I've been struggling with this question for a while now -

having now successfully got my H1B Work Visa, I leave the UK for the States on 7th August to start my job with Respawn Entertainment on Monday 9th August, and after I start work there, I've been advised to not frequent the hobby modding sites like I have been doing. But, before I go I wanted to release all the source files to both my COD4 and my CODWaW mod. However, I am fearful of people taking it and not crediting me and the other people involved in the files properly.

As I wont be around (much) to chase those people down, is it a good idea? Should I just forget about it, and save myself the worry and the grief? Or do you think its worth doing as the source files would be worth having?

Really, really stuck on this. So appreciate your thoughts.

Really depends if you support open source or not. A lot of people support mods that release their code because if they want to make a simple change they do not have to request and wait / hope it gets added, they can do it themselves.

You will alway get someone who thinks, ''I know, i'll make a few changes and say its my mod muhaha''. Personally due to all the work you put it, i think you should keep them to yourself.

I understand that people may want too 'learn' from other peoples work and that is perfectly fine, but the majority mainly want the work done for them already and upon releasing your code, do you really think people will just read it and think ''Yes, that exactly what i need, now i will rewrite it in my own words''?

At the end of the day if you don't mind this then release them but i would advise against it.

batistablr writes...

Thanks for the reply.

The thing is I do support open source. I just dont support people taking my work and not crediting me for it. There is too much of it going on for me not to care. Its not like there are isolated instances of it in the modding community, its rampant. That makes me as a developer feel like being selfish and not releasing it.

The problem for me is I wont be around to protect my interests. And that makes me fearful about releasing. However, there is some really good stuff in there that I would love to see get used by other modders. Only, as long as they acknowledge me for it.

Kind of like my legacy to the community, if only it stays that way.

I agree with rasta. Demon while i love learning from your code and i think its great that your thinking of releasing it to the public i would advise agaisnt it as alot of the people out here now dont give credit where credit is due. But if you do release the code i would only release it to a select few number of people that you know wont take it and call it their own.

Gratz on the job btw.

its your decision to make no one is gonna force you. You could release a partial source so scripts and menus but not menus and animations or something that seems to disuade most people or you could do something like open warfare and make people accept something and register on your site.

i would have to agree with titan,i would only give it to people who you know that will give you credit for your code,but there's always someone who will share it and to someone else and that's a never ending cycle

good luck with the job! keep us posted =)

irishstorm writes...
You're right.

well is someone helped you by open source codes then you should do yours, ofcourse you will get people who just copy and dont credit you at least you know its yours. but if no 1 helped you then its up to you, but why cant you try working on them?

You'll be making the bug bucks and working on a game, does it matter if some small timer online is taking credit for your work which most of us will be able to recognize and decompile to verify they used your script.

I wouldn't lost sleep over it, just know your work got you where you're at with Respawn and the person(s) who take credit for your work will never be where you're at.

Best of luck at Respawn too.
You will be living and/or working in the L.A. area?