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Re: Verily. One last chance for MS.
Posted By: AngelicLionheart <angeliclionheart@gmail.com>	Date: 9/10/06 8:11 p.m.
In Response To: Verily. (Saint) : Microsoft knows that Halo's fan base is enormous, possibly one of the largest : online gaming communities in existence currently. To start shutting down : fan websites right and left would only serve to alienate their customers. : Everyone would be wondering "who's gonna get the axe next?" : That's not good for business. I think it's safe to say that that has already happened. Not to websites, yet, but anything else. People are starting to wonder if they should even bother participating in any kind of "creative" way (by that, I mean, in a way that involves creating things; art, machinima, Halo 2 PC mods, whatever) in the Halo Fan Community. Why bother? The emotions that run now seem to be this: Bungie has been shown to have no control (read: "final say") over the use of *their* IP (I don't care if MS "owns" the Halo IP, MS didn't create it, thus it isn't theirs. Period. Legal and actual are two distinct, separate qualifying criterions. Anyone that would seek to argue against that point should ask themselves who *made* Halo? Bungie Studios? Or MS themselves?) Yes, sure, there is an established history of machinima being okay to create and distribute. But then, the same used to be true of mods and games like HaloGen. Who's to say that other ways of fans expressing their fanaticism creatively won't also fall as the "Halo Bubble" grows bigger and bigger? MS Legal: "What? A machinima series on the same scale of popularity as RvB? *SMACK* Denied!" Burnie, Gus and the crew: "Wait, MS, we don't want you to do that. We didn't ask you to do that." MS Legal: "Suck it. It's our IP. We're going to protect it. Shut up and like it. If you don't like it, quit making it. We don't need you. Our charts say that you aren't making us that much money anyway." Burnie, Gus, and the crew: "..." *awkward silence* "So, we either have to bend to the will of the 'owner' of the Halo IP, or we don't get to do anything with it at all. Hmm. Screw this." *RvB is no more* And so on and so forth. Halo Fan-made art, Halo Fan-made clay models, Halo Fan-made shirt designs, Halo Fan-made bumper stickers. What's to stop their progressive extinction as the corporate interest in the Halo Bubble grows just as exponentially as the bubble itself? Sure, we say that going after these people is ridiculous now, but... aren't we saying that it's ridiculous to go after HaloGen? Yes, they're within their legal rights to crush the hopes and dreams of the HaloGen team, but, that's not the point. That's the most irrelevant piece of information. It's not about what they CAN do. It's about what's more important: Making the most money (down to the last cent)? Or giving your fans the most that you can, without going in the hole? I still hold that the real conflict here is not the legal issues, but the relationship issues. It's the status of the relationship between a company and its fans. Either it is one that is conducive to fandom, or it is one that is not. A hostile environment where people fear the consequences of their own fandom-inspired creations; or a place where people frolick and enjoy the freedom and trust of the corporate parent. Such a community would latch onto and attack, not to mention boycott, any attempts by one of their own (or an outsider) to abuse the priveleges of trust granted to them by their corporate parent, such as an attempt to make money off of the Halo IP without MS's/Bungie's permission. There is already a precedent for such a community that has been set. Valve has no objections to their fans making Source-mods about Gordon Freeman's adventures (completely fictional mods like "Mistake of Pythagoras"). Valve even goes so far as to facilitate the distribution of these fan-made creations through their Steam application. They also, to my knowledge, don't go after people making mods to other games where they mention or use characters or other items from the Half-Life IP. Do you think that Valve is hurting for money? They aren't. The freedom that they have granted to their fans has in no way cost them something that they were not willing to give. And they are better off for it. There is still time for MS to set a precedent. Unlikely, perhaps, but we only judge it to be unlikely due to the precedents that we know now. Change, by its very nature, is unprecedented. Come on, MS. Call off your dogs and let your fans and the fans of Bungie Studios show you how much we appreciate the things that you do for us. It is only now that we call you hated. Your efforts have the power to make us call you friend. Choose.

Message Index

Just awful, Halogen	Dracon1k	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, Halogen	Dracon1k	9/8/06 10:29 p.m.
*long inhale*	NartFOpc	9/8/06 10:32 p.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	eiii	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 on	Silent Hunter	9/9/06 11:45 a.m.
Re: Something to chew on	BlueTyphoid	9/9/06 9:20 p.m.
