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WTF...oh man that just ain't right....

OK, some of you know I like the game "TreadMarks"

well, LDA, the makers of TM, tried getting a PS2 version out there, with the help of the Austrailian company "Tantaulus"

Well...they got screwed over, big time. Now Tantaulus denys ever even HEARING of TM.

and now...they have a new game coming out for XBox and PS2..."Metal Shell"

It LOOKS exactly like tread marks with some aditional features (Shadows, and additional buildings) Shoot, even the skyboxes look the same!

That just is wrong....I hope LDA sues the crud out of them. LDA is a good family company that has worked hard and made some excellent programs (They also like B5) To rip them off like this...gah.

see for yourself

[url]http://www.treadmarks.com/screenshots.html[/url]

[url]http://www.metal-shell.com/screenshots.html[/url]

the chances that Tantaulus would stop working on TM and wind up making a game that LOOKS 100% like treadmarks just seems a little tooo...unlikely.

Comments

  • Not to advocate idea theft or anything, but the second link has way better screenshots. But that is pretty transparent, and just... wrong. I've had things I've written/posted online used by other people who claimed it was original, and it's frustrating how common this kind of thing is. Ideas are too hard to keep... I should give up my aspirations of writing, and become a pig farmer. then I could [i]shoot[/i] anyone who tried to steal my property.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    The worst thing about this is that there probably isn't much they can do about it.
  • Thats what I'm worried about. LDA is a VERY small company...and they do GREAT stuff ([url]www.longbowdigitalarts.com[/url])


    LDA did alot of work for the PS2 version, including adding all those real time shadows and moving tank treads (Thus allowing wheels)

    Basically, Tantaulus did what I did with my HQ pack, and made higher res textures for everything. (Tread Marks used 64x64 to 256x256 res textures, but supports well...no less then 1024x1024. didn't try 2048x2048)

    The thing is, a single person could do what Tantaulus did. TreadMarks is insanely easy to mod. new weapons can be made if you can use notepad, new tanks if you know how to model...and new maps if you understand how heightmaps work...

    gah...
  • shadow boxershadow boxer The Finger Painter & Master Ranter
    IP is perhaps the single most difficult thing to protect. Trademarks, regd designs, patents... all useless without a large cage full of rabid lawyers...

    and unfortunately lawyers dont like working for doggy kibble...

    my only suggestion is to talk to another games company based here in AU...

    [url]www.torusgames.com[/url]

    if its just a conversion job... talk to them and they may be interested... if they go ahead.. they can challenge Tanalus in the Aussie courts or atleast threaten them which can sometimes be enough.

    I have friends in Torus, but I cant 'lever' directly.. someone 'legit' needs to make an approach first...
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    well, that depends.. if they (LDA) DO have the sourcecode for the engine, and it's practically identical to the MetalShells code, the case should be pretty clear.
  • [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by RubberEagle [/i]
    [B]well, that depends.. if they (LDA) DO have the sourcecode for the engine, and it's practically identical to the MetalShells code, the case should be pretty clear. [/B][/QUOTE]

    well ya, they made the game, of course they have the sourcecode.


    and bah...

    [b]" There is nothing whatsoever of 'Tread Marks' in 'Metal Shell."[/b]
    - Tom Crago, CEO Tantalus Software

    [img]http://dmf.kicks-ass.net/images/treadshell.jpg[/img]

    Looks like something of TM to me...Just TM with the features of TM2....
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    I merely meant the updated sourcecode. They could have sent a team to tantalus that programmed there, thus all the enhanced sourcecode beein on tantalus pcs.

    But like i said, with the code it should be rather easy to win any legal battle, right?
  • oh, they might. but I know Tantaulus REALLY screwed the over last year. (Or was it earlier this year...)
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