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# Game
Game (also gayme) is [software](software.md) whose main purpose is to be played and entertain the user (and, of course, we can additionally talk about real life games such as [marble racing](marble_race.md)). Sadly most computer games are [proprietary](proprietary.md).
In computer context game (also gayme, video game or vidya) is [software](software.md) whose main purpose is to be played and entertain the user. Of course, we can additionally talk about real life games such as [marble racing](marble_race.md), *game* is also a mathematical term in [game theory](game_theory.md). Sadly most computer games are [proprietary](proprietary.md) and toxic.
Among [suckless](kiss.md) software proponents there is a disagreement about whether games are legit software or just a [meme](meme.md) and harmful kind of entertainment. The proponents of the latter argue something along the lines that technology is only for getting work done, that games are for losers, that they hurt [productivity](productivity_cult.md), are an unhealthy addiction, wasted time and effort etc. Those who like games see them as a legitimate form of relaxation, a form of art and a way of advancing technology. The truth is that developing games leads to improvement of other kinds of software, e.g. for rendering, physics simulation or virtual reality.
Among [suckless](kiss.md) software proponents there is a disagreement about whether games are legit software or just a [meme](meme.md) and harmful kind of entertainment. The proponents of the latter argue something along the lines that technology is only for getting work done, that games are for losers, that they hurt [productivity](productivity_cult.md), are an unhealthy addiction, wasted time and effort etc. Those who like games see them as a legitimate form of relaxation, a form of art and a way of advancing technology along the way. The truth is that developing games leads to improvement of other kinds of software, e.g. for rendering, physics simulation or virtual reality.
Despite arguments about the usefulness of games, most people agree on one thing: that the mainstream AAA games produced by big corporations are harmful, [bloated](bloat.md) and designed to be malicious. These are one of the worst cases of [capitalist software](capitalis_software.md). Such games are never going to be considered good from our perspective (and even the mainstream is turning towards classifying modern games as [shit](shit.md)).
[LRS](lrs.md) fully accepts games as legitimate software; of course as long as their purpose is to help all people, i.e. while we don't reject games as such, we reject most games the industry produces.
Despite arguments about the usefulness of games, most people agree on one thing: that the mainstream AAA games produced by big corporations are harmful, [bloated](bloat.md) and designed to be malicious. They are one of the worst cases of [capitalist software](capitalis_software.md). Such games are never going to be considered good from our perspective (and even the mainstream is turning towards classifying modern games as [shit](shit.md)).
PC games are mostly made for and played on [MS Windows](windows.md) which is still the "gaming OS", even though in recent years we've seen a boom of "[Linux](linux.md) gaming", possibly thanks to Windows getting shittier and shittier every year. However, most games, even when played on Linux, are still [proprietary](proprietary.md).
@ -12,22 +14,28 @@ We might call this the **great tragedy of games**: the industry has become simil
Therefore it is crucial to stress that **games are technology like any other**, they can be exploiting and abusive, and so indeed all the high standards we hold for other technology we must also hold for games. Too many people judge games solely by their gameplay. For us at [LRS](lrs.md) gameplay is but one attribute, and not even the one standing at the top; factors such as [software freedom](free_software.md), [cultural freedom](free_culture.md), [sucklessness](suckless.md), good internal design and being [future proof](future_proof.md) are even more important.
A small number of games nowadays come with a [free](free_software.md) engine, which is either official (often retroactively freed by its developer in case of older games) or developed by volunteers. Example of the former are the engines of ID games (Doom, Quake), example of the latter can be [OpenMW](openmw.md) (a free engine for TES: Morrowind) or [Mangos](mangos.md) (a free server for World of Warcraft). Console [emulators](emulator.md) (such as of Playstation or Gameboy) can also be considered a free engine for playing proprietary games.
A small number of games nowadays come with a [free](free_software.md) engine, which is either official (often retroactively freed by its developer in case of older games) or developed by volunteers. Example of the former are the engines of ID games ([Doom](doom.md), [Quake](quake.md)), example of the latter can be [OpenMW](openmw.md) (a free engine for TES: Morrowind) or [Mangos](mangos.md) (a free server for World of Warcraft). Console [emulators](emulator.md) (such as of Playstation or Gameboy) can also be considered a free engine for playing proprietary games.
