ChaosForge is an indie studio which specializes in roguelike games. Creators of DoomRL, DiabloRL, AliensRL and Berserk!. Working on a high quality commercial roguelike, spiritual successor to DoomRL.

Post news Report RSS Bethesda Parent ZeniMax Hits DoomRL With Takedown Notice

After Bethesda endorsed Brutal Doom, the fan-made DoomRL may be taken offline in order for ZeniMax to protect the Doom brand.

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ZeniMax Media has issued ChaosForge, the creators of DoomRL – the Doom Roguelike – a cease and desist notice for the distribution of the free, fan-made game. ChaosForge, then consisting of Kornel Kisielewicz and Derek Yu, uploaded the first version of DoomRL over 14 years ago. The fan game is “heavily inspired” by the original Doom games and features enemies and weapons from them translated into the roguelike genre.

Kisielewicz posted the takedown noticed he received from ZeniMax on Twitter, which states that “The unauthorised use of ZeniMax’s intellectual property falsely suggests ZeniMax’s sponsorship or endorsement of your website. This practice infringes on ZeniMax’s exclusive intellectual property rights.”

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ZeniMax issued the takedown notice days after Brutal Doom, a separate Doom fan mod, was nominated for Best Fan Creation at The Game Awards 2016. Just prior to the show, Bethesda’s official Doom Twitter account sought votes for the game’s support in the awards show:

Brutal Doom didn’t end up winning the Best Fan Creation category. That instead went to Enderal, a total conversion of Skyrim – Incidentally another ZeniMax property.

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Darren Grey, designer and lead writer on ChaosForge’s next game, commented on the nature of the roguelike genre with regards to fan-based inspirations:

That next game is, in fact, a spiritual successor to DoomRL – but it’s no longer inspired by the Doom property. Called Jupiter Hell, the game is at the tail end of its Kickstarter campaign, and has received a sharp uptick in support immediately after Bethesda issued the takedown notice for DoomRL:

John Carmack, one of Doom’s original creators, is a backer of Jupiter Hell’s Kickstarter campaign. Meanwhile, the campaign itself has censored the word "Doom" in its own description:

jupiter hell desc

It’s unclear what will happen to DoomRL from this point forward, nor why ZeniMax chose this point in time to issue the cease and desist when the game is been in the public eye for well after Bethesda’s acquisition of the Doom IP. ChaosForge clearly has its focus on Jupiter Hell, and it’s possible that the Kickstarter campaign’s momentum may have brought DoomRL to ZeniMax’s attention.

Post comment Comments  (0 - 50 of 76)
Metaltooth
Metaltooth

Pardon my language here
What is with big publishers being such **** over fangames?

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

Although I do share your sentiment about the greedy, heartless corporations going after fangames, I do not pardon your gratuitously homophobic language. I mean, come on, what does homosexuality have to do with anything? :/

How about we just call them "killjoys" instead? Or, to go with the season, "grinches"?

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El_Zongo
El_Zongo

You're being homophobic.

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

South Park is not real life.

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slothman320
slothman320

ITs not wrong though. *** doesn't mean homosexual anymore. Not with the modern generation at least.

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

It still does, actually. Again, South Park is not real life: words do not magically lose their meaning just because a few illiterate people on the Internet.

Let us not associate greedy corporations to homosexuality.

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tetragammaton82
tetragammaton82

Actually, "******" had entirely different definitions before people began using it to mean a homosexual man. And the definition has changed to mean other things other than "gay man".
The definition of words used colloquially change all the time.
To YOU, the word "***" is an insult towards gay men. To many others, it doesn't mean that, and people who use it are not implying that whoever they are calling "****" are gay or that there is something wrong with homosexuality.
Sorry, but you don't get to dictate the colloquial definitions of words. And you don't get to tell us what words do or do not mean, can or cannot mean.
If the word bothers you, just keep scrolling and ignore it.
The fact that you are lecturing others and telling them how to use words and trying to dictate what they mean is only making you look extremely arrogant and soft.
Continue about your day if you don't like something.

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Alcapowned
Alcapowned

"The fact that you are lecturing others and telling them how to use words and trying to dictate what they mean is only making you look extremely arrogant and soft.
Continue about your day if you don't like something. "

Speaking of people lecturing others how to use words...

