Realistically, what do you see happening with Fighting is Magic?

[Pumpkinbot 69]

Key word being "realistically". It's pretty unanimous that we want it back, of course, but do you see it coming back? Do you think we can really get 100,000 signatures on this petition, that, if you haven't signed, you really really really really should?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/526/847/063/allow-the-continuation-of-the-development-of-mane6s-mlp-fighting-is-magic/

(Just make sure to unsubscribe from their email listing, they'll start spamming you with emails about saving this puppy, or end world hunger in this area of the world, silly things like that. A link should appear in the offending email.)

 

Me, personally, it would be a great undertaking. Even if we had every Brony sign the petition, a hundred thousand signatures is still a lot. I do smile upon seeing people sign the petition in Russian, or from Afghanistan, which means even people from less Brony-dense parts of the world are signing it, but even then, we've only got 16,500 signatures.

But, if we do get all the signatures we need, then I think this would really put Bronies on the map, if we weren't already. I could easily see this being on the front page of trusted news sources like Yahoo, and having people say, "Wow, these weird people managed to do that much, huh? Maybe they're not the spawn of Satan after all!"

 

So I'm really nervous about getting all the signatures, but if we do manage to fill the quota, it would be glorious!

 

And hey, maybe Hasbro would even look to our petition if we managed to get only half the signatures, right?

Edited February 19, 2013 by Pumpkinbot

[Leafeon 2,702]

I really don't think the petition is going to matter. Like, at all. It's a nice thought and all, but things generally aren't that easy.

[Betez 1,734]

I don't think Hasbro is going to let this slide. Sorry, but Hasbro is a multi million dollar company, and I don't think it's going to forgive a game for using it's characters.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

I don't think Hasbro is going to let this slide. Sorry, but Hasbro is a multi million dollar company, and I don't think it's going to forgive a game for using it's characters.

This, pretty much.

 

Don't forget that the reason why there's different ponies (tho with the same names as some of the old MLPonies) in FiM in the first place cuz Hasbro had lost their own copyright to all but Spike and Applejack. I don't see them taking a copyright violation lightly, even if this time it's against them.

[Phoenix237 353]

The only thing is see that can happen to salvage the game is if they make the game, but with original characters.

This is what Luaren has offered to do for them.

If they have original characters and possibly settings then they can have less dangers of receiving another C&D order.

[Silanda 24]

I can't see it being released in its original form. Hasbro could give Mane6 a non-commercial license but the fact that it is a fighting game, and as such brings up issues with regards to content when viewed with respect to the franchise's target audience, makes that unlikely in my mind. That it appears to be of high quality could actually play against it too: it might be seen as competition for commercial projects.

 

If I were a betting man I would place my money on it being released with modified character designs and all overt references to MLP removed, but in the end I suppose it would depend on exactly how hard Hasbro's legal team wanted to keep it shut down. Fan projects generally don't have the resources to fight potential legal action, even if they would likely win.

Edited February 20, 2013 by Silanda

[Megas 27,656]

I can actually see Hasbro licensing the game while still letting it retain it's fanmade appeal, but still watch it closely, sorta like what Capcom did with Megaman X Street Fighter

[Pumpkinbot 69]

Aww, well...

Still, if your (well-placed) pessimism is stopping you from signing that petition...well, it's not gonna hurt, that's for sure! :v

 

But I'd like if they added custom characters, though, yeah. Mic the Microphone and The Living Tombstone, anypony? :3

 

(And then somepony makes a mod that changes the characters to the Mane Six, hurr hurr...)

Edited February 20, 2013 by Pumpkinbot

[~Lawful Sturdy Wing~ 522]

Fighting is Magic, in its current form, is dead. I am generally an optimistic person as well, but the way that legalities work, and the way Hasbro is lording over their IP, it's just not gonna happen. Move on folks 

[TailsIsNotAlone 3,695]

Realistically? The project is dead. It will never be officially released. The fandom will never look at Hasbro the same way again and our opinion of them will continue to sour. -_-

[Gone for good 1,593]

Actually, to be honest I would love to see Fighting is magic as a key example that there needs to be a trademark/copyright law reform. Yeah yeah Hasbro wanted to protect their property yadda yadda yadda, but where does this put this work of art that has been in the making for a year or two now? Yes, having this out here technically damages their trademark but if anything the solution isn't to get rid of the fanwork but rather to fix the law. As copyright and trademark law currently stand, at least from what I've read and from information some lawyers have gave me, any works that don't fit under fair use are damaging the property and in all honesty 90% of all fanart doesn't fit under fair use.

