Should dead mods allow others to use their models / code etc?

I dont think the code should be released publicly, but i think if a similar mod could use the existing code they should contact the makers and gain access that way. Then the makers of the dead mod have the discression to decide if they think the mod is worthy to use their work

Why not only if the men from the dead mod is K then its good.
but why not could make an mode easier to make.

I like che3zE wi teh CrAckErz. im with methulah and garry.

i think yes, however there should be some restrictions.

Yeah, I'm with garry on this one. Also, I think that it should be up to the creator of the content.

Although most mods are part of Public Licensing due to their EULA, I still believe that map/models/sounds/code/etc. are the intellectual property of the person who work so hard (or perhaps not so hard) on them...

But thats just my opinion, we're all entitled to an opinion here on mod DB, come and show it.

word @ #1

Allow, hell yes. But not force.

They shouldn't be forced or pressured into releasing stuff, but i don't see why they couldn't willingly do it.

I think it would be nice if they had a place to donate the models but were not forced to like Varsity said.

It's what places like PolyCount are for ^^ - if a mod snuffs it, it's always nice if material that would otherwise remain unused hits the public domain.

i dont think they should become public property, but if someone makes for example a model, and it never get put to use. i dont see any reason they cant use that model in a mod they may work on in the future, if they want to use it that is.

I think they should if the leader/team of the dead mod wants to.

They say you can.Its sad when you see a great mod just die and no one takes it : (

Im all for giving stuff to people you trust or offrering it off to a bunch of people you know will use it wisely and credit you for it. But setting it out into the public for fully free usage could end up a bit dodgy. I suppose thats ok for models but for a whole mod or most part of it Id prefer it to be given over to someone they trust.

id say yes, but most of the dead mods its probably harder to track down the stuff that you would use then to make it yourself.

I would guess it would depend on the type of Mod. Using game objects and themes and just making new maps maybe a couple new models or fancy script...I would say would belong to the Mod community with credits given to the older modder. A full mod with most everything different may be a special case, and I don't think you would have all the old files anyway, maybe get a model or two out of the deal. Take Dystopia, it is off of Half-Life2, if they paused development for awhile I don't think they would like the idea of you comming out from the blue and making it yours. But something like the maps and mods I do for say Earth 2150, 2160, I don't mind if you change it and remake things. Or...like the Darwinia Mod I am working on, The_Particles_Within, The first set needed reworked, but I have been telling people "don't throw that file away," keep it and learn from it. Even the buildings I am making I will offer the darwinian community, this helps others make better mods and have more fun with the games.

I voted definately but I meant definitely

They should be allowed to do whatever they want with their property, but not forced to. If they want to make their work go down the drain, it's their right--alternatively, if they want to share their work with others, they are allowed to do so, as well.

The only problem would be the up rise of so many mods using the same material.

I have voted for the first first.
I just think that models, code, music shall be given only to those that really want to continue the mod, not be released publicly.

But that's not because I don't think it would be nice for them to, I just don't feel they should have to, or be pressured to. It really depends what sort of mod becomes dead for me to answer this question. For instance, is it likely that the members will rejoin to work on a similarly-themed mod, if not the same one? It would be nice for people to stick their unused work in their sigs or something, so modders can ask them if they'll give permission for their models to be used in other modifications.

as long as they credit the authors, they should be able too, but regardless, most ppl will allow you to use the code and model from their dead mods as long as they credit them

how could they be forced to donate there work? if they don't want to they well wont share there work.

People should use what they make.

I think they should,its a shame to see models go to waste! the whole goal is to make a good game and as long as you credit the source it is fine, The reason why I am saying this is because my mod team died and I donated all 25 of my models to another team

I agree with D@rson07, things from dead games should be shared as long as credit is given where due. Not only will it put the models to good use for new games, but it will be easier for newbies with little no C++ skills or people working alone to make their game ideas come to life and perhaps make the original game populiar once again assuming it ever was.

While i understand most comments on the yes part, it does pain me that whenever a mod i'm at fails, suddenly 10 guys pop up to ask for our stuff in their *similar* themed mod, or to poach our team members. So i voted No, because if you want our assets for your similar mod, why didn't you join our in the first place and help out? It's basically the symptom of the mod community having 1000 CS clones, and everybody wants the spotlight and to be famous.

Instead of asking me for my materials when my mod fails / dies, so their mod can have a great start, our develop a lot more, they should have been helping me, or me helping them. Bottom line, there shouldn't have been two teams doing the same.

