Also Known As: banshee_revora (Steam) Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Location: Brazil
Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:18 am Post subject:
Halogen is over.
Subject description: A Generals to Halo TC stopped by Microsoft.
The crew from Halogen, a famous mod that was going to bring the Halo into Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour, received a 'Cease and Desist' email from Microsoft. The mod was posed as a possible threat into a future RTS game based on Halo universe, but this is a rumour. The mod is definitelly over, unfortunatelly.
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"For the last three years, we've worked incessantly to bring you the best Halo mod that we could. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but somehow Halogen has always managed to come out kicking. The problem with using copyrighted intellectual property as a base for a fan project is that you're very susceptible to legal action. We always figured that since Halogen was such a different take on the Halo franchise, we might manage to make it without incident. That changed today.
Hours ago, we finally recieved the words we've been dreading since the mod started to get noticed. Microsoft has decided that we are infringing on the intellectual property of Bungie Studios and has asked us to stop development on Halogen.
I was going to write a big sappy letter here, but what's the point. So..that's it then, I guess. The forums, site, and Moddb profile will all be shut down within the week. I can't say it hasn't been fun. It's a shame it has to end like this, but I suppose that's how it goes. Thanks, guys, for all the time you've spent supporting us. It's been a pleasure. We hate this as much as you do.
- The Halogen Team"
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And it's a pitty to see this kind of thing happening, but EA and Microsoft (Bungie) are rivals. Last edited by Banshee on Sun Sep 10, 2006 1:06 am; edited 1 time in total QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 26 Nov 2002 Location: Algae Colony On Mars
Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 1:38 am Post subject:
They should've released a public beta. It wasn't a matter of it, it was a matter of when. Releasing a beta into the public domain suddenly makes the situation far more difficult to contain and people can continue to work on it.
It was probably canceled because Halo was originally to be an RTS game, and they probably still consider that idea a possibility. _________________
Quote:
This is sexier than what this forum was supposed to tolerate. - Banshee
I dont think you get the point... Making a mod containing the property of microsoft (IE: halo material) for a competing engine, gives it some extra popularity at the expence of microsoft. It's entirely legal to order them to stop... But waiting 3 years... _________________
[quote="Lt A1br3cht"]Kill it with fire!!!!!!!!!!![/quote] QUICK_EDIT
I'm still confused though. Even if you are using someones else's ideas, they were not going to release the mod for profit, which makes it not copywrite infringement. there have been plenty of mods based off one game on anotehr game. For example, think of all the star wars mods there are out there. I can go on forever listing examples like that. There are Halo mods for several other games, why does this one get cancelled. Does anyone have an email adress for microsoft? I would like to ask them about this. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
I remember the same thing happening to mods for games like Morrowind, like middle earth mods, those where shut down by the tolkien company or w/e, its quite sad this happens, the fact that they get notified when they are more then 50% done, i think in future its best if people decide to make their mods on original idea's, as much as a nice idea as it is to bring another universe of well known storylines into another, it often seems to have a disapointingly cutoff finish due to copyright infringement. QUICK_EDIT
I remember the same thing happening to mods for games like Morrowind [...]
It's actually nothing new for this community - there was a Stargate mod planned that got killed by MGM, albeit the team leader was smart enough to check with them about copyrights, and then got a negative answer.
To Dark Raven: Just take the word apart: "copy-right". They have the right to decide where their ideas get copied. If they did not decide a copying of their ideas is rightful, it's copyright infringement.
There is no need for money made off it or anything. It is totally irrelevant how many people they allow to exist. They decide what's Halo and what's not. Not some kids in a basement.
This is also the point where you have to differentiate: It is not the mod that is illegal: It is the use of Halo material.
Which basically means, if they removed the Halo-stuff, and replaced images and story with a fictional universe, everything would be fine.
I know that's not what it's ment to be, but at least they could use their three years worth of code then... _________________ #renproj:renegadeprojects.com via Matrix - direct link QUICK_EDIT
of course this would happen. and they could stop it if it good quality or bad quality. bad quality might confuse people and give them a bad impression of their IP and good quality might reduce their sales because this free mod would satisfy people instead.
anyway wasn't much of Halogen made up stuff? if so then they can keep that stuff, just change the mod name and everything that is similar to Halo and basically evolve their mod into another mod. QUICK_EDIT
Yeah, the copyright kills one more mod... F@ck it...
The same story as with Starcraft: Xel'Naga Vengeance (ZH to Starcraft convertion with some new stuff) made by Silen. The Blizzard anti-piracy department send him a letter, which said something like "you use word Starcraft in your mod, it belongs to us, you broke the law, kill your mod or face the Blizzard's wrath." In what way it could cause them troubles?
Maybe that was thanks to some idiots who thought it was Starcraft 2, or national problem with courts and money... But now they made everything scrap all the work... _________________
Sealab 2021 wrote:
Marco: So you rigged the OFF button with a tear gas grenade? Ho ho ho, you magnificent bastard!
Sparks: Oh, that's nothin', man. The ON button is a 50-megaton hydrogen bomb.
