quote:
Originally posted by ColdSteel:
This is a good chance to ask some questions on this topic that have been bugging me.
I'm a programmer so the very first thing I wanted to mess with when I started to create my own race was the data files and the race AI. I was hoping that there would be some generic shipsets available out there for download that I could use for my new race. To my dismay I discovered that no one was making any shipsets for that purpose. They all come with some race AI files and a big disclaimer saying no one can use the shipsets without the specific permission of the author. So, not having much recourse, I've learned how to use Moray and am busy now building my own shipset, which is a heckova lot of work, by the way.
So, one question is why isn't anyone building any generic shipsets without the race AI for those in the community who can't build their own shipsets but can modify data files like a pro?
Also, why isn't it enough to give credit to the author of a shipset in a text file that you package with your mod rather than seeking out specific permission. I tried that and I never even got a response back. In every other gaming community that I've ever been a part of this has been the accepted practice. Why is SE4 different?
I think you're reading too much into the copyright notices. Would you seriously expect some graphics designer to sue you because he found out you were using his shipset in a multi-player game (i.e. you sent copies of HIS files to other people so they could see your ships!? Horrors!!
) This notice is to keep some profiteering &^#$*^$ from slapping all these ship sets on a CD and charging $19.95 for it. I would be really surprised if anyone would care that you wrote custom AI files for their ship set. Just distribute the files seperately and include a notice "I use these AI files with the XXX shiptset created by Joe Schmoe" and you'll be fine.