Protection Code

[Gf11speed]

I am looking into hiring more developers, mainly programmers, to work on a sequel to an upcoming game. I am concerned, however, to give out the source code to the original game though an e-business type venture. Is there any way to protect the code, but at the same time allow other developers to work on it? I just want to protect the game from being stolen. Any ideas?

[Rubs]

IMHO you need to choose developers carefully, tho there's no guarantee when working remotely. Other way is to divide the project into pieces and give developers access only to one piece of the project, and then assemble the pieces yourself. For example give access to code, but do not let remote contractors have access to game's real assets (visual, sounds, etc.). Hope this helps.

[ZeHa]

Of course, make them sign a contract, so it should be clear who's the original owner of the sourcecode. You could also print the code and send it to yourself via "real mail" :D and never open it, so you could at least prove that it existed before they signed the contract.

And perhaps it would be a good idea to first release the game and THEN start the sequel, this would stop them from releasing the game on their own.

[Gf11speed]

Good idea, a poor man's copyright. And of course, hire only those within the same country I would assume would help in case there was any kind of lawsuit or anything. I don't like the idea of only giving bits and pieces, then the other developers can't build the project and test it on their own, they'd have to send me the stuff just to test it... seems like it would significantly delay the project.

[ZeHa]

Well if it helps, you could give them placeholders instead of real graphics and sounds. For example, make silhouette-like graphics out of your real ones, so that only shadows are walking around your world. That way it can easily be tested but it can't be released (except if they would make their own graphics, of course). The sounds can also be replaced by cheap 4-bit-sounds or just blip and blop, so they can test every functionality perfectly.