• Light/Dark
  • Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
  • We have made minor adjustments to how the search bar works on ResetEra. You can read about the changes here.

KOTOR full conversion mod, Apeiron, being shut down

Kaeden

Kaeden

Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,929
US
Well it was only a matter of time I think that this would happen. It really sucks because as mentioned in the comments on the tweet, you need to have the base game for this mod so it kinda incentives people to buy it if they didn't already own it for whatever reason. But IP is IP I guess and the lawyers just aren't having it.

http://www.apeirongame.com/



Lazybob said:
Announcement from Apeiron's discord.

"I'll tell Discord what I told the team as well: What this means for Apeiron is that it is dead unfortunately. What this means for Poem Studios is absolutely nothing. I think we have cultivated a fantastic and dedicated team and while we may not be able to work on Apeiron together, we can absolutely continue to make games. I understand that Apeiron is what brought you here, so if you no longer wish to stay for Poem Studios then no one here will think less of you and I completely understand. We absolutely will continue to make games and the Discord, Dev Streams, and level of interaction you've come to expect from us isn't going anywhere

So, the Discord is moving too fast to say this there: A question I see a lot is asking us if we'll make a new game, the answer is an infallible "yes". At Poem we hosted an internal hack-a-thon for the team a few months ago and we have already started a new game then, we didn't want this to go public since I thought it would take away from Apeiron. We already have assets and ideas set up, so the transition between Apeiron and our new project codename "novella" will be as frictionless as possible"
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
 
Last edited:
GavinUK86

GavinUK86

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,746
This is the first time I've even heard of the mod.

Pretty obvious it would get shut down though.
 
Mesoian

Mesoian

▲ Legend ▲
Member
Oct 28, 2017
26,819
It's too bad.

It's not really a "shutthefuckup.webm" situation, but yeah...expected outcome.
 
Kater

Kater

Member
Oct 25, 2017
639
I didn't know about Apeiron but looked at some gameplay footage and I am impressed. And at the same time, of course, disappointed.
 
Admiral Woofington

Admiral Woofington

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
14,892
Seems weird if they were essentially remaking the whole game save for possibly audio/voice on a new engine from the ground up. Like it's not really a mod. It's a remake. They tried to make it where it's kind of like a mod, but it's not really?
 
CloseTalker

CloseTalker

Member
Oct 25, 2017
31,119
Shame. There are a couple recurring IPs/Publishers that you kind of need to expect this from at this point though. Don't start messing with Star Wars/Marvel/Nintendo unless you're okay with it might not panning out.
 
OP
OP
Kaeden

Kaeden

Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,929
US
Kater said:
I didn't know about Apeiron but looked at some gameplay footage and I am impressed. And at the same time, of course, disappointed.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah it really was quite ambitious. And looking at the site you see the positions they were trying to fill for volunteers so it was a very active mod. But sadly, it won't see the light of day.

I keep hoping for an updated version to the game as I only play the Steam version and we all know how great that is... :(
 
Airbar

Airbar

Member
Oct 26, 2017
1,565
Admiral Woofington said:
Seems weird if they were essentially remaking the whole game save for possibly audio/voice on a new engine from the ground up. Like it's not really a mod. It's a remake. They tried to make it where it's kind of like a mod, but it's not really?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah, they should have gone the openMW route. Use UE4 to basically make it read the files from Kotor, and seperate from that make a pack of new models and scenes.
But "remaking" a game is always a risky business. Couldn't they have made a fangame under fair use?
 
Ghost_Messiah

Ghost_Messiah

Member
Oct 27, 2017
637
Well, it's probably just Lucasfilm protecting its IP and nothing more, but it is curious that this happens mere days after we find out Microsoft's buy out of Obsidian is being finalised. Like, there's always a chance this has happened because they're genuinely doing something with the specific IP (i.e. KOTOR III from Obsidian) but perhaps I'm just reaching here. One can dream.
 

rras1994

Member
Nov 4, 2017
5,750
Ghost_Messiah said:
Well, it's probably just Lucasfilm protecting its IP and nothing more, but it is curious that this happens mere days after we find out Microsoft's buy out of Obsidian is being finalised. Like, there's always a chance this has happened because they're genuinely doing something with the specific IP (i.e. KOTOR III from Obsidian) but perhaps I'm just reaching here. One can dream.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
They do use the IP - SWTOR is still being developed for and uses that IP - they finish up Revan and the Exiles stories and everything.
 
