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- bobertfishbone, on 10/12/2007, -19/+102Bragging on the interwebs doesn't make your penis bigger.
- camintmier, on 10/12/2007, -6/+50Just wondering, would it be legal now to download MechCommander 2 via bittorrent since the source code's been released?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -20/+43owned
- HAKdragon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20When a game's source code is released it means that the actual code for the game has been released. This allows the a number of things to be done. For example, enchancements can be made to the original game to take advantage of newer hardware or the game could be ported to another operating system. For examples of this, take a look at the Quake series. Since id has released the code for those games, people have made a number of enhancements to the engine, including a number of lighting effects and bump mapping.
The reason you can't download the game for free once it's code has been released is because the artwork (models, music, textures, etc) are still owned and under copyright from their creators. - geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -6/+20No. Being Open Sourced does not make Copyright Infringment legal. But then again, you could download the source and build it yourself (though some part of me wants to doubt they released all the textures and maps...).
Too bad their license is worse than the GPL, I might have actually looked at it. - SeanAhern, on 10/12/2007, -7/+21Well, depending on the license, you may well be able to modify the code to do exactly that. If you really want to take full advantage of two 7800s SLIed, dive into the code. Make a name for yourself!
- MoeB, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16its great for students who are learning game programming!
- furtwan1, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12the source was released a long time ago. They just re-worked the build system to work with XNA recently.
- duke_nate, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10We need a Mechwarrior MMORPG! :D
- Lumiras, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9So, I'm not exactly clear on what this actually does for the game. Can people just recompile it and release a legal full download for it? Or, does it just mean that people can get down and look at the nuts and bolts of the program but they can't do anything with it?
Every time I see the announcement that a company has released the source of a game, I think "Alright, I get to download it for free now!" This is never the case, could I get an explanation? - Veloxi, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10I don't believe it is, since they still could claim rights to the game's content.
- uptown, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Nice! Time to start digging around for some hot mech-on-mech hot-coffee action....
- whoreallycares, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10Don't bury him for that, he actually posted a valid question (even though it is just a little off of the main subject)
- LubbertDas, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Being a BattleTech fan from way back, I'm hoping that some industrious types will take this 'gift' from Microsoft and run with it!
Hopefully we will see some new scenarios and mods.
Just wish I had the skills to do something about it... - mrops, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6hehe, by the time he/she figures out how to make use of his SLI blah 7800 blah by modifying the source code, I bet they will cost less than 30$
- colebarnes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Looks like it contains the source, assets, VS 2005 project files, etc.
Also contains a pre-built binaries, so no need to recompile if you just want to play the game. Includes the game and mission editior. - MoeB, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4well for one many game companies like to resell their game engine eg. Valve has been selling their Source engine to many other game developers.
- falcyn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3OK, if you RTFA, or read the download description anyways, it says "This release contains all of the source code and source assets required to build MechCommander 2."
Assets means textures, sounds, etc. All the content. So, yes, if you download this and XNA, you can get yourself a fully working copy. There's no CD keys, so go for it. - ishmael5, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3as far as I understand, releasing the source code for something just means that people can use the basic framework of the game to create their own game, it doesn't mean all the textures, objects, and maps are open sourced, just the code of the game
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4dugg for the imagery LOL
LICE WARS!!! - ripter, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I'm so going to play with this when I get home tonight! It's DirectX Right? Anyone want to help move it over to OpenGL so it can be compiled on Linux/OSX? Are there any known groups that are going to do something cool with this?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3they are also giving us all the assets to the game (sounds, textures, music, etc.)
this will allow you to completely remake the game as you see fit, which is why I asked if it could be ported to linux - stoops, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I wish they'd do the same for Windows.
- xptical, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The Linux kernel download is around 40MB. Once compiled, you have a file around 1MB. Source code is pretty big and ineffecient. That's what compilers do; they take megabytes of text definitions about what should happen and turn it into a tight executable file in optimized machine language.
- crpietschmann, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They should go Shared Source with the code for Windows 3.1. That would be awesome!
- CatcherInTheWhy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Microsoft Offers their Visual C++ 2005 Express edition for free. Search for it on the MS Website.
- kfhickel, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Here's the full text of the license agreement, looks pretty open, as long as you don't try to make money from the artwork.....
