[Freeciv-Dev] Re: Why are you cloning Civ II? (was Re: Migration)

["Brandon J. Van Every" <vanevery@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Raimar Falke [mailto:i-freeciv-lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>
> From http://www.dadgum.com/halcyon/BOOK/MORIARTY.HTM:
>
>   Is originality important to you?
>
>   Originality is great. It can get you in the history books. Sometimes
>   it can even make you rich. But there's nothing wrong with a superior
>   execution of an old idea, either. In the long run, it's not
>   important to be the first. It's important to be the best.

Do you want me to comment on whether Freeciv is the best?

> > And, now the CTP2 source code has been released, although it's a
> > fairly restrictive license.  Still, it's as moddable as it's gonna
> > get... once they get it working.  Activision had to rip out some
> > sound libraries that they couldn't distribute.
>
> To limit it's value or avoid being laughed at or some other reason
> they removed also all comments.

They claimed legal liability, and it's a legitimate claim.
Workadaisically speaking, if there is *some* comment in there that can
get them legally into trouble, then they have to get rid of *all* of
them, because the codebase is huge and they're not willing to spend the
resources to go through it all by hand.  In other words, beggars can't
be choosers.  They figured, a CTP2 community can take the code and run
with it, providing the needed labor.  I think that's entirely fair as
they fronted the commercial code and art assets.  Would be nice if they
had fronted a *better* package, but still it is code and it is possible
to kick it into shape.  The package will become better over time and it
gives some people something to do.


Cheers,                     www.indiegamedesign.com
Brandon Van Every           Seattle, WA

Taking risk where others will not.