Launched my iOS game as Open Source

[nosefrog]

"The final work shall not compete directly with Wizard War, in any mobile app store or on the web." - This line is too restrictive and keeps your custom license from being an open source license. The point of free and open source software is it protects your freedom to modify and distribute the software for any purpose.

Imagine if Microsoft Word distributed itself as "open source", with the exception that one can't use that source to compete with Word. You wouldn't really be able to do much with it, would you? Even simply distributing it to your friends would technically be "competing" with Word.

[embwbam]

We are mainly distributing the source code so people can learn from it, but I would be happy if they used the code or even the artwork to make a substantially different game. I just don't want someone to just slap a different name on it and out-market us or something.

How could I word the license to give people more leeway while still preserving that intention?

[Siecje]

I think he or she wants you to be able to add features and improve the game but not use it to make their own game.

[Mithaldu]

So if they're not even allowed to use the words "open source", what is in your opinion the correct term for this?

[clarky07]

GPL is open source(shitty open source, but open source nonetheless), yet you can't use that code commercially.

Edit for downvotes: Perhaps I should have been more clear. As this is iOS code, you cannot in fact use it commercially. GPL code is not allowed on the App Store. Period.

[embwbam]

We will eventually monitize this app through in app purchases, but decided to launch it open source. I'm not sure we got the license right, but it seems like we can provide the source as an example to the community without losing too much.

Obviously it would be cool if other people got involved in keeping the game content fresh, but that might not be realistic.

I think it would be cool if more commercial applications were open source for learning purposes, but I know that might not be feasible for most products.

[lucian1900]

It's probably more feasible on iOS than most platforms, since it forbids the users' freedom to run their own software. Thus, it is unlikely people will compile this themselves for distribution, since distribution would be so useless.

[embwbam]

For those of you that have tried the game: any feedback? Would you pay for an extended single player game, unlockable wizards with a custom special spell, or some kind of supporter program that gives you early access to a forum and betas?

[xfour]

Yea, that last sentence says it all, for learning there's nothing better than a fully functional application or game in this case. Thank you for doing this!

[icefox]

Last I looked (a few years ago) ios forbid open source apps on the store, has that changed?

[jamesk_au]

There is a player roaming the multiplayer arena named "Indefeatable" (sic) who appears to be able to cast the heal spell without any delay.

Perhaps an unintended consequence of allowing everyone to compile their own version of a multiplayer game.

(Defeating him/her was satisfying.)

[archagon]

This is great and I hope more app developers follow suit!

[wavesum]

I don't see the problem here. The way I understand open source is that the source is available and can be distributed forward.

I think it's bit troubling to define Open Source as "Free" software as defined by GPL. That's very misleading as it is very far from free since you are not free to distribute any parts of your software with any other license.

GPL is like legal virus.

Thumbs up for the OP. Good, altruistic effort.

[belorn]

So sad for you that one must follow the license. I guess it would be more "free" if people where allowed to ignore copyright all out. Music, and music software particularly.

Since people try to say that I live in a free country, I guess I should also be allowed kill anyone, torture, and do anything I would like to. How dare they have laws and at the same time say that I am free. Its so misleading. Truly troubling how they define it as "Free".

I guess in your world, BSD is also a virus, demanding that all advertising materials must include the acknowledgement that: This product includes software developed by the <organization>.

[srcmap]

Cool project. Thank you!

BTW, I create srcmap database for this project @

http://www.srcmap.org/s/sl.htm#c=P&d=/proj_src/wizardwar/&p=...

Let's see how many users will hit the server in next couple of day or so. (finger crossing...)

[daveytea]

Thanks for giving the source code to the community!

For those that want to test the game but don't want to set it up in xcode, i compiled the code and uploaded to app.io: https://app.io/qj4Ofv

[ianstallings]

I love this idea. You can still get to make money and the rest of us get to benefit and contribute. I like this particularly for games, where the content can not be as easily duplicated as say a business app. Creativity and all that.

[adjwilli]

This is a great idea especially if you can monetize it successfully. I would buy it just go support it.

[x0054]

I am just learning Objective C as well, and this is very helpful! Thanks!

[richkuo]

as someone learning iOS development - thank you