**Valve & VUGames In Court!**

[warcrow]

GameSpot has a lengthy update on the Valve vs Vivendi Universal lawsuit that has been going on since 2002 when Valve sued Sierra (part of VUGames). The Half-Life developer originally sued Sierra because the publisher put Valve games in Internet cafes in the US and around the world, which Valve alledges is a copyright infringement. Vivendi later counter-sued, saying Valve had made misleading statements to them about their online distribution plans. Vivendi also wants Valve to honor a previous agreement and publish whatever Valve is going to work on next, and they would like to be awarded ownership of the Half-Life franchise as well. Various motions will be heard by the court October 8 (the trial won't be until March 2005). How all of this will affect the release of Half-Life 2, we won't know for a while (though Vivendi Universal Games sure could use the money).

In court filings, Sierra/VUG says that the current distribution of Half-Life 2 via Steam exceeds the scope of the current software publishing agreement between the two parties. It is apparently seeking the court's assistance in compelling Valve not to use Steam as an avenue of distribution. On Friday, when asked if Valve was remained intent on making Half-Life 2 available to gamers via Steam, regardless of what was determined on October 8, Lombardi replied, "Yes."

.....more drama.

 

[SynthDude2001]

*yawn*

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
*yawn*

Yea, its really starting to get old. Its coming to the point where the hype-machine for HL2 is meh to me. WoW has surpassed the anticipation of HL2 for me.

 

[Chompman]

Originally posted by: warcrow

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
*yawn*

Yea, its really starting to get old. Its coming to the point where the hype-machine for HL2 is meh to me. WoW has surpassed the anticipation of HL2 for me.

That's what happens when you play it for a week and half and then they make you go cold tukey

Lets hope the new version of CS or what not will be a bit more secure then it is now

 

[Schadenfroh]

was VU games included in the CNBC buyout of universal?

 

[skace]

Vivendi also wants Valve to honor a previous agreement and publish whatever Valve is going to work on next, and they would like to be awarded ownership of the Half-Life franchise as well.

:thumbsdown:

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: skace

Vivendi also wants Valve to honor a previous agreement and publish whatever Valve is going to work on next, and they would like to be awarded ownership of the Half-Life franchise as well.

:thumbsdown:

its crap like that that will scare ANYONE that wants to publish a game away from VU, hell, i might even boycott them. If i buy it thru steam, will i avoid giving money to VU?

 

[jrphoenix]

Do you think this in-fighting had an impact on why HL2 was delayed? Somewhat of a screw you, you're not getting the game due to "stolen code", etc??

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: skace

Vivendi also wants Valve to honor a previous agreement and publish whatever Valve is going to work on next, and they would like to be awarded ownership of the Half-Life franchise as well.

:thumbsdown:

its crap like that that will scare ANYONE that wants to publish a game away from VU, hell, i might even boycott them. If i buy it thru steam, will i avoid giving money to VU?

Yup. Valve said that they would make x2.5 more off of each purchase if its made via Steam.

I think this is such complete and utter BS that VU thinks they can just snach up Valve's IP. WTF, ok let me get this straight. Valve conceived, created artistically and technically Half Life 1, supported the mod community for 5 years, and now VU (who hasnt contributed a single shred of code or peice of art) wants the rights to the franchise. What a bunch of a$$holes. Ok sure, Valve received a "large advance early on in development of HL1"...gee...let me think, what could that be?! Hrm. Oooooh thats right, they licensed the Quake 1 engine from id. Well, What about the Source engine, huh VU? Wasnt that made from scratch? WTF did you guys invest into that one? So because of that early investment, you deserve the right to own the HL franchise?

Its sh!tty publishers like this that will drive down the quality of the industry.

 

[Shagga]

Originally posted by: warcrow

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
*yawn*

Yea, its really starting to get old. Its coming to the point where the hype-machine for HL2 is meh to me. WoW has surpassed the anticipation of HL2 for me.

I would have to agree. One other small point, but how on earth did Valve not see this coming? Big business seems to be run by idiots nowadays. If I had put my company in this position my head would certainly be on the chopping block for sure...jeez. :disgust:

 

[Shagga]

Originally posted by: warcrow

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: skace

Vivendi also wants Valve to honor a previous agreement and publish whatever Valve is going to work on next, and they would like to be awarded ownership of the Half-Life franchise as well.

:thumbsdown:

its crap like that that will scare ANYONE that wants to publish a game away from VU, hell, i might even boycott them. If i buy it thru steam, will i avoid giving money to VU?

Yup. Valve said that they would make x2.5 more off of each purchase if its made via Steam.

I think this is such complete and utter BS that VU thinks they can just snach up Valve's IP. WTF, ok let me get this straight. Valve conceived, created artistically and technically Half Life 1, supported the mod community for 5 years, and now VU (who hasnt contributed a single shred of code or peice of art) wants the rights to the franchise. What a bunch of a$$holes. Ok sure, Valve received a "large advance early on in development of HL1"...gee...let me think, what could that be?! Hrm. Oooooh thats right, they licensed the Quake 1 engine from id. Well, What about the Source engine, huh VU? Wasnt that made from scratch? WTF did you guys invest into that one? So because of that early investment, you deserve the right to own the HL franchise?

Its sh!tty publishers like this that will drive down the quality of the industry.

Although I agree once again, we really do not know the ins and outs of what Valve agreed with VU in the first place. Sloppy deal making perhaps, who knows. What I do know is that it is neither Valve or VU's interest to fall out big time here. There will be a resolution for sure. Only one winner as we know if it all goes legal, lawyers!! :frown: