Bionicle: Masks of Energy – a fan recreation that has been in improvement for eight years – has been shut down following a request from The LEGO Group, its builders declare.
In an announcement launched to the general public via a Google Doc, the workforce broke down the state of affairs for followers who’ve been ready to really play the sport in spite of everything this time. The devs, who have been making ready to drop a demo this August, declare that LEGO reached out to request they shut down improvement on the challenge and take away the sport from the general public eye.
Within the assertion, the workforce expressed its historic intention to maintain in keeping with the official LEGO Honest Play Pointers, as to not draw the attention of an authorized motion from LEGO seeking to defend its copyright. Regardless of these intentions, the hammer has seemingly come down. Whereas it says no official cause for the takedown was given, the workforce suspects that it was as a result of the typical individual might mistake the sport for an official recreation, relatively than a fan challenge. It appears this fan recreation was a sufferer of its personal good search engine optimisation.
In response to the information, the event workforce has launched a walkthrough of the demo, and has determined to type a brand new indie studio: Unmasked Video games. That title is nice by the best way, hinting in direction of its Bionicle roots however taking the masks off for future endeavors. They conclude the assertion with the next: “This has been heartbreaking information for our complete workforce, however we’re additionally extremely enthusiastic about what the long run has in retailer, and for what we’ll get the prospect to create subsequent. We hope that you simply’re all simply as excited as we’re. For the ultimate time… Might the Nice Spirit information you.”
Bionicle has been a lifeless IP product line since 2010 by the best way. That is the final time any precise toys have been produced by The LEGO group. There was a sequence of comics written by Greg Farshtey, although that has additionally been lifeless for over a decade. It is clear that the Bionicle IP is scorching sizzling, one thing LEGO is clearly doing so much with. Sarcasm apart, such are the methods of authorized departments. IP have to be protected, even for IP that has had no improvement or frankly relevancy for over a decade. That’s, other than a comparatively small group of followers who have been, till very not too long ago, excited for a brand new fan recreation. Rattling disgrace!
It is a bummer. It is a widespread perception that one of the best ways to strategy making fan video games is to “shut the f**k up“, however clearly not all fan challenge groups have the luxurious of silence and a sudden shadow drop earlier than any stop and desist can come via and destroy all of the enjoyable. Nonetheless, if you happen to have been excited for Masks of Energy, why not give the oldsters at Unmasked Video games some love, and assist them going ahead.
We have reached out to The LEGO Group for remark, and can replace this text if and after we get a response.
When’s the final time you even considered Bionicle, this fan recreation apart? Tell us beneath.
