map q3_bloodflowers (UT conversion)

[speaker]

Remake of the Unreal Tournament level DM-Bloodflowers originally created by Rafal 'Bad MF' Prusak. A medium-size map with an industrial theme. Two levels of platforms, very good connectivity. Suitable for 3-4 FFA or 2on2 team matches. I made this conversion for Quake III Arena, but it appears to run w/o modifications under Nexuiz as well.

Dowload: http://menczel.extra.hu/q3_bloodflowers.zip

Enjoy!

[torus]

Quite nice, good layout, well textured. It's not extraordinary, but it's a good, solid DM map Nice work.

[Strahlemann]

one of the maps that i wanted to port properly to Nexuiz for the next mappack.
a good solid map.

random good idea: Post screenshots if you release a map !

[speaker]

one of the maps that i wanted to port properly to Nexuiz for the next mappack.
a good solid map.

It seems that we are in the same business (i.e. converting good maps for Q3A and Nexuiz). I think that maybe we should let each other know of our plans to avoid duplications. So, please, tell me which maps you are going to convert (so that I won't do them). If you wish to keep it as a surprise, send me a private message.

My planned conversions for the near future are:

ultrav (Q1) <-- 99 % done
DM-Curse][ (UT) <-- 95 % done
strafin3 (Q1) <-- in progress
strafin4 (Q1)
ztndm3 (Q1)
spinev2 (Q1)
efdm5 (Q1)
DM-Agony (UT)

random good idea: Post screenshots if you release a map !

OK, I won't forget the screen shot next time, cross my fingers and...

[Alien]

If you could release maps as GPL, they could be included in Nexuiz as official (knowing that maps in your map pool rock).

[speaker]

If you could release maps as GPL, they could be included in Nexuiz as official (knowing that maps in your map pool rock).

The GPL would be fine with me, no problem. Creation of my new texture pack for the conversions is in progress (80 % ready), it will use only free (public domain) artwork so it can be GPLed as well. I also have a source of GPLed skyboxes , so I will soon have everything I need for the conversions.

The main question is: what is the policy of the Nexuiz developers about 'unauthorized' remakes? I have to admit that I had not asked the original authors before making the conversions. BTW, most of the times (especially with older maps) it is next to impossible to reach the author (e-mail and/or WEB site given no longer valid, no contact info).

What I can assure is that my conversions are always made starting from scratch: I never use maps decompiled by BSPC as a starting point (only to measure distances, sometimes). Also, I use different textures that have nothing to do with the original set (even if they look similar).

[divVerent]

Such conversions might be illegal, but then simply won't get included into the main release.

It is no obstacle to putting the map on a server with automatic download.

It would be best to ask the original author if he feels he still has a copyright on your remake, and if he thinks so, if he'd be fine with releasing the remake under the GPL.

As for "public domain textures" - these often aren't PD. Carefully check their source. They might be from a commercially released game, and uploaded to a "PD" texture collection (actually, this happens quite often).

[speaker]

Such conversions might be illegal, but then simply won't get included into the main release.

OK, then where is the limit? I have often pondered this problem and tried to discuss it with others but there was no clear-cut answer. The whole situation vaguely reminds me of the problem of software patents.

To what extent is a map layout protected by copyright? Can it even have a copyright at all? What about so called 'remixes' where the map resembles the original but is changed in significant ways? I would tend to regard remixes as independent original works as long as they are distinctly different and no material is used from the original map.

As for "public domain textures" - these often aren't PD. Carefully check their source. They might be from a commercially released game, and uploaded to a "PD" texture collection (actually, this happens quite often).

I do not take ready-made textures, only photos from places like Wikimedia where the license is explicitly stated. Then I use the photos to make new textures. IMO there is a limit to what I am expected to do concerning source checking. I could be paranoid and use nothing downloaded from the net, but that would not be very productive. Although I have got a nice 12 megapixel digital camera recently, so there are possibilities...

[divVerent]

Wikimedia should be a safe enough source. However, stuff there is CC licensed most of the times, which is incompatible with the GPL (but even then, asking the author will usually give you the license fast).

As for map layout - well, this is vague. In my opinion, the rough layout is not copyrighted at all, but the brushwork and visual design is. So if you rebuild it surface for surface, put similar looking textures, and it really corresponds, it probably is illegal. If it looks totally different, but uses the same layout (so gameplay is basically the same), it'll be perfectly fine.

[Alien]

No way it is illegal.

Take a look at ReactOS It's made to replicate Windows and nobody calls that illegal.

Replicating a map is not a crime if you do not incorporate original map sources and do not take it's name (but most map names are not registered names so you are free to use them). How can visual design be copyrighted? Likeness can't be measured because smbd could copyright red hair or high heels that way.