Hi folks!
I apologise for opening this discussion, and especially for opening it in English, since I do not know the German language.
In case you think that what I'm about to write is interesting for everyone, I authorize to translate the text in German for those who have difficulties with English.
Reading the forum of MMM in recent months (thanks to an online translator), I noticed that after the eventual absence of the creators of the episodes (whatever the reason), it was thought to share and make freely download the source codes of each episode published.
This is to avoid that in the future it will be impossible to update the game to the new operating systems and that it will be impossible to carry out translations in other languages.
The idea of sharing the source codes of the games makes us really happy!
In this way both us from MIWF and other users of goodwill, will be able to carry out improvements and translations in other languages in favor of all the fans of the world!
With the authorization of the author, we already did so with MMM-98!
As a "PR" of the MIWF, however, I noticed that some authors (even those who are not part of the MMM forum) are reluctant to share the source of their game, for the most different reasons. Here are the main reasons.
- There is a kind of "jealousy" of one's abilities (as for "copyright"?) so that other authors cannot enter the code and "steal" the skills acquired with so much study and work.
- There is the FEAR that some thieves can abuse the good faith of the game authors, and use their work for reasons (as I know...) commercial, political, social (when still the intentions are not evil), otherwise as a viaticum for personal revenges and disagreements, or even worse for negative messages, profane languages (I say no more...).
So, after talking to the other guys in the MIWF, these are our suggestions, in favor and protection of each game and of the image of each author who wants to share the source of his game in the space intended in the site of MMM.
- Each author should clearly express the consensus that in the future, whether for any translations or for eventual upgrades by other authors, the source is freely usable in the event of his absence or abandonment of the forum (So if he is still active in the MMM forum, or in any case is easily contacted, I think it is always right to ask the author permission first.).
- To put a "filter" by the admin, so that he grant access to the source ONLY behind blatant reasoned request, and only on the guarantee that every improvement will be returned to the site of MMM as protection and continuation of the will of each author, and in favor of any further future improvements.
So NO to too many restrictive rules, but YES to a filter that tends to avoid any unwanted abuse, to protect the trust placed by each author to the congregation of MMM.
Maybe showing the list of the sources availabe, but keeping hidden the section where the source codes are kept, and then release to those who request only the link to download the specific source of the game to be translated?
As for the sources that some author gave us for the Italian translation:
MMM-51
MMM-94
MMM Ostereiersuche 2010
MMM Ostereiersuche 2011
we returned to each author the "new" source code after the updates we made, so everything is in the hands of the legitimate creator.
If for any eventuality the author had lost it, we are willing to share it behind his consent.
As for MMM-95, the first "international" episode, we have not yet contacted the author (Liz) about this subject.
Before doing so, we of the MIWF would like that will be well defined the issues, that I have just written above, to protect the game and the author, and then we will try to ask her the permission so that her source code can be hosted here in the specific section of MMM.
I hope you think this is an interesting discussion.
For translators (so not just for us, the Italian ones at the Monkey Island World Forum), it certainly is.
So we await for your opinions.
Have a good day, everybody!
