did this studio make Golf Club Wasteland change the name of their game?

[Spud Crowley]

please tell me it isn't so.

[valium]

They dont hold a trademark over that word. The golf club devs probably just wanted a different name.

[Spud Crowley]

somebody made them change it.
this is what the devs said about it:

Hi Golfers,

We have an important announcement to make that we hope you will understand and support. Due to a legal claim, we have been compelled to change the title of our beloved game, transforming it to "Golf Club Nostalgia." The decision to rename the game was made with careful consideration, in compliance with intellectual property laws and to ensure a fair and respectful approach towards all parties involved. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may cause, but please know that we made this decision with the best interests of the game and our community in mind.

While we understand that the original title held sentimental value to many of you, we assure you that this change in no way alters the essence of the game or its core gameplay experience. The adjustments made solely pertain to the name, and all other elements of the game remain intact, preserving the immersive and enjoyable gaming experience you have come to love.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this modification, and we appreciate your understanding and continued support as we navigate this transition. Our primary focus remains on providing you with exceptional gaming content and fostering a positive and inclusive gaming community.

Thank you for your unwavering loyalty and enthusiasm. We look forward to embarking on this new chapter with you, under the game's new title, as we continue to create unforgettable memories together.

Stay tuned for more amazing stories from Untold Tales and Demagog Studio.

[Spud Crowley]

i really wish somebody from inXile would comment.

[3quarks]

lol
playing e-golf is stupid
so who cares
come to think of it, I really wish somebody from inXile really did it just for sh1ts and giggles.

[Spud Crowley]

bueller

[valium]

Why would they comment? They do not have a trademark on the word wasteland. Seems strange to even lay this at their feet.

[Spud Crowley]

because if it wasn't them they could easily say it wasn't us. monster energy doesn't own the word monster but that doesn't stop them from making games change their names. immortals fenix rising was called gods and monsters before monster made them change it. somebody in games made golfclub wasteland change their name and right now the most likely culprit is inXile.

[Du-Vu]

Somebody in Microsoft's legal department got overzealous since the buyout, would be my guess. You probably won't get an answer here, though. I'd imagine there's nobody who's job it still is to monitor this game's Steam forums too closely anymore, 3 years after release. Could message support for inXile or MS, maybe? Or go on social media if that's still a thing people do.

[3quarks]

Originally posted by Spud Crowley:

bueller

imma get a day off

[Spud Crowley]

i asked on twitter and was ignored. i am ready to settle on inXile definitely did it.

[Spud Crowley]

i really liked golf club wasteland and was looking forward to playing wasteland 3 but there's zero chance i will be able to get this out of my head while playing it and i kinda hope every future venture of inXile's fails miserably js.

[valium]

Might as well boycott Tony Hawk as well, makes as much sense to blame Tony Hawk American Wasteland as it is inXile.

[Spud Crowley]

well since i don't have tony hawk american wasteland nor do i plan on playing it, i'm in the clear.

[Zoopy]

I know this thread is quite old, but this was 100% inXile who forced the name change. Brian Fargo has a long history of complaining about any game that uses the word "Wasteland" in its title. Whenever an indie game does it, they go after them and force them to change the name. It's happened with Wasteland Kings (now Nuclear Throne), Alien Wasteland (Alien Action), Don't Escape: 4 Days in a Wasteland (Don’t Escape: 4 Days to Survive), Wasteland Raiders (Raiders! Forsaken Earth).

And this is 100% Brian Fargo, because he's the one that always complains about it.

In 2016 he whined because Bethesda named their FO4 DLC "Wasteland Workshop".

https://x.com/brianfargo/status/717412541287104512

He didn't go after them, though, because he knew that Bethesda's lawyers would slap the hell out of his little company. He only goes after small, indie companies who don't have the resources for prolonged legal battles.

[Mr. Lambert]

Originally posted by Zoopy:

I know this thread is quite old, but this was 100% inXile who forced the name change. Brian Fargo has a long history of complaining about any game that uses the word "Wasteland" in its title. Whenever an indie game does it, they go after them and force them to change the name. It's happened with Wasteland Kings (now Nuclear Throne), Alien Wasteland (Alien Action), Don't Escape: 4 Days in a Wasteland (Don’t Escape: 4 Days to Survive), Wasteland Raiders (Raiders! Forsaken Earth).

And this is 100% Brian Fargo, because he's the one that always complains about it.

In 2016 he whined because Bethesda named their FO4 DLC "Wasteland Workshop".

https://x.com/brianfargo/status/717412541287104512

He didn't go after them, though, because he knew that Bethesda's lawyers would slap the hell out of his little company. He only goes after small, indie companies who don't have the resources for prolonged legal battles.

Don't act like a clown. They clearly DO own the word "Wasteland" when it comes to gaming. They have not only a right but a legal obligation to defend their IP in the word wth respect to gaming. If someone else uses your copyrighted property and you don't actively defend your rights, you LOSE them under U.S. law. Not actively defending your rights is taken, legally, as meaning you are not really actively using it, which means you forfeit your rights. They own the word in gaming because they got it first and because other games using the word creates the potential for confusion, which is a basic requirement under IP law. Someone sells a game named Golf Wasteland, people see it and wonder if inXile had anything to do with it or if it is past of the Wasteland universe.