Im not sure how usefull this is, but Ive made a petition regaurding the matter. I encourage everyone to sign it! The website posted in the petiton as the offical Halogen website is wrong however
Also Known As: banshee_revora (Steam) Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Location: Brazil
Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:05 pm Post subject:
Please, edit that petition, dude. Halogen was hosted at SlipStreamProductions and not on Derelict Studios. They were once hosted on DS, but they left it when SSP was created. QUICK_EDIT
My friend and i haev created a crude site and petition for this matter. The link is http://ressurecthalogen.moonfruit.com. We've had over 1,000 hits in 14 hours. Please sign the petition. When we get what we deem to be enough signatures, we will present the petition to Microsoft, accompanied by a logical and coherent arguement. Whether this is doomed to fail or not, i am going through with this. Please support us. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
first of all, make sure that the units and infantry do not have the exact same names as in the halo universe, make some slight graphical adjustments as well, rename the mod, develop it in private, don't publish all stuff to the world just yet, just keep it with a select few.
once it's near completion, release a public beta under an entirely different name, try releasing it through a proxy staff/user as well _________________ Micro TS
Portable, no campaign, movies or music, just the engine and needed resources for skirmish and lan. QUICK_EDIT
Yeah, the copyright kills one more mod... F@ck it...
The same story as with Starcraft: Xel'Naga Vengeance (ZH to Starcraft convertion with some new stuff) made by Silen. The Blizzard anti-piracy department send him a letter, which said something like "you use word Starcraft in your mod, it belongs to us, you broke the law, kill your mod or face the Blizzard's wrath." In what way it could cause them troubles?
Maybe that was thanks to some idiots who thought it was Starcraft 2, or national problem with courts and money... But now they made everything scrap all the work...
Last I had heard Xel'Naga Vengeance was an attempted Starcraft 2 as you said which is the reason Blizz blew em outta the water.
Specially since Blizzard would probably do a helluva job better than the mod team.
Now the Starkiller (ZH to Starcraft 1 TC) is being allowed because they said twas fine. Or something. QUICK_EDIT
Yes i know, wrong site, but unforutnatly I dont think you can edit the petitons once submitted.
Dark Raven, if you want, you can link on your website to my petition aswell. Afterall, 2 are better than one, although I'm not sure how well mine is doing. Ill see if i can scour the interweb to find more websites to get people to sign, then once I personnally have enough ill be sure to send some microsoft reps in the games department a nice message using the petition as part of my argument QUICK_EDIT
Also Known As: banshee_revora (Steam) Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Location: Brazil
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:52 am Post subject:
EA Predator's second post on CNCDEN comments wrote:
I won't inflame Bungie because I admire and respect those guys, and I do admire and respect MS, particularily the Xbox Department to be specific, but I definitely think its an embarassment to Microsofts IP department to all gamers to crush a MOD team they have openly supported for 2+ years.
The MS IP police have known about this project for a long time, so it strikes me as fairly odd that they would now shut it down. I'm sure there is a larger reason.
I personally hope the Halogen team does slightly modify their mod so it is something different, because they are one of the most talented and respected mod teams in the C&C mod community, and their 2+ years of work should not go to waste like this.
Anyone ready for a petition I hope to see PC Gamer and CGW cover this story.
At EA, we support modding as long as its not using our licenses for profit, that is perfectly understandable to everyone. Much like anything else, we want to see creativity and great work. A lot of the best talent can be found in modding communities.
Last I had heard Xel'Naga Vengeance was an attempted Starcraft 2 as you said which is the reason Blizz blew em outta the water.
Specially since Blizzard would probably do a helluva job better than the mod team.
Now the Starkiller (ZH to Starcraft 1 TC) is being allowed because they said twas fine. Or something.
Nobody said this was a sequel... I saw the beginning of this mod, I saw its death. A sad story, but it is so common By the way, Starkiller died too. Silen was angry about that Blizz letter and decided to revenge with Zergkiller (aka Starkiller in non-russian forums). But now Silen halted all his work, due to some hard-coded stuff in ZH engine and just a weak enthusiasm. I don't know whether someone continues the mod, but he won't do it. It's pity .
what about the letter to MS - I'll sign it. _________________
Sealab 2021 wrote:
Marco: So you rigged the OFF button with a tear gas grenade? Ho ho ho, you magnificent bastard!
Sparks: Oh, that's nothin', man. The ON button is a 50-megaton hydrogen bomb.
No, not really. It's for the 360 whereas Halogen was not. They nuked it in the small chance it might minimally affect profits for the Halowars game. QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Location: DAS BOOT IM DER OSTSEE
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 11:05 am Post subject:
Think of it from marketing...Generass/ZH is 40 bucks(together or with TFD), and HALOGEN is a download. Bill's too poor to afford a X-360, so hes going to buy Gen-ZH and then download HaloGen, tell his friends about it, they tell their buddies, ect. It takes profit away. _________________ PPM's Reichstrollfuherer, 236th Trollenparties brigade. QUICK_EDIT
I will restate from the news...Try not to wet yourself:
Bill Gates is NOT the head of Microsoft anymore. He retired, but still gets money from Microsoft...Of course he can afford a 360...Heck I bet he could buy the U.S. if he wanted to do so. O_o _________________ ... QUICK_EDIT
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Halogen is over.
I hope to see PC Gamer and CGW cover this story.
