Fallout license goes to...
- Thread starter Odin
- Start date
This is the way I understand it:
They can sell the PC FO rights (this isn't the same as selling VB)
They can sell the engine
They can't sell the unfinished VB without Viv giving it a greenlight or resturcturing the contract.
They seemingly could let some one else finish VB if Viv published. Not sell VB, just pay someone to finish it. Thats the way i understand this..so far.
I don't think they can sell the engine.
Carsten Strehse
First time out of the vault
Just want to let you know that we truly think that this would be the best for FO3. If the former BIS staff really can handle this we would immediatly stop our efforts to get the license and make the way free for them.
God is Dog backwards
Mildly Dipped
Carsten: I agree, however without any confirmation none of us know what's going on. Perhaps the article was simply referring to you and your contacts with Josh and Damien.
Surely there's a way interested parties can get in contact with each other and work out just what's going on? Seems like we're all on the same team here - wanting FO3.
Surely there's a way interested parties can get in contact with each other and work out just what's going on? Seems like we're all on the same team here - wanting FO3.
Carsten Strehse said:
Cool beans, Carsten, you're a true fan.
A question, though, if you can answer it; if former-BIS were to push this plan through, they'll need major financial backing. Could and would you be interested in giving them this and possibly other backing?
Just asking
King of Creation
Vault Fossil
Carsten Strehse said:
Sounds like a plan
I think what you are referring to is that since Ineptplay never announced FO3, then Titus don't have rights to it. There is stipulation in their contract that means that if Ineptplay announce a title, then Titus hold all rights to that title including publishing rights, individual intellectual rights and so forth.Executioner said:The fact that Interplay keeps denying the existence of Fallout 3 would be a big help in a copyright/intellectual property decision in court. If Interplay didn't order the start up of development, all Fallout 3 material would be property of Black Isle. With that, if Black Isle doesn't have a line in their contract stating that all of their projects belong to Interplay......things would look very promising.
Yes, the engine itself can be bought or licensed. The problem is that the engine was most likely developed as an in house engine. This means that it is unlikely to be documented to an extent which would normally allow licensing to third parties. Outright sale of an engine would likely be hideously expensive. Likewise, licensing the engine itself could cause conflicts with Ineptplay's contract with Titus when the title comes to publishing.kumquat said:
IMO what they are best off doing is reaching a royalty agreement with Ineptplay to finish development of FO3 out of house and publish under the Ineptplay/BIS name. This way Ineptplay would get a lump sum for handover of code, art and design work, and then receive a percentage of payments as agreed milestones are met.
Carsten Strehse
First time out of the vault
Kharn said:Carsten Strehse said:
Cool beans, Carsten, you're a true fan.
A question, though, if you can answer it; if former-BIS were to push this plan through, they'll need major financial backing. Could and would you be interested in giving them this and possibly other backing?
Just asking
Well, I think if the BIS guys really told such things they already have a plan how they can handle the financing. If not, I'm sure they will contact me.
The only thing I ask myself: Why now, why not earlier? If they have an idea how to develop the game till the end on their own, why haven't they told IPLY much earlier? I mean, Josh left the company months ago. The whole situation could have been avoided then.
I really don't want to be the party-pooper here, but the story sounds not very realistic to me. Sadly...
GroovyNinjaPhil
First time out of the vault
Just pissing on our parade, huh?
Well, my guess would be that the ex-BISers would still need some funding help, so maybe you'll get to play that part. Not a bad thing to "own" the Fallout license, even if you don't develop the games.Carsten Strehse said:
On the other hand I don't know what contacts the ex-BISers have, so I'll just hope they/you get it. Think it will be good news for the Fallout community in both cases.
I will however not get too optimistic just because of a small news article at a Danish site.
Carsten, but why would they want to bring an idea to IPLY about developing the game on their own if they were still employed by IPLY?
I assume, being uninformed about the inner workings of the company and all, that they (Puuk, Huggies, etc, not JE) did not know they were going to be canned. This idea of independent development seems like a response to the firing thing. Is my logic flawed?
I assume, being uninformed about the inner workings of the company and all, that they (Puuk, Huggies, etc, not JE) did not know they were going to be canned. This idea of independent development seems like a response to the firing thing. Is my logic flawed?
Carsten Strehse said:Well, I think if the BIS guys really told such things they already have a plan how they can handle the financing. If not, I'm sure they will contact me.
The only thing I ask myself: Why now, why not earlier? If they have an idea how to develop the game till the end on their own, why haven't they told IPLY much earlier? I mean, Josh left the company months ago. The whole situation could have been avoided then.
I really don't want to be the party-pooper here, but the story sounds not very realistic to me. Sadly...
I know what you mean, but keep a few things in mind;
As BIS employees, they're unlikely to offer a plan "how to develop a game on our own" to employers who're already thinking about laying them off. That's like saying "please fire me so I can face the prospect of an unsure future, sir"
Remember, no prior notice to firing, so the BIS guys couldn't have planned for this way up ahead. Unless you know something we don't
(say mistary, you'll be cool then)Also, this whole things smells like a leak to me, and it might be unintentionally so, so there's no saying how far they are with their plans. They could be just in the "speculating about doing this" phase.
Kharn said:
Shouldn't it be mystary?
/spam