Most of mainstream society doesn't see "******" as anything other than a slur, and you people are getting offended because you can't use it without being called out. Don't want to be called out? Don't use it. Otherwise, you're whining even more than the people you claim are whining, and you know it.

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

No, YOU illiterate heterosexual dudes do not get to dictate the colloquial definitions of words, especially when they are still used to disparage homosexuals. South Park is a silly cartoon show made by two white heterosexual dudes who admittedly do not put much thought into their writing; stop treating it as an authority on serious social issues.

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El_Zongo
El_Zongo

You do understand that the word '******' like many words have changed throughout time and history? Try learning a little bit more about things before trying to be an internet dictator.

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Metaltooth
Metaltooth

Stop being homophobic and attributing the word *** to gays

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

I invite you and your fellow South Park worshipping hipsters to put your theory to the test by seeking gay men in real life - in the street, in clubs, in events - and calling them "****" to their face.

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Metaltooth
Metaltooth

Heres the thing m8
I am gay, I have a boyfriend that Ive been dating for 3 years now

Its perfectly ok to say ***

The butthurt here is delicious at this point

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

Here is the thing, though: you most likely are making this all up just so you can get away with throwing gratuitous homophobic slurs at things that have nothing to do with homosexuality. You want to sound edgy and cool, but in reality, you are just upset that I did not pardon your inappropriate language and you are trying to save face through ridiculous mental gymnastics. So much for having a thick skin...

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Metaltooth
Metaltooth

Aight then go on living in your fantasy world with Bethesda and other *** publishers while I enjoy some DoomRL with my bf

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Gleb_AA-Gun
Gleb_AA-Gun

I'm pansexual and the *** and ****** word don't offend me in any way shape or form. stop being a lil bitch.
I wonder how you will even be able to survive in this world like that!

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

Oh look, someone hiding behind a cartoon avatar of a furry accusing me of being a coward. Again, if you think you are so tough regardless, feel free to go out and start calling random gay persons "****" to their face. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

The other irony is, even in the South Park episode, Stone and Parker do acknowledge the continuing homophobic nature of the word "***" and "******". Last time I checked, though, we do not really use the word to refer to Harley Davidson riders...

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BloodAmplifier
BloodAmplifier

Right, shut your face. All of you.

First of all, I got a question for you, Johnny. Are you just trying to **** people off? Honest answer please.

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

No, I am just telling the OP to drop the unnecessary homophobic slurs. Not an unreasonable request, but apparently, it is enough to **** some people off to the point where they have to make it personal. I guess mild criticism is more upsetting to them than the greed of corporations threatening beloved fan projects...

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BloodAmplifier
BloodAmplifier

While that is true, have you at all in any way, shape or form tried to calm things down?

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

It is not up to me to calm things down. Though, to be fair, I was not planning on further responding to the OP now that he has decided I am no better than corporations...

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Erik313
Erik313

I think you're just a tad bit too politically correct if you can't take "***" as a joking insult. He's unironically using that term since it's inaccurate, yeah I get that. But going on and on about it just shows why we can't have nice things.

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

I would not consider homophobic slurs to be "nice things". Even the OP has unwittingly acknowledged their homophobia by reacting so defensively and going as far as to start pretending to be gay themself. It is not being "politically correct" so much as being anti-juvenile ********. I mean, come on: we are dealing with corporate censorship here. Surely we can do better here than react like 12-year olds playing Counter-Strike...

Again, we should be calling these greedy, heartless corporations for what they are: killjoys or, to fit the season, grinches.

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BloodAmplifier
BloodAmplifier

As long as you drop it completely, that's fine.

EDIT: I never saw your post before, tried to correct it, then got rid of it.

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DarkKnightGareth
DarkKnightGareth

Agreed. They are all little pricks and I hope they go bankrupt so they can be reorganized.

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

Hopefully, not into something even more dangerous...

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JustBarney
JustBarney

So, calling people "****" isn't homophobic, but arguing that it IS homophobic is itself homophobic? What insane breed of logic is that?

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BloodAmplifier
BloodAmplifier

Can we all just drop it please. It already ended, let's not stoke another fire please.

