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Windwaker clone... Nintendo isn't happy!
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:59 pm
by Bacon
February 24, 2005 - Last week Webzen released an initial batch of screens of its massively multiplayer online game Wiki. The shots depicted a cel-shaded protagonist who looked strikingly similar to Link in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. Furthermore, the game employs a near-identical visual tone, with cel-shaded environments and characters. Essentially, it looked like early screens ripped from a Wind Waker sequel.
Nintendo officials have taken notice. Citing concerns that Wiki could possibly violate trademarks, a Nintendo spokesman today announced that the company was taking "natural steps" to protect its intellectual properties, and that it would "seek appropriate measures at the appropriate time." This will be the first time Nintendo has ever raised concerns over possible trademark and copyright violations with a property in Korea, according to South Korean Nintendo representative Jeong Hyuk-jin.
Despite the apparent similarities, Webzen representatives claim the protagonist in Wiki lacks any kind of fixed appearance, and that players can mold their virtual avatars however they wish. In other words, the screen shots of Wiki displaying a very Link-like character are purely coincidental, and can change depending on the tastes of the individual playing the game.
"The number of variables are in the tens of thousands," said Webzen representative Choi Hyun-woo in an interview with Korean newspaper JoongAng Daily, "We are still in the middle of developing the game, which will begin closed testing services in December."
We'll bring you further updates as the story develops.
IMHO, this game looks like it could be
better than WW
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:07 pm
by rep
Cel Shading: The New Lens Flare.
If Nintendo starts preaching originality, they need to remember three words: Doki Doki Panic.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:08 pm
by Eraser
it's not about cel shading per sé
It's about the visual style, the logo, the main character's look.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:15 pm
by Pext
the sword looks cool
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:16 pm
by Geebs
world's gayest avatar
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:19 pm
by Pauly
Why is he carrying a cricket bat?
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:26 pm
by Geebs
Shit, yeah it's one of those wisden scoop ones as well, lucky bugger. When I were a kid I had to make do with a piece of rusty metal.....
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:23 pm
by bitWISE
Doesn't remind me of Zelda at all...
Gay [check]
Young [check]
Blonde [check]
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 6:39 pm
by Eraser
There's quite a few more similarities there
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:00 pm
by The HavoX
Nintendo licenses a number of independent third party publishers to use its patented technology, copyrights and trademarks in developing, creating and marketing their own video games. Additionally, there are a number of intellectual property rights associated with these games that are owned by these publishers. In addition, many independent property owners from such sources as movies, television, sports leagues, etc. license their intellectual properties for use in video games.
Infringing Nintendo's IP rights (which is what Webzen has been doing) hurts not only Nintendo, but their players and the legitimate businesses connected with Nintendo.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:24 pm
by Bdw3
How about putting that paste from Nintendo's Legal page in quote blocks... o_0
Edit:
...Also Doki Doki was a Fuji-TV game for the Nintendo Famicom Disk System that nintendo made into Super Mario Brothers 2 for the US... :icon27:
Edit 2:
oh.... edited it out even before I added that line... sneeky
Edit 3: Typo.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:25 pm
by The HavoX
done
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:27 pm
by glossy
The HavoX wrote:Infringing Nintendo's IP rights (which is what Webzen has been doing) hurts not only Nintendo, but their players and the legitimate businesses connected with Nintendo.
"what Webzen has been doing"? what, so Nintendo now is the copyright holder for blonde kids in cell-shaded games? gimmie a fucking break
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:27 pm
by DooMer
It looks like they went out of their way to rip off ww to me.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:36 pm
by The HavoX
glossy wrote:"what Webzen has been doing"? what, so Nintendo now is the copyright holder for blonde kids in cell-shaded games? gimmie a fucking break
No, but you were close. They hold the copyright to their characters.
Remember how Marvel sued NCSoft?
Marvel claims the character customization functionality in City of Heroes lets players create superheroes that closely resemble trademarked Marvel characters.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:39 pm
by Bdw3
NCSoft won.... no?
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:40 pm
by Tormentius
DooMer wrote:It looks like they went out of their way to rip off ww to me.
Yeah, that character looks almost identical to Link in WW.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:44 pm
by glossy
The HavoX wrote:No, but you were close. They hold the copyright to their characters.
if what Webzen said is true (regarding the fully customisable and dynamic avatars) then it shouldn't be an issue, because it's merely a coincidence. i wouldn't be suprised if they made the avatar used in the screenshots a little more "link-ish" just as a taunt, though :icon26:
I can understand that if they ripped off the actual character and put him in the game then they would have grounds, but having a similar-looking character that can be very easily modified by the character isn't. As BitWISE said, although the new character may be Gay, Young and Blonde, it hasn't been ripped, Webzen are simply following a popular design convention of anime and this is the result.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:49 pm
by The HavoX
Bdw3 wrote:NCSoft won.... no?
some of the evidence was thrown out but not the copyright claims
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:44 pm
by GONNAFISTYA
Tormentius wrote:DooMer wrote:It looks like they went out of their way to rip off ww to me.
Yeah, that character looks almost identical to Link in WW.
Actually...if you look at this screenie it looks like they ripped off even more than Zelda:
I'd say they ripped off the guy from the FF series...you know...the fagg0t with the huge sword and that yellow stalagmite of hair poking out of his head. Dead ringer for him if you use enough heroin and musk oil.
And also the chick with the red dress. This game is ripping off every cheap $6 street whore between New Mexico and Prague. I tell you...using red in a game is tantamount to legal suicide.
And that little dog. Clearly it's a Picachoo rip off or some crap. I mean...come on...who the fuck owns a yellow dog with three legs besides those crazy japs and their animaeish demon dogs?
And the roofs of those houses? Most houses in europe have those same exact tiles...so I think every home owner and crooked landlord in europe should get a cut from this game.
Even the Wiki logo itself has flatulence problems.
And those fucking mushrooms in the background. I'ma gonna sue just for that. Grievous mental anguish or some shit. I tell ya...looking at those mounds reminds me of the time I ate those zoomers behind grandma's house and freaked out. I knew something was wrong when I came to. My neighbour was using his garden hose on me. I remember he was pissed or something. He was hosing his front porch and saying I shit on it. I don't remember. All I can remember from that night was the jail cell and that big indian guy who liked cavity searches.
I'm sueing those fuckers.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:04 pm
by glossy
you're fighting the good fight, GKY.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:36 pm
by GONNAFISTYA
See...complete rip off.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:41 pm
by Tormentius
GONNAFISTYA wrote:See...complete rip off.
:icon19:
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:46 pm
by SOAPboy
GONNAFISTYA wrote:See...complete rip off.
:icon19: :icon19:
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:22 am
by Guest
:icon19: