Open Source Software

It''s possible.

I certainly think that OSS can compete with closed-source software. Witness the Linux kernel, Mozilla, GCC, and countless other projects, which are every bit as good as their closed-source alternatives.

Sure it can compete. There are some good programs that are open source, and then there are others that work like crap.

Yeah, kinda like closed-source software. Some works great, some works like crap...

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Yes, the ability to access the source code has minimal effects on the quality or usability of the software at any one time. It may or may not lend a quicker rate of evolution to the software, that''s more debatable .

Definitely. Just look at some of the big time open source projects out there. There''s an entire operating system out there, that is marvelous! All done in people''s spare time, in a 10 year span.

"I am governed by none other than the Laws of the Universe."

No, actually there are quite a few great open source games. Granted, they''re usually independently done, and they''re not normally 3D, but some open source games I''ve played are more fun than lots of pro games (an example of one of these is ClanBomber).

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Well, you can say the same about freeware. But, freeware games can be better. Play stick soldiers.

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Original post by Anonymous Poster
For some things it seems possible, OS''s, graphics, utilities. But that is where it stops. In games, absolutly not. OpenSource teams just don''t have the financial backing to produce top quality games. Sorry but that is life...

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AP, that''s much more a function of the current state of the market, than a reflection on the OSS model in general. GNU/Linux and BSD have concentrated on business and productivity applications, and especially server applications.... while Linux is inching towards the desktop market, its acceptance rate is still very low compared to the server market; no, people aren''t making professional OSS games, but they aren''t making closed-source games for Linux much either. If and when Linux gets greater desktop acceptance, I think you''ll see a lot more game studios moving to OSS.

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Original post by Sneftel


AP, that''s much more a function of the current state of the market, than a reflection on the OSS model in general. GNU/Linux and BSD have concentrated on business and productivity applications, and especially server applications.... while Linux is inching towards the desktop market, its acceptance rate is still very low compared to the server market; no, people aren''t making professional OSS games, but they aren''t making closed-source games for Linux much either. If and when Linux gets greater desktop acceptance, I think you''ll see a lot more game studios moving to OSS.

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While I agree with your statement the original question wasn''t about Linux, it was about OSS. And while linux does support OSS it is not the only OSS. I have seen quite a few OSS programs out there that are not OS dependant like Opera web browser. But games, I have only played a few OSS games that were fun but would have to agree with AP in I just don''t see OSS working for competative games for any OS. But I admit I have not looked very hard for them either. JMHO.

GRELLIN

CGP | IYAOYAS | Linux.com | Linux Game Development Center | LGP

Don''t fear the penguin!

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Original post by Grellin
I have seen quite a few OSS programs out there that are not OS dependant like Opera web browser.

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Opera isnt, and has never been open source.

I stand corrected.

GRELLIN

CGP | IYAOYAS | Linux.com | Linux Game Development Center | LGP

Don''t fear the penguin!

Yeah, Opera''s not open source, but it''s a wonderful example of how it is possible to write a program and release it for multiple OS''s.

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quote:

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Original post by Grellin
While I agree with your statement the original question wasn''t about Linux, it was about OSS. And while linux does support OSS it is not the only OSS. I have seen quite a few OSS programs out there that are not OS dependant like Opera web browser. But games, I have only played a few OSS games that were fun but would have to agree with AP in I just don''t see OSS working for competative games for any OS. But I admit I have not looked very hard for them either. JMHO.

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Good points. But I think that OSS developers tend to spring from the need to develop for an OSS OS (fun with similar acronyms, no?). We''re not seeing anywhere near as much OSS of any type on Windows as on BSD or Linux. There are a million different potential reasons for this--from OSS-advocate developers gravitating towards existing OSS, to potential hairy licensing issues when using closed-source software with open-source libraries, or vice versa--but whatever the reason, it doesn''t seem to be specific to games.

I believe that OSS games may well start to shoot up, once the technical infrastructure is in place. I''m sure that any game company would love to develop a profitable title on an engine that''s freely available and distributable. As any producer will tell you, it''s the content that''s really key--and the content, of course, won''t be open source.