Activision to terminate Cybertron Transformers source code?

unicornKnight · Oct 12, 2018

Don't think this has been posted in resetera but the last days I've noticed the following change.org petition in several transformers group on social media.

Save Transformers Fall of Cybertron!

High Moon Studios' Transformers: War for Cybertron and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron are both beloved games in the Transformers community. They were highly acclaimed with great reviews and it was obvious that the developers cared a lot about the products they were selling.
Unfortunately, Activision's license with Hasbro expired earlier this year and as a result, both games were removed from all digital stores. This was tragic for the community and made it harder for people to experience these gems. The playerbase dwindled even more due to a decrease in new players and it seemed like this was the end. To makes matters even worse, there has been news from an inside source that Activision plans to terminate the Unreal Engine 3 source code of both War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron on January 1st since the license expired!
All of their passion, all of their struggles, all of their creativity, will truly be gone forever which is why we must make our voice heard.

I really hope this isn't true, didn't find anything in major media sites. Those games were really good and it will be such a waste to be wiped from existence like that. Also if true, I fear the great Transformers Devastation from Platinum will have the same fate :(

Btw I signed the petition, not that I think it would affect anything...

Terminate my source code if old.

sir_crocodile · Oct 12, 2018

why would you ever wipe source code for a game in this day and age

this has to be a work

Ogodei · Oct 12, 2018

sir_crocodile said:
why would you ever wipe source code for a game in this day and age

this has to be a work

If you don't have the rights to retain it after the license expires. It just comes from shitty IP practices.

Hektor · Oct 12, 2018

This makes no sense to me, even if they dont have the license anymore, there's always the change they'd get the license back or can sell the code to Hasbro.

Ogodei said:
If you don't have the rights to retain it after the license expires. It just comes from shitty IP practices.

But why would hasbro have such a clause?
Permanently deleting it isn't in their interest either.

Take5GiantSteps · Oct 12, 2018

This doesn't make any sense...

unicornKnight · Oct 12, 2018

sir_crocodile said:
why would you ever wipe source code for a game in this day and age

this has to be a work

Yeah I found it really weird, part of the reason I posted it here is in case any insider may have more information on the matter or can look on it.

Smash Kirby · Oct 12, 2018

Someone needs to get that code out of there. Code, even licensed code needs to be preserved.

Philly Cheesesteak · Oct 12, 2018

sir_crocodile said:
why would you ever wipe source code for a game in this day and age

this has to be a work

Deleted member 1413 · Oct 12, 2018

Unless it's in their contract there's no reason to delete it.
If it is part of a contract, signatures won't change that

TheThreadsThatBindUs · Oct 12, 2018

I mean, people who bought the game still have it and can still play it.

Activision is just not selling the game anymore and if they make a new Transformers they'll either need a new engine or have to renew the UE3 license.

I'm not seeing what there is to petition for here?

Broken Joystick · Oct 12, 2018

Preservation in this industry is a joke a lot of the time.

Bazry · Oct 12, 2018

Makes no sense, theres even a new War for Cybertron toy range coming out

TheThreadsThatBindUs · Oct 12, 2018

Hektor said:
This makes no sense to me, even if they dont have the license anymore, there's always the change they'd get the license back or can sell the code to Hasbro.

But why would hasbro have such a clause?
Permanently deleting it isn't in their interest either.

Smash Kirby said:
Someone needs to get that code out of there. Code, even licensed code needs to be preserved.

Cartridge Games said:
Unless it's in their contract there's no reason to delete it.
If it is part of a contract, signatures won't change that

Unreal Engine code belongs to Epic.

If Activision doesn't have a license anymore they need to delete the code. Otherwise they're liable to being sued by Epic for using some of the code on their other games (even if they didn't).

Best way to prove that you didn't steal and appropriate licensed engine code in your own internal tools is to delete the licensed engine code as soon as the license expires.

oni-link · Oct 12, 2018

Broken Joystick said:
Preservation in this industry is a joke a lot of the time.

This

I rushed out and grabbed Transformers Devastation after that was ripped from storefronts too

There are so many great arcade games made with licensed IP that can only be played by pirates or those able to buy and store an arcade cabinet

So many console games like those in the OP will suffer the same fate

At least there are people trying to keep these preserved in some capacity

Absoludacrous · Oct 12, 2018

It would be especially bizarre as Activision didn't seem to do anything to their Marvel code as those licenses came and went (and came and went). I would be skeptical of this source.

Though either way your chances of seeing these games again are less than stellar.

