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Valve releases Team Fortress 2 code (github.com)

1863 points by davikr · 531 days ago · 387 comments on HN

Article summary

Valve has released the code for Team Fortress 2, a popular team-based first-person shooter game. The released code is specific to TF2 and sits on top of the still-closed-source Source engine. This release is expected to be beneficial for modding, but it does not provide enough information to port TF2 to a new platform. The code is available on GitHub and includes various game-related files and tools.

Main themes

  • Game Engine
  • Open Source
  • Modding
  • Source Engine
  • Game Development
  • Valve Corporation

What commenters say

  • The release of TF2's code is beneficial for modding, but it does not provide enough information to port the game to a new platform due to the closed-source nature of the Source engine.
  • Some argue that the Source engine is outdated and not comparable to modern game engines like Unity or Unreal, while others believe it still has its uses and a dedicated community.
  • The decision to keep the Source engine closed-source is seen as puzzling by some, who argue that open-sourcing it could lead to more creative projects and a larger community, but others point out the potential issues with third-party code and licensing.
  • There are differing opinions on the relevance of the Source engine in modern game development, with some arguing it is no longer suitable for modern games and others believing it can still be used effectively with the right support and updates.
  • Some commenters believe that game engines like Godot can be sufficient for making good games, especially for indie developers, while others argue that more powerful engines like Unreal or Source are necessary for certain types of games.
  • The release of the TF2 code has sparked discussions about the history of game engine development, including the release of the Doom source code and the challenges of working with third-party code and licensing agreements.