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Bummer.
Posted By: SketchFactor <brian@bungie.com>Date: 9/9/06 4:54 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Halogen = Thieves (Shishka)

For what it's worth I'm going to chime in here as I've spent the better part of 4+ years at Bungie with one of my main focuses being the fans and our community (which is a legacy that goes back well before my time). I'm also the one who unfortunately had to break the news to the Halogen team. (just as I've had to do with other fan mod projects in recent months)

I'm not a lawyer, and I would go so far as to guess that most, if not all, of you are also not lawyers. I'm not going to get into all the legitimate issues involved with intellectual property, rights and trademarks, etc.. I will add though, that whether or not something is "for profit" or not is irrelevant. That is a very common misconception, one that admittedly even I had until the legal folks in Redmond educated me to the contrary.

It saddens me that the Halogen team has been asked to stop working on this project, which we all know has made a lot of progress and shows off some great talent by a very devoted group of individuals. If anything I only wish this had happened sooner rather than so far into the project's development so as not to undo so much effort and work.

At the end of the day, Microsoft owns Halo and they are operating a business that involves a billion dollar franchise that has gotten bigger and broader than ever, especially in light of high profile movie deals and growing licensed products. As the holder of the IP, they have to maintain control over all aspects of the franchise and protect their interests and interests of their partners. If any of us were in the same situation, wouldn't we also seek to protect our creative and monetary investments? You don't have to agree, all I ask is that for a minute we all remove ourselves from the emotional side and just agree that while it sucks, it's completely understandable.

I hope that Halogen can resurface again without the Halo ties and stand on its own as a great sci-fi RTS mod, which I know it can. Half of the assets in the project aren't even direct correllations to the Halo universe other than a name or a description - they are original creations inspired by pieces of Halo fiction. While it's only a small concession, it seems like the core of this project can live on with some creative adjustments.

Rage if you will, hate if you must... but I would ask that you all please not lose sight of the relationship Bungie Studios itself has always had with you and our community as a whole. The fact that Dispraiser and I were able to work this out ourselves befoer any actual lawyers got involved is a testament to the class and respect that our community has always shown. Bungie Studios is about making great games, telling great stories and we aren't the ones who call the shots when it comes to the overall IP itself. That said, I do my best to preserve the integrity of our community and our relationships and there are other battles that have been fought and won but unfortunately it won't always be the case.

In closing, I'd just like to reiterate my utmost respect for the Halogen team for not only their hardwork and dedication but their class and honor in handling this unfortunate turn of events. I look forward to seeing what comes next from these talented artists, programmers and designers.


Message Index




Replies:

