[Bit-tech] Silicon Knights suing Epic. - Overclock.net

AOwpr · 08-20-08

Quote:

Dyack claims that the four-development of Too Human would have been considerably shortened if Epic had not misled other developers about what the UE3 engine can actually accomplish. Silicon Knights is currently in the process of suing Epic for that very reason.

Eh... another epic mess.

default501x · 08-20-08

lol
sad when they have to blame how long the game took on the major component that even made the game doable. i wonder if they even thought about how long it would have taken if they had to make their OWN game engine...

bowman · 08-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by default501x

lol
sad when they have to blame how long the game took on the major component that even made the game doable. i wonder if they even thought about how long it would have taken if they had to make their OWN game engine...

You say that as if Epic gave them the engine out of the goodness of their heart, and that they didn't pay through the nose for the product.

arkheii · 08-20-08

I'm speculating they're suing because the game bombed and they want to reclaim their losses. I'll wait and see if other developers who used UE3 will join in.

killnine · 08-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkheii

I'm speculating they're suing because the game bombed and they want to reclaim their losses. I'll wait and see if other developers who used UE3 will join in.

My guess is that they blew a lot of money on the engine, assuming their workflow would be much faster. When it wasn't, and they still had that huge expense, they probably just ran out of money for the project. The final result is the game we see today.

Now I haven't played the game so I can tell you whether its bad or not, but I know that businesses don't take kindly to being told one thing and given another. Also, this litigation had been started some time ago, I believe, and they are not the sole person to make this claim. Epic has been doing something shady.

Shaman · 08-20-08

Their own fault really. Middleware engine makers are notorious for misrepresenting the capabilities of their engines. That is why they always use words like "customizability" or "expandability", so that any potential shops using these engines can customize and expand the engine’s capabilities on their own.

These small shops drop a few hundred thousand or more to license an engine and afterwards when they realize that for same amount of cash they could have outsourced the development to East Europe or India and had their own 3D engine for less... well, buyer’s remorse comes in all forms and sizes.

Coma · 08-20-08

They have every right to sue if Epic was doing false advertising. Consumer rights anybody?

Sekigahara · 08-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaman

Their own fault really. Middleware engine makers are notorious for misrepresenting the capabilities of their engines. That is why they always use words like "customizability" or "expandability", so that any potential shops using these engines can customize and expand the engine’s capabilities on their own.

These small shops drop a few hundred thousand or more to license an engine and afterwards when they realize that for same amount of cash they could have outsourced the development to East Europe or India and had their own 3D engine for less... well, buyer’s remorse comes in all forms and sizes.

And in this case it comes as a lawsuit. :P

I think they have every right to pursue litigation if Epic misled them about the Unreal engine's capabilities. Given the sheer amount of money involved with making games nowadays, game studios don't have the option of buying overpriced software.

killnine · 08-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaman

Their own fault really. Middleware engine makers are notorious for misrepresenting the capabilities of their engines. That is why they always use words like "customizability" or "expandability", so that any potential shops using these engines can customize and expand the engine’s capabilities on their own.

These small shops drop a few hundred thousand or more to license an engine and afterwards when they realize that for same amount of cash they could have outsourced the development to East Europe or India and had their own 3D engine for less... well, buyer’s remorse comes in all forms and sizes.

Yeah, it takes a good management staff to see through the hype.

However, developing your own engine is really REALLY difficult, time-consuming, and expensive (regardless of programmer cost). People like Silicon Knights simply dont have the capital to develop their own engines and it shouldn't be that difficult to get a straight answer from Epic.

I also believe that Epic didn't have all the features of their engine unlocked when they started selling it, and people were honked off that they paid full price for an "incomplete" engine.

I think they need to make an example of Epic.

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[Bit-tech] Silicon Knights suing Epic.

08-20-08	#6 (permalink)
Shaman New to Overclock.net Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 76 Rep: 2 Unique Rep: 2 Trader Rating: 2	Their own fault really. Middleware engine makers are notorious for misrepresenting the capabilities of their engines. That is why they always use words like "customizability" or "expandability", so that any potential shops using these engines can customize and expand the engine’s capabilities on their own. These small shops drop a few hundred thousand or more to license an engine and afterwards when they realize that for same amount of cash they could have outsourced the development to East Europe or India and had their own 3D engine for less... well, buyer’s remorse comes in all forms and sizes.

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