Josh Parnell released the source code for Limit Theory, one of those Kickstarter-backed game projects that kind of imploded on a combo of complexity and high expectations.

Limit Theory Update 54: Source Code Release

At long last, it's time for the source code release that I promised years ago. Today I'll be releasing four open-source repositories on GitHub, representing three different times in LT's development history.

The repos:

Limit Theory Protoype

a binary installer of the initial demo for Windows

Limit Theory Old

phase 1 of the project, written 2012-2015 in C++ with a custom scripting language

While this code is dated compared to the newer C/Lua LT, it is arguably meatier in gameplay implementation.

LibPHX

A game engine focusing on core 3D game support, with you writing your actual game in Lua

The engine's C interface, combined with LuaJIT's FFI technology, allows for scripts to make zero-overhead calls into the engine, thus allowing the majority of game logic and control to remain in script.

Limit Theory

The 2015-2018 game code, written in Lua to hook into LibPHX

All released under the Unlicense — an explicitly public domain license.

Over 5,000 people pledged nearly $188,000 total. I put in $75. Parnell took the Kickstarter success personally, worked his butt off, couldn't get the game where he wanted it, and burned out bad. Big Ambitious Space Games have a lot of fiddly bits, no matter how many developers or how much money you have. Just ask Frontier, Hello, and Chris Roberts.

I feel bad for him — Parnell, not Roberts — and I'm grateful he released the source code. I hope he gets some kind of closure from this. He deserves it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go learn some more Lua.