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LucasArts Embraces Game Mod Community

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the not-so-much-with-the-extending dept.

An anonymous reader writes "LucasArts has taken a great step in promoting the modification of their titles and supporting the communities that love them! According to this press release, LucasArts has teamed up with LFNetwork to open LucasFiles.com. The site is dedicated to all files that fall in the LucasArts realm." Given competing games like Neverwinter Nights, which have a phenomenal amount of user-created add-ons, this is a very smart move for LucasArts.

9 of 183 comments (clear)

  1. So what does this imply for ScummVM? by meringuoid · · Score: 5, Informative
    Given their ongoing (but apparently lapsed) dispute with LucasArts over their replacement .exe for the old SCUMM games - maybe this signals a more enlightened approach across the board? Maybe LucasArts will actually start giving the ScummVM developers some pointers on how SCUMM works, and we'll get 100% compatibility much more quickly?

    (For anyone who doesn't know, ScummVM is a replacement .exe for old games like Day of the Tentacle and Monkey Island; it uses antialiased graphics and hardware MIDI to dramatically improve the picture and sound, and runs on any platform SDL does - unlike the old .exe's that come with the games, which struggle to run on modern machines. LucasArts seem to have mistaken ScummVM with an abandonware site...)

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    1. Re:So what does this imply for ScummVM? by Ndr_Amigo · · Score: 5, Informative

      hahahaahahaha. Yeah, right. Ahem. Pesimism mode, off. :)

      Seriously, I can probably talk about this now the site has been announced. The original 'proposal' from LucasArts to deal with our 'problem', was (this was suggested to us about 7 months ago) to be hosted by 'their upcoming mod site' - what is now known as LucasFiles..

      This would apparantly have solved the legal issues they have with us (which they have never really explained or clarified except in vauge terms).

      But basically, all LucasFiles is supposed to be is a host for FPS mods. Big whoop. The LucasFiles people didn't want us (I gather), and the whole idea was completely torpedoed when I pointed out that moving from SourceForge would require work on their part - eg, we'd need equivilant services like CVS ecetra.

      Anyway. It was suggested, it never worked.

      As for sharing technical details, the last time I asked their response was "We're not intrested in doing so at this time, maybe we can discuss it MUCH (their verbal emphisis) later."

      - Ender
      Head Monkey Wrangler,
      ScummVM

  2. Re:NWN is not the answer. by reaper20 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Until they fix the camera angle...

    There are plenty of user made mods that free the camera, along with tons of other mods that expand and extend the game. The _usermade_ Pool of Radiance mod is better than the recent standalone game!

    This is exactly the kind of thing that makes NWN great, and probably why LucasArts is so interested.

  3. Great but, by Vladequacy · · Score: 5, Informative
    Great but, who owns the content? Look at the Terms of Use Url.

    To the extent the Fan Games contain material that consists of or is derived from Source Material (as defined in Attachment B to these Terms of Use which is incorporated herein by this reference) and to the extent LF Networks agrees, in its sole discretion, to allow such use, you acknowledge that the Fan Games are in whole or in part derivative from the Source Material, that you have no right, title or interest in and to anything contained in or derived from the Source Material, and that you irrevocably assign to LF Networks any and all right, title and interest you may be deemed to have in any materials contained in or derived from the Source Materials.
    --

    Why Slashdot is under attack
  4. Look at the submission terms by mkweise · · Score: 5, Informative

    From http://www.lucasfiles.com/submission.php:
    You hereby grant to LF Network the royalty-free, non-exclusive, transferable right and license to use and exploit all rights in copyright in and to Your Posted Material throughout the universe in all forms of media, whether now known or later developed or created. Accordingly, among other rights, LF Network may reproduce, modify, publish, translate, distribute, sell, perform, and display Your Posted Material alone or as part of other works in any form, media or technology.

    Furthermore, the terms of submission incorporate by reference Attachment A, which reads:
    Fatal error: Call to undefined function: latest() in /usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/lucasfiles.com/httpdocs /ssi/right.php on line 10

    --
    Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the War Room!
  5. Re:Great but, have you seen the submission release by Xandar01 · · Score: 5, Informative

    If this Officially Sanctioned site follows Lucas Arts policy in any way it will be up for grabs once you post. If they borrow from your idea, you won't get anything for it. Sure you might get bragging rights, but that's about it.

    Take a look at the Submission Release (.DOC) that you must submit when applying for an Art Position ( FX ARTIST 2 ) with the company.

    For those without Word or Open Office:

    2. I understand and acknowledge that because of LEC's position (i) it receives numerous submissions of artwork and music from third parties, and (ii) it is constantly developing in-house ideas, formats, stories, concepts, artwork, music, and the like, and that many such submissions and/or developments heretofore or hereafter received and/or developed by LEC may be similar to or identical to those contained in my Submission. I understand and agree that LEC's use of material containing elements similar to or identical with protectible property contained in the Material shall not obligate LEC to me in any manner if LEC shall have developed or obtained such material either heretofore or hereafter independently or exclusively from sources other than from me.

    --
    Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. -FB
  6. maybe.... by Dylan_t_p · · Score: 5, Informative
    they should team up with these guys or these guys or even these guys becuase they have been doing lucas arts mods for ages

    This could be a cool thing just so long as the lucas guys started to release bonus packs kinda like the Unreal guys, that and if it hasn't already happend a new big fluffy pack(aka bfp3) for jedi knight 2 if there isn't already one......

  7. Re:Preemptive PR? by Ndr_Amigo · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, we havn't heard a single word from LucasArts legal in two weeks (besides a promise two weeks ago that I would get a phonecall first thing that monday. I didn't so it was time for another release :)

    - Ender
    Leader Type Person,
    ScummVM

  8. Buying Maniac Mansion, etc... FOR ScummVM by raygundan · · Score: 5, Informative

    I actually bought a stack of those old adventure games *because* of ScummVM. I had played a few of them (Maniac, Monkey Island, Zak McCracken) growing up, but didn't realize how many more of those great games there were.

    I bought (just a few months ago) both Indiana Jones games, Day of the Tentacle, Sam & Max, a Monkey Island or two, Loom, and I don't remember what all else. But the point is I bought them BECAUSE of ScummVM, and I wish LucasArts would just GET IT and leave the ScummVM folks alone. They're not stealing IP. They're not hurting profits. They're actually contributing to sales of older games. Why are they still being hounded?

    Ah, well-- enough ranting. Glad to see the ScummVM folks are sick of waiting for LucasArts to make up its mind, and have gone ahead with the latest release of ScummVM without their permission. Good work, guys!!