Igniz12 · Oct 12, 2018

They have Miyazaki now, they don't need the Allspark.

unicornKnight · Oct 12, 2018

TheThreadsThatBindUs said:
I mean, people who bought the game still have it and can still play it.

Activision is just not selling the game anymore and if they make a new Transformers they'll either need a new engine or have to renew the UE3 license.

I'm not seeing what there is to petition for here?

If they delete the source code they won't even be able to remaster / port the games in newer platforms etc. It doesn't make any sense to practically delete work of thousands of working hours, unless as other said, they are legally obliged.

Keasar · Oct 12, 2018

The videogame industry is probably the goddamn worst in existence at preservation...

Shit like this is why people pirate.

AcademicSaucer · Oct 12, 2018

If Activision signed that with Hasbro then does that mean the code of the Platinum game is also going to be deleted?

Deleted member 43872 · Oct 12, 2018

This petition is to get Activision to give the community the source code so that we can preserve the legacy of High Moon Studios.

This is ludicrously naive, and here's why: Activision doesn't own all of the source code for their games. It would likely be months of work for a team of programmers and a team of lawyers to strip down the codebase of the Cybertron games to just what they're legally able to release, and the result would need years more work to be built back up into a functional state. Its version of Unreal Engine probably has substantial modifications, for starters, which Epic is not going to let them publish. There's middleware: Demonware networking and PhysX physics, and they don't own those rights either. Code that interfaces with middleware might be covered by an NDA, and code that interfaces with the XBox 360 and PS3 systems definitely is NDA'd.

Absoludacrous · Oct 12, 2018

TheThreadsThatBindUs said:
Unreal Engine code belongs to Epic.

If Activision doesn't have a license anymore they need to delete the code. Otherwise they're liable to being sued by Epic for using some of the code on their other games (even if they didn't).

Best way to prove that you didn't steal and appropriate licensed engine code in your own internal tools is to delete the licensed engine code as soon as the license expires.

I wouldn't think Activision's Hasbro license is at all tied to their Unreal Engine license

Deleted member 41931 · Oct 12, 2018

Activision really shouldn't be allowed to do any liscensed games. Otgers have issues, but they're really shit about it.

Smash Kirby · Oct 12, 2018

TheThreadsThatBindUs said:
Unreal Engine code belongs to Epic.

If Activision doesn't have a license anymore they need to delete the code. Otherwise they're liable to being sued by Epic for using some of the code on their other games (even if they didn't).

Best way to prove that you didn't steal and appropriate licensed engine code in your own internal tools is to delete the licensed engine code as soon as the license expires.

I think the license going out is more for the transformers parts of the code. Though it might be the UE3 code as well.

funky · Oct 12, 2018

Licencing deals can be a bitch.

I hope some intrepid employee will have a copy on a HDD in their garage though.

Alex840 · Oct 12, 2018

Someone will (or already has) copy it onto a flash drive.

LewieP · Oct 12, 2018

Isn't this a plot from one of the cartoons?

TheWooniestWoona · Oct 12, 2018

Bazry said:
Makes no sense, theres even a new War for Cybertron toy range coming out

The new toy line has no connection to the video games. They're just reusing the name.

adj_noun · Oct 12, 2018

What happened to that series still breaks my heart. ;_;

BernardoOne · Oct 12, 2018

TheThreadsThatBindUs said:
Unreal Engine code belongs to Epic.

If Activision doesn't have a license anymore they need to delete the code. Otherwise they're liable to being sued by Epic for using some of the code on their other games (even if they didn't).

Best way to prove that you didn't steal and appropriate licensed engine code in your own internal tools is to delete the licensed engine code as soon as the license expires.

Activision doesn't have a expired Unreal Engine license.

Gleethor · Oct 12, 2018

Remember when they delisted this game without warning when I would've paid full price had I known it was coming down forever

Ha

OMEGALUL · Oct 12, 2018

I still kinda regret not buying the sequel on steam.

BouncyFrag · Oct 12, 2018

Com_Raven · Oct 12, 2018

People who think that Activision could (even if they wanted to, and they honestly have zero reason to do so) give out the full source code of a game that makes use of someone else's engine, and another company's IP are incredibly naive. Not to mention some other third-party middleware that I am sure was sued during development as well. That's not how licensing works...

night814 · Oct 12, 2018

Hektor said:
This makes no sense to me, even if they dont have the license anymore, there's always the change they'd get the license back or can sell the code to Hasbro.

But why would hasbro have such a clause?
Permanently deleting it isn't in their interest either.

