This mod has no doubt been in development longer than any other mod, and it's still going full ahead!
Production has taken a big part of my life and even though I love to invest my full time into developing this mod, there are sometimes certain factors that keep me from working on it, whether I like it or not.
Due to a recent unforeseen financial setback, I'm being forced to focus more on different things instead of this mod. This absolutely doesn't mean I cannot work on it, you can expect new updates soon.
However, to help with this financial stress and to compensate a little of the many hours spent on development I'm opening a donation button for anyone who wishes to help out.
Any donation is warmly welcomed and won't be forgotten. If you wish, your name will be added to the mod's credits and onto ingame reservation books and passenger lists. I wish I could link some exlcusive content for donators only, but I've made a promise that there will be no "premium" or "limited" versions of this mod or any payed content.
So in case people are wondering if this is the start of an evil plan to make the Titanic mod payware: No, no and no. I am not Electronic Arts. Titanic mod will always remain a free no-nonsense mod. ;)
Well... even if you did put the mod behind a pay-wall, that would be illegal. Since you haven't payed for the engine license, you cannot sell any content made in the engine. I'm sure you already know this, but... just an FYI.
I do hope people donate, though. You deserve it. Of course, then, you'd definitely need to release the mod at some point or rioting would ensue.
You could do it differently and legal with the paywall, but that is not important. You won´t have a paywall, so my explanation won´t matter :).
@Robin: I only could afford 10€ to spend. Have a lot of work with my own game, so I am kind of broke :).
I would like to know how? I can't imagine 2K's lawyers agreeing with you. Lol.
Well, there are more options to choose from.
1. You distribute it as a complete mod including source files specified for the mafia engine. But like you said, it would require him to have a license for the engine, which he doesn´t have. Doing it regardless would be illegal, like you stated.
2. He could convert his models to a readable format for mafia through a third party converter program. He just needs the permission to use their program commercially. The models are his so he can do, what he wants with it. If he owns a legal copy of the modeling software or a software, which isn´t restricted for commercial use, it is legal. Then he could make a paywall.
3. Own the modeling software. Be sure it is for commercial purpose. Distribute it as a model pack. Give people instructions on how to mass convert them to the mafia engine and to the rest of the mod and it should work. Kind of a workaround, but you won´t face legal issues, because you created your models from scratch.
I think there are more ways, but it is possible. Maybe it is a little bit more complicated for the end-user, but it is legal :).
Let the lawyers get some rest xD.