Seven Kingdoms I: Ancient Adversaries for Linux

Hi,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_K...(computer_game)

Seven Kingdoms is a real-time strategy (RTS) computer game developed by Trevor Chan of Enlight Software. The game enables players to compete against up to six other kingdoms allowing players to conquer opponents by defeating them in war (with troops or machines), capturing their buildings with spies, or offering opponents money for their kingdom. The Seven Kingdoms series went on to include a sequel, Seven Kingdoms II: The Fryhtan Wars.


If you are interested in porting this game to Linux world I will be happy to told you that we have the source code. So, if you are a developer want to port please get the code and work in it or anyone who can organize the work to get it

By the way as I noticed form 7Kfans.net members and as I already know that version 1 is better than version 2.

I got the source code form Bradon who got it form EyesOfARaven the one who got the code form the company that made the game.

I do not know where to upload the source so I uploaded it to Rapidshare.com:

The Source Code:
RapidShare: Easy Filehosting

The source is very light compared to the compiled game. Because the source does not have the videos and images. But you can find them in the game itself.

The game (For windows only):
Version 1:
Amazon.com: Seven Kingdoms: Ancient Adversaries: PC: Video Games

Version 2:

Amazon.com: Seven Kingdoms 2 - The Fryhtan Wars: PC: Video Games

I will add that this source code is not free and open source software. The license is attached with the archive, please read it before you commit.

Here is the license attached with the code:

Quote:

---

Infotaxis Public License (IPL) - 3/13/09 - Infotaxis Project

The person or organization releasing software under the IPL is referred to as "the source". Any code software under this license, henceforth referred to as "the code", is released with the following restrictions:

- Any changes made to the code must be sent back to the source and be released under the IPL.

- The source has the right to change the license of the code at any time.

- The code may not be sold in any way, shape, or form. It may be included with something that is sold, but only with permission of the source, and the clear mention to customers that the code is available for free.

- The code is meant for the public, and may be distributed (provided there is no charge to the receiving party).


- When distributing the code, this license must accompany it in its original form (do not modify the license if you are not the source!).

The intention of this license is to provide a clean, concise means of distributing OSS (open source software) without "infecting" one's code, ala the GPL.

The source for this project (7 Kingdoms) is EyesOfARaven of the Infotaxis Project ([email protected]).

---

Essentially, you cannot sell it in any way, shape or form, and you do not own any changes you make.
Disclaimer: IANAL.

Seems like they're looking for someone to port it for them, for free. In this author's opinion, I would not agree to those terms- it would seem they could close-source your work at any moment, and prevent you from giving away anything that you did port. Note that this is my personal opinion.

I read it, but I did not understood it.

I thought if the source code is here that mean it is open source.

Sorry for misunderstanding
But I realy liked this game and want to enjoy it with linux

You will never find a game with these strategies and play style. If you found one mention it here please.

Thanks,
Mohammad

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MIH1406

I read it, but I did not understood it.

---

You should always understand what terms source code is provided to you under.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MIH1406

I thought if the source code is here that mean it is open source.

---

Nope, not at all. Nothing is so simple in today's world. If you obtain source code, you also need to understand what terms it is obtained under. Usually a license accompanies the source code, either in a separate file, at the top of each file, or (usually) both. There are several licenses out there - common ones are GPL, LGPL, BSD (and it's variants).

Basically, a license is just a document that tells you what you can and cannot do with the source code. Sometimes it's things as simple as "when you're done, give me (Joe Bob, the original author of this source code) credit for my work." Sometimes is requires you to keep any derivative works open sourced.

If you find source code in the public domain, that is truely free. You can do anything you want with it. However, the vast majority of source code is not in the public domain.

Images, fonts, etc. - all of these also contain licenses. Many images on flickr, for example, are listed under a "Creative commons" license - the author of the photo is allowing you to do some things (such as use the photo/image in a program or artistic work) while restricting others (if you use it, give him credit).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MIH1406

Sorry for misunderstanding
But I realy liked this game and want to enjoy it with linux

You will never find a game with these strategies and play style. If you found one mention it here please.

---

No harm done. I'm not saying that this can't be ported to Linux, I'm just saying that it's a very restrictive license from my end (one that I would not agree to). It is certainly possible, if you want to agree to the terms listed in the license, that you can create a Linux port.