Shared Source Limited Permissive License for use of MechCommander® 2
This license governs use of the accompanying software. If you use the software, you accept this license. If you do not accept the license, do not use the software.
1. Definitions
The terms “reproduce,” “reproduction” and “distribution” have the same meaning here as under U.S. copyright law.
“You” means the licensee of the software.
“Licensed patents” means any Microsoft patent claims which read directly on the software as distributed by Microsoft under this license.
2. Grant of Rights
(A) Copyright Grant- Subject to the terms of this license, including the license conditions and limitations in section 3, Microsoft grants you a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free copyright license to reproduce the software, prepare derivative works of the software and distribute the software or any derivative works that you create.
(B) Patent Grant- Subject to the terms of this license, including the license conditions and limitations in section 3, Microsoft grants you a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free patent license under licensed patents to make, have made, use, practice, sell, and offer for sale, and/or otherwise dispose of the software or derivative works of the software.
3. Conditions and Limitations
(A) Limitation on Commercial Distribution- Notwithstanding the rights granted in section 2(A) above, you are not granted any rights to commercially distribute any artwork from the software (“Art Assets”) in any derivative work or otherwise. Microsoft grants you a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free copyright license to use, reproduce and distribute the Art Assets on a non-commercial basis only.
(B) No Trademark License- This license does not grant you any rights to use Microsoft’s name, logo, or trademarks.
(C) If you begin patent litigation against Microsoft over patents that you think may apply to the software (including a cross-claim or counterclaim in a lawsuit), your license to the software ends automatically.
(D) If you distribute copies of the software or derivative works, you must retain all copyright, patent, trademark, and attribution notices that are present in the software.
(E) If you distribute the software or derivative works in source code form you may do so only under this license (i.e., you must include a complete copy of this license with your distribution), and if you distribute the software or derivative works in compiled or object code form you may only do so under a license that complies with this license.
(F) The software is licensed “as-is.” You bear the risk of using it. Microsoft gives no express warranties, guarantees or conditions. You may have additional consumer rights under your local laws which this license cannot change. To the extent permitted under your local laws, Microsoft excludes the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. - Philipp_Lenssen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Actual download link is here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.aspx?na=46&p=1&SrcDisplayLang=en&SrcCategoryId=&SrcFamilyId=6d790cde-c3e5-46be-b3a5-729581269a9c&u=http%3a%2f%2fdownload.microsoft.com%2fdownload%2f6%2f3%2f9%2f639f67eb-a50b-48b2-88d8-fae9751c3a5c%2fMC2.exe&oRef=http%3a%2f%2fdigg.com%2f - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Usually it does nothing for the game. But releasing source code is a valuable academic tool for the world community. You don't even need to use the entire framework for a game's source to be valuable. If you know one part of the game you were really impressed with you could go through the code and just figure out what they did for that one component. It can be very enlightening to see both the shortcuts (i.e. cheap hacks) they used (compared to modern engineering principles, design patterns, data structures, etc.) and which programming methods they implemented like it was straight out of a textbook.
- j_bellone, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Undugg because you used M$.
- nykzero, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I don't see why so many companies don't just release the source for free when they release the game. In the game market, there's not even enough time to re-engineer these games, before the next generation engine will come out anyway.
- samsite, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1good find, always liked the idear of playing the game, just looked to diffcalt thogh, may give it a crack some time and have a play with the code
- UnlivedPhalanx, on 10/12/2007, -6/+6Just because it's Battletech based, +Digg.
- nodnarb24, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Most game companies don't release thier source because they can make a good amount of money selling licenses of their engines to other companies. Things such as Graphics programming is quite intensive, especially to get it to look good and run at a decent speed. It is far easier and cheaper to just buy someone elses engine and tweak it to your needs then build something from the ground up. It is also a matter of trade secrets. It'd be difficult to make money by creating new and innovative games if someone can just manipulate your source code and make a clone or even a better game with a fraction of the effort.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1It's got to be more than just the src if it takes up 4.5Gb of disk space, especially since the game only takes 2 CDs if I remember correctly. Strange as it may sound, they probably released the content along with the game engine, even though that doesn't make sense from a copyright POV.
- Grimdotdotdot, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2What's stopping you from learning?
