Open Source Software

How is open source work (as an example of community produsage) different from commercial production?

Open source is a "development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process" (Opensource.org). It differentiates considerably to closed software development. The differences include:

• Closed source model (eg. Windows, Internet Explorer):
  
• source code remains confidential
• software development mainly in-house, by paid staff team
• development goals set by software company
• business model is selling finished software package
• non-disclosure agreements and other IP protections
• software production
  

• Open source model (eg. Linux, Firefox):
  
• source code freely and openly available
• anyone can see it, edit it, use it, under limited-rights license
  
• development goals set by community
• business model is providing services around the software
• software development by teams of volunteers in the community
• software produsage (Bruns, 2008)

The differences between an open and a closed source development model are clearly evident. Open source enables members of the community to contribute to the code, such as changing the code, beta testing, error reports, and documentation. The figure displays how the source code is freely available to the public, and how they can make improvements and adjustments, ending up with a better source code for everyone to share. In this way, initial users also become producers, thus becoming produsers of the content (see my previous blog on Produsage).

Some benefits of open source development include the potential for faster development, ability to explore multiple solutions quickly, zero cost for software purchases or upgrades, greater transparency, and development in direct response to user requests and suggestions. The model does however also have its problems which include a lack of financial support for marketing or solving 'dull' problems, and its survival depending on size and viability of the community (Bruns 2008).

However, I believe, open source software can easily overcome the few problems it does encounter. In my opinion, open source is a great and simple idea with a big impact. After programmers have published the initial code, the community can 'produse' the code; read it, modify it, and redistribute it. In its own words, "We in the open source community have learned that this rapid evolutionary process produces better software than the traditional closed model, in which only a very few programmers can see the source and everybody else must blindly use an opaque block of bits" (Opensource.org). With open source development, the possibilities could possibly be endless...

User Led Co-Creation: Gamers vs. Gaming Companies

You never really think about us, as the audience, being an extremely important factor within the media. After all, it is really not much of our concern as long we can watch a new episode of LOST every week and that our favourite website is still up and running. However, to those involved in the industry the audience is in fact the most important factor concerning media.

With the advent of new media technologies such as the Internet, and with it the introduction of open source software and content editing tools, do-it-yourself (DIY) and collaborative online communities have emerged to increasingly become an integral part of media content creation (Jenkins 2002, 157). People all over the world are becoming produsers, publishing blogs and creating MySpace accounts. We control the information age! It therefore came as no surprise that "You" were the Time's Person of the Year in 2006. We are "seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game".

Take for example the changing gaming culture and interface, and how gamers increasingly make contributions such as content and feedback to their favourite games. As you might know from my previous blog, my boyfriend made me join WOW and ever since then I've been curious about this whole gaming culture, how it works, and how the relationship between gamers and gaming companies has changed in recent years. John Banks (2002, 190) identifies that "entities such as 'audience', 'fan', 'producer', 'corporation' and 'consumer' are relational", the audience merging into a co-creative relationship with media producers.

Blizzard's popular MMORPG World of Warcraft (abbreviated WOW) , for example, has become immensely successful not only because of its top notch graphics, interface and game play, but also because developers have effectively worked alongside and listened to fans in discussion forums, users being able to contribute such content as artwork and comic strip style storytelling themselves. Blizzard has also released a User Interface Customisation tool to support and encourage modifications.
However, although the idea of produsage and user-led content creation may sound appealing to developers, it can also work against you. Auran Games' massively multiplayer online game Fury also offered forums on which users could interact with developers and make suggestions. However, the developers did not listen to their fans, the fans in turn became frustrated and angry, boycotted the game, resulting in the failure of Fury.

John Banks and Henry Jenkins have both identified the consumers increasing power, with audiences becoming increasingly more influential in the media, “gaining greater power and autonomy as they enter into the new knowledge culture” (Jenkins 2002, 158). Internet-based technologies, such as email and forums, have created an empowered audience, “who expects and demands that corporations will not only listen to their views, criticisms and input, but also enter into active dialogue with them” (Banks 2002, 189).

So does that mean game developers have to listen to everything that we say? We, as an interactive audience, are gaining more power, but that doesn't mean we control everything. We have power, but only to an extent. So what can I do? I can contribute on forums, make my own artistic creations to games or even change an open source code. But I won't...because I don't know how!! I'll leave that to the expert fans.

Reference:
Banks, J. (2002) Reflection on Week Eight Reading: Gamers as Co-creators: Enlisting the Virtual Audience – A report from the net face, Brisbane: University of Queensland Press

Jenkins, H. (2002) “Interactive Audiences?” in D. Harries (ed.) The New Media Book, London: BFI Publishing, pp.157-170.