FreeGameDev

One issue I'm having with my newest idea for a free game is the element of 'plot twist'. Developing a game freely available to all means that I have to let many people know about any plot twist I put in the game.

Another way of putting it is this; if I make a game that is known for a complex plot, or has complex twists, then people might try and read what these were first (if only to see whether it might be worth playing). I have to make the story publicly available for game designers, coders and so forth: how can I easily hide it for others?

Good question. I would like to know that too. Maybe putting your files acessible, but not *that* acessible and adding spoilers warning along the way is a good solution. Anybody else has a better solution for us?

Solution 1: You can never commit the story files, which just contain the human language texts (the game has to be able to run without these though, otherwise the impact would be too strong). Then be happy when your HD explodes. Or commit to a closed/hidden/whatever repository

Solution 2: Create SPOILER_ALERT.TXT in all relevant directories.

Opinion: Players and potential developers should not be punished because you assume that there might be people who want to spoil the experience for themselves. Let them.

I can't see many people going to such lengths just to discover plot twists. I think this is one of those concerns ("people will discover the story before playing") that is a total myth. People download the game to play it. If they want to help, then they download the code/art/assets.

I mean, seriously, has anybody here ever had an open source game spoiled for them (e.g. Wesnoth) because they had a peek at the game data?

Once a game is done and published, the plot (along with walkthoughs, solutions, etc) quickly becomes available on the web anyway.
At least that's the case for most successful closed-sourced games.
(Same for movies)

I still haven't finished Wesnoth. Don't spoil it for me!