This is, specifically, what worries me in the license:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IPL

- Any changes made to the code must be sent back to the source and be released under the IPL.

- The source has the right to change the license of the code at any time.

---

Any changes you make (ie, porting to Linux) must be licensed under the IPL. (This is a bit vauge? If I license my changes under the IPL, am I the source, or is InfoTaxis? I would suspect the latter, but it is not clear.) Additionally, the "source" can "change the license of the code at any time" Meaning that, if it IS InfoTaxis who is the source of the changed code, then they can close-source it at any time with out notice. Clauses like "right to change ... the license ... at any time" should automatically make you read the fine print. If they can change the license without any arbitration from you, what rights to the code are you really being guarenteed?

Finally, this line makes me even more wary:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IPL

The intention of this license is to provide a clean, concise means of distributing OSS (open source software) without "infecting" one's code, ala the GPL.

---

This is not a term of agreement between you and Infotaxis, it is an opinion. It has no place in such a license - it should be provided in an accompanying rational, if they really feel the need. Further, that is a statement without any fact to it, and should be backed up by some. Just how exactly is the GPL infectious? Because usually using GPL code means your code must be GPL or better? This is no more "infectious" than this IPL - which explicitly states that any modifications must be released under this IPL.

"If they can change the license without any arbitration from you, what rights to the code are you really being guarenteed?"

Regardless of how you interpret it, this license is crap. It doesn't matter to me, as the end user or as a potential developer, who the "The source" is in the relevant point, if anyone in the chain of development can change the license to any other license at any time without notification I could suddenly find myself having been grossly violating the eventual license for any length of time with knowing it.

Of course, I don't think this "change the license on a whim" thing is legal, but you'd need to ask a lawyer in your area because I know this isn't legal in a few places but it probably is in other places.

Soma

What if I did this:

Eleven Kitchens is an *original* real-time strategy (RTS) computer game for linux. The game enables players to compete against up to ten other chefs, allowing players to conquer opponents by defeating them in food preparation (with real or synthetic ingredients), capturing their plates with serving staff, or offering opponents baked goods for their shift. The Eleven Kitchens series went on to include a sequel, Eleven Kitchens II: The Frypan Scars.

Not even a lawyer would take this case seriously now.

O_o

Well, at least one place where this was spammed deleted it as distributing piracy. So, can we get this deleted?

Soma

Hey,

So is the source code still available? For years I've been dying to take a look at it. The rapidshare link is wining about 10 downloads max being reached.
Could anyone share the source code with me? Seven Kingdoms is the first real game I played, and have played for a lot of years.
About the license, I don't think you should worry *too* much about the fact that they can alter the license as they wish. If you make changes, you are required to send the code to the license owner. I think at this point, they could alter the license and possibly stop you from publishing it. I admit, it isn't a very nice prospect, but sounds to me like the way proprietary code is always 'shared'.

Thanks,
MicroVirus

That license is hilarious. I wouldn't touch that code with a ten foot Pole of Patching

Here is the Source Code:

At 2Shared:
2shared - download 7_Kingdoms_Source_Code.7z

At FileDropper:
http://www.filedropper.com/7kingdomssourcecode

Thanks a lot :)

I've already had quite a bit of fun sifting through the source code (7k AA), trying to understand how it works.
My first thought was that it's kind of sloppy :P Absolutely no encapsulation, a tat low on documentation, and quite dangerous memset's on class instances ("vtable... anyone?"). But it's still brilliant 'cause it's 7k! :P
Next step will be to try and see if I can get it to compile, but that'll have to wait 'til the weekend.
Has anyone else taken a look at it? Who are Alex and Gilbert btw (the comments about having modified the code)?

Cheers,
MicroVirus

Yeah I looked at it, and IMO it needs rewriting rather than porting.

For those who want to revive Seven Kingdoms - visit 7kfans.com, this is official fan/developer site now.
Also, source is currently released under GPL

I am EyesOfARaven. I released it under my license the IPL in order to make sure I was kept in the loop, so to speak, on development. Not only did that not achieve that simple goal, it also made people hesitate to work on the project. I thusly re-released it as GPL, so don't fear working on it.

I am not a company, the "Infotaxis Project" is just me, and it is a free software development "group", so it isn't something to be afraid of.