Indie Developer Cellar Door Games Releases Rogue Legacy Source Code

Cellar Door Games, the indie developer behind the acclaimed 2013 roguelike, Rogue Legacy, has made a significant move towards knowledge sharing by releasing the game's source code to the public. The code is freely available for download and use, as announced via a Twitter (now X) post. The developer stated their motivation was simply "the pursuit of sharing knowledge," providing a link to the GitHub repository containing the complete scripting for Rogue Legacy 1. The license, however, restricts commercial use.

The GitHub repository is managed by Ethan Lee, a developer and Linux porter with experience in similar projects for other indie games. The release has been met with widespread praise from the gaming community, offering a valuable learning opportunity for aspiring game developers.

Beyond educational benefits, this release also contributes to game preservation. By making the source code publicly accessible, the game's longevity is ensured, mitigating risks associated with storefront delistings or other forms of digital inaccessibility. This proactive approach has even attracted the attention of Andrew Borman, Director of Digital Preservation at the Rochester Museum of Play, 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 assets (icons, art, graphics, and music) remain under a proprietary license and are not included. Cellar Door Games clarifies on GitHub that the intent is to foster learning, inspire new projects, and enable the creation of tools and modifications for Rogue Legacy 1. They encourage contact for inquiries regarding distribution of work extending beyond the license terms or involving assets not included in the repository.