Celestial Programmer Distributes Source Code

Indie Developer Cellar Door Games Releases Rogue Legacy 1 Source Code

Game Assets Remain Proprietary, But Collaboration is Encouraged

Cellar Door Games, the developer behind the acclaimed 2013 roguelike, Rogue Legacy, has made a significant contribution to the gaming community by publicly releasing the game's source code. The decision, announced via X (formerly Twitter), is driven by a commitment to knowledge sharing. The code, available for free download on GitHub under a non-commercial license, allows for personal use and study.

This generous move has been met with widespread praise, offering valuable learning opportunities for aspiring game developers. The GitHub repository is managed by Ethan Lee, a developer known for his work on other indie game source code releases. The release also addresses concerns about long-term game preservation, ensuring accessibility even if the game is removed from digital storefronts. This initiative has even garnered the attention of Andrew Borman, Director of Digital Preservation at the Rochester Museum of Play, who expressed interest in a potential partnership.

It's important to note that while the source code is freely available, game assets such as art, graphics, and music remain under copyright and are not included. Cellar Door Games encourages contact for inquiries regarding the use of these proprietary elements or for projects extending beyond the license's scope. The developer's GitHub page clearly states the intention is to foster learning, inspire new projects, and enable the development of tools and modifications for Rogue Legacy 1.