Penumbra Overture to be open source

[jens]

As you can read here:
http://www.wolfire.com/humble

Penumbra Overture is currently undergoing preparation to soon be released as open source. When all is ready to go we will post more news and information, but anyone with questions are welcome to throw them at us here in the thread!

Cheers all and again, biggest thanks possible for the week that has passed.

[ZIGS]

First of all, congratulations, both on the Amnesia pre-order and the Humble Bundle success. Now, Penumbra going open-source: in practical terms, what does this means exactly?

[Thomas]

in practical terms, what does this means exactly?

The source code will be release under GPL meaning that anyone can meddle with code for engine or game, but must also make their alterations available as GPL. The source code is what makes up the exe of the game, so it is not art assets or stuff like that.

It means that there is a possibility of mods or people just using the engine for what ever evil plans they might have I would very much like see someone use the code and create something cool! It is several years of work put into it and it even contains the code used in our platformer Energetic. So it can be used to create a platform game if one desires (at least almost, as things changed a bit since energetic).

Finally, it means that people get an insight into how we have gone about making the game. The code should contain some silly comments by me, that might be worth some poking around. I know I have wondered what the hell I was doing when stumbling upon some older piece of code.

That should sum things up!

[aidanr]

Amazing!

[SHODANFreeman]

What programming language is it in?

[ZIGS]

Will other companies be able to use the engine to make commercial games of their own?

[SHODANFreeman]

Will other companies be able to use the engine to make commercial games of their own?

Since it's under GPL, I would guess no.

[Thomas]

What programming language is it in?

C++ (and C# for one windows-only tool program)

[SHODANFreeman]

What programming language is it in?

C++

Yay!

[Conan Kudo]

Will other companies be able to use the engine to make commercial games of their own?

Since it's under GPL, I would guess no.

Wrong. The GPL allows for commercial games. However, most commercial game companies would not use GPL engines because it means they have to release any and all code relating to the game engine. The GPL also doesn't apply to trademarks and game data such as art and music.

Due to the inertia of the game industry, it is effectively no, but legally it is possible.