I completely agree but it's important to remember that not everyone is thinking about or cares at all about preservation especially companies. Even if it's best to just hold onto it in case it's ever needed doesn't mean their original deal will allow them too.

unicornKnight · Oct 12, 2018

Gleethor said:
Remember when they delisted this game without warning when I would've paid full price had I known it was coming down forever

Ha

Yeah it was very weird from their part, had they announced it beforehand they would have some extra sales. It's as if something unexpected happened between the two companies.

Z-Beat · Oct 12, 2018

How much space could it possibly take up that you wouldn't just archive it somewhere?

If it's just for legal reasons, does the other party keep it or just want it deleted outright?

Deleted member 25108 · Oct 12, 2018

Not gonna lie. More pissed about this happening to transformers devastation.

BouncyFrag · Oct 12, 2018

adj_noun said:
What happened to that series still breaks my heart. ;_;

Poking around the net, it's looking like the movie series will get a reboot after the delayed Bumblebee movie comes out. Hopefully we'll get the games back too. I really enjoyed them last gen.

Absoludacrous · Oct 12, 2018

unicornKnight said:
Yeah it was very weird from their part, had they announced it beforehand they would have some extra sales. It's as if something unexpected happened between the two companies.

That's just standard Activision procedure. They didn't announce Bond or Marvel getting taken down either.

Richietto · Oct 12, 2018

Why in the world would anyone do that?

unicornKnight · Oct 12, 2018

BouncyFrag said:
Poking around the net, it's looking like the movie series will get a reboot after the delayed Bumblebee movie comes out. Hopefully we'll get the games back too. I really enjoyed them last gen.

If they delete the code there won't be games to get back. My only hope is Hasbro considers buying the code.

night814 · Oct 12, 2018

LewieP said:
Isn't this a plot from one of the cartoons?

It will all make sense once we actually have Autobots and Decepticons running around lol

Absoludacrous · Oct 12, 2018

unicornKnight said:
If they delete the code there won't be games to get back. My only hope is Hasbro considers buying the code.

What? Hasbro can't buy the code. Activision can't sell the code.

You really need to take some time and read through the thread and get a better understanding of what this code is you made a thread over.

Deleted member 1726 · Oct 12, 2018

The real war for Cybertron starts now.

night814 · Oct 12, 2018

Brikky Freeman said:
Not gonna lie. More pissed about this happening to transformers devastation.

I would hope that Platinum signed a better deal for their Devs than activision did in regards to the coders. They may not have as Hasbro probably just has standard contracts that all read the same with spaces for dates/timelines.

BernardoOne · Oct 12, 2018

Com_Raven said:
People who think that Activision could (even if they wanted to, and they honestly have zero reason to do so) give out the full source code of a game that makes use of someone else's engine, and another company's IP are incredibly naive. Not to mention some other third-party middleware that I am sure was sued during development as well. That's not how licensing works...

They don't need to give out anything.

Just don't delete it.

Com_Raven · Oct 12, 2018

BernardoOne said:
They don't need to give out anything.

Just don't delete it.

Did you actually read the petition?

This petition is to get Activision to give the community the source code so that we can preserve the legacy of High Moon Studios. This source code will give modders more flexibility with the coding in Unreal Engine 3 so that we can keep the games alive

night814 · Oct 12, 2018

Z-Beat said:
How much space could it possibly take up that you wouldn't just archive it somewhere?

If it's just for legal reasons, does the other party keep it or just want it deleted outright?

It's not about the space and absolutely about the contract(s) signed in regards to the games actual data. If the deal that was signed say activison must delete the games code aftrr a certain timeframe that's what any company that wants more liscensing deals will do.

Absoludacrous · Oct 12, 2018

night814 said:
I would hope that Platinum signed a better deal for their Devs than activision did in regards to the coders. They may not have as Hasbro probably just has standard contracts that all read the same with spaces for dates/timelines.

Typically publishers own the code, so it's doubtful Platinum has any say over it. Platinum wouldn't have signed a deal with Hasbro anyway, it was all still part of Activision's deal, that's why they were the publisher.

night814 · Oct 12, 2018

Absoludacrous said:
Typically publishers own the code, so it's doubtful Platinum has any say over it. Platinum wouldn't have signed a deal with Hasbro anyway, it was all still part of Activision's deal, that's why they were the publisher.

Right, I forgot they were involved at all in Devastation. Even more likely that the deal is exactly the same and within the next few years Platinum better not have any of Devastations code around either.

Activision to terminate Cybertron Transformers source code?

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