I like how my other thread just disappeared, so I'm gonna make a new one.

On 8 September 2006, Microsoft shut down Halogen.

 What is Halogen, you ask?  Halogen was a total conversion modification for the Real Time Strategy game Command and Conquer Generals.  It was in development for three years and nearing a release when Microsoft sent a cease and desist letter less than three weeks ago.

 Today, Halogen the mod no longer exists.

At the time, no one understood why Microsoft would do such a thing.  Of course they were within their rights to do so, but why would you shut down such a creative project run by Halo fans?

 The answer has now become clear, with the public announcement of Halo Wars.   Apparently, Microsoft wanted Halogen shut down because it was afraid of losing profits to a user made mod for a four year old game on a different platform.  That's right.  There is no way that Halogen, a mod for a PC Game could have affected sales for a game made for XBox 360.

 But Microsoft doesn't care about that.  They only care about $$$.

 What is the point of this thread you ask?  Why should you hear out this rant?

Well, I'm not trying to get you to boycott this game.  From what I understand, Bungie played no part in the shutdown of Halogen; it would be wrong to scorn them for something they did not do.

I only want  an answer from Microsoft.  And no, I'm not going to believe the "the Halogen shutdown had nothing to do with the fact Halo Wars is being developed" line.  Sure, you can say it's due to violation of your intellectual property, but funny enough, no action has been taken against RvB or that 2d sidescroller game.  (I don't mean to rag on them or anything, just trying to make a point.)

 

Moderators, it is within your right to delete this thread as you did to the other one, and it is your right to ban me.  Go ahead, but at least let me get an answer first. 

this has been discussed already, thats why it was removed, not because its an anti-ms thread

 

oh and i see your ban coming in 3...2...1

 

see ya 

I was hoping for an actual answer instead of "DUDE I DONT LIKE WHAT YOU SAY SO I GONNA BAN YOU".  A ban would have been perfectly acceptable, but I could at least use an explanation.  You might say that the Halo Wars boards are the wrong place for an anti-Microsoft thread, but I see no reason why I can't talk about halo Wars in a "General Discussion" forum.

Ya and you think that anyone will care? We like Halo Wars or else we wouldn't be on these boards.

Sorry, but you are not going to get any answers from us; really.
If you have an issue with MS legal, take it up with them, do not bring it to these forums.

>paragon 

i totally agree, check out my site.

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http://antibungie.net/

I have been an avid bungie fan for quite some time now. I spent more hours playing halo 2 than most people I know. I have been a member of bungie.net's forums, and several other forums dedicated to Halo and Bungie. I even went far enough start my own gaming clan, based around Halo 2 (although it has expanded now.) However, in light of the news of Bungie's new game, "Halo Wars," I have decided to open this website, AntiBungie.net "Why?" you ask? In my opinion and in the opinion of many others, Bungie has just turned it's back on it's fans. Halogen - a Real-Time Strategy mod made for Command & Conquer and based on the Halo universe - was shut down by Bungie on September 8, 2006. Here is the letter that the Halogen team posted on their website.

Dear Friends,

For the last three years, we've worked incessantly to bring you the best Halo mod that we could. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but somehow Halogen has always managed to come out kicking. The problem with using copyrighted intellectual property as a base for a fan project is that you're very susceptible to legal action. We always figured that since Halogen was such a different take on the Halo franchise, we might manage to make it without incident. That changed today.

Hours ago, we finally recieved the words we've been dreading since the mod started to get noticed. Microsoft has decided that we are infringing on the intellectual property of Bungie Studios and has asked us to stop development on Halogen.

I was going to write a big sappy letter here, but what's the point. So..that's it then, I guess. The forums, site, and Moddb profile will all be shut down within the week. I can't say it hasn't been fun. It's a shame it has to end like this, but I suppose that's how it goes. Thanks, guys, for all the time you've spent supporting us. It's been a pleasure. We hate this as much as you do.

- The Halogen Team

     This letter was posted almost a month ago and Halogen was promptly shut down after three years of development. Today, September 27, 2006, Bungie announced the release of it's newest game, Halo Wars. What a surprise, it is going to be a Real-Time Strategy game. Bungie shut down a mod team that had worked hard for three years, stole their fame (if not their ideas also) and began working on their version of the same game. This is an understandable move, the rich get richer after all; however if Bungie truly appreciated their loyal fanbase then they would have at least gave mention to the Halogen mod when they announced their game and paid homage to it. In my opinion though, they should have hired members of the Halogen team to help. This is treachery, this is the end of my love for Bungie. I for one will not buy this game and support this kind of action unless something is done to rectify the situation. Who's with me?

stop posting this crap, please. the HaloGen team knew that they were treading on thin ice when they started the project, they even say so in their letter.

 

"The problem with using copyrighted intellectual property as a base for a fan project is that you're very susceptible to legal action."

