Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

ammon · 2010-03-22 16:09:02

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=n … &px=ODA4OA

If you allready dont know what happened to Nexuiz, take a look. This is a shame to open source community.
I hope that archlinux will provide this packages as soon they are ready.

drcouzelis · 2010-03-22 16:33:35

From the article:

Illfonic will take the code and re-make it within a closed-source game

I am very confused. I thought the GPL prohibited things like this from happening. Or, in other words, once code is licensed as GPL it will always be GPL.

If anyone releases any game that has GPL Nexuiz code in it, don't they also have to release the source code as well?

Maybe I don't understand the GPL as much as I thought I did.

Last edited by drcouzelis (2010-03-22 16:34:10)

Pierre · 2010-03-22 17:18:32

I don't get it either. If they violate the GPL forking isn't the right answer but calling your lawyer is.

Babets · 2010-03-22 18:00:17

It seems that it's not a GPL violation, it is some kind of dual license scheme. The wrong thing is that many developers didn't know that :\
The worst aspect is that the name nexuiz and the domain nexuiz.com is now used for the commercial game.

Last edited by Babets (2010-03-22 18:14:25)

hatten · 2010-03-22 18:15:55

Uhh, wtf? STALLMAN! GET HERE AND SUE THEIR ASSES!

bremarv · 2010-03-22 20:43:11

pretty sure its legal for the copyright holder to release the code under another license, but I have no idea how this works when theres multiple people involved in a project.

too bad too see somethin like nequiz go closed source. dunno if it would even work making a GPL game for the xbox. don't think microsoft would agree to that.

Daenyth · 2010-03-22 20:47:06

Probably the copyright is under the name of the initial creator and is not at all owned by contributors.

Xabre · 2010-03-22 20:59:33

One thing> Trademarks have nothing to do with code licensing, in this case GPL.
Trademark owners are fully entitled to do whatever they like with their registered name, even give it away to some completely unrelated code/software.
It's their legal right.

As for code: if I were someone who contributed, and licenced my contribution under GPL, and they want to make it proprietary - I'd organize a lynch.
It's much cheaper than a lawsuit.

scio · 2010-03-22 21:00:50

http://games.slashdot.org/story/10/03/2 … on-GPL-Use

Apparently they even say they might be in violation of the GPL.
Not to mention that they were not the creators of DarkPlaces, so I don't know how they think they can change the license.

KimTjik · 2010-03-22 21:56:37

It's describes as they became owner of a copy of the engine and data according to valid copyright law. The GPL license of this copy can't be changed, and any modifications would force them to publish the source code.

As I understand it they actually won't touch that part of the code, but as owners of the name Nexuiz, which became possible as they own a copy, they will build something else around the same game idea. Hence it looks like the forked project has an advantage and it's future development can't be used without honouring the GPL license. Losing a known name is however a disadvantage.

I don't care so much for the game, but wish them luck in beating the ones who sold out.

Xyne · 2010-03-23 01:25:49

Daenyth wrote:

Probably the copyright is under the name of the initial creator and is not at all owned by contributors.

This is one of the points of contention. The developers and contributors that I've spoken too have not agreed to release their code under a different license so there is a strong suspicion of GPL violations but so far no one seems willing to pursue any legal options. Without access to the private source code it's difficult to know what they're using, although it's unlikely that they went to the trouble of acquiring Nexuiz just to strip out all of the improvements made to it over the last 4 or 5 years to avoid such complications.

I'll package a release as soon as it's out.

olvar · 2010-03-23 01:39:19

For what I read, I think the guys are taking the game and making the artwork all over, and if they make an improvement in the engine, they are going to publish it. Probably they circumvented it legally... -_-'

Peasantoid · 2010-03-23 02:00:55

Well bugger me six ways to Sodom.

Admittedly I haven't done all the research, but this just gets my hackles up and a-spinning. The legality/morality of this is dubious at best and lynch-worthy at worst. (Maybe that's my inner F/OSS zealot speaking...)

655321 · 2010-03-23 03:00:06

taken from xonotic.org website:

We would like to formally announce the arrival of Xonotic – A free (GPL), fast-paced first-person shooter that works on Microsoft Windows, Mac OSX and Linux. Xonotic is a direct successor of the Nexuiz Project.

It still says its FREE and under GPL, it says nothing about closed-source on their website.

Xyne · 2010-03-23 04:29:56

People seem to be mixing stories together in this thread.

The Nexuiz project founder, who hasn't been actively involved in the project for years, licensed the name, website and code to a company named IllFonic which will release a closed-source console version. The lead engine developer is part of this deal and will be working with the company. The company also has a license for the quake engine so that part is not in question.

Most of the other developers did not consent to relicensing their code. While this will most likely not affect artwork and maps, many people have contributed substantial code to the game itself. This is what might be in violation of the GPL.

Xonotic is a response to the licensing deal and what many in the community see as a betrayal. They are forking the project under the GPL and Xonotic will remain open-source. So far most of the core devs and contributors are part of the new project and once they have a release I expect most of the community to move over to them. Xonotic is the direct successor to Nexuiz and is essentially Nexuiz re-invigorated and rebranded. The whole incident has sparked renewed enthusiasm for developing the game even further with an even stronger dedication to the principles of open source and making sure that no one exercises too much control over the project.

Summary
IllFonic's "Nexuiz" may be in violation of the GPL, but it hasn't been proven and so far no one seems to be pursuing that.

