Namco Bandai issues DMCA takedown to Durante over DSFix *Update*

[Jodell88]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=144440299#post144440299

The guy made Dark Souls on PC playable after a crappy port and then they do this. :thumbsdown:

Update

Good news: everything's ok guys!
I just called Volker Rieck from FDS File Defense Service. They were indeed hired by Bandai Namco, but not the germany division, but the US Europe one, to take down all the debug mode patches.

Dutante's DSfix was not part of the plan!
Mr. Rieck is currently writing emails to Namco and dropbox to clear everything. Durante is allowed to reupload the patch, there is nothing wrong with it.

Mr. Rieck was nice and took the time to explain the situation to me. I am currently on the phone, so I might add a bit more information when I come home in a few hours.

edit: also shame on the guy who send him a mail full of threats. He was a bit disturbed by that.

edit2: It was Bamco Europe who was asked by Bamco Japan, not US. Misremembered that, sorry!

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=144500932&postcount=740

 

[dud]

One word answer ... control.

 

[mmntech]

Release it to the torrents. Problem solved.

 

[Red Hawk]

Welp they just guaranteed I'm not going to bother getting Dark Souls if I can't make it run properly on PC.

 

[motsm]

I was glad I didn't buy Dark Souls II after their BS vertical slice marketing, then they reinforced that decision by announcing the paid for graphics upgrade after downgrading the graphics from the trailers. Now they go and remove the only reason countless people bought their garbage port to begin with.

This may be a new level, I hope for them nothing but the worst.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

There's still some confusion as to why the request was filed. It may have been a legitimate request from Bandai-Namco, but it might have just been a bot or somebody trolling with DMCA takedown requests. Regardless, it makes Bandai-Namco look completely idiotic, since it contains none of their code and only serves to make their broken game actually work. Hopefully they realize the error and issue a statement to the effect of "we screwed up, please keep using DS Fix since without it you probably will stop purchasing our products."

 

[Bateluer]

Had it really come to the point where we need a federal law to state that its legal and OK for players to mod their legally purchased games?

 

[Artorias]

This is a post from someone on steam discussion.

TLDR: Debug version of Dark Souls got leaked when Steam migration occurred, automated system may be falsely flagging Durante's DSFIX as the debug.


The debug version lets you play as an NPC or any boss in the game. I kid you not, you can play bosses with almost all of their move sets mapped for controller buttons. I have heard you cant play the debug mode online, maybe they are afraid hackers might get it to work online and ruin a lot people experiences.

It is possible that DSFix was caught up in Bandai Namco's attempt to hide/restrict/remove the leaked Debug build. If this is the case, hopefully they'll retract the DCMA claim asap.

For those unaware - a debug version somehow got leaked when they started the GFWL -> Steamworks migration. I have no details on the debug version (I've just read about it myself), but apparently BM really don't want it around.

So it's possible they are doing DMCA claims on anything around that could possibly be this debug leaked version.... and thus DSFix got nabbed.

But if it's got nothing to do with that... for shame BN. Only reason I ever bought Dark Souls 1 is because of DSFix. And considering thew scum move you made regarding DS2.... *sighs* That in itself makes me wonder if the debug version was behind this move, or if it's another scummy move by BN.​

 

[ImpulsE69]

This is a post from someone on steam discussion.

TLDR: Debug version of Dark Souls got leaked when Steam migration occurred, automated system may be falsely flagging Durante's DSFIX as the debug.


The debug version lets you play as an NPC or any boss in the game. I kid you not, you can play bosses with almost all of their move sets mapped for controller buttons. I have heard you cant play the debug mode online, maybe they are afraid hackers might get it to work online and ruin a lot people experiences.

What they failed to mention is that due to the Steam migration of the game off GFWL and the recent region locking, multiplayer doesn't even work.

 

[tential]

I was glad I didn't buy Dark Souls II after their BS vertical slice marketing, then they reinforced that decision by announcing the paid for graphics upgrade after downgrading the graphics from the trailers. Now they go and remove the only reason countless people bought their garbage port to begin with.

This may be a new level, I hope for them nothing but the worst.

Wait what? You have to pay for upgraded graphics? Please explain...

 

[motsm]

Wait what? You have to pay for upgraded graphics? Please explain...

