MechWarrior: Living Legends 0.7.0 released, devteam forced to disband

Bloodshot12Bloodshot12 Join Date: 2012-05-25 Member: 152578Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Piranha Games just shut down their "competitor"'s years of</div><img src="http://i.imgur.com/qKsDP.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<b>MECHWARRIOR LIVING LEGENDS, has released their final update, 0.7.0. As of today, no more development will continue</b> due to legal threats by the current MechWarrior IP rights holders, the <i>MechWarrior Online</i> team, Piranha Games. The development team for MWLL, Wandering Samurai, has been disbanded.

<b>MWLL won the 2009 ModDB Mod of the Year (and multiplayer mod of the year), 2010 and 2011 ModDB Honorable Mention, and were in the top 5 2007 and 2008 Most Anticipated Mod(s).
</b>

Full post and downloads:

<a href="http://www.mechlivinglegends.net/2013-01/mechwarrior-living-legends-final-release-0-7-0/" target="_blank">Mechwarrior: Living Legends – Final Release; 0.7.0</a>

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There is a bit of good news, in addition to the release of 0.7.0 - <b>MechWarrior Living Legends should be compatible with the free Crysis Wars demo</b>. Some servers will allow demo players, but some will not allow them to join. So this means you can download the Crysis Wars trial/demo, and play MWLL online for free on those servers

I'm pretty upset at this, as a person who liked MWLL and was looking forward to MWO after it had some time to improve, I could care less about MWO now.

And unfortunately, the dev team even got a <b>license from Microsoft</b> to make MW:LL, so Piranha basically capitalized on how MWLL got a lot more people interested in the Mechwarrior franchise, made a game, and then shut them down to prevent competition. I mean this stuff has happened before obviously, but it's worse when something with so much effort and attention to community feedback gets closed right there, for a game that is arguably almost the same game but with way less polish and features.

Oh well, at least they are allowed to release their finalized stuff, but all the features nearing completion, like the Mech Lab, will never see the light of day.

You can download Crysis Wars for free from here <a href="http://www.fileplanet.com/192494/190000/fileinfo/Crysis-Wars-Trial-" target="_blank">FilePlanet: Crysis Wars Trial</a>

It's a trial but it works with the mod on the official servers, which support gamers with trial versions
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Comments

  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    I enjoyed the everliving hell out of MW:LL for a good long while. It's very sad to see it go like this. Hopefully most of the devs will find jobs as a result of their superb work.

    --Scythe--
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  • Bloodshot12Bloodshot12 Join Date: 2012-05-25 Member: 152578Members
    Luckily it isn't going anywhere <i>just</i> yet, they are working on fixing as many bugs as they can to give use the most stable 0.7.0 possible, which is much better then being forced to release it and forget about it.
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  • SvenpaSvenpa Wait, what? Join Date: 2004-01-03 Member: 25012Members, Constellation
    What is it with people feeling so extremely threatened by mods that they have to order a cease and desist? I can't imagine that any mod except the absolutely largest and most widespread ones would have any significant impact on sales of a retail game. The hardcore players of a series will know of it but since when has the hardcore ever been the target audience?

    It just seems so unnecessary.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    Why dont they just change some names around, call it something else and finish?

    NS devs, before they were UWE, didn't get sued by Blizzard , Fox, or Ridley Scott because they drew inspiration from Starcraft and Aliens, and didn't use copywrited material without permission.

    Just call it: "Mech Squad 7: Living Legends" and change the Mechs' names and weapon names.

    Didn't Counter Strike have to do something like that with gun names?
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  • Bloodshot12Bloodshot12 Join Date: 2012-05-25 Member: 152578Members
    Because this isn't just inspirations, to do that they would have to redesign <i>every single battletech asset in the game</i> - which is everything that they've modeled already, which is a relatively large undertaking, and probably not something they had in mind, given that they've been working more on the technical and gameplay side of MWLL for a long time.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    edited January 2013
    Um, where are you hearing about legal threats? <a href="http://www.mechlivinglegends.net/2013-01/message-from-the-founders-3/" target="_blank">This post says there were zero legal threats</a>.
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  • ComproxComprox *chortle* Canada Join Date: 2002-01-23 Member: 7Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Developer, Subnautica Playtester, Pistachionauts
    <!--quoteo(post=2062785:date=Jan 18 2013, 12:45 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TychoCelchuuu @ Jan 18 2013, 12:45 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2062785"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Um, where are you hearing about legal threats? <a href="http://www.mechlivinglegends.net/2013-01/message-from-the-founders-3/" target="_blank">This post says there were zero legal threats</a>.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    From my brief reading into the subject, it appears to be a "gentlemens agreement" with whoever the heck owns the IP these days. They are giving them time to wind down their efforts (fix bugs and the like) but it's just the same as a legal method. When a dev shuts down a project and doesn't actually say why, it's going to be a legal reason. Sadly there really is only one logical legal reason in this case.
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  • Bloodshot12Bloodshot12 Join Date: 2012-05-25 Member: 152578Members
    edited January 2013
    <!--quoteo(post=2062785:date=Jan 18 2013, 12:45 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TychoCelchuuu @ Jan 18 2013, 12:45 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2062785"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Um, where are you hearing about legal threats? <a href="http://www.mechlivinglegends.net/2013-01/message-from-the-founders-3/" target="_blank">This post says there were zero legal threats</a>.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Message from the founders, as in, the guys who work for Crytek and help license the engine to MWO's devs.

