Bionicle: Masks of Energy – a fan recreation that has been in growth for eight years – has been shut down following a request from The LEGO Group, its builders declare.
In a press release launched to the general public through a Google Doc, the workforce broke down the scenario for followers who’ve been ready to really play the sport in any case this time. The devs, who have been making ready to drop a demo this August, declare that LEGO reached out to request they shut down growth on the mission and take away the sport from the general public eye.
Within the assertion, the workforce expressed its historic intention to maintain consistent with the official LEGO Truthful Play Pointers, as to not draw the attention of an authorized motion from LEGO trying to shield its copyright. Regardless of these intentions, the hammer has seemingly come down. Whereas it says no official cause for the takedown was given, the workforce suspects that it was as a result of the common particular person could mistake the sport for an official recreation, relatively than a fan mission. It appears this fan recreation was a sufferer of its personal good search engine optimization.
In response to the information, the event workforce has launched a walkthrough of the demo, and has determined to type a brand new indie studio: Unmasked Video games. That identify is nice by the way in which, hinting in the direction of its Bionicle roots however taking the masks off for future endeavors. They conclude the assertion with the next: “This has been heartbreaking information for our whole workforce, however we’re additionally extremely enthusiastic about what the long run has in retailer, and for what we’ll get the possibility to create subsequent. We hope that you simply’re all simply as excited as we’re. For the ultimate time… Might the Nice Spirit information you.”
Bionicle has been a useless IP product line since 2010 by the way in which. That is the final time any precise toys have been produced by The LEGO group. There was a collection of comics written by Greg Farshtey, although that has additionally been useless for over a decade. It is clear that the Bionicle IP is scorching scorching, one thing LEGO is clearly doing lots with. Sarcasm apart, such are the methods of authorized departments. IP should be protected, even for IP that has had no growth or frankly relevancy for over a decade. That’s, other than a comparatively small neighborhood of followers who have been, till very not too long ago, excited for a brand new fan recreation. Rattling disgrace!
It is a bummer. It is a widespread perception that the easiest way to strategy making fan video games is to “shut the f**ok up”, however clearly not all fan mission groups have the posh of silence and a sudden shadow drop earlier than any stop and desist can come by way of and spoil all of the enjoyable. Nonetheless, in case you have been excited for Masks of Energy, why not give the oldsters at Unmasked Video games some love, and assist them going ahead.
We have reached out to The LEGO Group for remark, and can replace this text if and once we get a response.
When’s the final time you even considered Bionicle, this fan recreation apart? Tell us beneath.