Yet a smaller number of games are completely free (in the sense of [Debian](debian.md)'s free software definition), including both the engine and game assets. These games are called **free games** or **libre games** and many of them are clones of famous proprietary games. Examples of these include [SuperTuxKart](stk.md), [Minetest](minetest.md), [Xonotic](xonotic.md), [FLARE](flare.md) or [Anarch](anarch.md). There exists a wiki for libre games at https://libregamewiki.org and a developer forum at https://forum.freegamedev.net/.
Yet a smaller number of games are completely free (in the sense of [Debian](debian.md)'s free software definition), including both the engine and game assets. These games are called **free games** or **libre games** and many of them are clones of famous proprietary games. Examples of these include [SuperTuxKart](stk.md), [Minetest](minetest.md), [Xonotic](xonotic.md), [FLARE](flare.md) or [Anarch](anarch.md). There exists a wiki for libre games at https://libregamewiki.org and a developer forum at https://forum.freegamedev.net/. Libre games can also be found in Debian software repositories.
{ NOTE: Do not blindly trust libregamewiki, non-free games ocassionaly do appear there by accident or even intention. But it's a good resource for finding libre games. ~drummyfish }
Some games are pretty based as they don't even require GUI and are only played in the text shell (either using TUI or purely textual I/O) -- these are called TTY games or command line games. This kind of games may be particularly interesting for [minimalists](minimalism.md), hobbyists and developers with low (zero) budget, little spare time and/or no artistic skills. Roguelike games are especially popular here; there sometimes even exist GUI frontends which is pretty neat -- this demonstrates how the [Unix philosophy](unix_philosophy.md) can be applied to games.
Some games are pretty based as they don't even require [GUI](gui.md) and are only played in the text shell (either using TUI or purely textual I/O) -- these are called TTY games or command line games. This kind of games may be particularly interesting for [minimalists](minimalism.md), hobbyists and developers with low (zero) budget, little spare time and/or no artistic skills. Roguelike games are especially popular here; there sometimes even exist GUI frontends which is pretty neat -- this demonstrates how the [Unix philosophy](unix_philosophy.md) can be applied to games.
Another kind of cool games are computer implementation of pre-computer games, for example [chess](chess.md), backgammon, go or various card games. Such games are very often well tested and fine-tuned gameplay-wise, popular with active communities and therefore fun, yet simple to program with many existing free implementations and good AIs (e.g. GNU chess, GNU go or [Stockfish](stockfish.md)).
Another kind of cool games are computer implementations of pre-computer games, for example [chess](chess.md), backgammon, go or various card games. Such games are very often well tested and fine-tuned gameplay-wise, popular with active communities and therefore [fun](fun.md), yet simple to program with many existing free implementations and good AIs (e.g. GNU chess, GNU go or [Stockfish](stockfish.md)).
## Legal Matters
Thankfully gameplay mechanisms cannot (yet) be [copyrighted](copyright.md) (however some can sadly be [patented](patent.md)) so we can mostly happily [clone](clone.md) proprietary games and so free them. However this must be done carefully as there is a possibility of stepping on other mines, for example violating a [*trade dress*](trade_dress.md) (looking too similar visually) or a [trade mark](trade_mark.md) (for example you cannot use the word *tetris* as it's owned by some shitty company) and also said patents (for example the concept of minigames on loading screens used to be patented in the past).
Trademarks have been known to cause problems in the realm of libre games, for example in the case of Nexuiz which had to rename to Xonotic after its original creator trademarked the name and started to make trouble.
Trademarks have been known to cause problems in the realm of libre games, for example in the case of Nexuiz which had to rename to [Xonotic](xonotic.md) after its original creator trademarked the name and started to make trouble.
## Some Nice Gaymes
[Anarch](anarch.md) is an example of a game trying to strictly follow the [less retarded](lrs.md) principles. [SAF](saf.md) is a less retarded game library/fantasy console which comes with some less retarded games.
[Anarch](anarch.md) is an example of a game trying to strictly follow the [less retarded](lrs.md) principles. [SAF](saf.md) is a less retarded game library/fantasy console which comes with some less retarded games such as [microTD](utd.md).
## See Also
- [open console](open_console.md)
- [fantasy console](fantasy_console.md)
- [chess](chess.md)