Just awful, HalogenDracon1k 9/8/06 10:15 p.m.
     That sucks. Hard,Ename Nep 9/8/06 10:18 p.m.
     After all that work? Dude. That sucks. *NM*CowOnTheNews 9/8/06 10:18 p.m.
     Re: Just awful, HalogenDracon1k 9/8/06 10:29 p.m.
           *long inhale*NartFOpc 9/8/06 10:32 p.m.
     Re: Just awful, Halogeneiii 9/8/06 10:55 p.m.
     Wait a second...Saint 9/8/06 10:58 p.m.
           Re: Wait a second...Socrates 9/8/06 11:07 p.m.
                 Re: Wait a second...Usul 9/9/06 10:24 a.m.
                       Something to chew onSilent Hunter 9/9/06 11:45 a.m.
                             Re: Something to chew onBlueTyphoid 9/9/06 9:20 p.m.
     Cherished MartyrsAngelicLionheart 9/8/06 11:31 p.m.
           Re: Cherished MartyrsDispraiser 9/8/06 11:56 p.m.
           Can someone enlighten me?serpx 9/9/06 12:36 a.m.
                 Re: Can someone enlighten me?Dracon1k 9/9/06 2:24 a.m.
                       Re: Can someone enlighten me?HipboyScott 9/9/06 3:12 a.m.
                       Re: Can someone enlighten me?Silent Hunter 9/9/06 7:13 a.m.
                       That's Probably Exactly It...Mintz 9/9/06 1:46 p.m.
           Re: Cherished MartyrsHawaiian Pig 9/9/06 3:08 a.m.
     The irony is...Frost 9/9/06 12:38 a.m.
           Re: The irony is...Cocopjojo 9/9/06 12:49 a.m.
                 Bungie is Microsoft *NM*Pinkuh 9/9/06 2:49 a.m.
                       But are they?HipboyScott 9/9/06 3:32 a.m.
                             Re: But are they?BlueTyphoid 9/9/06 9:30 p.m.
                       Not exactlyJillybean 9/9/06 5:32 p.m.
     Re: Just awful, HalogenChryton 9/9/06 3:00 a.m.
           Re: Just awful, HalogenFrost 9/9/06 3:43 a.m.
     Re: Just awful, HalogenSlimby 9/9/06 4:10 a.m.
           Re: Just awful, HalogenMarcus117 9/9/06 6:43 a.m.
     Re: Just awful, HalogenSc4Freak (From Halogen) 9/9/06 7:39 a.m.
     Re: Just awful, Halogenswelnet 9/9/06 8:07 a.m.
           Re: Just awful, Halogenvlad3163 9/9/06 2:59 p.m.
     Request for Comment from Bungie...Socrates 9/9/06 9:20 a.m.
           Re: Request for Comment from Bungie...Silent Hunter 9/9/06 9:41 a.m.
           What Bungie would sayAngelicLionheart 9/9/06 9:43 a.m.
           Re: Request for Comment from Bungie...SketchFactor 9/9/06 5:23 p.m.
     Rumour Debunking58 9/9/06 12:26 p.m.
           Re: Rumour DebunkingDocument 10/2/06 10:13 p.m.
     So...what's actually stopping you?AfroRyan 9/9/06 12:38 p.m.
           Re: So...what's actually stopping you?AfroRyan 9/9/06 12:46 p.m.
                 Re: So...what's actually stopping you?Sep7imus [subnova] 9/9/06 1:07 p.m.
           Re: So...what's actually stopping you?Shishka 9/9/06 1:57 p.m.
                 Simple solution!Saint 9/9/06 3:53 p.m.
                 Re: So...what's actually stopping you?AfroRyan 9/9/06 6:45 p.m.
                       WTF is wrong with you? *NM*Usul 9/10/06 6:36 p.m.
                             WTF is wrong with YOU!?AfroRyan 9/10/06 11:08 p.m.
                                   Re: WTF is wrong with YOU!?Louis Wu 9/11/06 4:49 a.m.
                                   Re: WTF is wrong with YOU!?Usul 9/11/06 6:43 p.m.
                 Halo UT mod still active!?Mikemc 9/18/06 7:27 p.m.
           Re: So...what's actually stopping you?Peptuck 9/9/06 3:01 p.m.
     Halogen = ThievesFrost 9/9/06 2:28 p.m.
           Re: Halogen = ThievesShishka 9/9/06 2:31 p.m.
                 Bummer.SketchFactor 9/9/06 4:54 p.m.
                       Re: Bummer.Frost 9/9/06 5:46 p.m.
                       What more could be saidBry 9/9/06 6:36 p.m.
                       After three years.Michael Finn 9/11/06 4:08 p.m.
                             Re: After three years.Sep7imus [subnova] 9/11/06 8:25 p.m.
                                   Re: After three years.Black Guard 9/12/06 6:27 a.m.
                                         Re: After three years.MinorThreat 9/12/06 5:33 p.m.
                             Re: After three years.MinorThreat 9/11/06 10:01 p.m.
                                   Re: After three years.Bry 9/12/06 5:08 a.m.
                 Re: Halogen = ThievesLarrion 9/28/06 2:31 a.m.
                       Re: Halogen = ThievesVlad3163 9/28/06 8:46 a.m.
           Re: Halogen = ThievesRecon#54 9/9/06 2:52 p.m.
                 Re: Halogen = Thievesvlad3163 9/9/06 3:06 p.m.
                       Re: Halogen = ThievesRecon#54 9/9/06 3:14 p.m.
                       Re: Halogen = ThievesSketchFactor 9/9/06 5:15 p.m.
                             Re: Halogen = ThievesWhiteRaBbit 9/9/06 7:24 p.m.
                                   Re: Halogen = ThievesBry 9/9/06 7:47 p.m.
                 Re: Halogen = ThievesFrost 9/9/06 3:33 p.m.
                       Re: Halogen = ThievesRecon#54 9/9/06 3:56 p.m.
                             Leaving the keys inFrost 9/9/06 4:39 p.m.
                                   Re: Leaving the keys inRocketMoose 9/9/06 4:42 p.m.
