Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities - Page 2

Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Various things about Spring that do not fit in any of the other forums listed below, including forum rules.

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MasterBel
Posts: 271
Joined: 18 Mar 2018, 07:48

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by MasterBel »

Anyone had a glance at any of the files?

See here: http://total-warfare.com/cont/luaui/con ... lpanel.txt

Or what if we search this file for "Spring.Echo"
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MasterBel
Posts: 271
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Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by MasterBel »

Or this or this
Kloot
Spring Developer
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Joined: 08 Oct 2006, 16:58

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by Kloot »

Google_Frog wrote: 19 Jul 2019, 05:08 Did anything come of the talk of violation flagging? I think the engine devs have the strongest case since http://total-warfare.com/cont/ likely includes everything from a spring game.
It is being worked on, we have hard evidence now that the MARSTW executable is based on a fork of Spring engine code.
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PicassoCT
Journeywar Developer & Mapper
Posts: 10450
Joined: 24 Jan 2006, 21:12

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by PicassoCT »

Could the clone be made by one of the ex-devs? When was the clone forked?
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TheRegisteredOne
Posts: 398
Joined: 10 Dec 2005, 21:39

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by TheRegisteredOne »

Looks like it is stealing assets from old TA mods again, including some of mine, and they are selling their "DLCs" for $50.

http://total-warfare.com/cont/INFO.txt
* Imported partial content from https://github.com/n3wm1nd/TA
* Imported partial content from https://github.com/n3wm1nd/Robot-Defense
* Imported partial content from https://github.com/techannihilation/TA
* Imported partial content from https://github.com/spring/spring/tree/develop/cont
* Imported partial content from https://github.com/ZeroK-RTS/Zero-K/tree/master/sounds
* Modified content as necessary

To the best of our knowledge, all imported game content is licensed as GPL/PD and freely distributable.
In the event that we are somehow mistaken, please contact us for immediate file removal.

Total warfare is based on additional (original and copyrighted) content, which is not available for download.
Here is the content stolen by Tech Annihilation and eventually made its way into this: http://total-warfare.com/cont/objects3d/tllvaliant.3do
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Silentwings
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Joined: 25 Oct 2008, 00:23

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by Silentwings »

Anarchid posted a link on discord and I had a look around...

Intruigingly, it seems the (free) main game itself was removed from the steam store: https://store.steampowered.com/app/671690 redirects to steam home page

However, you can still see its community & forums: https://steamcommunity.com/app/671690/discussions/
And its two DLCs are still available for purchase (not sure if searchable): here's one of them

I don't look for an update from those involved if they'd prefer not - but it seems unclear what went on:
The developer claims on July 31 that they aren't intending to take down any content but seems to implicitly go back on an earlier claim that their content is properly/fully licensed.
Then valves own logs show that the content was removed within 24h and attributes the change as "detected outside of Steam PICS", which afaik means that it wasn't actioned by the developer.

Fwiw, on steam a developer can't simply remove their own game - they have to request it, fill in a form and and state a reason. This means that valves public logs don't show if the removal was requested by the dev, or forced.
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hokomoko
Spring Developer
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Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by hokomoko »

Enough is enough.
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Forboding Angel
Evolution RTS Developer
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Joined: 17 Nov 2005, 02:43

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by Forboding Angel »

This reminds me of when one of our users decided to take MyUPB, repackage it and offer it for money. At the time there were 3 core developers and frankly, we felt pretty powerless. Thankfully, at that time myupb had a decent size community of users (this is before it was common to get mysql access with your shared hosting plan, so in other words, eons ago) and the public shame of being caught was enough for him to stop.

I started on evo in 2007 (I think?) and it went through varying stages of suck until kaiser, damgam and commonplayer came along (with various others (Like DMDR) who had fantastic suggestions). But This mars game is like giving the finger to me personally and all the years and work that I've put into evo, and to all the other developers of games here who have mountains of work put into them.

I'm glad it's been taken down, but it's frustrating that the developer of this mars game is going to take away the idea that he was in the right the entire time with a complete misunderstanding of why the spring devs stood up to him.