Stalker

Stalker

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
6,775
I've been saying since Day 1 it was getting shut down just to be met with "free use" and other dumb arguments

It was full to the brim of licensed content and copyright material it was never going to see the light of day.
 
OP
OP
Kaeden

Kaeden

Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,929
US
Ghost_Messiah said:
Well, it's probably just Lucasfilm protecting its IP and nothing more, but it is curious that this happens mere days after we find out Microsoft's buy out of Obsidian is being finalised. Like, there's always a chance this has happened because they're genuinely doing something with the specific IP (i.e. KOTOR III from Obsidian) but perhaps I'm just reaching here. One can dream.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
This was my thinking as well, kind of like what happened with AM2R and Nintendo. It was pretty obvious why that got killed but luckily it was at least finished.
 
Kater

Kater

Member
Oct 25, 2017
639
Kadin said:
Yeah it really was quite ambitious. And looking at the site you see the positions they were trying to fill for volunteers so it was a very active mod. But sadly, it won't see the light of day.

I keep hoping for an updated version to the game as I only play the Steam version and we all know how great that is... :(
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
The first time I played KOTOR I couldn't even start it because the game booted with a black screen. Went back to it some time later and somehow got it to work.

A remake to do it justice is needed I feel, shame the copyright holders don't feel that way.
 
Enthus

Enthus

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,583
I was always surprised this wasn't shut down years ago. From all accounts and despite their claims, it was basically a remake other than probably using the original voices.

I'm honestly past wishing for a remake, I just wish they would pay someone to fix up the PC version like they did with KOTOR II.
 
Rogote

Rogote

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,606
Wow the graphical fidelity looks really good. Or rather looked. Shame to hear this. There seemed to be some talent behind this.
 
Sinder

Sinder

Banned
Jul 24, 2018
7,576
Stalker said:
I've been saying since Day 1 it was getting shut down just to be met with "free use" and other dumb arguments

It was full to the brim of licensed content and copyright material it was never going to see the light of day.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

This.

Why do people keep wasting their time on projects like this. It baffles me.
 
whiteninja

whiteninja

One Winged Slayer
The Fallen
Oct 27, 2017
1,794
Was this finished or were they still working on it? Never heard of it before, just a patchwork of mods for the 2 games.
 
Lazybob

Lazybob

Banned
Oct 30, 2017
6,710
This was a remake of KOTOR in Unreal engine which makes this unsurprising. They wouldn't care about an actual mod but remaking a game is usually not okay though there are exceptions such as Black Mesa or people remaking Morrowind in Skyrim. I still don't understand how they insist its a full conversion mod. A full conversion mod is something like Enderal for Skyrim, the original Counter Strike or the original DOTA. Even just calling it a regular mod is odd and misleads people. If I didn't already know a little about this project I'd think Lucasfilms was shutting down an ambitious KOTOR mod trying to tell a new story using KOTOR's engine and not a remake in a new engine. The former would be a giant dick move from Lucasfilms but the later is unsurprising as I said before.
 
Hey Please

Hey Please

Avenger
Oct 31, 2017
22,824
Not America
For those not in the know:
QlQDoLG.gif


What a god damn shame.
 