                                   Re: Leaving the keys inRecon#54 9/9/06 5:20 p.m.
                                   Re: Leaving the keys inSketchFactor 9/9/06 5:22 p.m.
                             Re: Halogen = ThievesLouis Wu 9/9/06 4:51 p.m.
                                   So Bungie isn't behind this?jdogmoney 9/9/06 5:06 p.m.
                                         Re: So Bungie isn't behind this?Jillybean 9/9/06 5:35 p.m.
                                               Re: So Bungie isn't behind this?Stephen L. (SoundEffect) 9/9/06 7:21 p.m.
                                   Re: Halogen = ThievesMajor Silva 9/9/06 8:38 p.m.
                                         Re: Halogen = ThievesLouis Wu 9/10/06 9:17 a.m.
                                               Re: Halogen = ThievesMajor Silva 9/10/06 9:30 a.m.
                                                     Re: Halogen = ThievesSep7imus [subnova] 9/10/06 3:50 p.m.
                                   Re: Halogen = ThievesNarcogen 9/9/06 10:57 p.m.
                                         Re: Halogen = ThievesLouis Wu 9/10/06 9:29 a.m.
                                               Re: Halogen = ThievesJillybean 9/10/06 10:12 a.m.
                                                     Re: Halogen = ThievesUrsusArctos 9/10/06 10:26 a.m.
                                                           Re: Halogen = ThievesStephen L. (SoundEffect) 9/10/06 11:35 a.m.
                                                           Getting a little OTJillybean 9/10/06 12:37 p.m.
                                                                 Re: Getting a little OTUrsusArctos 9/11/06 8:11 a.m.
                                         QuestionEndbringer 9/10/06 12:05 p.m.
                                               Re: QuestionBry 9/10/06 1:27 p.m.
           Re: Halogen = ThievesKP 9/10/06 3:35 a.m.
                 Re: Halogen = ThievesRecon#54 9/10/06 9:32 a.m.
     Re: Just awful, HalogenBJB 9/9/06 4:13 p.m.
     Bungie must making a Halo RTS next.DarkSim 9/9/06 4:53 p.m.
           Re: Bungie must making a Halo RTS next.Shishka 9/9/06 7:28 p.m.
                 Re: Bungie must making a Halo RTS next.jdogmoney 9/9/06 7:40 p.m.
                 Re: Bungie must making a Halo RTS next.Recon#54 9/9/06 7:58 p.m.
     Re: Just awful, HalogenX42-C1 9/9/06 6:53 p.m.
     Re: Just awful, Halogen *NM*DP 9/9/06 9:12 p.m.
     Re: Just awful, HalogenBlueTyphoid 9/9/06 9:35 p.m.
     The FutureSomethingClever 9/10/06 12:44 a.m.
           QueryWalshicus 9/10/06 7:09 a.m.
                 Re: QueryLouis Wu 9/10/06 9:57 a.m.
                       Re: QueryWalshicus 9/10/06 10:58 a.m.
                             crapMiguel Chavez 9/10/06 11:17 a.m.
                       Re: QueryMiguel Chavez 9/10/06 11:15 a.m.
                             Re: QueryRecon#54 9/10/06 11:27 a.m.
                                   Re: QueryNarcogen 9/10/06 11:25 p.m.
                             Re: QueryAngelicLionheart 9/10/06 7:21 p.m.
           Re: The FutureLouis Wu 9/10/06 9:50 a.m.
                 Re: The FutureNarcogen 9/10/06 10:11 a.m.
                 Re: The FutureSomethingClever 9/10/06 1:36 p.m.
                       Re: The FutureLouis Wu 9/10/06 2:59 p.m.
                             Re: The FutureBlck 9/10/06 3:04 p.m.
                                   It certainly makes you think twice, doesn't it...BJB 9/10/06 3:18 p.m.
                             Verily.Saint 9/10/06 3:10 p.m.
                                   Re: Verily. One last chance for MS.AngelicLionheart 9/10/06 8:11 p.m.
                                         Re: Verily. One last chance for MS.Recon#54 9/10/06 8:58 p.m.
                                               Re: Verily. One last chance for MS.AngelicLionheart 9/10/06 10:27 p.m.
                                                     Re: Verily. One last chance for MS.Recon#54 9/10/06 11:00 p.m.
                                                           Re: Verily. One last chance for MS.AngelicLionheart 9/10/06 11:54 p.m.
                                         Microsfot E-mailSlith 9/11/06 9:45 a.m.
                             Re: The FutureSomethingClever 9/10/06 4:18 p.m.
                                   Re: The FutureSep7imus [subnova] 9/10/06 4:31 p.m.
                                         Re: The FutureSomethingClever 9/10/06 4:41 p.m.
                                               Re: The FutureSep7imus [subnova] 9/10/06 4:46 p.m.
                                                     Re: The FutureRecon#54 9/10/06 4:54 p.m.
                                                           Re: The FutureSep7imus [subnova] 9/10/06 4:57 p.m.
                                                                 Re: The FutureSaint 9/10/06 6:49 p.m.
     Re: Just awful, HalogenMasta Chef 9/10/06 9:10 p.m.



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