If you're at all interested in open source and video games, you've no doubt noticed that the two don't meet nearly as often as we'd like. But we saw Steam finally come to Linux last year. We have Ouya. We have more and more great Linux games appearing, and Linux gamers always give the Humble Bundles more support than Windows or Mac users. Thus it's also time to introduce open source and free culture to the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). Towards that goal, I'll be helping launch the Open Source and Free Culture SIG at the Game Developers Conference next week in San Francisco.
This site alone is evidence of the explosion of open source beyond its most likely corners. Now not only is it more frequently used in the software side of games, we're also seeing the principles used in the non-software aspects of the industry. Open content and licenses, technologies, hardware, development practices.
Unfortunately, applying open source principles to their jobs is still a mystery (or completely unknown even as a concept!) to many game developers. Through this special interest group (SIG), we hope to bring together those already active or interested in open source together to help to educate game developers on these tools and techniques and to mentor and assist developers looking to create new works using these tools and practices. We want to help game creators bring their existing works into compliance with open licenses so they can be shared.
If this interests you, please join us at GDC:
- Roundtable meeting on Friday, March 21 from 2:30-3:30 p.m (add it to your GDC schedule)
- Open Source SIG social on Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the IGDA Booth (South Hall Upper Lobby).
If you're not able to make it to GDC, feel free to contact me, and I'll keep you in the loop when the conversation moves to a virtual space.
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