Cherished Martyrs	AngelicLionheart	9/8/06 11:31 p.m.
Re: Cherished Martyrs	Dispraiser	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 Martyrs	Hawaiian 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 exactly	Jillybean	9/9/06 5:32 p.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	Chryton	9/9/06 3:00 a.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	Frost	9/9/06 3:43 a.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	Slimby	9/9/06 4:10 a.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	Marcus117	9/9/06 6:43 a.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	Sc4Freak (From Halogen)	9/9/06 7:39 a.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	swelnet	9/9/06 8:07 a.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	vlad3163	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 say	AngelicLionheart	9/9/06 9:43 a.m.
Re: Request for Comment from Bungie...	SketchFactor	9/9/06 5:23 p.m.
Rumour Debunking	58	9/9/06 12:26 p.m.
Re: Rumour Debunking	Document	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 = Thieves	Frost	9/9/06 2:28 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Shishka	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 said	Bry	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 = Thieves	Larrion	9/28/06 2:31 a.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Vlad3163	9/28/06 8:46 a.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Recon#54	9/9/06 2:52 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	vlad3163	9/9/06 3:06 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Recon#54	9/9/06 3:14 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	SketchFactor	9/9/06 5:15 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	WhiteRaBbit	9/9/06 7:24 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Bry	9/9/06 7:47 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Frost	9/9/06 3:33 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Recon#54	9/9/06 3:56 p.m.
Leaving the keys in	Frost	9/9/06 4:39 p.m.
Re: Leaving the keys in	RocketMoose	9/9/06 4:42 p.m.
Re: Leaving the keys in	Recon#54	9/9/06 5:20 p.m.
Re: Leaving the keys in	SketchFactor	9/9/06 5:22 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Louis 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 = Thieves	Major Silva	9/9/06 8:38 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Louis Wu	9/10/06 9:17 a.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Major Silva	9/10/06 9:30 a.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Sep7imus [subnova]	9/10/06 3:50 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Narcogen	9/9/06 10:57 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Louis Wu	9/10/06 9:29 a.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Jillybean	9/10/06 10:12 a.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	UrsusArctos	9/10/06 10:26 a.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	9/10/06 11:35 a.m.
Getting a little OT	Jillybean	9/10/06 12:37 p.m.
Re: Getting a little OT	UrsusArctos	9/11/06 8:11 a.m.
Question	Endbringer	9/10/06 12:05 p.m.
Re: Question	Bry	9/10/06 1:27 p.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	KP	9/10/06 3:35 a.m.
Re: Halogen = Thieves	Recon#54	9/10/06 9:32 a.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	BJB	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, Halogen	X42-C1	9/9/06 6:53 p.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen *NM*	DP	9/9/06 9:12 p.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	BlueTyphoid	9/9/06 9:35 p.m.
The Future	SomethingClever	9/10/06 12:44 a.m.
Query	Walshicus	9/10/06 7:09 a.m.
Re: Query	Louis Wu	9/10/06 9:57 a.m.
Re: Query	Walshicus	9/10/06 10:58 a.m.
crap	Miguel Chavez	9/10/06 11:17 a.m.
Re: Query	Miguel Chavez	9/10/06 11:15 a.m.
Re: Query	Recon#54	9/10/06 11:27 a.m.
Re: Query	Narcogen	9/10/06 11:25 p.m.
Re: Query	AngelicLionheart	9/10/06 7:21 p.m.
Re: The Future	Louis Wu	9/10/06 9:50 a.m.
Re: The Future	Narcogen	9/10/06 10:11 a.m.
Re: The Future	SomethingClever	9/10/06 1:36 p.m.
Re: The Future	Louis Wu	9/10/06 2:59 p.m.
Re: The Future	Blck	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-mail	Slith	9/11/06 9:45 a.m.
Re: The Future	SomethingClever	9/10/06 4:18 p.m.
Re: The Future	Sep7imus [subnova]	9/10/06 4:31 p.m.
Re: The Future	SomethingClever	9/10/06 4:41 p.m.
Re: The Future	Sep7imus [subnova]	9/10/06 4:46 p.m.
Re: The Future	Recon#54	9/10/06 4:54 p.m.
Re: The Future	Sep7imus [subnova]	9/10/06 4:57 p.m.
Re: The Future	Saint	9/10/06 6:49 p.m.
Re: Just awful, Halogen	Masta Chef	9/10/06 9:10 p.m.