MOTY 2007! The abridged version!
Posted by mikejkelley on
And thats why we have an Editors Choice. Because players don't care for original mods.
mikejkelley
mikejkelley joined
I'm mikejkelley, creator of DreamCasters' Duel and MJK studios.
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Wraiyth - - 483 comments
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mikejkelley - - 874 comments
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Yeah, but I'm not so sure the Editors or Staff care about original mods either. In a discussion with INtense! I suggested that moddb.com include an originality category for any non-IP infringing mods. He refused.
Staff
INtense! - - 4,098 comments
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Refused? You seem to reach a lot of conclusions quickly. At the time when you asked the program was already in motion and making major changes would be extremely difficult.
Whilst I agree there is a remake / war theme going on, all of these mods with the exception of JP have permission (as far as I am aware) - and therefore the issue is the lack of creativity.
I dont view this as a bad thing, these mods are all amazing and deserving of our attention, but I agree modding is largely celebrated for its creative ideas and therefore if the community is going to miss these mods, in future we will have to factor this into our plan so they do receive the recognition they deserve.
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mikejkelley - - 874 comments
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Don't get me wrong, with the exception of MOTY, I think that moddb.com is a great site and I def appreciate the work that goes into it.
It seemed as if you refused. I had originally suggested the originality category in the thread soliciting MOTY 2007 category suggestions. Then it seemed like you had refused a second time in a later discussion, but if it's still a consideration, that's great.
As far as having "permission" goes... Well, here's an analogy. A hot dame is speeding. She gets stopped by a cop but he doesn't write her a ticket because she's hot. This doesn't mean she hasn't broken the law or that she now has permission to speed, it just means she hasn't rec'vd a ticket yet.
I'm pretty certain this is a reasonable analogy from a legal standpoint and unless the permission is written (which would essentially constitute "licensing" the IP, which they wouldn't do for a free mod) then it's illegal.
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mikejkelley - - 874 comments
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Here's the future of modding. I'll write this up nicer as a future blog. You all can look surprised when it happens. In fact, practice your surprised faces now so you'll be prepared.
2011; for several years now IP infringing mods have dominated modding contests and the front pages of game-related websites. The IP infringing mods even begin to outshine the legimate, commercial games they are based upon.
One day (let's say February 19th, 2011) the BSG franchise owners decide they don't like modders stealing and profiting from their original creation. LucasArts decides they don't like thieving mods cutting into the sales of their video games. Likewise Toei animation and a host of others. Ditto Universal Studies who has just now realized the profitability of a JP FPS.
Then the unthinkable happens. They get smart.
They realize that they can't stop the mods one C&D at a time. So they go to the SOURCE.
Knowing that IP infringing mods help to encourage sales of the HL series amongst both mods and modders, and knowing that Valve encourages and enables the modification of its' engine, plaintiffs in one of the largest class-action suits the entertainment industry has ever seen sue Valve. They successfully argue that Valve has a vested interested in and profits from licensing rip-offs.
In a settlement Valve must pay an undisclosed sum and, rather than face subsequent litigation, agrees to safeguard its' engine against any and all modification.
The rest of the gaming industry follows suit.
March 19th, one month later moddb.com shuts down.
...nah, that can't happen, can it?
Death_Grin - - 65 comments
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Mechwarrior: Living Legends is not infringing on a IP any more then a space based mod of any type is infringing on some random space based IP. If your so upset about it lets see you come up with something original that no one has done before, and still have people excited about it.
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mikejkelley - - 874 comments
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Wrong.
From the Mechwarrior: Living Legends summary;
"MWLL depicts the epic struggles between the two factions of Battletech “The Clans” and “The Inner Sphere”."
From wikipedia;
BattleTech is a wargaming and science fiction franchise, launched by FASA Corporation and currently owned by WizKids. The series began in 1984 with FASA's debut of the board game BattleTech (originally named BattleDroids) by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III, and has since grown to include numerous expansions to the original game, several computer and video games, a collectible card game, a series of more than 100 novels, an animated television series and more.
Notice that it says it is owned by Wizkids and not xcriminalx. So while I personally believe that Mechwarrior legends is one of the best looking mods around, that doesn't change the fact that it is an IP rip-off.
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mikejkelley - - 874 comments
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Here's an unsolicited article I wrote re: copyright infringement and modding with the help/input of lawyers as well as a professional games designer. Drawing upon legal precedent and recent court cases, it concludes that copyright infringement threatens the future of modding. An interesting read.
![[GSI]reboot](https://media.moddb.com/images/members/1/175/174670/avatar.gif){kind=avatar}
[GSI]reboot - - 10 comments
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I think you are mixing up modding and independent game development, considering you think Minerva is an infringement issue. Modding came to be out of the idea of making small tweaks to existing games for players' benefit. You are suggesting that the very concept that gave birth to the modding community is unacceptable and going to be its downfall... that's rediculous, at best.
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mikejkelley - - 874 comments
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"I think you are mixing up modding and independent game development, considering you think Minerva is an infringement issue."
Minerva infringes on HL intellectual property. Just because Valve hadn't enforced its' rights doesn't mean that Minerva hadn't infringed upon Valve's rights. Asserting the contrary is like saying you didn't break the law by doing 70 in a 55 because you didn't get a ticket.
"You are suggesting that the very concept that gave birth to the modding community is unacceptable and going to be its downfall..."
I am? Plz tell me how I'm suggesting this, I must know! Perhaps you should re-read it.
"that's rediculous, at best."
So's your spelling. But seriously, the "rediculous (sic)" suggestion was developed into an editorial with the input of several lawyers and a professional game designer. They've written off on the validity of my carefully researched assertions.
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Top 5 unreleased;
5. Licensing rip-off*
4. Licensing rip-off*
3. Licensing rip-off*
2. Licensing rip-off*
1. Zombie mod
Top 5 released;
5. Licensing rip-off*
4. Guns and planes and tanks
3. Guns and planes and tanks with a twist
2. Guns and planes and tanks
1. Guns and planes and tanks
Seriously, add an originality category.
(*violate copyright law and moddb.com's TOS)