The issue is due to the music

[Hyrule]

https://alexmauer.bandcamp.com/album/overdrive

"Overdrive was originally going to be the soundtrack for a video game called "Starr Mazer: DSP". The developer of the game, Imagos Softworks, and publisher, AGM Playism, have failed to sign a license agreement for permission to use this music and are currently using it in violation of the copyright. Please do not support "Starr Mazer: DSP".

If you have already purchased a copy of "Starr Mazer: DSP", you may want to take a stand against copyright violation by asking the Steam store for a refund.

Valve, the owner of the Steam store, has been notified and chosen to side with the copyright violators.

Thank you.

© 2016 Alex Mauer. All rights reserved."

[SFF]

I'm...honestly torn on who the side with on this, but my gut is leaning towards Alex.

A shame, because this game had potential.

[Hyrule]

Originally posted by SFF:

I'm...honestly torn on who the side with on this, but my gut is leaning towards Alex.

A shame, because this game had potential.

Alex seems to have lost his bandcamp https://bandcamp.com/signup?new_domain=alexmauer

[Tatra]

His main site is still up (http://alexmauer.com/); he claims the Bandcamp was taken down due to a counter-claim by the devs.

[Rogue Scientist]

As a note Alex wasn't some independent artist; she was listed as a co-founder of Imagos Softworks.

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2015/07/08/an-interview-with-chiptune-composer-alex-mauer/

However see Alex's response:

I was at one time referred to as "co-founder" of Imagos Softworks, but don't let this misnomer imply that I actually had any ownership of the company. I was employed as a freelance contractor, never paid a salary, never offered employee benefits, and I was responsible for paying my own Social Security taxes. I never signed any written agreement indicating being an internal employee of Imagos Softworks or Imagos Films, and no written agreement was ever offered for me to be hired as an internal employee.

So to me (an outsider) it looks like Alex and the other members of Imagos had a falling out, and now they are arguing over who owns the music copyright. As I understand similar issues (and I AM NOT A LAWYER), this would come down to whether the music was created by Alex working for herself (which would mean as the creater she would own the copyright), or if it was created by Alex working as part of Imagos ( "If a work is created by an employee in the course of his or her employment, the employer owns the copyright." - from http://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/faqs/copyright-ownership/ )


A similar situation has happened multiple times in the comic book industry - between Jack Kirby and Marvel Comics, and between Neil Gaiman and Todd MacFarlane for example.


Without more information I suggest reserving judgement. Since I've enjoyed both Starr Mazer, and Alex's music, I hope this disupute can be settled quickly - or at least that they can find a way to go their seperate ways without interfering with each other!

EDIT: corrected pronouns, added Alex's response about being co-founder

[Hyrule]

Originally posted by Rogue Scientist:

As a note Alex wasn't some independent artist; he was a co-founder of Imagos Softworks.

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2015/07/08/an-interview-with-chiptune-composer-alex-mauer/

So to me (an outsider) it looks like Alex and the other members of Imagos had a falling out, and now they are arguing over who owns the music copyright. As I understand similar issues (and I AM NOT A LAWYER), this would come down to whether the music was created by Alex working for himself (which would mean as the creater he would own the copyright), or if it was created by Alex working as part of Imagos ( "If a work is created by an employee in the course of his or her employment, the employer owns the copyright." - from http://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/faqs/copyright-ownership/ )


A similar situation has happened multiple times in the comic book industry - between Jack Kirby and Marvel Comics, and between Neil Gaiman and Todd MacFarlane for example.


Without more information I suggest reserving judgement. Since I've enjoyed both Starr Mazer, and Alex's music, I hope this disupute can be settled quickly - or at least that they can find a way to go their seperate ways without interfering with each other!

This is such a shame. Let's hope they do like Super Meat Boy and re-do the OST

[ohnoanotherputz]

Really such a shame, I have thought Alex did amazing music for a long time. If they are taking advantage of her, that is really gross and sad.

[tservo2049]

It seems like the new patch replaces Alex's music?