Download it and start playing around. - Darkfire001, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Awesome! I've got some C++ knowledge, going to see if I can't make a recompiled version without Zone Support (Since it's no longer offered) and an improved tracker so you can just insert the tracker domain and it will automatically track for you. That way you can browse in-game for matches once again.
- zackarya, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I agree with Samus. There is no way this is just the source code. I can't confirm it personally, but they must be releasing all the assets with the game too, such as the graphic files and sound files and so forth. It also states that it is everything you need to compile a working copy of the game.
Zackarya - oxymoron69, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2awww dude, i thought this was the source for mechwarrior2...
- BlackAdderIII, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'd love to, but God knows what clever tricks Microsoft has in store for anyone who has an agreement with them - people have ended up destitute before through making deals with Microsoft and being unaware of some clever loophole in the legal bumf.
I'm not saying everyone's paranoid, but why would they trust to some random license with the possibility of getting screwed when there are faster, newer, cleaner and more portable engines around licensed under the real GPL.
Don't get me wrong, I think this is a step in the right direction for Redmond and I commend it, I really do, even if it is kind of a cynical ploy to push a developer's product.
Trouble is, people don't tend to get in a sleeping-bag with a scorpion on purpose after they've seen it sting someone else to death, haha. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I tried to add that to my original comment, but the edit closed just before I hit 'submit' :)
- falcyn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Note that Microsoft has released full games before for free, not just source code. See Allegiance. MMO, yeah, so "technically" useless minus their server, but it's been done before.
- wjschneider, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Is the older release of the source around anywhere? I would really like to get ahold of that one.
Do you know if the currently released version will compile with an older version, say, Visual Studio 97 (which I thought was originally used to create the game) ? - danielfe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1The specific license used for the Mech Commander 2 release is pretty much the Microsoft Limited Permissive License which you can find here - http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sharedsource/licensingbasics/limitedpermissivelicense.mspx. The only difference is that it also says you can't use "art assets" in any derivative work or otherwise.
- Drood, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1There are actually a few decent Battletech games out there that are freeware. There's Battletech Simulator, which gives you your typical "Mechwarrior" type view of the world. (3d). Then there's Mekwars, which gives a more tabletop like experience. The AI is pretty nifty too.
Of course the dogs bollocks of B'tech games has always been Mechforce on the Amiga. God I spent hours playing that.
Still, kudos to Microsoft for doing this. Be fun to see what comes of it. May even download and take a look myself. (Can't program, but I enjoy looking through code and trying to figure out how it all works.) - rpommier, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1How do I compile the game so that I can simply install and play? Do I need Visual C or something?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1 enchancements can be made to the original game to take advantage of newer hardware or the game could be ported to another operating system
But does the MS shared source liscence let you do any of that? - b0nde, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3 Wow, I just remembered that I played this game a couple of times some years back :D Nice news!
- cisox, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Wow, at first I though they said MechWarrior 2, not MechCommander, then I thought to myself, why would Microsoft be releasing MechWarrior. Microsoft, and game companies in general, spend a lot fo time and money creating the textures and artwork for games, and because of that you don't see a lot of games that are "free". There are some games out there that include the artwork (Such as Quake and Enemy Territory) but in general, the artwork isn't included. This should be interesting for anyone who does Modding to this game and to anyone who does game programming. I think these old gaming engines have a lot of use still, a lot of companies spend to much time creating new engines for their game, when a current engine would do just a well. You can of course argue that using a games engine without enough modification, really makes it look like the other game. However, I think since the company isn't developing the engine, they can spend that extra money on artwork and such. Quake 4 is a good example of this. They took the Doom 3 engine, modified it, and made a unique game out of it. It still has certain aspects that are like Doom 3 obviously, but I think overall they did a good job with product differentiation.
- whoreallycares, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1MoeB and nodnard24, you make a valid point, the value of an engine is worth money to a game company but there is value in the quality of the games produced. If most companies did release their source code at game release other companies would be able to build off of the source code provided and create a better engine, while at the same time the company that releases theirs would be able to do the same; the availability for such engines (those that received improvement) would allow all companies to gain profit through a better game.
Tragically this all still relies on the company actually putting out a good game in the first place, and not just a marginally good game with little to no value. -
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