Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Stargate Worlds is not resting in peace as new lawsuit emerges]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/stargate-worlds-is-not-resting-in-peace-as-new-lawsuit-emerges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/stargate-worlds-is-not-resting-in-peace-as-new-lawsuit-emerges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/stargate-worlds-is-not-resting-in-peace-as-new-lawsuit-emerges/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Stargate World image
Travel back two years to when Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment was filing for bankruptcy and (unsuccessfully) attempting to sever ties with Gary Whiting, Chairman and CEO of the company. Stargate fans watched as their hopes for an MMO were dashed.

Fast forward to present day, when Stargate Worlds appears back in the news. Unfortunately for fans, it has nothing to do with offering a sliver of hope that the game itself might also revive; instead, more lawsuits are being filed against Whiting and other Cheyenne employees.

The newest lawsuit filed in Arizona includes 17 plaintiffs who accuse Whiting of misleading investors in various ways to obtain their cash. Some of the allegations leveled at Whiting include "negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, common-law fraud and securities fraud"; he's also accused of issuing loans to himself from the company's funds -- money that may still be in Whiting's possession, according to Cheyenne Mountain's court-appointed receiver, Keith Bierman of Phoenix-based MCA Financial Group.

MassivelyStargate Worlds is not resting in peace as new lawsuit emerges originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheyenne-mountain-entertainmentcmegary-whitinglawsuitlawsuitslegallegal-issuesstargatestargate-worldsTue, 15 May 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Academic talks MMO legalese and virtual property rights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/academic-talks-mmo-legalese-and-virtual-property-rights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/academic-talks-mmo-legalese-and-virtual-property-rights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/academic-talks-mmo-legalese-and-virtual-property-rights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Treasure hoard
Virtual item ownership has been a hot topic in MMO circles for a number of years now. Every so often, an academic will publish a paper regarding the legal and societal implications of trading real currency for fake goods, and the latest such academic is Rutgers University law professor Greg Lastowka.

Lastowka examines a number of high-profile virtual goods disputes (including one that ended with the real-world stabbing death of a virtual thief who sold a rare sword after "borrowing" it from a friend).

The piece also provides some interesting food for thought in the form of nightmare legal scenarios run amok (nerf patch lawsuits and legal action for server shutdowns are just two examples). You can read the full article text at Gamasutra.

MassivelyAcademic talks MMO legalese and virtual property rights originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>greg-lastowkalawsuitslawyerslegallegal-issuesMiscellaneousmmo-industryproperty-rightsrightsvirtual-itemsvirtual-propertyThu, 01 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bethesda appeal denied for Fallout Online, work continues by Interplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/bethesda-appeal-denied-for-fallout-online-work-continues-by-int/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/bethesda-appeal-denied-for-fallout-online-work-continues-by-int/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/bethesda-appeal-denied-for-fallout-online-work-continues-by-int/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We're still a long way from doing more than looking at pictures.
Are you enjoying the game of Fallout Online? No, not the actual online game in which you adventure in a shattered wasteland, but the constant back-and-forth between Interplay and Bethesda over which company is allowed to work on the development. The game has been tied up in court for roughly forever, with Bethesda trying to block Interplay's further development via legal tactics, and while the first injunction was denied, the studio appealed to have the development halted.

It turns out that the courts remained firmly on Interplay's side, however, as the appeal has been denied and Interplay is in the clear to continue developing the game. Unfortunately, the game will still require express permission from Bethesda to launch, meaning that there's still no end in sight to the legal fighting and name-calling by both companies. For the time being, all that fans of the franchise can do is wait and see... assuming that Interplay remains financially able to develop the game after all.

MassivelyBethesda appeal denied for Fallout Online, work continues by Interplay originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealsbethesdacourtdevelopmentfalloutfallout-onlineinterplaylegallegal-issueslegal-wranglingmmo-industryWed, 26 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs publicly announces profit-sharing plan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/undead-labs-publicly-announces-profit-sharing-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/undead-labs-publicly-announces-profit-sharing-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/undead-labs-publicly-announces-profit-sharing-plan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been a few months since we heard the first details about the upcoming zombie game from the appropriately named Undead Labs, but the most recent news from the official site doesn't cover the game directly. Instead, it covers something that should be far more interesting to people who follow the industry as a whole or those who work with the company. It's the official profit-sharing plan for the company, and not just the net benefits -- the whole thing, in full legal terms, available for anyone to read.

As Jeff Strain puts it, he doesn't want the company to work along the lines of many larger studios, where executives reap the benefits of a successful game and employees are lucky to see any of the profits. The complete transparency of both the plain language and detailed legal version of the sharing plan is apparently against the advice of the corporate lawyer, but Strain considers it a move that he'd prefer to see other studios copy. Considering the references to the Activision/Infinity Ward fiasco earlier this year, it certainly couldn't hurt to have a bit more developer and corporate accountability.

MassivelyUndead Labs publicly announces profit-sharing plan originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corporate-ethicsindustryjeff-strainlegallegal-issuesmmo-industryprofit-sharingprofitsundead-labsTue, 21 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft in China remains hopelessly mired]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In much of the world, current complaints about World of Warcraft center around the resolution of the storyline of the latest expansion and whether or not it's had a negative effect on MMOs as a whole. In China, current complaints about World of Warcraft are more focused on the fact that the game is still mired knee-deep in government infighting to try and make it playable again. After the last salvo, it seemed as if an end was close in sight... but as it turns out, NetEase has been forced to suspend any new player registrations for a week.

The studio is re-applying for a license to host World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, with no mention being made of Wrath of the Lich King, which doesn't bode very well for the hopes of that expansion ever seeing release in China. Having been stuck in the middle of two squabbling agencies for quite some time, and with no clear resolution in sight, it seems like a stretch to assume that the expansion will be released in China before the next one is due to arrive stateside. Our condolences to Chinese players affected by the latest round of bickering, and we can only hope that this long struggle will soon come to a conclusion.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft in China remains hopelessly mired originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinagapplegal-issuesneteaserelease-issuestbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-chinawotlkwowwow-chinawrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 08 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST