[originally posted on 2010-04-18]

Going from a closed source game to a game engine or framework

From the description of Little Goblin on the sourceforge project page:

“A fantasy browser game framework implemented with Grails. The goal of Little Goblin is to create a game engine that allows you to “just add content” and you will be able to host a game that is only limited by your creativity.”

I changed the focus of project little goblin slightly by converting it from a personal closed source to an open source project and making it a game engine rather than a game. There will be a game (or several?) based upon Little Goblin, but Little Goblin is now the game engine or framework for a Grails based fantasy browser game.

Why open source the engine but not the whole game? Because I am commissioning artwork from artists and that is something which does not come for free and the results are not open sourced or based upon a creative commons license. If you wish to contribute artwork or other assets of which you own the copyright to the core game engine, I would be happy to include it in the project.