Standalone Games Thread

Maybe I missed the thread where this is discussed - whats the difference between a total conversion mod and a standalone game?

I thought a total conversion is a modified, prereleased game with a different plot/added characters/abilities etc and a standalone is a game created from scratch - engine and all.

You're right, although the engine doesn't have to be made for it to be standalone. The engine can be open-sourced for other people to use, such as Quake 1, 2, 3, and the Torque engine. That qualifies the game you make as standalone, where you can sell the game at your disposal (so long as it isn't blocked by the GPL (??)).

Ippo wrote: (...) where you can sell the game at your disposal (so long as it isn't blocked by the GPL (??)).

GPL does not block games from beeing selled. that's a common error people have in their minds that GPL means you are not allowed to sell it. this is pure bullshit. read the GPL exactly

selled? what sorta word is that? it's sold if i remebered right..

anyway a mod is an addon for a game, there for you need the game to run it.
a standalone is a game in it self, not requireing the origanal game.

You are not a moderator, so don't tell people how to spell!

Selled? What kind of word is that?

(Heh heh. Just joking Medic. )

But yes, standalone includes all files needed to run the game while while a total conversion includes a smorgasboard of new stuff, but doesn't have the files necessary to run it, thusly the game is required.

"stand alone"

stands alone, thats what i means, it means you need nothing else

"mod"

game modification

can you make a modification to the engine of a car you do not own?

total conversions are a bit special in my opinion. if you make a standalone game you do need a game-engine to run on. this can be either self-written or bought. you deliver the game-engine with your product. in a total conversion you also take an existing game-engine, the one of another game. you don't ship the game-engine with your product though. that's more or less the only difference between the two. hence i don't know if a total conversion can not be labelled standalone already somehow.

Thanks for the feedback everyone - so let me ask this, only because I'm at work and can't download to this computer - if I download a standalone game - it's likely that I won't need the quake I, II, or III engine (or whatever) installed because the game that was made will include the engine in the download.

yes, that's true. it's like you buy a game and install it on your computer, the engine is included. here you can download it instead of buying a hard-copy and install it (or directly play it).