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Freeware games based on movies?

Submitted by Zaph on

From the news page:
Hey, have you ever wanted to play a game based on a movie without having to fork out $50-$90? Well theres this developer whos Austrlian who makes freeware games based on movies. They not the best and they dont work on a few computers that ive played them on but give em a try

I hate to burst the bubble, but this guy is just asking for trouble. There's a reason you can't get games based on movies without forking out $50-$90, it's because you legally have to pay for the rights to make a game based on a movie, whether or not you profit from it.
I'm sure that he isn't a threat to their franchises but if he ever made something half-decent then I'm sure there would be lawyers knocking at his door.

Submitted by souri on Wed, 09/07/03 - 1:32 PM Permalink

I agree, it's asking for trouble.. If anyone wants to read some articles on the issue of intellectual property and games, read this..
http://www.3dactionplanet.com/features/editorials/q3dmhellchick5/
http://www.3dactionplanet.com/features/editorials/foxedmods/

and I quote..

quote:Fox has been known to contact the mod authors and demand that production cease, that the mods website be removed, that all files from the mod be placed in Fox's ownership, with all other copies destroyed, and that the real-life names and addresses of all mod team members be sent to Fox.

If you're going to invest all your energy and time on game projects, you're better off not using other companies i.p..

Submitted by Maitrek on Thu, 10/07/03 - 1:18 AM Permalink

I actually sometimes wonder how all the Matrix mods for Max Payne haven't been shut down completely! Most of them rip music and sound straight from the movie :)

Submitted by Blitz on Thu, 10/07/03 - 7:30 AM Permalink

Because it's not worth the expense trying to shut these people down.
You'll probably gain $0 from shutting them down, and spend several 10's of thousands doing it.
CYer, Blitz

Submitted by Daemin on Thu, 10/07/03 - 8:03 AM Permalink

But like they illustrated in those articles that Souri gave links to, even though the community is not making any money from these mods, the company is loosing money because people don't have ot buy their products to see or experience some of the content.

Submitted by Zaph on Sun, 13/07/03 - 1:32 AM Permalink

quote:Originally posted by Blitz

Because it's not worth the expense trying to shut these people down.
You'll probably gain $0 from shutting them down, and spend several 10's of thousands doing it.
CYer, Blitz

The problem is that if they do not chase down someone doing this then it can set a legal precident (sp?) of them not protecting their intellectual property, which can then be used against them in court.

Posted by Zaph on

From the news page:
Hey, have you ever wanted to play a game based on a movie without having to fork out $50-$90? Well theres this developer whos Austrlian who makes freeware games based on movies. They not the best and they dont work on a few computers that ive played them on but give em a try

I hate to burst the bubble, but this guy is just asking for trouble. There's a reason you can't get games based on movies without forking out $50-$90, it's because you legally have to pay for the rights to make a game based on a movie, whether or not you profit from it.
I'm sure that he isn't a threat to their franchises but if he ever made something half-decent then I'm sure there would be lawyers knocking at his door.


Submitted by souri on Wed, 09/07/03 - 1:32 PM Permalink

I agree, it's asking for trouble.. If anyone wants to read some articles on the issue of intellectual property and games, read this..
http://www.3dactionplanet.com/features/editorials/q3dmhellchick5/
http://www.3dactionplanet.com/features/editorials/foxedmods/

and I quote..

quote:Fox has been known to contact the mod authors and demand that production cease, that the mods website be removed, that all files from the mod be placed in Fox's ownership, with all other copies destroyed, and that the real-life names and addresses of all mod team members be sent to Fox.

If you're going to invest all your energy and time on game projects, you're better off not using other companies i.p..

Submitted by Maitrek on Thu, 10/07/03 - 1:18 AM Permalink

I actually sometimes wonder how all the Matrix mods for Max Payne haven't been shut down completely! Most of them rip music and sound straight from the movie :)

Submitted by Blitz on Thu, 10/07/03 - 7:30 AM Permalink

Because it's not worth the expense trying to shut these people down.
You'll probably gain $0 from shutting them down, and spend several 10's of thousands doing it.
CYer, Blitz

Submitted by Daemin on Thu, 10/07/03 - 8:03 AM Permalink

But like they illustrated in those articles that Souri gave links to, even though the community is not making any money from these mods, the company is loosing money because people don't have ot buy their products to see or experience some of the content.

Submitted by Zaph on Sun, 13/07/03 - 1:32 AM Permalink

quote:Originally posted by Blitz

Because it's not worth the expense trying to shut these people down.
You'll probably gain $0 from shutting them down, and spend several 10's of thousands doing it.
CYer, Blitz

The problem is that if they do not chase down someone doing this then it can set a legal precident (sp?) of them not protecting their intellectual property, which can then be used against them in court.