"GPL-Nexuiz", which is the old Nexuiz renamed because IllFonic absolutely refused to use any other name, despite stating that it is a completely different game, is essentially dead in the water because everyone who's kept it alive over the last 4 or 5 years have moved over to Xonotic.

Xonotic is the new Nexuiz: fully open-source and GPL compliant, same devs, contributors and community, and fully active development

Last edited by Xyne (2010-03-23 04:31:38)

655321 · 2010-03-23 05:11:59

great clarification, I was confused thanks

eirik · 2010-03-23 11:44:20

This made me think about the Ukrainian company that slapped ScummVM around a few Wii titles published by Atari. It's a shame open source developers do not have the financial means to take their cases to court.

Last edited by eirik (2010-03-23 11:44:46)

Snakeye · 2010-03-23 16:05:39

I'm sure they could get some advice from the software freedom law center. Probably easier for them to fork and forget. Developers should be a tad more carefeul to contribute to projects which are completely contolled by the project and not any single individual. Let's hope there is karma and the guy who sold out gets what he deserves. Preferably a trip down a long flight of cold stone steps.

M_ller · 2011-01-02 13:48:49

This might be a tad bumpy, but it is related to Xonotic:
Any idea why I am having a crash when running xonotic-glx (downloaded and installed via http://www.archlinux.org/packages/commu … /xonotic/)?
However, when running it as root, it runs fine, but without sound.
Errors are here:

[marcus@archlinux ~]$ xonotic-glx 
Console initialized.
Trying to load library... "libz.so.1" - loaded.
Xonotic Linux 07:54:27 Dec 25 2010 - release
Added packfile data/font-nimbussansl-20101223.pk3 (5 files)
Added packfile data/xonotic-20101223-data.pk3 (4158 files)
Added packfile data/xonotic-20101223-maps.pk3 (4501 files)
Added packfile data/xonotic-20101223-music.pk3 (10 files)
Added packfile data/xonotic-20101223-nexcompat.pk3 (5650 files)
Trying to load library... "libd0_blind_id.so.0" "libd0_blind_id.so" "./libd0_blind_id.so.0" "./libd0_blind_id.so" - failed.
Trying to load library... "libcurl.so.4" - loaded.
Skeletal animation uses SSE code path
Trying to load library... "libode.so.1" "./libode.so.1" - failed.
Initializing client
Couldn't load gfx/palette.lmp, falling back on internal palette
Trying to load library... "libvorbis.so.0" - loaded.
Trying to load library... "libvorbisfile.so.3" - loaded.
Trying to load library... "libmodplug.so.1" - loaded.
Trying to load library... "libogg.so.0" - loaded.
Trying to load library... "libtheora.so.0" - loaded.
Trying to load library... "libvorbis.so.0" - loaded.
Trying to load library... "libvorbisenc.so.2" - loaded.
Trying to load library... "libOffscreenGecko.so" "./libOffscreenGecko.so" - failed.
execing quake.rc
execing default.cfg
execing defaultXonotic.cfg
execing cdtracks.cfg
execing balanceXonotic.cfg
execing ctfscoring-ai.cfg
execing effects-normal.cfg
execing physicsX0.cfg
execing turrets.cfg
execing unit_machinegun.cfg
execing unit_hk.cfg
execing unit_hellion.cfg
execing unit_mlrs.cfg
execing unit_flac.cfg
execing unit_fusreac.cfg
execing unit_plasma.cfg
execing unit_plasma2.cfg
execing unit_tesla.cfg
execing unit_phaser.cfg
execing unit_walker.cfg
execing unit_ewheel.cfg
execing font-nimbussansl.cfg
execing _hud_descriptions.cfg
execing hud_luminos.cfg
couldn't exec config.cfg
"maxplayers" set to "16"
couldn't exec data/campaign.cfg
execing config_update.cfg
couldn't exec autoexec.cfg
Client using an automatically assigned port
Client opened a socket on address 0.0.0.0:0
Loading OpenGL driver libGL.so.1
Using XFree86-VidModeExtension Version 2.2
Using XVidMode fullscreen mode at 1024x768
Received signal 7, exiting...
CL_Disconnect
Host_ShutdownServer
Require all of: 
Received signal 11, exiting...
recursive shutdown
/usr/bin/xonotic-glx: line 3:  5218 Segmentation fault      ./xonotic-glx $@

EDIT:
Actually something has went terribly wrong; my HoN doesn't even work anymore. Could it be an opengl error?

Last edited by M_ller (2011-01-02 13:55:54)

Xyne · 2011-01-02 14:28:17

@M_lier
Please open a new thread for that. It really doesn't belong here.

litemotiv · 2011-01-02 14:50:58

Moved to GNU/Linux Discussion.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-03-22 16:09:02

Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#2 2010-03-22 16:33:35

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#3 2010-03-22 17:18:32

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#4 2010-03-22 18:00:17

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#5 2010-03-22 18:15:55

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#6 2010-03-22 20:43:11

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#7 2010-03-22 20:47:06

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#8 2010-03-22 20:59:33

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#9 2010-03-22 21:00:50

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#10 2010-03-22 21:56:37

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#11 2010-03-23 01:25:49

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#12 2010-03-23 01:39:19

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#13 2010-03-23 02:00:55

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#14 2010-03-23 03:00:06

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#15 2010-03-23 04:29:56

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#16 2010-03-23 05:11:59

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#17 2010-03-23 11:44:20

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#18 2010-03-23 16:05:39

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#19 2011-01-02 13:48:49

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#20 2011-01-02 14:28:17

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

#21 2011-01-02 14:50:58

Re: Nexuiz reborn, Xonotic project started.

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