113 replies to this topic

[stefan.muehlebach]

Hi

Why are almost all games only downloadable as an EXE-file?
It would be more helpful and interesting to see HOW people created their games.

It seems that the spirit of 'open source' has not yet reached the GameMaker community... :-((

Regards
Stefan

[GML-PUNK]

People put a lot of work into there games and most of them don't want just anyone to be able to use their code. Some people do like to help other people learn by releasing their projects as open source.

[BBGaming]

If you are interested in how a certain aspect of someone's game was made, ask them! I'm sure they would be more than happy to explain it to you.

Releasing a game open-source opens the door for people to change the sprites and claim it as their own, steal pieces of code that may have taken months to create, or other bad, unwanted things.

[stefan.muehlebach]

People put a lot of work into there games and most of them don't want just anyone to be able to use their code. Some people do like to help other people learn by releasing their projects as open source.

Be honest: do you really think most of the code is so valuable that it must be kept secret?
People put certainly more work into software like 'apache' or even 'linux' - and they are free...!

[FredFredrickson]

It is the author's choice to make their work open-source of not.

If you are curious about how somebody did something, ask them how they did it, and if they are nice enough, they just might tell you. But nobody is under any obligation to supply you with their source.

[Caniac]

It is the author's choice to make their work open-source of not.

If you are curious about how somebody did something, ask them how they did it, and if they are nice enough, they just might tell you. But nobody is under any obligation to supply you with their source.

Yes,
and they may not want to have ressources stolen, or you easilly figure out how to beat the boss,
or the secret password to get onto the server etc.

[FredFredrickson]

or the secret password to get onto the server etc.

Obviously, that should never be in the code to begin with.

[Caniac]

or the secret password to get onto the server etc.

Obviously, that should never be in the code to begin with.

I know, I certainly don't have it in mine

[Revel]

I know, I certainly don't have it in mine

Because you probably don't even know how to connect to a server.

But back on topic, the reason people don't post their sources, if for a number of reasons:
1. It might lead to too much discussion on the actual programming rather than the game itself (people flaming about how the user could have programmed something instead, etc).
2. People don't want their "brilliant code" that they have been working on for a while stolen without then knowing.
3. People obviously don't want their resources (sprites, sounds etc) taken without them knowing.
4. Less professional and less user friendly.

[Pie Person!]

Why are almost all games only downloadable as an EXE-file?

Why not? They are games. When you go to a store to get a new game, you don't take it home and start looking at it's source.

[$pecter]

For reference, the GMC has a sub-forum called Open Source, it has nearly 400 topics of open source projects and was added a little over two years ago. Judging by the amount of pages in the creations forum added since late '04 (347), at 20 topics per page, there are nearly 7000 programs there, most of which are absolutely free to play. The Game Maker Community churns out free content by the truck load, you'll be hard pressed to find a place on the web with members as generous with their time and effort as those members here.

[-Oakleaf-]

Well, propably the same reason is why EA and such don't give their games out open-source.

[Smarty]

$pecter makes a valid point. There is enough open-source available on these forums. There is also the FAQ forum with lots of ready-made examples if you're interested in learning how to do something.

I'm a little concerned with a request for even more open sourcing. Making an EXE is like saying "I'm happy if you enjoy what you're eating, but the kitchen is off-limits".

I think this should be respected.

[Flipbee9]

Looking at the source is just copying off of someone and you claim it as your own.
The owner doesn't usually give the source until many many versions (look at Scandux).
I rate this topic officially 1/5 (yes I like rating topics )

[uuf6429]

And another unfortunate thing is, making the source available here doesn not mean open source. Open source is when the source is avialable and people actually help into it's making.

From my own experience of "open source" which I gave in those subforums, I never got any real bug fixing or coding suggestions from the community.
Personally, "open source" would only get down to hype in such cases.

Also, I'd like to question the OP's idea of "helpfull". If by that you mean easier access to the coding and easier winning the game, then the game developer must be an utter idiot to make such a short-lived game by open-sourcing it.
Open source does have advantages, but cetainly not in some types of game making.

Besides, there is the script forum, filled up with scripts which have been used in multitudes of different games.

Kindly,
Christian.

[Don Arthuro]

This might sound a little crazy but I feel that programming is something private. I mean, everybody has his own ways to deal with situations. Reading someones script is like reading someones mind. I know this is a little exaggerated but it doesn't feel right to let someone read a very complicated script you wrote. Plus I don't think someone else but me understands a single line because I'm not very organized when programming

[score_under]

This might sound a little crazy but I feel that programming is something private. I mean, everybody has his own ways to deal with situations. Reading someones script is like reading someones mind. I know this is a little exaggerated but it doesn't feel right to let someone read a very complicated script you wrote.

I know what you mean, but this is also the reason that most of the legal code I make, I make open-source.

Plus I don't think someone else but me understands a single line because I'm not very organized when programming

I feel the same, but I can read any code if I put my mind to it. It would just take a long time.

I can understand why GM users use obj_something and spr_something, I do that too, but I don't understand why C++ users always use silly names like szObjName and occasionally something as ridiculous as cbszObjNameLen.

But yes, I think most code should be open-source, apart from those which contain encryption keys.

[Bitsoft]

Another would be that if they release the source, it wouldn't always benefit everyone as they may have a bad programming "style". What if someone releases their source but obfuscates it before the release .

[grumpymonkey]

if every game was open source, then no one would make money! imagine if you created a car that runs on oxygen, but instead of selling it you give it to people for free so they can see how it works. no one wants to give away the source which they have worked really hard on.
if you REALLY want to steal someones work because you want to change the sprites and make it your own, then go here:
http://gmc.yoyogames...hp?showforum=38

Edited by grumpymonkey, 13 December 2008 - 02:55 PM.

[GameGeisha]

Let's just sum up the reasons why the GMC does not embrace OSS on the most part:
1. OSS is honour-based, just like the academia when we use bibliographies. Newbies have created obviously derived works without giving credit, therefore we choose to take away their privileges because of this abuse.
2. Some of us use GM professionally to make commercial games. We can't have food on our plates and a roof over our heads with skimpy donations for source codes. We have to make money somehow.
3. If you look at the novice forum (whose topic owners are also the most likely to use open-sourced engines), quite a few users are confused at even the simplest constructs of GML. Open-source code is of no use to the large amount of GM novices who can't understand them.
4. We have long since believed that experienced users can usually figure things out for themselves, therefore there is little need for open source. Compare this to giving the research notes of a grade 6 student to a high school student to study from.
5. Most GM projects are managed by a single person. That way, only one kind of logic gets into the game. Anyone else trying to read the logic will have quite a bit of figuring-out to do, which is simply impractical for most medium- to large-scale projects.

If you don't like the GMC because it's not a big fan of OSS, then get out and learn C++. You'll be joining a much bigger OSS community that way.

GameGeisha