    If you actually find some of the forums that the current MWLL devs frequent (it's not the MWLL forums but facepunch is one), they would have gotten a C&D from Piranha if not for the founders working for Crytek.

    Also on top of that, there was already a post on the site beforehand stating the threatened legal action, but it was removed and replaced with that one. Needless to say, they aren't very happy about not being able to continue work on the mod and not being able to implement some of their ready-to-go features.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Well in that case that's super lame. Living Legends is better than MWO in almost every category. It's a real shame that it has to die so that MWO can... what? Force the tiny number of players who play MW:LL to switch over?
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  • Bloodshot12Bloodshot12 Join Date: 2012-05-25 Member: 152578Members
    edited January 2013
    Oh well, at least they are being allowed to release and patch 0.7.0, they are trying to make it as stable as possible, so for a good while MWLL will still be more feature complete, have more polish, and generally be a richer experience then MWO.

    However, if MWO delivers on the promises PGI made for it, then down the road MWO might be a better game then MWLL, but that won't be a long time, and that's assuming PGI doesn't screw people over like they already have been.
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    Rename it to Splekworrier: Living Legends. We'll get it.

    Keep the mech names, though.

    --Scythe--
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  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    Humanoid Robot Soldiers : Persisting Myth.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=2063612:date=Jan 20 2013, 04:37 AM:name=Cereal_KillR)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cereal_KillR @ Jan 20 2013, 04:37 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2063612"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Humanoid Robot Soldiers : Persisting Myth.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Give it 10 years. We've got plenty of non-humanoid robot soldiers already.
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  • CrispyCrispy Jaded GD Join Date: 2004-08-22 Member: 30793Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=2062588:date=Jan 18 2013, 01:17 PM:name=Svenpa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Svenpa @ Jan 18 2013, 01:17 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2062588"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What is it with people feeling so extremely threatened by mods that they have to order a cease and desist? I can't imagine that any mod except the absolutely largest and most widespread ones would have any significant impact on sales of a retail game. The hardcore players of a series will know of it but since when has the hardcore ever been the target audience?

    It just seems so unnecessary.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->These day's you're not competing for a player's cash. You're competing for their time.
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  • SentrySteveSentrySteve .txt Join Date: 2002-03-09 Member: 290Members, Constellation
    So did Microsoft originally have the MW license, they okay'ed MWLL, then Piranha acquired (bought?) the license. Is that correct? If that's the case, and assuming there is/would be legal pressure from Piranha then yeah... that sucks.

    Either way, I can't say I'm surprised. Two fan favorites, Nintendo and Blizzard, are very diligent and active about enforcing their franchise/brand rights. When asked why the answer is usually something similar to wanting control of the product/brand/game/whatever so they can maintain the consistent quality standards the fans expect from that franchise. Ironically, they're usually shutting down things that are popular and they're only popular because they're as good as what the developers could do.
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  • AldarisAldaris Join Date: 2002-03-25 Member: 351Members, Constellation
    Even if any of this supposed legal threats are true, Piranha are telling them to send LL's resumes in, so nothing really lost if they get a job out of their mod.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Well, one big thing is lost: Living Legends! It's a better game than MWO right now and it has stuff like combined arms that MWO will never have.
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  • AldarisAldaris Join Date: 2002-03-25 Member: 351Members, Constellation
    edited January 2013
    But the game will continue as it's not like the files can not longer be given out, not much is really last in the grand scheme of things because very few people play LL, and if MWO hire the dev team then they'll help make MWO better.
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  • nikodimus86nikodimus86 Join Date: 2012-10-22 Member: 163188Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2062588:date=Jan 18 2013, 02:17 PM:name=Svenpa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Svenpa @ Jan 18 2013, 02:17 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2062588"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What is it with people feeling so extremely threatened by mods that they have to order a cease and desist? I can't imagine that any mod except the absolutely largest and most widespread ones would have any significant impact on sales of a retail game. The hardcore players of a series will know of it but since when has the hardcore ever been the target audience?