They are releasing a reworked version of Dark Souls II on the PS4 and Xbox, it includes some new and reworked content along with improved graphics. It appears that it may be reintroducing some of the lighting and graphics seen in the vertical slice promotions that were downgraded to work on last gen consoles. PC users will be granted the privilege of now re-buying the game to get the graphical presentation more closely resembling the 2013 advertising.

Charging for new content is fine, but downgrading a game pre-launch, then reintroducing the graphics as paid content? Not OK.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Well what is on the internet, cannot be removed from the internet. So fear not. However I certainly will not be buying DSII.

 

[digitaldurandal]

They are releasing a reworked version of Dark Souls II on the PS4 and Xbox, it includes some new and reworked content along with improved graphics. It appears that it may be reintroducing some of the lighting and graphics seen in the vertical slice promotions that were downgraded to work on last gen consoles. PC users will be granted the privilege of now re-buying the game to get the graphical presentation more closely resembling the 2013 advertising.

Charging for new content is fine, but downgrading a game pre-launch, then reintroducing the graphics as paid content? Not OK.

I believe they have stated that some of the content will be free to current owners but not everything. It is unclear at this time what their intentions are.

I did buy DS2 for 13 bucks on steam sale even knowing the new version is coming. I would rather save 37 bucks and get it now anyways.

That said.. downgrading graphics for consoles.. especially from your trailers (ala watchdogs) is terrible.

 

[tential]

They are releasing a reworked version of Dark Souls II on the PS4 and Xbox, it includes some new and reworked content along with improved graphics. It appears that it may be reintroducing some of the lighting and graphics seen in the vertical slice promotions that were downgraded to work on last gen consoles. PC users will be granted the privilege of now re-buying the game to get the graphical presentation more closely resembling the 2013 advertising.

Charging for new content is fine, but downgrading a game pre-launch, then reintroducing the graphics as paid content? Not OK.

Seems like they're adding new content too though?
I guess technically it should be a DLC but even that, I mean paying for enhanced visuals on PC? Since when was that acceptable?

At least they didn't screw up DSFix. That would have been an extreme slap in the face to the PC community.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Awesome that it was a misunderstanding and they fixed the issue at least.

 

[Artorias]

Apparently it was an error like I mentioned in my post, it got caught up in the attempt to stop the debug exe from spreading.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=144500932&postcount=740

 

[motsm]

Seems like they're adding new content too though?

Yes, which is fine by me. I just find it bad that they downgraded the game to parody the last gen consoles to begin with, then charge for the upgrade they advertised as the base product pre-release. PC doesn't have the restrictions a console generation does, so there is no good reason to downgrade it, let alone charge for the upgrade. If they had never advertised the game with far better graphics than they actually released, I wouldn't really have an issue with this.

I see that the DSfix removal was indeed an error, which is better than the alternative, but screw them anyway. Just throwing around copyright claims without doing any research is not the way to go about what they're doing. I've had enough of publishers in general.

 

[smackababy]

Seems like they're adding new content too though?
I guess technically it should be a DLC but even that, I mean paying for enhanced visuals on PC? Since when was that acceptable?

At least they didn't screw up DSFix. That would have been an extreme slap in the face to the PC community.

This isn't the first time this has happened. Binding of Issac just did it, albeit with different graphics altogether.

I do believe this new version comes with all the DLC. According to the wikipedia on DS2, a free patch will be released for existing versions.

 

[Artorias]

Not that I play DS2 anymore but the most egregious issue with the paid DX11 version is that it splits the community up, the servers will be separated so the already small community is going to be even more fragmented.

Ah well, not that DS2 PVP wasn't trash anyway.

I just hope they get that DS region lock fixed soon, only so many players in Lux and Finland.

 

[lamedude]

I hope Namco asks for a refund. Streisand effect makes FDS's job impossible.

 

[Red Hawk]

Smh at the people who sent the guy threats. It would have been really lame if this little fiaco was intentional, but even then, sending threats over a game? It reflects badly on the player base. Life is too short and there are more important things. Or rather, I like how Youtuber Rich of Reviewtechusa put it: Guys like that need to step outside and discover vagina.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Copyright trolls man. We complain about them all the time. This is one of the major problems with the far reaching bs that was never intended. Hide behind lawyers and a desk and collect a fee.