The Big Bad Wolf SquareEnix puts a stop to fan made ROMs.

[Channy]

Chrono Compendium possibly the most well known Chrono Cross/Trigger site on the nets, was knee deep in developments for a fan made ROM entitled Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes, a ROM modifation to famous Chrono Trigger, a new game with neew directions for people to enjoy and continue their favourite adventure. But once Square found out about possible distribution of a fan made game, they put a stop to it immediately and issued a Cease and Desist Letter ordering them to put a stop to all the roms and destroy all know copies/information regarding the roms (including another subproject Chrono Trigger: Prophet's Guile)... otherwise they'd be sued.

ZeaLitY of the ChronoCompendium forums had this to say

We do not accept the validity of Square Enix's claims, nor the legal rationale underpinning their position. Nonetheless, we are complying with their demands so as to avoid the expenses and burdens of litigation, because, frankly, they can afford a frivolous lawsuit more than we can.

We thank all those who have been involved in the affected projects for their spirited energy over the years, and we look forward to the day when non-profit, fan-made projects will be properly recognized as a fan-base boon and marketing opportunity tool, rather than silenced as innocent victims of prohibitively interpreted copyright law.

Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes began as a fanmade project back in 2004, and development was made throughout the whole community of ChronoCompendium. The game was so far along, that days before they received the letter they were already setting up for Beta testing.

The game was set after the original's adventures, set to follow as a sequel, featuring the original cast as they had to save the world from a new menis, Zeal. The game featured over 35 hours of gameplay, 10 different endings, 23 chapters, and was 98% completed, when Square shut them down. 98%!!! The game was set to release on May 31st, but not for a profit. Fans and project managers alike were frustrated and fled the forums, infuriated to see years of work go down the drain. Others, remain hopeful and optimistic, grasping at straws like "Maybe this means they're making a sequel"

Personally, I see no other Chrono works for SE, and find that they're merely breaking down on the little man.

 

[Max Payne]

There wasn't a thread about this already? I thought someone had mentioned it already.

Anyway, yeah it was bollocks.

 

[Channy]

Was there? I haven't seen one.

 

[Munatik]

Aww, sad. They did the same thing to Chrono Resurrection, a fan-made cgi film.

Chrono seems to be pretty much dead now at this point. I've heard Squeenix has reserved a title called Chrono Break, but fuck knows if they'll ever get around to reviving the franchise in our lifetimes.

BTW if you haven't played it, I recommend Radical Dreamers if you want moar Chrono. Text adventures aren't my usual cup of tea, but RD absolutely rawked my sawks.

 

[Max Payne]

Aww, sad. They did the same thing to Chrono Resurrection, a fan-made cgi film.

Chrono seems to be pretty much dead now at this point. I've heard Squeenix has reserved a title called Chrono Break, but fuck knows if they'll ever get around to reviving the franchise in our lifetimes.

BTW if you haven't played it, I recommend Radical Dreamers if you want moar Chrono. Text adventures aren't my usual cup of tea, but RD absolutely rawked my sawks.

That was like six fucking years ago, and they still haven't done a damn thing with it.

 

[Munatik]

That was like six fucking years ago, and they still haven't done a damn thing with it.

It's been that long already? Christ.

 

[Max Payne]

Wait, make that fucking 8 years. It was registered in 2001.

And get this, they dropped it.

 

[Channy]

Radical Dreamers is finished? I thought that they had to take that down as well too. =/

But yeah they had to shut down entire boards which could lead to any/all info on CE, including other projects like

* Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes
* Chrono Trigger: Prophet's Guile
* Retranslation of Chrono Trigger
* Chrono Trigger Re-amped
* Chrono Trigger Rebirth
* Chrono Trigger Azala Style

So SE registered a name they never used? Ghey =/

 

[Ⓐaron]

Square Enix is honestly pissing me off so much with this shit that I'm beginning to consider never buying any of their stuff again.

 

[Munatik]

God this is all kinds of fail. Very poorly played, SE.

 

[Channy]

With the way some of their recent games have been lately, it wouldn't be a terrible loss.

 

[Max Payne]

It's funny how they're so threatened by these little fan projects, but don't do anything with the ip.

 

[Channy]

It's kinda sad isn't it? =/ I found a torrent for a demo patch of the game but I cba with downloading roms and the original in the first place..

 

[Cthulhu]

I wouldn't know why that fansite agrees to the cease & desist thingy. They should pull a TPB and go head-on with 'em, or simply move the development and release of the game to the underground scene - discuss it on random free forums, release it through torrent networks, etcetera. Now it seems they're just giving up after five years of work and being fail in general.

Pussies.

