[Mod] Gratuitous Space Battles

[nicodede62]

Thank you very much for the support [:)].

I think the update will not for this weekend, because I had lot of work this week. I lean toward an update next week, with only the Swarm.

The other races are very long to do, because of their particular design.

Edit: Work in progress [;)]

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[Erik Rutins]

Nicodede62,

Did you receive permission from Positech to use their art for a mod? I didn't realize until the recent posts above that you might have started this without their blessing. I think you should contact them if you have not and ask them if they are fine with this.

Regards,

- Erik

[Fishman]

Using GalCiv's graphics for a GSB conversion seems like a bit of a mixed message.

[vils]

Exellent.. keep up the good work!

[Veloxi]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Nicodede62,

Did you receive permission from Positech to use their art for a mod? I didn't realize until the recent posts above that you might have started this without their blessing. I think you should contact them if you have not and ask them if they are fine with this.

Regards,

- Erik

Oh snap!

[drillerman]

If you credit the artwork to GSB/Positech and don't make money from the mod then I cannot see a problem. Plus, it is good free advertising for GSB.
Yes/No?

How many people over the years have made Star Trek or Star Wars mods for various games. Millions I would say. Don't forget, we are only talking about still images here not full games. I know there was a problem with Teardown and Games workshop. So all the Teardown did was change the names. As far as I could see all the graphics images stayed the same, plus this game is/was free.

[DasTactic]

I think it can get a bit convoluted if you don't have permission. For example, if it is deemed that making a mod, even if it is free, hinders the sales of GSB and GalCiv then there may be a case for compensation. And from Matrix' position, if the files are available through their servers etc then they can be seen to be publishing the mod which could muddy the waters for them as well. Personally I think it is beneficial for them to allow it because it cross-promotes their games. Not sure about where StarTrek and StarWars are on this issue but I assume they turn a blind eye because it is made by and for fans of their movies so it gives them a longer life. Not sure how you would go if you used Disney characters but I think the story would be quite different.

Best to ask for permission as Erik said.

[nicodede62]

Drillerman thank you, I feel myself less alone [;)].

I was going to take that kind of talk. I do not think the Stars Wars mod and the Star Trek mod have received the licenses to create their mod. Yet they are under development.

Gbs and GalCiv2 are excellent games, with completely different gameplay of Dw, why prohibit advertising for them. Especially since I do not sell the mod, is just for the community. Just for pleasure of gamers...

Their images and their worlds remain wholly owned by Positech and of Stardock.

[Tophat1815]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Nicodede62,

Did you receive permission from Positech to use their art for a mod? I didn't realize until the recent posts above that you might have started this without their blessing. I think you should contact them if you have not and ask them if they are fine with this.

Regards,

- Erik

nicodede62,
All Erik is saying here is that it would be appropriate and if nothing else a proper courtesy to ask cliff the GSB developer if he is alright with his artwork being used.Personally I think he'll probably be alright with it and happy at the advertising he'll get.He's getting one additional sale for the full game bundle from me later today or tomorrow and thats thanks to you posting this mod and letting me know GSB existed!

[Shark7]

Also, Erik is spot on about needing to ask permission. Technically the BSG and SW modders should do the same. The owner of the copyright does have the right to approve or deny any use of their copyrighted material, and in this case if the owner sues, he/she/they will win. It's the techincality of the law...now whether or not the copyright owner would sue is another quesiton...more likely they'd simply send a cease and desist letter via an attorney.

Most of the time its better to ask permission rather than beg forgiveness...in legal matters, forgiveness almost always involves a cash settlement.

The only thing that might help with the BSG and SW (SW in particular) is the fact that it is widely distributed and could be considered part of the public domain. Also, I believe the BSG and SW modders have created their own models, which makes somewhat of a difference.

Not being a jerk, just pointing out that in all 3 cases, Erik's suggestion of asking permission would be prudent.

[drillerman]

Hi shark7,

Not sure I can be bothered with all the legal stuff, too many real life issues to ponder. So to make it easier for me I have removed all my links for my ships and have taken down my website. Thanks for the info.

[Veloxi]

The main issue here that I had was that nicodede62 didn't credit the original works in his post, making it look like they were his own. Permission or not, that's just not cool.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: drillerman

Hi shark7,

Not sure I can be bothered with all the legal stuff, too many real life issues to ponder. So to make it easier for me I have removed all my links for my ships and have taken down my website. Thanks for the info.

Sorry to hear that, but I totally understand. I wouldn't release a graphics mod if I were unsure of the legal ramifications either.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Tophat1812
All Erik is saying here is that it would be appropriate and if nothing else a proper courtesy to ask cliff the GSB developer if he is alright with his artwork being used.Personally I think he'll probably be alright with it and happy at the advertising he'll get.He's getting one additional sale for the full game bundle from me later today or tomorrow and thats thanks to you posting this mod and letting me know GSB existed!

That's exactly it. I think the rest of the stuff here is largely older images that may be public domain or original artwork, but in this case it's in-game artwork from other competing games that are actively being sold. You really need to ask permission and not just credit them in this case.

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

Have you asked for permission yet, Nicodede? If I don't hear back from you, I will unfortunately have to remove this.

[drillerman]

Erik,

I'll shed some light on this. I actually emailed Cliff before DW was released to ask if it was ok to use the graphics from the game. While he said there was very little he could do to stop it, because of the time, effort and money involved, he was uncomfortable with the graphics being used for another game even as a mod free of charge. He also conceded that it may very well give his game some good advertising. So he actually left the ball in my court, so to speak. I did release some ships sets from GSB with this in the back of my mind but felt slightly guilty about it so I stopped in the end and withdrew my ship sets.
Personally I think there is no harm and I feel it has probably done more for Cliffs game than not. Maybe in the near future I may contact Cliff again and see if he will reconsider.

Thanks

[the1sean]

Gratuitous Space Battles is an AWESOME game, unfortunately it doesnt have a campaign

Erik, its funny, but I dont feel like GSB and DW are competing games, because they are SO different. I love both of them! GSB is for the quickfix and a chesslike game, and DW is my 4X fix. I can understand not wanting to step on another developer's toes, I just hope that I can use the great artwork in DW sometime in the future. However, I must say that I am a big fan of the DW art style and implementation, and the moddability.

If you do recontact Cliff, drillerman, let him know there are fans of his game that would love to have the art included in mods in homage. GSB has so much character!

[nicodede62]

From today, there will be more news here. All news will now on my new site in build whose address is in my signature.

All images on the game are deleted, all links are deleted on this forum.
The adventure does not stop, but I dont post more of mod here.

[Veloxi]

As long as you give credit to the original owners of the work you're using for the mod, nico, that's fine. Don't wanna take all the credit for yourself, of course.

[nicodede62]

New website: www.wix.com/nicodede62/nicodede62

Enjoy [;)].