21 replies to this topic

[Peregrine]

Exactly. A TC like this would pretty much be a matrix game using the morrowind engine. So fitting really isn't an issue, unless too many objects (chairs, etc) are reused to save time. I mean, think of it as all the quake3 based games made... they're all completely unrelated and you don't see the connection unless you start looking at the details of the engine.

[thanateros]

Certainly a Matrix based mod would be fun to play, and I certainly would sign up. However the copyright question raised doesn't necessarily have to do with whether or not you're making a profit off of the game, its whether or not the companies who licenced the game are loosing it because people can go download a mod that could be better than the other games out there.

If you wanna go for it, you have my support. That'd be a really fantastic way to use the Morrowind engine.

[Peregrine]

Well, whether or not they have the right to block a mod... they aren't enforcing it. I've definitely seen matrix mods for other games and not once heard anything about anyone trying to stop it. Or, any other mod even. And the "better than others" thing is kind of hard to prove... how do you decide that x game is better than y?
If this turns into a serious project, I might be able to help with some of it. I imagine you'll be needing new weapons, and I can definitely make a few.

[thanateros]

And the "better than others" thing is kind of hard to prove... how do you decide that x game is better than y?

Are you kidding? All it would take is a few statistics from various groups. A host that reports the number of DL's a mod has in a month vs. the number of sales from a group of game stores.

Take that data and plug it into the oh so wonderful SPSS and perform several correlation tests using the Peterson or Spearman equation. Then take that same data and assess whether or not there is a difference withing the group using a standard Paired t-test. If there's not difference then I would accept the data as valid and be able to draw a conclusion on whether or not the game has a stronger following comparing the mod and the game title. There are a lot of ways in which we can determine whether or not a game is better. What do you think polls are for anyway?

....Don't mess with psych majors, we can compare any set of data and draw numerous conclusions based on the types of testing we do.

[Peregrine]

Ok, point conceded on the statistics part. But how much of this will work as an argument in court to stop distribution of a mod? Because I've never heard of anything like this ever happening. And you'd think that there'd be some motivation to do it, like with MEMod for example. You could argue that they're potentially costing the copyright holders money from a Lord of the Rings rpg.
Same with fan fiction... people can write endless stuff without any legal issues, as long as they don't distribute copy/pasted sections of other people's work. I don't see Lucasfilm issuing orders to stop distribution of stuff like that.
So my point with all this... I don't think there's anything illegal about making a game set in someone else's universe. Unless you copy actual files from another game of course, then you'd have justification to shut it down.

[DiseasedPunk]

Heh, you can call it something else and have it follow a storyline similar to matrix and have similar rules yet it wouldn't be exactly the same. Take a look at silent hill, resident evil and other cinematic horror games. The engines are near the same but they are completely different titles. I really don't see on what basis a mod like this could be sued anyways considering no profit is being made.

Edited by DiseasedPunk, 07 October 2003 - 05:11 AM.

[Dementia Warrior]

I would love to see a Matrix mod or Total Conversion for this game, that would be awesome. As for the legal side, have you ever seen the Kung Fu mod for Max Payne? Its like playing The Matrix only better, infact, its twice as good as the real Matrix game, with no glitchs at all. I wish I had something to contribute to your project, but I'm afraid I'm not very good at modification or programming. But I'd be honored if you allowed me to test your mod or TC at anytime to report bugs and the like.

[DiseasedPunk]

I have some projects im helping finish up but i will start recruiting in January when the design/story and structure are complete. The website should be up by then also.

[Dementia Warrior]

When will you start on the design, story, and structure? I'd be glad to help any way I can.

[Daddy Two-Foot]

Yeah, I'm in love with the Matrix and would love to help with the story and such!