Enthus

Enthus

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,583
Lazybob said:
This was a remake of KOTOR in Unreal engine which makes this unsurprising. They wouldn't care about an actual mod but remaking a game is usually not okay though there are exceptions such as Black Mesa or people remaking Morrowind in Skyrim. I still don't understand how they insist its a full conversion mod. A full conversion mod is something like Enderal for Skyrim, the original Counter Strike or the original DOTA. Even just calling it a regular mod is odd and misleads people. If I didn't already know a little about this project I'd think Lucasfilms was shutting down an ambitious KOTOR mod trying to tell a new story using KOTOR's engine and not a remake in a new engine. The former would be a giant dick move from Lucasfilms but the later is unsurprising as I said before.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I agree with everything you said. And we have evidence that Lucasfilm would be fine with an actual mod for KOTOR, because The Sith Lords Restored Content Mod (TSLRCM) and M4-78EP have been released for years, with the majority of actual content in M4-78EP being original.
 
LunaticGunstar

LunaticGunstar

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
427
haha I only heard of this yesterday and now it's gone.

Why oh why do people announce these kinds of projects before they're done?
 
Dizagaox

Dizagaox

Banned
Feb 26, 2018
1,076
London
It seems like this was a full game remake, as opposed to a mod. That energy and effort would be better placed in making something new, and not fighting Lucasfilm and their licensing partners in a battle where they have copyright.
 
Moose

Moose

Prophet of Truth - Hero of Bowerstone
Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,203
Would have been better than anything Lucasfilm and EA have produced. Shame.
 
Lazybob

Lazybob

Banned
Oct 30, 2017
6,710
Enthus said:
I agree with everything you said. And we have evidence that Lucasfilm would be fine with an actual mod for KOTOR, because The Sith Lords Restored Content Mod (TSLRCM) and M4-78EP have been released for years, with the majority of actual content in M4-78EP being original.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah and not only is it around but they updated KOTOR II on steam a few years ago with workshop support with that being available day one. From the announcement when that update happened. " Steam Workshop support! We proudly worked with the Restored Content Mod Team to have their famous TSLRCM up on launch day"
 
Starlatine

Starlatine

533.489 paid youtubers cant be wrong
Member
Oct 28, 2017
30,534
as far as C&Ds go this one was even kinda civil, more than i expected star wars IP hounds to be
still a shame but such is life

Chowchilla said:
Why not just complete it in silence and release it on torrent. Not shutting that down.

So many mods get announced and shut down by the man.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

yes, "stealthly" release the full version after receiving an official word to cease and desist, they will never know!!!!
 
Coconico

Coconico

Member
Oct 25, 2017
332
Miami
Khamsinvera said:
Well, the end goal isn't to just release a mod. A mod like this, if publicized properly, opens up employment and project opportunities for the team.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yeah, I don't understand how so many people who drop "shutthefuckup.gif" in these threads don't understand that people publicizing their work in established IPs is because if they worked on their own original IP, no one would have any goddamn idea who or what they were working on.
 
Velocity:Design:Comfort

Velocity:Design:Comfort

Banned
Nov 23, 2017
4,302
This is a good example of why the don't show anyone until it's done people are annoying...no way it would have got to this level of polish or fidelity if the original mod maker couldn't recruit a team or use outside help. And that can't be done if it's secret for years, and not every game is made by one guy like a2mr.
 
Cup O' Tea?

Cup O' Tea?

Member
Nov 2, 2017
3,607
I didn't know about this but I'm hugely dissappointed. I'd love to play a single player KOTOR game with modern visuals.
 
Rodney McKay

Rodney McKay

Member
Oct 26, 2017
12,277
Makes me want a KOTOR remake suuuuper bad.

But honesty I still don't kind Kotors graphics, environments are a bit simple, but it's ages fairly well to me.
 
Filipus

Filipus

Prophet of Regret
Avenger
Dec 7, 2017
5,148
They were making immense progress these past few months, really sad to see this happen. Hope they can reuse a lot of their work to make a game of their own.
 
sersteven

sersteven

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,214
Philadelphia
Fan game makers should really follow one of two paths:

Announce nothing, annonmously release mod after its done for free. Take no credit, just enjoy the fact your creation could live and you're not gonna get sued.

Or if you're looking for attention/resume boost, make a TECH DEMO to show off, instead of making tons of people mad you worked hard on a project just to get it shut down.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.