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DoubleFine Ceasing Spacebase DF-9 Development, Releasing Code For Modders

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkYSir6LWa4&list=UUQMxCuhm25CUS9MZKjZ2ihQ
DoubleFine has announced it will cease development on Spacebase DF-9 and release their Lua code for modders to carry the dream on.

The game had rather a lot of planned features listed that have been removed, but hopefully this won't be too hard on fans of the game with their plans:
QuoteWe’re also pleased to announce we’ll be releasing the game’s full Lua source code a short time after 1.0, which will allow the community to create potentially far-ranging mods that add content, new features, and change some fundamental game behaviors. We’ll of course be sticking around a bit for bug fixing and support, but any new content for the game will now be in your hands. We’re eager to see what people do with this game!


It does make me wonder what happened internally for them to scrap their future roadmap. They are however putting in a tutorial and smoothing the game out to be less like an early access game, and more what you would expect from a finished game. There will also be goals to work towards to make the game feel more complete too.

No need to fret though as the game is already pretty damn fun as it is even when I played it a while ago, and these things can happen in development.

Their roadmap page has removed all previously announced possible features and replaced it with a small 1.0 release information section, but they did always state this:
QuoteNothing on this list is carved in stone, and we can’t promise any date for when it might go into the game. We may decide something isn’t worth it, or an idea may mutate into another thing entirely. We’re sharing this with you because we want to give an idea of where the game is headed!

There were always pretty open that nothing was "carved in stone" meaning none of their previously noted features were confirmed to be heading into the game. You can see that section using the way back machine.

They also noted on their big picture that Linux sold 2.37% for them.

See their official post on it here. You can also check it out on Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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33 comments
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FrasierCrane Sep 18, 2014
Unfortunately another proof that Tim Schafer and his company just can't stay on time and budget during development. I doubt we will be seeing Act 2 of Broken Age either this year.
seven Sep 18, 2014
Quoting: Segata Sanshiro
QuoteSteam should just remove Early Access from their network. it's not a good idea.
I have to completely disagree with this. While DF and others clearly abused the system, Early Access is a great initiative as a whole if you take into consideration some of the games it made possible:

Kerbal Space Program
Wasteland 2
Rust
Planitary Annihilation
Starbound
Prison Architect
etc.

starbound is thinking about opensourcing it too, and it still lacks basic features like keybindings
micmon Sep 18, 2014
Quoting: FrasierCraneUnfortunately another proof that Tim Schafer and his company just can't stay on time and budget during development. I doubt we will be seeing Act 2 of Broken Age either this year.

Unfortunately I have to agree...
MajorLunaC Sep 18, 2014
Wait, what's the problem? The LUA CODE will be open source. The GRAPHICS are not, and you still have to buy them. Of course, they'll probably make some free alternatives, but know they probably won't be the same quality, and it would be some time. But the thing is, the LUA SOURCE CODE is released. Is the whole game engine really written in Lua? Or is there some C++/C code that's not released?
Speedster Sep 18, 2014
Quoting: MajorLunaCWait, what's the problem? The LUA CODE will be open source. The GRAPHICS are not, and you still have to buy them. Of course, they'll probably make some free alternatives, but know they probably won't be the same quality, and it would be some time. But the thing is, the LUA SOURCE CODE is released. Is the whole game engine really written in Lua? Or is there some C++/C code that's not released?

The game engine is most likely the already-open-source Moai, which Double Fine has used on other projects and which uses Lua for the scripting

Speaking of which, how many other game companies of Double Fine's size are actually using an open source game engine? I still think they're pretty awesome.
Half-Shot Sep 18, 2014
Wow. I spend days in the forums fighting off people telling me it isn't worth a purchase and they go and release it for 1.0 this early! Amazing. I don't WANT to make content for your game unless everything is open source.

That's not how it works, you don't half bake a cake and leave it.But it's worse than that analogy. They have essentially left a cupcake, and given us the ingredients for icing and then if the cake suddenly tastes like crap then we are left with nothing.

Lua scripting is restrictive by default, its there to write gameplay code within a sandbox. It's not the same as open source, it's about as open source as Garrysmod or many other games already on Steam. It means nothing to say the game is open source but you can only add new features, not reshape the game if it suddenly breaks.

EDIT: Oh wait, it's already broken for lots of Linux gamers because the game is about as fast as your average Vista machine. Let's fix that with LUA!

EDIT2: The game won't be entirely written in lua. Usually best case is when the gameplay is written in it and you get a certain amount of modding room. But more often than not it's left to things like AI and objects rather than global gameplay.
Segata Sanshiro Sep 18, 2014
Well, open source or not, they're still charging £18.99 and letting other people do all the work now.
marcelomendes Sep 18, 2014
Glad I didn't bought this game. I have a few early access games right now, like Planet Explorers, Verdun and Interstelar Marines. I know the risks, but what "Double Fine" did is just ridiculous and disrespectful with their backers, sorry for you guys.

This kind of act brings a lot of damage to the company's name, lets see what they say after the users feedback. Well, Spacebase DF9, Broken Age and Hack & Slash are now definitively out of my whishlist.
Toost Inc. Sep 18, 2014
As someone who bought it in Alpha 01, I don't really see the need for a kerfuffle.
I spent hours in that first alpha, and though I haven't had much of a chance to actually play since then, I have been keeping up with SB-DF's development, and they've only added more amazing things.
Back then, I didn't only buy this game because I thought it was going to become a great game, I bought it because it already was.

And let's be honest. the only reason why this game now seems unfinished is because of the roadmap. Had they kept that internally, and publicly said "Spacebase is done", it would just have been a normal release and that would be that.

Instead, now we get the entire source code to play with as well, and although it probably won't be released under any real open-source licence, it's still a great modding opportunity, and a very nice gesture towards the community.

Quoting: ba7a7chyThats really not cool ! I paid for this game to have it open sourced a few months later ?

Again, probably not going to be truly open-sourced, but God forbid you spent money on an open-source project! You must feel like a right dupe!
Half-Shot Sep 18, 2014
Quoting: Toost IncAs someone who bought it in Alpha 01, I don't really see the need for a kerfuffle.
I spent hours in that first alpha, and though I haven't had much of a chance to actually play since then, I have been keeping up with SB-DF's development, and they've only added more amazing things.

Well you just answered it there. The reason we are kicking up so much is because a hell of a lot of people didn't buy the game early but bought it on sale just a few weeks ago or even hours ago. What about our game time?

Quoting: Toost IncAnd let's be honest. the only reason why this game now seems unfinished is because of the roadmap. Had they kept that internally, and publicly said "Spacebase is done", it would just have been a normal release and that would be that.

Oh come on, it's not even close to being a full game. The bare essentials are there to keep it interesting for a few days but even EA will put more content into the base game, and they are the king of cutting content for DLC.
Quoting: Toost IncInstead, now we get the entire source code to play with as well, and although it probably won't be released under any real open-source licence, it's still a great modding opportunity, and a very nice gesture towards the community.

Lua can't run on its own, and so it's never going to be the full codebase. Probably little more than just a few gameplay scripts we can play with until we realise there is no real way to add content properly. It's a nice gesture from a company who is ditching their game.

Quoting: Toost IncAgain, probably not going to be truly open-sourced, but God forbid you spent money on an open-source project! You must feel like a right dupe!

I spent money on a game, not an open source project. I would rather spend money for that on things which will go somewhere.
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