Valve ok with this ?

[[=VF=]-Krieger]

Awesome game, but I am slightly concerned with how close the game content is to HL license.
Given, there seem to be ok with it since its published on Steam, their own platforme, but still ... I wanna play more and not see this awesome game turned off.
Any info on Valve side ?

[MechWarden]

Fine I'm game, let's address the hypothesis that the OP isn't trolling.

I say it is still very naive to think that Abiotic Factor could remotely infringe on anything relating to Half-Life. The stories of the two games, the gameplay of the two games, and the assets of the two games are way too different to be of any concern.

Half-Life has a story of a facility that is in the US New Mexico desert about one person, while Abiotic Factor is somewhere in the Australian desert with a mix of Half-Life themes and SCP Foundation themes with one or more people, but with different names and different takes on ideas.

Half-Life is primarily a shooter, while Abiotic Factor is primarily a co-op survival game.

Abiotic Factor mimics a graphic style, but does not copy directly from Half-Life. (just look at the Unreal Engine 5 'Lumin' debates or performance issues to see how it isn't a copy)

There is no 'thin border' about it. If Palworld can getaway with highly derivative and slightly changed works, then Abiotic Factor is well in the clear.

Deep Field Games does not need to ask of anything from Valve, because nothing needs to be done.

I cited the Crowbar Collective's Black Mesa game as better example for copyright issues, because even though Valve is fine with fan made stuff, (literally doing things like handing out HL source code and level editors for free to players), legally Crowbar Collective still had to get the permission from Valve to use that Intellectual Property so the Black Mesa game could be sold at all, as it isn't enough of a change, story and asset wise, to stand on their own. To no surprise, Valve signed off on it.

As for the OP, if they are not a troll, they really should have known better (or at least know now) that they should do some very basic research first, or at least some logical thinking, before asking. Practically any gamer here could have told them how 'stupid' the question is. Looking at so called 'clones' of other games would give a hint that there is an agreed upon line of acceptable change between similar games. (granted, that line is not very clear cut at times)

The other times this topic has came up, someone was likely trolling as well, and so everyone here assumes and treats it as such.

[[=VF=]-Krieger]

Necroscourge eredeti hozzászólása:

In the USA we have copyright and trademark laws. Things you can trademark include: The Specific way something looks and acts, the way a specific place looks, the way a specific name is written and applied, etc. There is and never has been any truth to the myth that you can own things that are vaguely similar to what you made.

"It kinda looks like Half Life" is not a legal argument, it's what a kid would say if they had to give a legal argument.

Thank you for the clarification :) Glad I’ll be able to keep enjoying it ;)

[[=VF=]-Krieger]

Crochwhisle purple eredeti hozzászólása:

if this worked like you think it did all the games that have a crowbar with a half life reference would get nuked off the face of the earth

Limdood eredeti hozzászólása:

game concepts can't really be copyrighted. There can be dozens of "scientist turns fighter as they fend off an alien/monster outbreak" games. As long as a game isn't stealing characters, assets, or direct, specific lore (which would likely have to be copyrighted separately on its own first), then there isn't much that the predecessor games can do.

The fans, on the other hand....those folks are rabid animals for anyone even remotely close to their special favorite games. Like "what?! your game ALSO features a male glasses-wearing protagonist?! RIPOFF!!! SUE THEM!!!"

Thanks for your feedback glad to read nothing gonna come their way. They deserve all the attention and success they get.

[[=VF=]-Krieger]

lol just saw all the other message, you guys need to relax and stop being so much on the defensive that’s how community get toxic.

Just a guy asking if any one as a single clue on a legal level to address an actual concern of mine as I don’t know how close two games can get to another without being straight up called a copy.

But since you are all subject matter experts on every possible field of expertise imaginable on the highest degree, well I suppose we also banished the concept of « ask someone if you don’t know ».
I’m glad the Steam community became that smart recently…

Anyways, thx to all of you who sent back actual answers, I mean it.
I’m glad there’s no risk on that level cause those guys really deserve the success they have.

[MechWarden]

I guess this shows that people here aren't ready to handle (to them) 'the blatantly obvious' when someone from outside not knowing otherwise asks about it.

Doesn't help that a few other threads have primed us to act this way.

Sadly, that's just how things are. 'Experts' (I use the term loosely here) will assume that anyone else would know or understand the same things, and be shocked when that isn't the cause.

Guess this is a good example when you assume.
(because I feel like an arse , and will admit mistakes)

[Crochwhisle purple]

MechWarden eredeti hozzászólása:

I guess this shows that people here aren't ready to handle (to them) 'the blatantly obvious' when someone from outside not knowing otherwise asks about it.

Doesn't help that a few other threads have primed us to act this way.

Sadly, that's just how things are. 'Experts' (I use the term loosely here) will assume that anyone else would know or understand the same things, and be shocked when that isn't the cause.

Guess this is a good example when you assume.
(because I feel like an arse , and will admit mistakes)

the internet is such a place that when you see someone who seems like they don`t know the thing you just assume they`re here to piss you off

[Oni-Lyrics]

I mean for one its inspired by and parodied, not stolen. If Valve cared SCP woulda gone down ages ago.

But again, IF Valve cares.

Valve doesn't give af about anything whatsoever. Human turtles.

[MechWarden]

Why dig this thread out of the grave?

That doesn't seem very smart.

[Crochwhisle purple]

MechWarden eredeti hozzászólása:

Why dig this thread out of the grave?

That doesn't seem very smart.

"i live again!"