this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2024
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Link: https://nitter.net/TeamFortressS2/status/1745157814295617767

Valve is generally supportive of mods (hell, a Portal 2 mod was just released a few days ago) but it seems like recreating Team Fortress 2 was pushing it... Really sad, honestly. I really hope Valve would just strike a deal with these devs and make it official rather than throw away the insane amount of effort they put into re-building TF2.

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[–] Stovetop@lemmy.world 17 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (4 children)

Makes me wonder where their line is between this and Black Mesa, though.

[–] gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 58 points 9 months ago

Black Mesa is a remake of a single player game that Valve wasn't planning on remaking any time soon, more profitable to make it official and take a cut

TF2 actively still makes them sht tons of money, no profit in splitting the fan base

[–] Vespair@lemm.ee 15 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Imo, Trademark. Black Mesa is a concept from Half-Life, but "Black Mesa" to the best of my knowledge wasn't a registered trademark. "Team Fortress/Team Fortress 2" are registered trademarks however, and that significantly changes the value and functionality of the specific terms.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That would only allow them the name, not the content. They always had to get Valve's permission.

[–] Vespair@lemm.ee 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yes, but it's easier to give permission to use concepts that don't infringe on trademark than it is to give permission on something that could be argued in court as muddying a trademark.

I know they require permission either way, but what permission they're actually asking for changes based on what terminology they use

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Well my point is that since the content is directly related, it actually doesn't matter what they called it. It would've been exactly the same amount of infringement if they called it, "happy fun times at the science lab".

The only differnce is it would've been less obvious to identify.

[–] Vespair@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I get your point, my point is the infringement would be less egregious without trademark and thus easier for Valve to turn a blind eye to, or even potentially officially endorse via some potential deal à la Black Mesa.

But hey, I am fully willing to concede that I am just a layman with enormous distance from this topic and no specific expertise or insider knowledge, so the possibility of me being wrong is high

[–] yamanii@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

But we just got Portal Revolution some days ago, on steam.

[–] Mountaineer@aussie.zone 1 points 9 months ago

I'd guess the fine line is "Valve intend to earn money from something official in the future"