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What if Doom 3 were open sourced?

August 04, 2004 (8:00:00 AM) - 5 years, 3 months ago

ID Software has released all its major games under the GPL as soon as newer ID releases take the spotlight. But what if Doom 3, the most advanced game engine on Earth, were open sourced from the start?

Since 1991, Texas-based ID Software has showed the gaming industry how state-of-the-art gaming engines are created with each and every new release. Be it Doom, Quake 3 or any of ID's other titles, the next steps in physics engines and 3D rendering have been taken. No wonder the ID code bases have been licensed for games such as Half Life and Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

But what truly amazes me is how the ID folks have kept their passion for the craft despite their monetary success and celebrity. Whether it's answering questions for the KDE project, helping with game engine modifications such as Quakeforge, or in general paying respect to the community, ID is good at keeping the conversation going. The architectures are open, there are plenty of tools for game modification, and the majority of the games are open sourced. When ID's native Linux binaries aren't there, the GPLed source code has ensured platform independence, be it for Wolfenstein 3D or Doom 2.

One doesn't have to read the game-specific news media to have heard that the big thing in the game industry is ID's upcoming Doom 3. Judging from the screenshots and video clip from the game, it without doubt is unseen before.

ID Software releases its games under open source licenses when they have started collecting dust and the spotlight is seeking their new games. While the source is of great interest for the loyal community, it's not much more than that.

When ID releases Doom 3 -- the next milestone in gaming technology -- what would happen if it were released under an open source license right away instead of waiting?

As did Linux, it would turn the gaming industry upside down by making it a happy place for small and medium-sized enterprises, and by shifting it to a service orientation. As an operating system, a 3D engine is a far too big and complex project to write from scratch, but when standing on the shoulders of giants large accomplishments can be made. Small gaming companies, and the innovation they bring, would flourish.
When Doom 3 is the engine behind games, and its development takes on the speed and perfection of open source, the technical aspect of gaming would already be taken care of. We would see game development conquer new areas -- new technical features, and deep explorations of story line, art and design.
3D engines are not only of interest in games. Ordinary programs, ranging from medical systems to CAD programs, also need 3D capabilities. With the Doom 3 engine, such projects would have a new horizon, especially those that lack the resources to develop or purchase their own, such as educational and government projects. The push ID would give such projects would be invaluable.
The engine would become a generic software component installed on most systems, referenced by games, effects in desktop environments and ordinary programs.
When a game can be built with the Doom 3 engine, does it make any sense going the proprietary path? The gaming industry would be converted to open source in two seconds. Open source's unique ability to establish open standards would make itself present. Goodbye DirectX!

What is hindering ID from taking this giant leap for the computer industry, if not fo all of mankind?

Judging from ID's close relationship with the gaming community and its passion for the craft, it cannot be a lack of motivation -- I think they would observe the development such a decision would spur with great interest.

Could it be financial reasons? MySQL is released under the GPL, and MySQL AB makes money on proprietary licenses (paradoxical as it first may seem). As long as a company is liked, open source is a fine business model.

Fear of losing control? That open sourcing a piece of software would lead to "anarchy" is a myth created by misunderstanding open source and Internet marketing. If the open sourcing was done in a way suitable for Doom 3 (which would radically differ from ID's previous source releases), ID would still be in charge.

What about legal aspects? Certainly. Considering the engine's close involvement with the hardware, the developers may have signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), but they can easily be circumvented by leaving those parts out or doing workarounds. ID may also have signed contracts (such as licenses of the engine) which prevent them from moving toward open source licenses.

ID Software has systematically, again and again, revolutionized. Open source is storming the market. And now, due to groundwork that is only recently completed, it is about to start moving into gaming.

Shouldn't open source be ID Software's next move if it still wants to be "The" gaming industry innovator?

Read in the original layout at: http://www.linux.com/archive/feature/37857