Published on Apr 27, 2008 @ 9:04am EST
I wrote a small introduction to this topic on the Wiki on the main page for Awe+, but I would like to elaborate. Right now, there are very few open source games. You may be able to count on more than both hands off the top of your head, but as compared to the games available in stores for PC and consoles, there is a huge difference. Not all of our gaming needs are satisfied by free games. Far from it.
This generation seems to have a lot of interest in developing games, as I've noticed just by going to DeVry for about two semesters. The amount of new students in GSP seemed to double each semester. Unfortunately, GSP doesn't prepare students for game dev, and there aren't many places to learn about 3D game dev other than actual companies. And these companies usually require a ton of experience. With the advanced stages of games these days, it's going to be very difficult to learn everything so young. It's a lot to take in. Unfortunately, many are discouraged, and stop trying. Those who stick with it have more problems to face.
One can read books only so much before hitting roadblocks in their coding. Without looking at game source code, programmers must reinvent the wheel to learn what professional game developers spent years learning. Many open source games reveal this problem, because the code is nowhere near professional standards, and they usually don't offer much help on new projects.
Imagine, as a game programmer, having access to the source of dozens of games and variants. You could not only make your own variations to your favorite games, but you could also use them as resources for your own game projects. Instead of reading 500 page books and googling weeks on end to learn concepts, you could see them in action, and play with them directly. Then after making your own game, other programmers and gamers could download it, and you would get your name out as a programmer.
Don't be scared of open sourcing your work. When is the last time you downloaded a shareware game, and mailed the developer ten dollars? More likely you just searched for another free game to play instead. If people like your work, you will become popular. Plus, you would be giving just as much help as you're receiving. There's always a programmer at a lower skill level than you, and they want to see how you made a game work just as much as you want to see how a pro makes a game work.
Thanks for reading, please support the cause.