Yeah, it'll encourage people to actually finish there mods.

Yes, as long as the mod it is from allows it.

Certainly! I don't see why not, ofcourse it would require for the mod which wants to utilize the material of the now defunct mod, that it be relevant. Otherwise I think it would lead to abuse within the... less fortunate division of the modding scene, what with everyone throwing in what can be found in their mods. Creds should go out, but shouldn't be required, intellectual property is bs and if you're willing to give up on the idea and work as a whole, then why burst into tears whenever it's being used without your name stamped all over it?

So yes, spread the information.

hell yea they shoudd!!

I think it should be used, so work doesn't go to complete waste. Unfortunately, people like to mooch off other peoples work without giving credit, so I think the models and such should be given out on a request only basis rather than putting them up for public upload. At least this way you know who is using your stuff and that they'll give you credit.

i voted yes... i think if you took all the HL2 dead mod's stuff, and put it just into one game, it'd be huge :P

i think permition should be obtained when ever you are dealing with another persons intellectual property. Unless clearly stated that it is free to do so. How ever much a shame u must have permition and respect that persion and there work, in a world on infinite possibilities why take up somebody elses work when u can creat your own !

The Xtreme
Founder & Manager
Xtreme Team Studios
www.XtremeTeamStudios.com

It is all up to the Modder. MANY mods have been dropped and later they either bring it back or turn it into something else. HELL Halo was supposed to be a RTS game. I think if someone works hard on a mod, it should be used, but if they want to keep it and get credit for it possibly in the future, then let them hold on to it until they come up with something of their own or give them credit in what ever mod it is used for, as long as the original person allows it.

My code is always open if my team leader allows it. On the mod I lead, my old perfect dark rippoff, I let anyone use assets if they credited it, and the original author allowed it. When the mod died I handed control to a fan who wanted to continue it. So yeah, I went for number 1.

I voted yes, but imho the question should have been "Would it be nice if..."
If I had a mod that was dead, I´d be willing to give content to some other mod, but I´d give permission only to one particular mod,
where I feel my content was useful and could help getting the mod started faster.
I wouldn´t want to give it to really everyone, imagine the same old content showing up in every 2nd first news post in mods that are likely to go nowhere.. or bundled with extremely varied quality content.. that wouldn´t be really beneficial to modding as a whole.

After all it´s really up to the authors.

They could, but they shouldn't be forced to do it.

I think moddb should have a section where media can be recycled and downloaded (as to the owner's consent). It doesnt nessesarly have to be totally open either, the owner of the material can decide who gets it (people can submit a request for a certain media element), or mod leaders can download the element, or registered users can download. That way, thoes perdy models dont go to waste. :D

Yes but They shouldn't be forced to give it!

Yes indeed. It's always a shame to see good media go to waste. Such effort put into an item and then it never sees the light of day. It's got to be a little dissapointing on the part of the original artist imho. This way the artist gets to see their work in action, and another mod may get the chance to swim instead of sink due to access to this released media. It's possibly a win-win.

Of course it should not be obligatory, however it possibly should be encouraged. And due credit still needs to be given also. If you spend a week modelling that space marine model, you deserve it, regardless of what the status of the orignal mod was.

I voted yes ... If I worked on a mod that died, I would be happy to let my models be used in another mod as long as I was given some credit for doing so.

However, how I would I feel if the mod was a great success and went commercial, and I then didn't get any share of the booty :( .... but to be fair would I really be entitled?

I think that yes one should be able to use models and such as long as they are cited to the person who first made them , u cant just take someones elese work and decide to make ti ur own , at least give the person/team credit and defently ask them if u are bale to use it , i mean it almost sounds like plagarism in a game setting ,

-schatten

but the cs-clones... no point in copying them
no point in -not doing that either-
cs clones appear anyways :)

As the leader of the Firearms 2 mod www.firearms2mod.com,, I voted for the #1 option. If a mod team dies there isn't any reason why content they've created shouldn't be given to teams that have a better chance at finishing. It will only speed things up for you the Half-Life 2 gaming community. If a mod team came to me and said this is what we had done for our mod can? will you use it? I would say yes whatever I can use I will and if any surviving team members wish to join up with us, the more the merrier. Making a mod in Half-Life 2 is a major undertaking, it requires many dedicated team members to make it happen.

Cheers

a huge big NO from me
all work should be you own

As long as whoever wanted the code/art had a plan for it in some formal request from a team.

Basically, if the mod is no longer supported or anything, what's wrong with letting others who are interested tinker with it's workings?