    It just seems so unnecessary.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    If you played MWO and MWLL you would understand why they feel threatened. MWLL was way better than MWO with more maps, game types and elemental combat. None of which MWO had. I bought Crysis war just to play MWLL and see it grow. Now that I know it will not grow anymore I'm disappointed.

    Definitely not good word of mouth for MWO.
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  • SvenpaSvenpa Wait, what? Join Date: 2004-01-03 Member: 25012Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=2064823:date=Jan 22 2013, 02:35 PM:name=nikodimus86)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nikodimus86 @ Jan 22 2013, 02:35 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2064823"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If you played MWO and MWLL you would understand why they feel threatened. MWLL was way better than MWO with more maps, game types and elemental combat. None of which MWO had. I bought Crysis war just to play MWLL and see it grow. Now that I know it will not grow anymore I'm disappointed.

    Definitely not good word of mouth for MWO.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Is that really a huge issue when comparing the amount of people reached out to? A retail game use tons of advertising and whatnot to make their game known while mods have to depend on word of mouth/blog. I'm pretty sure the success of CoD or Mass Effect is due to their advertising over other games.
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  • t0fut0fu Join Date: 2012-11-13 Member: 170615Members
    They can get around this by simply changing the title to "Not MechWarrior, a XXX parody"
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  • mechanicalDRmechanicalDR Join Date: 2012-03-20 Member: 149019Members
    Very sad. MWO, in its current state, is absolutely awful compared to LL right now.

    I lost faith in MWO pretty fast during the beta and seeing the decisions they were making.
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  • VlaadVlaad Join Date: 2012-10-03 Member: 161403Members
    A bit late on the scene here but I am glad that a few people more know about MW:LL.

    PGI never sent C&D that much is true, they really didn't need to create PR fiasco, there are other means to shut down the mod without creating a lot of noise. However saying that mod ceased a development by itself is a blatant lie and test of intelligence for any person familiar with the topic.

    And no, changing the name will not help, content of the mod itself (code/art) is locked for usage in legal channels since owner company WaneringSamurai has been disbanded. Frankly IP of mechwarrior was always cursed since *spits* HarmonyGold: either left to collect dust or hogged/humped by one owner until its stops laying golden eggs.

    For people who don't know, MWLL released a 0.7.1 patch to address some issues with premature final release.

    -Added TC_Enkeladus
    -Hud optimization
    -Texture maps optimized
    -Free reticule code optimized
    -Various balance changes and fixes

    If you are a fan of stompy robot simulation (or ever wandered what a battle armor does when hit by gauss slug/LBX flak (mech sized shotgun)) I suggest giving it a go.

    http://forum.mechlivinglegends.net/ - Le Forumz


    Le Fan Trailer
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  • ellnicellnic Join Date: 2010-07-19 Member: 72559Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Ita shocking how things like this happen. It will get to the point where mods will just not be able to thrive like they used to years ago if it continues
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  • FrothybeverageFrothybeverage Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13593Members
    Vlaad wrote: »
    Frankly IP of mechwarrior was always cursed since *spits* HarmonyGold: either left to collect dust or hogged/humped by one owner until its stops laying golden eggs.

    Mechwarrior isn't the only IP that Harmony Gold has their claws on.
    Robotech/Macross is another one.

    Harmony Gold is run/owned by a greedy sumbitch.

    MECHA/MECH IS OWNED BY ME(in North America) THEREFORE EVERYTHING EVER THAT IS RELEASED IN NORTH AMERICA WITH MECHA/MECHS HAS TO PAY ME MONEY TO DO SO!
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  • GISPGISP Battle Gorge Denmark Join Date: 2004-03-20 Member: 27460Members, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Squad Five Silver, Squad Five Gold, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Gold, Subnautica Playtester, Forum staff
    edited March 2013
    @Frothybeverage NS2 has a "mechish" exo...
    Dont think he would have any luck sueing UWE.
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  • FrothybeverageFrothybeverage Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13593Members
    edited March 2013
    @GISP Yeah, but they're not similar in design to anything from Robotech/Macross.
    Even the official Battletech/Mechwarrior stuff has been threatened with legal action because their stuff "kinda looks similar to a Valkyrie or a Destroid/Battloid"
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