Hyperion Complete Quake 2 port

[Cluke]

Good news, but it's missing a download link.
They are providing the GPL altered source for download, yes?

[Cluke]

You know, I don't have a problem, paying Hyperion for Quake 2.

Hardly the point, though. It's the law that they have to release the source of any derived programs. I wouldn't mind paying them either, but they must do this!

I suppose it's possible that they have come to some sort of exclusive licensing deal with iD, but barring any further details I think this is very unlikely.

(There is nothing on their site as of yet, but it hasn't seen an update for months so I doubt there will be).

[Cluke]

From http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLRequireSourcePostedPublic

"Does the GPL require that source code of modified versions be posted to the public?

[...]if you release the modified version to the public in some way, the GPL requires you to make the modified source code available to the users, under the GPL.
"

Seems clear enough to me.

Alright, maybe if they include the sources on the CD or 'available on request', but then other people are free to distribute modifications of those sources. So it would be best if Hyperion acted to the spirit of the GPL if not the letter, and released their changes before someone else does.

But perhaps they do intend to release and we're arguing about nothing. I hope so.

[Cluke]

Also, if it works the same way as when quake and Doom were released, whilst the game code was released under GPL, you still needed the data files, which you could only get off of the original disks I believe (or from Clickbooms cd's in Quakes case). So you would need to buy the original disks anyway.

But what if I own the PC disks already?
Or want to play the demo version?
Or want to make my own Amiga version, based on theirs?

Listen, I'm not trying to say Hyperion don't deserve recompense for their efforts. By all means buy this CD to thank them. But you can't just allow them to flaunt the GPL just because they are a poor Amiga company!

[Cluke]

Hyperion will ofcourse fully comply with the GPL license and release the source-code of our port to any interested party upon request.

Thanks for the clarification. Good work!

[Cluke]

stop making a fuss over nothing as most likely the source code will be on the CD.

Slow reader, are you?

[Cluke]

@Alkemyst

Well, to be honest i was excited by the headline (which implied that Quake2 was ready for download) and then really disappointed to see that they were (seemingly) only offering a commerical route to getting to even play a demo version so I maybe did jump in a little hastily. But it was a serious question.

Which is now, thankfully, answered. So chill dude! :-)

[Cluke]

@Olegil

Assuming you're replying  to me, I was not talking about making mods, I was talking about making altered versions of the full Quake2 . Or maybe even just to look at it for curiosities sake.

This is all hypothetical anyway, I was just trying to dispel the patronising "Well what would you need the source for anyway" argument that some seem to think would release a company from its obligations.