Linux Game Company Opens Doors

"You're comparing the $20 per-copy cost of NWN to the total amount of $40k for this game
project?"

Sure, and why not?  I'm not talking about development costs or initial sales figures.  Right
now, today, you can get ancient technology in a very long game with a toolkit and still
vibrant user community (NWN) for $20 a copy, or you can donate a few bucks to get pre-historic
technology in a short and incomplete game and get source that probably isn't all that
interesting or novel.

"I agree with the idea that this "ransom" model is worth exploring."

For this, I agree very much.  I was very excited when I read that was how they were
approaching this game.  I just dont't think that this particular work is worth a third of what
they're asking.

I'd be far more interesting in ransoming a more modern engine with a toolkit and/or reusable
game art and audio assets (which is what we Free Software coders tend to need more of - we
have plenty of code, but little data to use with that code, and starting a new project when
you have no models, textures, or other assets to use for even testing is a huge show stopper
for many).

"As for this particular project, if the game sucks, people may still peruse the code and look
for ways to improve it.  Thats the idea anyway."

There are a billion Free games with similar premises.  Physics-based space shooters are
nothing new.  If you want code to hack on, why put out money for it?

I'm all for supporting the community with my dollars, and I have and will again donate to
projects that I feel are a benefit, but this just isn't one of them.  That the press release
even compares this game's usefulness to the community with Blender or Ryzom is kind of silly.