Rockstar is well-known for asking modders to take down various mods like this AI-powered GTA 5 story mode mod, or a VR mod for Red Dead Redemption 2. The Liberty City Preservation Project take down is also not without direct precedent as Rockstar issued a take-down for a mod that tried to recreate Grand Theft Auto Vice City within GTA 5.
All examples of how the current license/ip model is not supportive for creativity and innovation.
Another reason why I’m not holding out for GTA VI… Rockstar has changed a lot since GTA V, and not in a good way.
No no, they have changed a lot since GTA IV, and not in a good way.
No no, they have changed a lot since GTA III, and not in a good way.
Honestly, GTA 2 is where it all went wrong. They need to get back to their roots.
Right you are!
Stop making “fan projects” 👏
These companies don’t give a shit about your passion. They will shut you down or sue you. Put that effort into making your own original game and rep the benefits of your passion.
Or make them quietly and release them basically complete, or release them anonymously (and actually anonymously, not via a pseudonym on a website like github where you can be easily tracked down)
But at that point I probably wouldn’t bother either
Trouble is, in addition to it likely still being taken down, or you being sued still, that also means you can’t ask online for assistance in building it.
These things are rarely one person working on it. They get the word out to find more modders who want to help.
Yeah absolutely, and any bugs that are found are permanently gonna be there, stuff like that. It sucks. Thus the “I probably wouldn’t bother either”. But if you’re really passionate about it I say go for it, just cover your tracks really well, only work with people you trust implicitly, and don’t popularize the project until you’re ready to be done with it. The moment it gets hyped and picked up by ign/kotaku/etc you’re done.
I think you can still get the word out to get other modders though. These things don’t seem to get squashed at the planning stage, otherwise publishers would be spending tons of resources going after people who have maybe done no actual work. It seems like what happened with this mod, when they make socials and release ongoing updates, screenshots, videos, etc, of their work, that’s what gets people hyped and all the attention (and eventual hammer) on them
Of course this means you get no credit for your work, which sucks. If you’re undertaking such a massive effort and getting 0 credit I could understand why you wouldn’t bother (although it’s kind of badass to do it for no clout)
Releasing something anonymously is not going to prevent a company from getting the content removed from the web server. Hosting companies have to act according to local laws, and if a company can abuse this (like DMCA) then releasing stuff anonymously is not going to change anything
Sure but the project gets completed and released onto the internet. If it’s not of note then it probably won’t get noticed and deleted. If it is then it will probably get covered by publications like this, downloaded a ton, and archived before removal.
Like that links awakening windows port that one dude released. Just showed up and dropped it anonymously, feature complete with widescreen, 120fps, crazy map view upgrades, and dipped. Nintendo nuked it within the day but you can easily still find it for download
Like I just googled it and within 30 seconds found https://archive.org/details/links-awakening-dx-hd
You didn’t try to download it did it, did you?
Use the torrent (but use a vpn as Nintendo is pretty notorious for sending love notes to your isp)
Edit also fwiw just tried the zip, on mobile atm but def works? Download completed, extracted, files are correct. Can’t run it bc I’m on mobile but it’s correct
If Nintendo would see it, they can still get it taken down. But I’ll concede that as long as it goes under the radar, there’s a chance for it to proliferate
Of course they can and they did, that game was originally distributed via itch and Nintendo dmcad it within like 12 hours of release. But enough people downloaded it that links and torrents are still active and likely will be for years, is the point. Even if they get that archive link (a bit shocking they haven’t in 2 years, Nintendo is getting weak), the torrent will live on and it’s also uploaded many other places
Some people who make these do it just for fun and to learn game development. Getting shut down is actually a badge of honor, means the company thought it was good enough to be a threat.
It’s basically illegal, although “good” publishers don’t care.
Surprise surprise
