Rather than NOTTODO here are some advices of good practices to apply for your Open Arena contributions

LicensingEdit

Open Arena chose GPLv2 for mainstream distributions. As an author, you are free to choose your license for distribution, GPLv2 compatible license are preferred for obvious reasons:

• OpenArena is based on the Quake3 engine which is GPLv2+
• immediate compatibility for artwork is to be GPLv2 too, which permits to be included in Debian GNU/Linux without any restriction, as it respects the DFSG from the start, hence a wider distribution and adoption, even in derivative (Ubuntu, knoppix, live-CD for games...)
• GPLv2 mostly require to provide the "preferred form for modification", hence providing high resolution textures are a plus and can enable to create better derived artwork
• GPLv2+ (including GPLv3 and later) can be interesting for further evolutions
• CC-by or CC-by-sa are to be avoided as they are not basically compatible with GPL: if you are interested in those licenses, as the author you can dual-license though
• For graphics models, use blender and *always* provide .blend sources confirming your license choice, see Making a player model and DeveloperFAQ
• For music, Ogg is used in the end, but choose MOD (tracker format) so as to have an identified "source", see Music
• Please, before asking to include your creation into the svn, provide credentials: i.e., state that you are the author or forward mails providing authorization to distribute under GPLv2+ (and understand what it means: GPL puts few restriction on distribution, be it non-commercial or commercial, no country or project restriction: once it's in the "wild" you won't be able to retrieve it easily, make your choice from the start, do not be unhappy afterwards as you'll have been warned)

Artistic approachEdit

• Respect the gameplay. (as in, the physics, the weapons, anything that's the default gameplay)
  • OpenArena is somewhat anime/manga-INFLUENCED but not necessarily styled as so. This is more for the sake of distinguishing between characters and items rather than 'japan japan lol'.
  • a bit gothic or even manga' oriented may be accepted, just suggest good design and see how it is welcome ;-)
  • check Roadmap for priorities and orientations (feel free to discuss)
• avoid political propaganda (i.e. no "Free Tibet", no "Buck Fush", not even "DESTROY SOFTWARE PATENTS" is welcome)
• avoid including nudity, this includes exposed erogenous zones like genitalia, anus, and female nipples (though if you submit it anyway it won't make it into the release packages, only the 'uncut' pack.)
• MP3s are discouraged. They're patented and have a lossyness that grates everyone's ears. We'll know quality loss when we hear it.
• The engine only supports vertex animation in the MD3 format, so you're free to run wild with vertex weights and program dependent softbody physics and the like, as long as it can 'bake' into the md3 file.

See alsoEdit

• NOTTODO
• DeveloperFAQ