 

why are you blaming MS or Bungie for ceasing someone from using their copyrights, thats the point of a copyright in the first place, to stop others from using the same ideas.

ow about instead of complaining here, you go tell the HaloGen team to think up their own original theme instead.

mcinferno, try doing a little more research before you speak, you'll look at least somewhat intelligent that way. BUNGIE had nothing to with shutting down the Halogen team, if you actually READ the letter, it says MICROSOFT called for a cease and decist on the modding project. Also, for whoever said that Red vs Blue guys don't get in trouble, they have reason not to. You know why? They asked permission from Bungie and microsoft and earned the right to use their product to createthe Red vs Blue series. Why else would Bungie ASK them (Rooster Teeth) for an interview on several occasions? Watch the Halo2 Limited edition DVD for christs sake! They have a great relationship with their fan-base. and as far as that 2d Halo game goes? It's not in any way popular, it came, went, and Bungie hard and Microsoft hardly cared or noticed. This should clear up everything about your pre-emptive hate for for Bungie, and hopefully correct any thing wrong in that tiny little head of yours...

also, here is a link to an interview with the leader of the Halogen production team, if you pay attention, it seems as though the team still has a POSITIVE outlook on the whole situation. http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/09/gamesetinterview_slipstream_pr.php

 

They should have asked permission before creating a Halo total conversion mod. Besides, I'd much rather play Halo Wars than some mod.

Silent Xenocide:

They should have asked permission before creating a Halo total conversion mod. Besides, I'd much rather play Halo Wars than some mod.

 

QFT 

The Halogen team spent years of work creating a mod using completely copyrighted material without securing anytype of permission other than the good will of Bungie and MS.
On top of that the mod was being created with a game made by EA, why would MS allow copyrighted material (Nevermind Halo, Xbox's flagship title) to be released on a game that would make EA money (I would've bought Generals if this mod came out) without MS or Bungie getting a dime.

I doubt MS would have ever let it get released, maybe they were hopeing it would just die like so many other mods or waiting for Halogen to contact them, either way they were fully within their right.
Halogen was stupid to think MS would allow Halo to be released on a EA title without any form of permission.
Maybe they'd of had a better shot if they used Age of Empires as a base they'd of had a much better shot at this, though with the AoE team working on a multi-million dollor version of Halogen I doubt that'd of gotten off the ground either.

 Bottomline is Halogen should've gotten something in writing before investing all this time in copyrighted material, I still doubt it would've been released with Halo Wars coming but Halogen would've gotten a pay-off or some type of compensation.

mcinfernosc2:

i totally agree, check out my site.

-------------

http://antibungie.net/

I have been an avid bungie fan for quite some time now. I spent more hours playing halo 2 than most people I know. I have been a member of bungie.net's forums, and several other forums dedicated to Halo and Bungie. I even went far enough start my own gaming clan, based around Halo 2 (although it has expanded now.) However, in light of the news of Bungie's new game, "Halo Wars," I have decided to open this website, AntiBungie.net "Why?" you ask? In my opinion and in the opinion of many others, Bungie has just turned it's back on it's fans. Halogen - a Real-Time Strategy mod made for Command & Conquer and based on the Halo universe - was shut down by Bungie on September 8, 2006. Here is the letter that the Halogen team posted on their website.

---

Dear Friends,

For the last three years, we've worked incessantly to bring you the best Halo mod that we could. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but somehow Halogen has always managed to come out kicking. The problem with using copyrighted intellectual property as a base for a fan project is that you're very susceptible to legal action. We always figured that since Halogen was such a different take on the Halo franchise, we might manage to make it without incident. That changed today.

Hours ago, we finally recieved the words we've been dreading since the mod started to get noticed. Microsoft has decided that we are infringing on the intellectual property of Bungie Studios and has asked us to stop development on Halogen.

I was going to write a big sappy letter here, but what's the point. So..that's it then, I guess. The forums, site, and Moddb profile will all be shut down within the week. I can't say it hasn't been fun. It's a shame it has to end like this, but I suppose that's how it goes. Thanks, guys, for all the time you've spent supporting us. It's been a pleasure. We hate this as much as you do.

- The Halogen Team

---

     This letter was posted almost a month ago and Halogen was promptly shut down after three years of development. Today, September 27, 2006, Bungie announced the release of it's newest game, Halo Wars. What a surprise, it is going to be a Real-Time Strategy game. Bungie shut down a mod team that had worked hard for three years, stole their fame (if not their ideas also) and began working on their version of the same game. This is an understandable move, the rich get richer after all; however if Bungie truly appreciated their loyal fanbase then they would have at least gave mention to the Halogen mod when they announced their game and paid homage to it. In my opinion though, they should have hired members of the Halogen team to help. This is treachery, this is the end of my love for Bungie. I for one will not buy this game and support this kind of action unless something is done to rectify the situation. Who's with me?

 

On behalf of Bungie and Microsoft I would like to apologize that you didn't have things your way, and that life isn't the fair little life that your parents brought you up to belive in.... we would also like to apologize to your mother for having to live with such a spoiled brat that is probably living in his parents basement for the last 30 odd years.... again we apologize to you for your inconvinance and we hope that you will realize that there is a reason to the madness. thank you for your time 

You all do realize that Bungie had no say... It's ultimately up to MS. Don't hate on Bungie for something they cannot control..

if it had been a mod for Halo 1, it probably wouldve been ok'd.  The thing is, this was shut down because of the fact that the release of the mod for a game that was made by a rival company that would make microsoft no money.  If it for Halo, then perhaps they would've been more receptive because mods DO spark interest in games. . . and help game sales. . .

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The amount of idiots here astounds me.