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

Are you some sort of moderator? You seem to talk like one, but there is no indication of such. I am not trying to challenge your authority or anything, I am just curious.

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TKAzA
TKAzA

Its probably better to focus on the news as the topic for comments.

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Drunken_Toaster
Drunken_Toaster

Can't agree more

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Guest
Guest

Honestly, what did you expect? Basically, you are totally at the mercy of a publisher when you use anything that they own the copyrights to. Complaining that they are being pricks because their lawyers enforce copyright claims is just retarded. There are plenty of independent developer tools available nowadays so simply create something totally original and nobody will be able to attack you. If the concept is any good at all I guarantee that gamers will throw wads of money at you. Then you can hire your own blood sucking copyright lawyers and the circle of life will be complete, lol.

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CMDKeen
CMDKeen

That's a fair assumption when you use something a big copyright holder owns, particularly when they are as trigger-happy as Zenimax, but in this case the game is far older than Zenimax's ownership of the franchise. Would you reconsider making a fan game because a decade from now someone could sue you?

Buying a franchise and C&Ding; preexisting fan works is a **** move no matter how you spin it, especially if you wait half a decade before doing it. Zenimax is in the position to gut the entire community around original Doom, and they might be actually willing to do that it seems.

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El_Zongo
El_Zongo

This is ******* ridiculous, Bethesda and Zenimax are the scummiest companies in the industry and everyone just ignores it because they make "epic" ******** like Skyrim, nothing is going to change unless you people speak out against it.

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Gunship_Mark_II
Gunship_Mark_II

Hey guys, i found a photo of ZeniMax Media CEO : I.imgur.com

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Metaltooth
Metaltooth

You forgot the Swastika DLC

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formerlyknownasMrCP
formerlyknownasMrCP

You know that Altman is a jew right lol. Not saying I don't agree with you however. But yeah the Zenimax board are all ********, go look up the history of how they were founded, they basically mutinied Bethesdas founder.

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fleet84
fleet84

just look up John Carmack

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DarkKnightGareth
DarkKnightGareth

This is ******* ********. What is there to stop them from trying to take down all DooM related stuff? It is not like anyone is charging for their content. You little pricks think you are big ****, ha! Trying to take down a rougelike game that is endearing to us DooM fans, **** you Zenimax and Bethesda. Your games suck *** and the only reason any of them are playable are because of mods and the modding community. I hope to God you guys get to read this. The modding community will find a way to live on no matter what ******** you try.

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CyborgParrot
CyborgParrot

Goddammit I'm sick of all these ignorant AAA Companies taking down Fanmade Projects, it goes to show how little to no ***** they give about their Community/Fandom, and how broken Copyright and Fair Use is.

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56er
56er

1. Make a bad reboot of a good and old game.
2. Ban every fan made compe3tition with your legal rights, because you only do ****** games.
3. Yeah, you done it! Your customers/players dislike you. Well done.

Srsly, this is why I never even bothered to buy the new Doom. Stupid MP, DLC and now this. Brutal Doom is all you will need, and its for free.

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

There is also Doom 4 for Doom if you want to play the new Doom for free.

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BloodAmplifier
BloodAmplifier

It's not actually the same mate. Similar is not same. It's still good though.

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JohnnyTheWolf
JohnnyTheWolf

(buried)

I would say it is in many ways much better, as you can play it with any vanilla mapset and you do not have to deal with some of Doom 2016's unfortunate design decisions, such as Doomguy's inability to run. Plus, since it is a mod, it will continue to be worked and improved upon even after the original authors decide to move on to other projects.

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BloodAmplifier
BloodAmplifier

I still only said it was similar. I do agree that it's a good idea to that **** in a mod though. it's changeable, yes.

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JustBarney
JustBarney

Dude, the new Doom is awesome. Just because Zenimax is doing something stupid doesn't mean that every game made by Bethesda is automatically garbage

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VGames
VGames

Yeah the SP campaign for Doom 2016 is epic.

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TheUnbeholden
TheUnbeholden

Well I guess the ultimate revenge is to make Choasforge very successful?

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Detestt
Detestt

Zenimax must have been taking notes from Nintendo.

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