[BulletToothTony]

Ya you where able to listen to some of the music in the music folder of star mazer but now there are different songs. I like them too but, I enjoyed alex songs it felt like a great fit for the game to me. Hopefully it gets sorted and the songs get added back. But if not I really hope theres that same heart/style/soul. I purchased this game and purchased alex music kiss and make up already lol

[Mabec]

Current tracks are temporary as well, just a heads up

[Pixeljam Games]

Yeah they are temp. I have more to add ASAP. But then, those will be temporary as well. Apparently an original soundtrack is in the works.

[TemmieNeko]

Originally posted by Sweeney Todd:

https://alexmauer.bandcamp.com/album/overdrive

"Overdrive was originally going to be the soundtrack for a video game called "Starr Mazer: DSP". The developer of the game, Imagos Softworks, and publisher, AGM Playism, have failed to sign a license agreement for permission to use this music and are currently using it in violation of the copyright. Please do not support "Starr Mazer: DSP".

If you have already purchased a copy of "Starr Mazer: DSP", you may want to take a stand against copyright violation by asking the Steam store for a refund.

Valve, the owner of the Steam store, has been notified and chosen to side with the copyright violators.

Thank you.

© 2016 Alex Mauer. All rights reserved."

I knew this , the guy that made the soundtrack went after one of my videos i uploaded for the game.
Shame, really.

[Alex Mauer]

To all of those discussing the status of DSP, I want to make a couple of very important clarifications:

1) I am female, despite Imagos Softworks leaving up outdated information suggesting otherwise. I came out as transgender very publicly online back in 2016. I'm not offended by the discussions you're having except for the misuse of pronouns. You should refer to me as "she/her".

2) I was at one time referred to as "co-founder" of Imagos Softworks, but don't let this misnomer imply that I actually had any ownership of the company. I was employed as a freelance contractor, never paid a salary, never offered employee benefits, and I was responsible for paying my own Social Security taxes. I never signed any written agreement indicating being an internal employee of Imagos Softworks or Imagos Films, and no written agreement was ever offered for me to be hired as an internal employee.

Thank you.

[Rogue Scientist]

Alex thanks for the info, and I apologize for the wrong pronoun usage (the curse of finding info from older webpages).

It sounds like a messy situation all around with Imagos.


Hyrule - Please don't leap to judgements. Alex filing a copyright claim is not the same as trying to "ruin this game".

TemmieNeko - Stop being an ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

[Alex Mauer]

Originally posted by sutaru★chirudo:

With all my respect: does your music fanbase -and hence your work- depend on whether you are a guy with beard or a girl? It should be about what you do, not what you are.

I don't like the idea that someone can listen to my music without considering me, the person who made it. It absolutely matters to me what gender I am, and what gender I'm being perceived as by others.

Originally posted by sutaru★chirudo:

You have ALL the right to fight legally for what it yours -and I encorauge you to do so-, but in this way, sabotaging the game, you're not fighting against Imagos Softworks but against the player who enjoys it -including your music-. And that player is your potential fanbase.

I'm not sabotaging the game. I am defending my copyrights the only way I possibly can. I don't have money to hire a lawyer. Currently, I have done ALL LEGAL DEFENSES BY MYSELF, and I am still trying to find a pro-bono lawyer. Imagos says they can't pay me, but they are currently paying a lawyer to fight me. Obviously I care about fans, but it's a higher priority for me to get paid for my work so I can live.

Originally posted by Hyrule Chosen One:

well, they replaced the soundtrack and it's still down. Yes it is RUINING the game.

Imagos DID replace the soundtrack, but they failed to replace the SOUND EFFECTS I designed. The only thing preventing the game from being on Steam right now is Imagos failing to sign an agreement for temporary permission to use my sound effects while they find a replacement. Please complain to Imagos Softworks about this, not me.

[cheru]

TemmieNeko, Alex Mauer and all others involved
Sorry I'm going to have to delete your posts.

I make a clear point to have a safe environment on our Steam forums.
TemmieNeko, I'm sorry, but this is your first warning, please respect others, we are all human and we all have a right to chose how we are represented and referred to.