 

[I Am Not Me]

I wouldn't know why that fansite agrees to the cease & desist thingy. They should pull a TPB and go head-on with 'em, or simply move the development and release of the game to the underground scene - discuss it on random free forums, release it through torrent networks, etcetera. Now it seems they're just giving up after five years of work and being fail in general.

Pussies.

I second this x4687368923732987

I mean, really. All that hard work? I'll hide them all in my house if I have to. They shouldn't be afraid of them, I mean, it's not exactly illegal to make fanworks. Money isn't what makes justice either. So what if SE has the money? They're still fans who aren't making money off their hard work, so I don't see how they should just agree with ceasing and desisting. SE should then start filing lawsuits for fanfic writers and fanartists.

And maybe those 'fake proofz' makers, who alter FFVII completely. Meaning, everyone who aren't Clackers.

Also, those things look uber-awesome. Sad, all them awesome things going to waste





...could they have been made SE employees though?

 

[NoenGaruth]

Ha....ha....ha....oh man I know this topic all too well. Aside from the Chrono's I've seen them shut down FF7 based fan projects, most notable was when some people were trying to remake part of the story (from infiltrating shinra tower to the highway escape) for Jedi Academy, and surely enough Square sent them a C&D, and I believe they were keeping an eye on one of the modelers of the project since he was making a Sephiroth player model for JA later on and they inquired if that was for another FF7 fan game (tho it wasnt so they backed off).

Anyways as many of you know I've been working on a 3d Model of Midgar that I started for no apparent reason, and I've gotten a lot of people contacting me wanting to use it in their FF7 fanremake/spinoff/MMORPG (yes even that) and I tell them all the same thing - If they make these games Square WILL come after them. although I'll add most of these people sound like they're 13 so their games would fail anyways (No seriously, I had one guy literialy begging me for my model, he even went to the point of saying he would devote his life to me in exchange for it 0_0. That was the part when i knew to get the fuck out of there)

Kinda sucks cause when I finaly finish that damn model I really wanted a means for other to enjoy it too, however I certainly don't want to incur Square's wrath so my options are limited. I'm really hoping my idea of making it a multiplayer map for Crysis will go unoticed since that Jedi Academy one has been fine....

In short Square is serious busniess.

 

[Cthulhu]

Square can gtfo, imho. Just release it in one form of another so it's freely distributable (if you're up for that) like maps, which will be put up on a number of websites in an instant.

 

[NoenGaruth]

Yeah a map would be the way to go (sure as hell ain't distributing the source model), then with some FF7 player models people could just RP their own game or something (or at least make some kick ass game mode - Avalanche vs Shinra: Bomb the Mako reactor!)

 

[Alex]

I'm not shocked by this bullshit from Square one bit.

 

[Channy]

I wouldn't know why that fansite agrees to the cease & desist thingy. They should pull a TPB and go head-on with 'em, or simply move the development and release of the game to the underground scene - discuss it on random free forums, release it through torrent networks, etcetera. Now it seems they're just giving up after five years of work and being fail in general.

Pussies.

I think since they already received the letter and SE's obviously been watching them, it would be easy enough to catch them.. if they were to send our notices saying they're migrating to such an such forum or the game will be torrentable at this site.. I think even if the forum admins weren't responsible, SE would still come after them for not destroying all the copies when asked.

 

[Cthulhu]

I think since they already received the letter and SE's obviously been watching them, it would be easy enough to catch them.. if they were to send our notices saying they're migrating to such an such forum or the game will be torrentable at this site.. I think even if the forum admins weren't responsible, SE would still come after them for not destroying all the copies when asked.

They could just claim their stuff was 'stolen' before they had a chance to destroy it or something, or that it 'leaked' and that their e-mails to TPB were met with ridicule.

 

[Channy]

Maybe. As far as I understand from their site, there's still some people out there who have the beta testing who haven't destroyed it.

 

[Max Payne]

They should have just did it anyway. They weren't making any bloody money, selling anything, and it was not about to turn into some huge event that got more attention than SE's games. They should send cease and desist letters to everyone that does any kind of fanwork at all.

Fuck them and stupid shit.

At least Valve supports mods for their games.

 

[Cthulhu]

I've yet to see someone getting sued over shit like this, tbh. I'd like to see someone say 'no u' and refuse the cease & desist stuff.

Which, for the record, is what I plan on doing if they come knocking at our e-door.

 

[Channy]

I've yet to see someone getting sued over shit like this, tbh. I'd like to see someone say 'no u' and refuse the cease & desist stuff.

Which, for the record, is what I plan on doing if they come knocking at our e-door.

I don't know how they could get sued seeing as it was a non-profit project. But they didn't wanna take the chances. =/

What could they sue us for?