I was watching a Arena "Lets play" on Youtube..

[drjakle]

Daggerfall is similar to Arena, but it's freeware now. Look up the DaggerXL engine; the point is to modernize Daggerfall for current Operating Systems and support higher draw distances and resolutions. It's not done yet though. It is legal, which is good, since it requires you to already own Daggerfall assets, and the game is freeware so you can get it straight from the Bethesda site.

 

 

daggerfall also used to have multyplayer pvp and coop

[Millenia]

Technically you might be in the clear with not using any original assets, but in practice Bethesda also owns the intellectual property to their games and you will want to ask them before starting such a project, if you want to be certain you don't have to scrap all that work halfway through.

 

If they would give permission I would probably contribute as well, so go ahead and ask them!

[JimboUK]

I hate to sound like a beotch here but...

 

Actually, the whole deal includes a "remake" of any of their games. You can't do it legally without a written authorization from the copyright owner, Zenimax Media/Bethesda in this case. Before any more arguments ensue or continue on this subject, you folks should really do some research and then contact Zenimax Media's legal department for their official answer if you still aren't sure.

In the USA you can call +1 301-926-8300or in the UK +44 207 025 7360, Ask for legal department contact info.

 

Also, from the TES: Arena Software License Agreement...

 

Copyright: This manual, packaging and the SOFTWARE are copyrighted. No part of this manual or the

described SOFTWARE may be copied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or

machine-readable form without the prior written consent of Bethesda Softworks.

 

So again, unless you have written permission from Zenimax/Bethesda, it is illegal and can not be uploaded/hosted here if it were made without a license.

 

They've said it is fine as long as you don't use assets from those previous games, it was the use of assets that caused issues for Morrowblivion, not remaking the game.

[Millenia]

Bethesda still owns the intellectual property of all their games, so technically you can't remake the games even from scratch without their permission.

[Matth85]

They've said it is fine as long as you don't use assets from those previous games, it was the use of assets that caused issues for Morrowblivion, not remaking the game.

 

I'd really like your source on that. As far as I know, they will ban any mod that is a remake. Wether you use original asset or not is irrelevant. They can't sue you if you make it all from scratch, but they can easily ban the mod from any big modding site.

[JimboUK]

They've said it is fine as long as you don't use assets from those previous games, it was the use of assets that caused issues for Morrowblivion, not remaking the game.

 

I'd really like your source on that. As far as I know, they will ban any mod that is a remake. Wether you use original asset or not is irrelevant. They can't sue you if you make it all from scratch, but they can easily ban the mod from any big modding site.

 

It's common knowledge, they have said so on their own forums. It's the porting of assets they don't like, understandable because of licencing issues.

[Matth85]

It's common knowledge, they have said so on their own forums. It's the porting of assets they don't like, understandable because of licencing issues.

It's not common knowledge. We all know porting is illegal, but we also know remakes are frowned upon. There are multiple reasons for it, but that is beyod the point. In theory we are allowed to remake the game, but that does not work in reality. Bethesda could ban the mods from every site we know, and we couldn't say a word.

 

Unless you got a source stating otherwise, I hold to what I know. It is't illegal to remake, it just won't go through.

[JimboUK]

It's common knowledge, they have said so on their own forums. It's the porting of assets they don't like, understandable because of licencing issues.

It's not common knowledge. We all know porting is illegal, but we also know remakes are frowned upon. There are multiple reasons for it, but that is beyod the point. In theory we are allowed to remake the game, but that does not work in reality. Bethesda could ban the mods from every site we know, and we couldn't say a word.

 

Unless you got a source stating otherwise, I hold to what I know. It is't illegal to remake, it just won't go through.

 

Jesus H Christ, it is common knowledge, because you aren't aware of it doesn't mean it isn't so. Various projects have been discussed on Beths boards the answer is always the same, don't use assets from the other games. There is a discussion on the modding board at the moment about recreating Morrowind, no one has suggested you're not allowed to do it. As for a source you know as well as I do that Beth prune their boards often so finding a quote won't easy, you're welcome to look but if you think I'm going to waste my time looking then you're very much mistaken.

[Alithinos]

Thank you for your interesting replies.

 

Let me note that I didn't proposed the use of Arena's assets like sprites,textures and/or code,but to use Skyrim's assets and custom modder made content when necessary.

I understand that Bethesda doesn't want us to use assets of one game to another,and I also understand their objection in porting games like Morrowind to Oblivion and vice versa,as these games are still sold and such mods would hurt their profit revenue they get from these games.

But since Arena is free I can't see what would be their problem if we re-made the game using different assets in Skyrim. That project wouldn't hurt their profit since Arena is free,and wouldn't break the rule for not using Arena's assets in Skyrim.I think that they would actually like it because a complete other game inside Skyrim would make Skyrim seem like a better deal to players.

 

Now regarding the issue of time and people needed for such mod that someone stated,I'll have to reply that an Arena mod wouldn't have to be set on the same scale Skyrim's world is set.

Of course making the whole Tamriel in the same scale Vanilla Skyrim uses would be a super-human task that would consume astronomic man-hours even overlooking the possibility that perhaps Skyrim's engine wouldn't allow us to create such large spaces..

An Arena mod would have different world scale than Skyrim and I believe that everyone agrees it's the reasonable choice.

[Matth85]

Jesus H Christ, it is common knowledge, because you aren't aware of it doesn't mean it isn't so.

Keep getting worked up, really helps.

I am aware of much. I am aware of the copyright law, I am also aware that what you brand as "common knowledge" is not right unless somebody got a source for it.

 

As for a source you know as well as I do that Beth prune their boards often so finding a quote won't easy, you're welcome to look but if you think I'm going to waste my time looking then you're very much mistaken.

 

Waste your time? You spew out what you think is right, without source, brand it as common knowledge, start raging and whine about wasting time?

I am going to spell it out for you, very simplistic, since you seem to be very ill tempered:

 

- Following the EULA and copyright law we are not allowed to port anything over from the games. We all know that part.

- Going more in depth you will see Bethesda now "owns" the right to their games. Even though an idea can't be copyrightet, they can copyright a work.

- I believe Sunnie had a very good example of this on another thread earlier, if you want to look it up. I'd also like to excuse to Sunnie if I write it slightly wrong, since I am writing this by how I remember it. Basically: If I paint a picture and put it for sale, and everybody likes it, you can't make the exact same picture and put it for sale -- while mine is up for sale. That way you took my work, and stole it. Following the basic of the law, you did nothing wrong. You painted your own picture, using my idea. However, you still stole my work and copied it.

- Bethesda can not sue you for anything if you make your own work. However, they can ban it from different sites. After that it is up to each individual to download it and play it, knowing Bethesda does not approve.

 

I suggest you read the copyright law, and what rights Bethesda got. Because you follow the trend of: "I make it, Its all mine! I can put it for sale if I want!" -- which is wrong. I can't remake Skyrim using 100% my work, and sell it as "Skayrim!". But if you don't believe that, I welcome you to try.

I am aware we are not talking about selling here, but the point is there. If you only look quickly on copyright and EULA, you can believe you can remake Oblivion and put it for sale. I think we all know you can't. The same rules apply towards remaking games.

 

However, with that said -- and hoping you don't rage reply back, I can be wrong. I stand by my point unless somebody over at Bethesda have said otherwise.

It's also a matter that the game is quite old, so I doubt they would care too much. The game is up for free, so we wouldn't cut any profit. So if it is possible or not, is not up to me to say. I would contact Bethesda and ask for permission, not ask on the forums: Where everybody got a different idea of copyright and lives in different countries with different laws.