Cellar Door Games, the indie developer behind the acclaimed 2013 roguelike, Rogue Legacy, has made a significant contribution to the gaming community by releasing the game's source code publicly. This move, driven by a commitment to knowledge sharing, allows developers and enthusiasts to learn from the game's design and implementation.
Cellar Door Games Releases Rogue Legacy Source Code
Game Assets Remain Under Proprietary License
In a tweet (now X), Cellar Door Games announced the availability of the Rogue Legacy 1 source code on GitHub, under a specialized, non-commercial license. This means the code is free for personal use and study. The repository is managed by Ethan Lee, a developer known for his work porting games to Linux.
The decision has been met with widespread praise, offering valuable learning opportunities for aspiring game developers. The release also addresses concerns about long-term game preservation, ensuring continued accessibility even if the game is removed from digital storefronts. This proactive approach has even garnered interest from the Rochester Museum of Play's Director of Digital Preservation, Andrew Borman, who expressed interest in collaborating with Cellar Door Games.
It's important to note that while the source code is freely available, the game's art, music, and icons remain under a proprietary license and are not included. Cellar Door Games encourages those interested in using assets beyond the scope of the provided license to contact them directly. The developer's GitHub page clearly states the intention is to facilitate learning, inspire new projects, and enable the creation of tools and modifications for Rogue Legacy 1.
