14-04-2002 06:07									#1
	UNIT: Chariot Archer - Preview Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Here a preview of my first unit, it's take from Age Of Empires so I take no credit for the art work, I just put together the images and made the FLC files.

I've finshed the run animation, should be able to get the rest done today.

James.

Attachment: ca.jpg
This has been downloaded 221 time(s).

	15-04-2002 16:03									#2
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Looks good.

How you convert AoE units to Images? Are you planing to make more of AoE units usable for Civ3? It would be great!

	15-04-2002 16:52									#3
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If you want to get some of the AoE Units then go to aoe.heavengames.com and have a nose around there.

I've stopped work on this unit, as I wasn't happy with the way it was turning out, when you extract all of the images they don't line up correctly and you also get a txt file with each extracted image which has an x & y offset so AoE can line up all of the animations correctly.

Currently i'm writing a program which will take all of the images and line them up correctly and then place them on the pcx image which is needed for FLICSter, I've just got the palettes left to do, so in a day or two I should be able to start handing out AoE units very quickly, but not two quichly, I wouldn't want to floody every one with 100 units.

Cheers.
James.

	15-04-2002 20:47									#4
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Wow! That sounds great too. I think, I should wait some days and then looking again, wich units you are converting. I'm looking not for somthing special at the moment, but I'm sure I will need lots of ancient units in future.

Actually I work on a (IMHO) better looking Man-O-War. So it dosn't hurt with making AoE conversions to me.

	16-04-2002 10:55									#5
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Cool it works! I had the idea of converting the unit graphics my self. But after a lame experiment of a couple of minutes, I figured it didn't work.

	16-04-2002 11:36									#6
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Are there no copyright issuees with sush units?

	16-04-2002 11:42									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Gramphos Are there no copyright issuees with sush units?

It's not like were making a profit from it.

And it's for our own personnal use.

	16-04-2002 11:46									#8
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Is that when you post them to this site. I think that MS can see as if it is promoting Civ3, and therefor is against their interests.

	16-04-2002 11:51									#9
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And where do you think Kentonio it getting his tanks from, Suddenstrike!!

	16-04-2002 19:22									#10
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I don't know so mush law, I was just asking. Will move 'your' unit, but if you finds out that it might cause trouble for you, just pm me and I'll delete it for you

	16-04-2002 19:31									#11
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Ok, thank you.

	16-04-2002 23:07									#12
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I think we really need some expert opinion about this potential problem that gramphos has raised. There are lots of unit animations available from RTS games that would improve the problems with the small number of unit animations available. As someone who has mod-ed a few by hand, I see this as a goldmine.

So heres my question, if we take existing animations that we have purchased (as part of a game) then modify, and post them, are we infringing on copyright if we dont sell them and do cite where they come from.

	16-04-2002 23:19									#13
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quote: Originally posted by SpencerH I think we really need some expert opinion about this potential problem that gramphos has raised. There are lots of unit animations available from RTS games that would improve the problems with the small number of unit animations available. As someone who has mod-ed a few by hand, I see this as a goldmine. So heres my question, if we take existing animations that we have purchased (as part of a game) then modify, and post them, are we infringing on copyright if we dont sell them and do cite where they come from.

Since this seems to be the general opinion here I think I should stop posting these units, until we know more about the situation, I don't want to end up being taken to court.

	16-04-2002 23:24									#14
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Jimmyh

I'm not sure you're in any real legal "danger" (I'm not a lawyer) but you could be asked (threatened) to stop as were the German translators. Apolyton, however, may be a different matter since I assume it is a business of some sort.

	16-04-2002 23:29									#15
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quote: Originally posted by SpencerH Jimmyh I'm not sure you're in any real legal "danger" (I'm not a lawyer) but you could be asked (threatened) to stop as were the German translators. Apolyton, however, may be a different matter since I assume it is a business of some sort.

I sure the with translation thing they were actually taken to court, I'm not sure.

	16-04-2002 23:32									#16
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quote: Originally posted by jimmyh I sure the with translation thing they were actually taken to court, I'm not sure.

They were hit with a special German version of the "cease and desist" that included them paying "legal fees" or some nonsense. I think infogreed sucked up those fees but I did lose track of that thread.

	17-04-2002 00:54									#17
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As far as I know Apolyton isn't responsible for anything posted on the forums (I think it is something you have to read while registering).

Last edited by Gramphos on 17-04-2002 at 01:42

	17-04-2002 01:01									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Gramphos As far as I know Apolyton aren't responsible for anything posted on the forums (I think it is something you have to read while registering).

But would Apolyton be responsible for removing such material?

	17-04-2002 07:51									#19
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I really wouldn't worry about copyright infringement in this particular case. Companies usually are only concerned with amateur activities such as ours if 1) you're making money off of their "property" or 2) you're preventing them from making money. The bitmap extractor for the AoE/A0K images has been around for a while on a high profile fan site with no grief that I know of, and it would appear that most game companies have not only come to accept "modding" but have actually realized it's good for the industry. If a web site was selling these files to users then the game company would sue b/c money was being made off their back. This happens with the adult mags often. They find web sites that have pics from their magazine and they hit the site with usually a warning first, then further action if ignored. Sometimes they just want a piece of the action. The case in Germany w/Infogrames involved the second matter, they were concerned that this translation would prevent future sales of their product. Another example along these lines would be the napster situation. Or guys posting pics online from the brand new issue of FHM. The music industry is deathly afraid that free distribution of their end product would kill the industry.

I really don't think posting flc files made of images from other games would be of the slightest concern to the game maker. If anything, you're advertising their product. If you're really concerned, I'd email Dan or Markos about it. You could also throw up a free webpage and link to it but I personally don't think that's necessary. Heck, email them to me and I'll post 'em.

I'm not a lawyer but this is just I picked up on the net in the past. I used to have a web site and my host (who was/is in law school) had to deal with some of this stuff (but not because of me!) and I talked with him about it at some length.

Just my opinion.

	17-04-2002 10:21									#20
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quote: Originally posted by jimmyh But would Apolyton be responsible for removing such material?

If asked by MS maybe, but I'm not 100% sure here.

	18-04-2002 06:27									#21
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jimmyh,
I agree totally with XMon. As long as you don't sell anything, you should be fine. Take a look at unit graphics and other types of graphics made for Civ2, CTP1, CTP2, etc... Tons of stuff has been pilfered from tons of games. pilfering from somewhere or another is the usual thing, making original art more rare. I myself converted a few Age of Empires graphics to CTP. To my knowledge, nobody's ever been questioned on any of it.

So I wouldn't worry. If MS cared, they would have bothered somebody about it years ago. I for one, would very much look forward to seeing that stuff converted.