 

Also, while I'm on it @@Pripyat Pony,  this game in a way clearly qualifies as fair use as to be freaking honest it kind of is parody. Although it does do some trademark violation, it's not really copyright violation and to be honest since this game was meant to be free it probably wouldn't do any harm trademark wise.

Edited February 20, 2013 by Lord Bababa

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

Realistically, all that petition will actually achieve is making you feel better about the whole thing, nothing more, nothing less. Hasbro has made their decision.

[hawkflame 3,310]

Personally I don't see anything happening unless they take up Lauren faust's offer for new and original characters. It sucks but them's the breaks.

 

And yet Fallout: Equestria in book form is okay...

[AnonBrony 1,468]

Dude. Get that petition over to EQD and you will have 100,000 signatures in 10 seconds flat...

 

No that joke was not intentional and i'm actually serious. If people find out about it I'm sure many will sign it.

 

But in actuality... I'm not sure if its gonna help. It might but Hasbro is omnipotent compared to us. They still have the final say even if a million people want the game to continue. I would love for the game to continue and it would be a miracle if it did. But... i doubt it is. Right now their best hope is to have original characters and take up Faust's offer. It dyin' is sad. Really is. But hey, who knows? Miracles can still happen am i right?

Personally I don't see anything happening unless they take up Lauren faust's offer for new and original characters. It sucks but them's the breaks.

And yet Fallout: Equestria in book form is okay...

That's cuz as far has Hasbro knows, the believe the book only has original characters. Its main characters are original. And even if they did know it had a couple from the show, its so different it probably doesn't even matter. And the book hasn't been given as much attention as Fighting is Magic. As far as i know, Hasbro probably doesn't even know the book exists. And so many people have it so it doesn't even matter anyway if they get rid of it.

Edited February 20, 2013 by AnonBrony

[Freewave 1,145]

Aww, well...

Still, if your (well-placed) pessimism is stopping you from signing that petition...well, it's not gonna hurt, that's for sure! :v

 

But I'd like if they added custom characters, though, yeah. Mic the Microphone and The Living Tombstone, anypony? :3

 

(And then somepony makes a mod that changes the characters to the Mane Six, hurr hurr...)

 

Yeah I'm not sure how possible it would be to change the character designs from MLP to brony musician OC's (not a bad idea tbh, actually a really good one) as they are similar in shape. Then again Hasbro has issued a cease and desist, the music was not designed for different characters, and I'm sure they'd have to put a lt more work to change it. Still it would be cool if their were pony musicians battling it out with the theme song for each one as their battle themes. It would be a circle jerk for the big names of the community but could be the type of thing that might get Hasbro off their back and still gather fan support rather than try to do something completely non pony related....  

 

The only thing is see that can happen to salvage the game is if they make the game, but with original characters.

This is what Luaren has offered to do for them.

If they have original characters and possibly settings then they can have less dangers of receiving another C&D order.

 

Just to clarify has Lauren offered something completely non-pony related or would original pony oc's work? Again while some may argue that the Mane6 should do something new and original are we talking pony or non-pony charcters because that's a BIG part of whether our community cares or not....

[Aaramus 449]

Realistically, the game in it's current form is probably gone which is a real shame as it looked like a really solid game fighting game that just used MLP as a theme. It's just one of those things unfortunately and I think Hasbro could have dealt with this better instead of  causing us all to become sour over the issue.

 

Although this probably won't happen, I personally want to see Hasbro lead the way in using things like Fighting is Magic to their advantage. Take Mane 6 on! They're obviously a talented bunch and really Hasbro should just ask for the rights to the game and own it themselves. Therefore we get the game and their trademark is safe.

Edited February 20, 2013 by Aaramus

[Barbossa 47]

I dream that they take Lauren Faust up on the offer of original characters, and accidentally "leak" the mane 6 as additional characters for download somewhere.

 

But realistically, the mane 6 thing isn't going to happen. They say in their recent post they are willing to salvage the project and not leave, though.

[Shanks 10,816]

I think it is dead and buried, it sucks but because of the way trademark law is written Hasbro would lose their trademark on MLP games if they let it slide. The only way this is going to change is if we change the law which is possible and I think we should push for it but it is going to take a very long time to accomplish.

[GrooveBroove 680]

I have a feeling they'll be bringing it back, but just cutting any ties to MLP.

Hasbro can shut them down for being MLP related, but they can't do much if it's just "ponies" fighting.

[SBaby 660]

Realistically, they received a Cease & Desist order.  There's little they can do now.  So what I see happening is the project never sees the light of day.  It's a shame, but as I've said before, these are the risks that game developers take when they publicize the fact that they're making a game based on an established franchise.  So rather than hope for something to come out of their game (which is highly unlikely), I would instead advise people to learn from this situation.

 

My advice to anyone who wants to make a fan game is this.  Continue making it, but don't advertise it at all, until you've completed and/or uploaded it.  And stay anonymous until then.  Avoid publicity.  If you have any information about the game on any sites or on youtube, TAKE IT DOWN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!!  Only release information when your project is complete and ready to upload.  When you're ready to release information on youtube or something, don't claim to be the owner of the game.  Just say that you found it and it's kind of a neat game or something like that.

 

And whatever you do, don't release any fan games for awhile.  I'd say to wait at least six months, so this whole situation can cool down.  People that release fan games now are just going to make the situation last longer, and potentially make Hasbro redouble efforts to get the fangames removed from the Internet.  So wait awhile, and then once things cool down a bit and Hasbro is onto the next thing, then release it on one of those uploading sites.

Edited February 23, 2013 by SBaby

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

Realistically, the game in it's current form is probably gone which is a real shame as it looked like a really solid game fighting game that just used MLP as a theme. It's just one of those things unfortunately and I think Hasbro could have dealt with this better instead of  causing us all to become sour over the issue.

 

Although this probably won't happen, I personally want to see Hasbro lead the way in using things like Fighting is Magic to their advantage. Take Mane 6 on! They're obviously a talented bunch and really Hasbro should just ask for the rights to the game and own it themselves. Therefore we get the game and their trademark is safe.

I've seen that happen to other projects, it's third party and eventually taken over by the company who made what it's based on, yeah, that never ends well.

[Aaramus 449]

I've seen that happen to other projects, it's third party and eventually taken over by the company who made what it's based on, yeah, that never ends well.

 

Which is a shame really, I think a lot of companies would benefit from just having an in-house developer who you just throw projects at and let them get on with it. It's extremely unlikely to happen anyway. 

 

Obviously I think we'd all rather it didn't happen though as then the devs would be stuck with just Habsro IP's, which is something else we don't want. I was more interesting in getting a good fighting game, the MLP theme just made me more interested.

[Dowlphin 463]

Profit-oriented business is kind of a fear game. What I'm curious about is what intentions are at work. The only reasonable course would be if all involved parties tried their best to help make the game a reality. There's always a way.

Is it just my impression, or has there been VERY little official explanatory communication regarding this matter?

Basically I have no clue what is happening right now.

Lauren Faust offered to make a non-MLP-themed version of the game and character sketches were shown, but realistically, it would not at all be the same, at least not for me.

Fighting Is Magic could be a major factor for bringing bronies closer together through gaming.

A game with all MLP characteristics removed would, for me personally, have no appeal. The fighting game genre is just a tool, a vehicle. MLP and making it come alive is where the love resides.

 

I understand that Intellectual Property law is problematic and making Hasbro worry, but IF there is good-willed intention present, then you will see them do what they can, trying to find a way. If everybody works together, solutions can be found. If the Hasbro legal department or whoever gives into fear, this might manifest even more worrying consequences further along the line.

The whole bronydom has been a totally unexpected dfevelopment that definitely brings a lot of extra revenue for Hasbro, and the people at Hasbro who are pulling the strings should feel blessed that fate has given them such an unexpected pleasant gift and embrace it, be inspired by it and fight for it.

And Mane 6 and all bronies should be inspired by this very matter and realize that fighting is magic, hahaha.

 

Abraham Lincoln once said that nothing is really resolved that is not resolved justly.