Mechwarrior livng legends

Billion unamused faces to them

 

I sense skulduggery is afoot.

I wonder why oh why they would suddenly pull their ability to develop MWLL.. It couldn't possibly be because of another, floundering game that's trying to get on it's feet and may not like competition, would it?

 

Hmm

Wonder who it was who sent them a cease and desist.

''As Developers and Staff of Wandering Samurai Studios, we are, as of this point, no longer allowed to create future content based on the MechWarrior IP due to legal obligations on behalf of various rights holders. These rights holders own the Legally Binding, Non-Transferrable, Non-Commercial License Agreement with Microsoft and as of 2013 will no longer officially support the MechWarrior: Living Legends division of Wandering Samurai Studios. This is not a choice of the development team, this is a choice of the ownership and we have no control over the decision-making process. While we may not agree with the choice that must be made we respect their decision to make it''

Anyway nothing but respect to them, 6 years is a long old hall to keep the mod going, Well done to them.

 

I would say it came from Microsoft - they hold the ip, I believe

 

Microsoft does actually OWN the IP, IPG is paying them to use the license.

 

This is still utter bullshit. I may not have had tons of fun playing MWLL, but it's fucking wrong to let them get so far and then sweep the leg.

 

This is sucks camel dick.

 

I only played the game a couple times, while it is neat, I never got into it.

However, it does suck that they are having to stop development because of a licensing issue. Especially since they got the OK from Microsoft.

Also, I do not understand why... this does nothing but make people angry at PGI. Regardless of where the blame is. I would imagine that is just going to make people who were big supporters of MWLL that much more unlikely to support MWO. MWLL was never a threat to MWO or MWT.

I do not see the logic in this.

 

MWLL did seek permissions for harmony and microsoft before they released it. I was really suprised when harmony said yes to them making the unseen mechs. I feel sorry for them. they been working on this for around 8 years from the start.

Could Megamech get the letter next as MW tactics is also tied into the ppl that own the IP ?

 

Oh dear god I didn't think about that

 

Russ Bullock

President
Staff Moderators
313 posts

Posted Today, 10:04 AM
Hey Everyone,

I know you haven't seen much of me lately, was pretty busy with the holiday season and a new baby in the family. I hope you will see more of me on the forums and in game soon.

Here is what I know.

Did we send a cease and desist letter? no we did not.

At GDC 2012 I met with the mod leadership which of course happens to work at Crytek so we see each other pretty much every trade show, great guy. At this GDC in casual unscripted conversation I asked him "why are we splitting the community at this point?" We both realized that the MWLL community was small and it really wasn't competing with MWO but still each time a feature was added to MWLL that was in MWO it felt as though we were doubling up effort to restore this great brand.

I expressed that we were not trying to shut anyone down but asked him how we might meld the two communities better and even look to possibly hire on any great talent what was in that project. ( Hey MWLL guys send in those resumes ) For a long time the IP was in the wind and MWLL is one of those games that really kept MW on peoples minds so the project and the individuals have our up most respect.

We discussed this topic for a little while but again it was friendly and there was no threats of shutting the mod down just more of a sense of "Why are we doubling up efforts here?". After the show he contacted me expressing that they really wanted to finish what they started with MWLL and had a set of features that they would like to get done and asked if that was okay with PGI. They presented a very professional plan on the remaining work they wanted to complete and stated after that it would be time to stop production on MWLL. I thanked them for the plan and said that it all sounded great.

Now today's news comes and I can only assume that this last patch represents the final features from that presentation they gave me. I will reach out to my MWLL contact and confirm that this is true and have a conversation, if there are any updates we will let you know.

Again there was no combative relationship between MWO and MWLL, nor was there a cease and desist letter given.

Thanks.

 

Splitting the community? Wha?

So it's bad to have choice and variety now?

 

Ross's message seems to be at odds with the MWLL dev post.

Why would the MWLL devs say they had to release everything they had, ready or not, while Ross says they were going to finish all their current work then quit?

Not claiming a conspiracy but it seems a bit fishy to me.

 

There are a lot of contracts and rights holders involved here than just MWLL devs and PGI, who knows who said what when and where

 

Which is why I am inclined to think someone pulled the plug. Ross may not have known, but it doesn't seem like the MWLL guys are quitting on their time frame.

 

Does not add up. from what the MWLL devs are saying it was a forced upon them. Im not hating on the big man, but i dont think Ross comes across very well in that letter.

 

Yea.. I may be wrong, but it comes across to me as, PGI saying we are developing this game. You are a mod, you do not take precedence. We are paying for the license so you need to close up shop.

Unless I am wrong, that is in poor taste and bad form on PGI's part. I do not disagree that MWLL could be brought in to combine the community. But why basically ask them to shut down completely. Why not buy them out and integrate their ideas.

 

I guess it would just be easier to close them down and ask their devs to send in resumes.

oh shi.....

 

i see no reason not to take Russ's word at face value. given that the legal web around the BT license has a lot of actors/leasers and holders, seems much more likely that someone other than PGI sent a cease and desist instead of PGI openly lying to the community.

I can also see why, to someone trying to run a business, "splitting the community" could be seen as a bad thing. The fact that he openly suggests adding MWLL developers and programmers to his team only speaks to his credit. I think you guys are kind of jumping the gun to try and read more into this than there necessarily is.