*Heavy Sigh*


p.s., about 2 or 3 days ago I reported mars for copyright infringement and pointed at this place. I did it from my steam account which is seen as a steam "Developer" account (Doesn't really mean much except I can view some stuff that regular users can't like dev discussions in steamworks forums and such, pretty easy access directly to value employees for support, that type of thing). However, I did it from the regular reporting tool that anyone has access to. I have no idea if my report had any effect. If a bunch of people had previously reported it's possible that mine triggered the magic number of reports needed to get a human to look at it or something.

Interesting coincidence, but I highly doubt that it was anything but coincidental timing. When I remember though I thought it was kinda amusing.
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Anarchid
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Joined: 30 Nov 2008, 04:31

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by Anarchid »

Interesting coincidence, but I highly doubt that it was anything but coincidental timing. When I remember though I thought it was kinda amusing.
The actual paid DLC items were not removed, so my guess here is that the developer is attempting to cover up his tracks by removing his code from Steam. Which is tbh pretty damning.

The delisting of the game happened hours after people showed up in the discussion and publicly declared not having given any permission for the use of their work.

Also an interesting fact you can glean from that history page is that despite the store not being listed, his depots are still being automatically updated when he releases a new version. This means that while it's not possible to download his game via Steam, his code is still stored somewhere at Valve.

As to how this is actionable: the generally interested people can flag the game for being "in legal violation"; Spring and copyright holders in particular - such as Spring devs, ZK and TechA people etc - can press this easy-dmca button (also accessible via flag -> for legal violation)
Image

It is possibly a good idea to first ask for the source again - with a few more kind words, but also a gun. Without the credible threat, the developer seems to just go into denial (well, except for quietly delisting the game):

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(or maybe just treat the above as an indication that the [Mars]Total Warfare does not want an amicable resolution, and skip to applying total warfare)

P.S. What's up with the CORS rules that prohibit me from linking images from imgur?
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Bla
Posts: 79
Joined: 25 Feb 2013, 14:44

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by Bla »

Sorry if I'm necromancing a dead thread, but I'm really curious, have any further developments happened? Have the devs of that game apologized and gave proper credit to the SpringRTS project?
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PicassoCT
Journeywar Developer & Mapper
Posts: 10450
Joined: 24 Jan 2006, 21:12

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by PicassoCT »

I got a free hooker visit so all is forgiven

#SpringSellOut #EverythingHasToGo
MorrisD
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Joined: 24 Sep 2019, 11:24

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by MorrisD »

I doubt that happened. Even though apologies are in order. "Borrowing" game elements isn't exactly rare in the gaming industry.
hokomoko
Spring Developer
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Joined: 02 Jun 2014, 00:46

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by hokomoko »

MorrisD wrote: 25 Sep 2019, 15:01 I doubt that happened. Even though apologies are in order. "Borrowing" game elements isn't exactly rare in the gaming industry.
Borrowing game elements, yes. Borrowing code, no.
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Forboding Angel
Evolution RTS Developer
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Joined: 17 Nov 2005, 02:43

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by Forboding Angel »

Anarchid wrote: 06 Aug 2019, 13:03 P.S. What's up with the CORS rules that prohibit me from linking images from imgur?
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=38591&p=589030
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Jonny5isalivetm
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Joined: 04 Jul 2006, 02:43

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by Jonny5isalivetm »

So this game is alive and searchable on steam again :E
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PicassoCT
Journeywar Developer & Mapper
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Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by PicassoCT »

Wouldn't happen if open source had gpl drm
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smoth
Posts: 22309
Joined: 13 Jan 2005, 00:46

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by smoth »

Honestly pathetic on the part of total warfare. If we would have gotten some shareback I would not have been as pissed about it.
frju365
Posts: 18
Joined: 24 Oct 2016, 20:03

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by frju365 »

hokomoko : Has the problem been solved ?
hokomoko
Spring Developer
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Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by hokomoko »

Not yet.
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PicassoCT
Journeywar Developer & Mapper
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Joined: 24 Jan 2006, 21:12

Re: Mars Total Warfare - Spring similarities

Post by PicassoCT »

Dear god, its almost like all the laws, rules and contract are only worth something, when somebody with power, money or mercenaries (lawyers) is involved.

Good thing we got the gpl though.
Nucular deterrence.
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