which is not something I recall Guild being exactly comfortable with.
In any case, the decision is of course yours, and we'll do our best to be polite and supportive, so long as you don't drop it on the doormat of Atari, Inc. (formerly Infogrames) with a note signing all rights over to them.
Much Christmas cheer
Ku Genin
The benefits are that the years of your work would not be for nothing. The project would continue as thousands of developers put their ideas forth in their own iterations of the engine. Drawbacks are that not every developer who took the project on would have the same commitment to high quality and cross-platform portability that Guild holds. More than likely, we'd see different versions of the engine develop in different directions, as some developers dropped the OpenGL code altogether to make a cool DirectX project, and others stayed true to the source.
Like it or not, the code would be largely out of your exclusive control, which is not something I recall Guild being exactly comfortable with.
In any case, the decision is of course yours, and we'll do our best to be polite and supportive, so long as you don't drop it on the doormat of Atari, Inc. (formerly Infogrames) with a note signing all rights over to them.
Much Christmas cheer
Ku Genin
well, Im thinking more along the lines of cheat clients/advanced aimbots/etc etc. I mean look at bzflag - you see people with infinitely big shockwaves, large bullets and etc all the time
I feel it's necessary to point out the Parsec project...
It was located at http://www.parsec.org/ but went open-source and moved to http://openparsec.sourceforge.net/ in May of 2003. In the time since then, very little code has been comitted to the project. As of now, it's basically dead.
I don't think that'll happen too Vendetta, but remember it's always a possibility. (I feel sad now.)
It was located at http://www.parsec.org/ but went open-source and moved to http://openparsec.sourceforge.net/ in May of 2003. In the time since then, very little code has been comitted to the project. As of now, it's basically dead.
I don't think that'll happen too Vendetta, but remember it's always a possibility. (I feel sad now.)
There's a couple of problems with open-source:
1) No centralized server. Open Source can't pay for a $300 a month dedicated server connection. Without a SINGLE, centralized game universe, Vendetta will never be an MMORPG
2) No storyline
3) No development. Sure, there'd be technical development. But I don't think we'd ever see a thousand sectors, nor a pilotable Frigate. Just... improvement to what we have.
4) Hacks
5) No assurance of retainership. There's no guarantee that the game won't turn into something totally uncool. And if so much as ONE person says fork, I'll shove a spork in your eye.
1) No centralized server. Open Source can't pay for a $300 a month dedicated server connection. Without a SINGLE, centralized game universe, Vendetta will never be an MMORPG
2) No storyline
3) No development. Sure, there'd be technical development. But I don't think we'd ever see a thousand sectors, nor a pilotable Frigate. Just... improvement to what we have.
4) Hacks
5) No assurance of retainership. There's no guarantee that the game won't turn into something totally uncool. And if so much as ONE person says fork, I'll shove a spork in your eye.
Fork.
On the subject of forks, perhaps this is what all those so called "vets" would like. An older version of vendetta seems to be what people want to play, if vendetta was to fork then some people would get what they want.
As for going open source? No, that won't work, but try to remember that I.D. Software built themselves up on games that were released as shareware.
As for going open source? No, that won't work, but try to remember that I.D. Software built themselves up on games that were released as shareware.
It's not the features/engine in the old Vendetta people want. They want the PEOPLE who used to play.
Vegastrike is also an opensource space-flight/trading type game.
goto http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net
Parsec has been so idle for long since May 5. Though the game it self is ment to be quake in space.
And for Vendetta, the devs said they were trying to make this game a commercial game. So opensource for vendetta is not possible.
goto http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net
Parsec has been so idle for long since May 5. Though the game it self is ment to be quake in space.
And for Vendetta, the devs said they were trying to make this game a commercial game. So opensource for vendetta is not possible.
Actually it's both, Blitz. For example I miss how each nation had their own ships and how the Hornet was actually agile. And how we had blue lasers and level 2 rockets instead of tri-flare valks etc.
If vendetta dies, as it might (but hopefully won't *crosses fingers*), then the devs should release the game as open source as it is the only way it can survive. If the devs manage to keep the game alive then i think it's best that it stays in their obviously capable hands.
Why do people think Open Source == GPL?
They could release it under the BSD license...or one of countless others.....I strongly urge for BSD. (FreeBSD fan here =P )
They could release it under the BSD license...or one of countless others.....I strongly urge for BSD. (FreeBSD fan here =P )
The main problem with opensource is everyone says:
"Yay, Vendetta is going opensource everyone ELSE is going to do heaps of work and make the game good"
Most people dont consider actually putting their own time in, on top of that anyone capable of coding and would consider working on a project is most probably already working on a project(s) themselves *points to self*
So I ask you this. Who here has the knowledge and the time to be able to work on a project like this? And if so what could you offer?
The other problem is that OpenSourcing the code does not mean giving away textures and models, they might, but if they dont who is making the ship, station etc models?
"Yay, Vendetta is going opensource everyone ELSE is going to do heaps of work and make the game good"
Most people dont consider actually putting their own time in, on top of that anyone capable of coding and would consider working on a project is most probably already working on a project(s) themselves *points to self*
So I ask you this. Who here has the knowledge and the time to be able to work on a project like this? And if so what could you offer?
The other problem is that OpenSourcing the code does not mean giving away textures and models, they might, but if they dont who is making the ship, station etc models?
How about a special commercial open-source license? The source could be open for all to see, but Guild could still retain sole right to distribution and ownership of the software.
This would make it so that people could donate by fixing bugs/adding functionality (by donating, their submissions would become property of Guild) in addition to or instead of donating money.
If they were to open-source vendetta, this would be the type of license I would recommend...Especially if you look at all the other free open-source games like vendetta: vega-crashesX-strike and par-wontrunonmycomputer-sec.
[Edit] Not that I recommend open-sourcing vendetta. While I don't think its a bad idea, I think that's not the best idea.
This would make it so that people could donate by fixing bugs/adding functionality (by donating, their submissions would become property of Guild) in addition to or instead of donating money.
If they were to open-source vendetta, this would be the type of license I would recommend...Especially if you look at all the other free open-source games like vendetta: vega-crashesX-strike and par-wontrunonmycomputer-sec.
[Edit] Not that I recommend open-sourcing vendetta. While I don't think its a bad idea, I think that's not the best idea.
Yeah, something like with sun's openoffice/staroffice. Sun just takes openoffice source adds it own bits and pieces and there you go: staroffice.
Guys, OpenSource is out of the question. I will guarantee you that if it's open sourced, it'll either be really cheesy with bad graphics and a stupid plot (because I doubt Waylon would want to Open Source his graphics) or would be Quake in Space. I'd give 50 to 1 odds on Quake in Space.