Let's be clear -- there will be another Starcraftgame. Blizzard owns the domain www.starcraft2.com; it's been hinted at and rumored more often than Nicole Richie's ribs have been featured on the cover of Star magazine; and hordes of angry nerds worldwide will not actually die until one is released. So it's coming -- hang tight.
In the meantime, how does a Warcraft III mod that attempts to recreate Starcraft: Brood Wars in 3D sound to you? If that's your thing, this teaser trailer for Project Revolution might be right up your alley.
According to the official page, the mod will not violate any intellectual property laws. That said, I've played through most of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and I bill out at a way lower rate than most IP attorneys. I'm just saying, is all.
Ah, how cute. Their FAQ includes all the typical confusions... most notably:
1) Guess that "requiring" the user have access to the original media (so you can rip sounds from it) permits you to create a derivative work with the IP on that media;
2) Send a scared email to a random Blizzard address;
3) Receive no response;
4) Tell the world "They know we exist";
5) Proceed to use Blizzard's IP without permission.
Here's my understanding of how the real world works:
Fair use effectively never allows you to make and distribute (i.e. put up for download) a game/mod/etc. using someone else's intellectual property unless they explicitly give you permission. (The only real case is if you create it for a class, or for yourself, or so on... distributing a mod on the 'net never really counts as "fair use" to my knowledge).
That said, the question is whether the company asks you to stop.
I'm not going to tell people they're doomed (anymore... I tried for years after being part of a shut-down project), but they do need to understand that they're playing in someone else's pool and they can be asked to leave at any time.
They will be allowed to use it until blizzard decides they cannot. They have zero rights to do what they're doing, but many gaming companies allow modders free reign to do so. See: Red vs. Blue. If Bungie (and MS) ever decided to shut them down, it would be easy as sending a cease and desist to their hosting company.
Red vs Blue is a show, not a playable mod. MS would have little grounds for intteruppting free speach with Red vs Blue. This mod is playable however so if they can distribute or not depends on Blizzards good will.
@Toneman
I seriously hope not. That would make every rts fan up in arms.
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
4:38 PM on 01.12.2007
| 
1) Guess that "requiring" the user have access to the original media (so you can rip sounds from it) permits you to create a derivative work with the IP on that media;
2) Send a scared email to a random Blizzard address;
3) Receive no response;
4) Tell the world "They know we exist";
5) Proceed to use Blizzard's IP without permission.
Here's my understanding of how the real world works:
Fair use effectively never allows you to make and distribute (i.e. put up for download) a game/mod/etc. using someone else's intellectual property unless they explicitly give you permission. (The only real case is if you create it for a class, or for yourself, or so on... distributing a mod on the 'net never really counts as "fair use" to my knowledge).
That said, the question is whether the company asks you to stop.
I'm not going to tell people they're doomed (anymore... I tried for years after being part of a shut-down project), but they do need to understand that they're playing in someone else's pool and they can be asked to leave at any time.
http://www.3dactionplanet.com/features/editorials/q3dmhellchick5/
If they do it now, its a pretty big red flag that they are working on it.
If they let them be, its still up on the air on just what they are doing with the project.
@Toneman
I seriously hope not. That would make every rts fan up in arms.