Headcrab?

[Unicarn]

Is it just me or is the headcrab slower than the other pets?

[Hextravert]

Originally posted by Captain Obvious:

Is it just me or is the headcrab slower than the other pets?

I always pick either the or the Headcrab and can't say that I have noticed any difference whatsoever.

[nbakker]

Why is there even a head crab in torchlight considering that the head crab is from half life

[steffire3]

Originally posted by nbakker:

Why is there even a head crab in torchlight considering that the head crab is from half life

Claptrap from Borderlands.
Creeper from Minecraft.
Many Unique Items with movie references.

Somehow - the Studio was able to get permission to feature these secrets in game.

[HiFive]

Originally posted by steffire3:

Originally posted by nbakker:

Why is there even a head crab in torchlight considering that the head crab is from half life

Claptrap from Borderlands.
Creeper from Minecraft.
Many Unique Items with movie references.

Somehow - the Studio was able to get permission to feature these secrets in game.

A lot of games have these types of things. The game, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, has a ton of them. Movies and television shows also sometimes reference, or add jokes that refer to, other movies and shows - things that only people who have watched those would notice.

In the gaming world, the references to other games are called Easter Eggs. There's probably a different name for them in the T.V. and movie industry. It's just fun extra stuff for writers and developers to add.

[Nakos]

Things of that nature are usually Homages to the thing they're referring to. Depending on how prevalent they are within an individual game, they may be covered under the parody laws, or... they might be used by permission (or even licensed).

It kinda depends.

I recently re-read a book where the main character visits a magic shop. In the shop he notices a very distinctive character (with a huge, over-sized sword, a mask, and a blonde doll in his pocket), the character is never named, but it's a clear homage to the character Simon from Will Wright's Traveler's Gate series. The first time I read the book, I had no idea who it was and simply dismissed it. Since then, I have read Will Wright's series, and the character was instantly recognizable (on my second read of the book).

That's a sufficiently vague reference that no attribution is really necessary. Especially given that it's one brief paragraph with no further impact on the book overall.

The more central something is to the plot, the more you need actual permission.