Open Source Game Clones: website

[c_xong]

http://osgameclones.com/

Recently I found this website, which contains a neat list of old games with open-source reimplementations. What I like about it is that it prominently shows the development state (how active, language used, repo link) so if you were thinking of contributing to a project, it's very easy to decide.

It's available on github (http://github.com/piranha/osgameclones/) so it's easy to update, just fork and update the YAML.

And yes, C-Dogs SDL is listed

[onpon4]

Not all of the "open source" games listed are actually open source. It seems whoever runs this website takes "open source" to mean "source code is available". ZDoom is recommended by it, for example. (ZDoom is only available under the Doom Source License, which is proprietary).

It can be a useful resource, but take it with a grain of salt; don't assume that everything recommended on this site is FLOSS.

[charlie]

Ah, onpon4, now you know why Richard Stallman insists on using the term "Free software" (capital F on Free) over "open source"; the latter may not be Free.

[onpon4]

The common mistake is why I dismiss the idea that "open source" is less ambiguous than "free software". But really, RMS more rejects "open source" because it doesn't reflect the views of the free/libre software movement.

Anyway, I only used the term "open source" here because that's the term this website uses, and I've had my fair share of idiots chastizing me for being "off-topic", even though things like ZDoom aren't any more open source than they are free/libre.

[c_xong]

Not all of the "open source" games listed are actually open source.

Good point; what do you think is a good compromise? Remove the non-FLOSS entries? Add a disclaimer? Include the license information in the listings? Break out the non-FLOSS entries in a separate section?

The author is quite responsive (merges pull requests within two days) so if you want something done it's best to take it to him directly, via github or email.

[mdtrooper]

I know this project, Even I updated some changes to the repository.

But...when I wanted to mark the pure free games....the pull request to repository never acepted.

https://github.com/mdtrooper/osgameclones/commit/235a0e94a84fd4a5205d9fecc272aafcf8d244e6

The change was a some icons to mark if the game have free content (as music, art...). Because for example the OpenTTD have a free content for playing equal the original closed game.

[gouessej]

Include the license information in the listings?

Why not? In my humble opinion, it would be reasonable.

[mdtrooper]

You can read more about this in https://github.com/piranha/osgameclones/pull/20.

[c_xong]

You can read more about this in https://github.com/piranha/osgameclones/pull/20.

I saw that, and basically the author is saying he doesn't like the style. I don't know how many pull requests you've made, but I've found it's much easier to contribute small, code-only fixes than large changes that involve style. I think if you had worked closely with him in designing the icons and layout, it would have been accepted more readily. I understand if you won't work on this again as I know it's extremely off-putting to have your work rejected, especially as you've put in a lot already. I like the idea though - add icons to show code/art license - and the author does too so I might bring it up again at some point.