MOD Annoucement: Dawn of the Dead - Team members needed

[Hilfy]

After seeing the movie..and fiddling with the amazing SandBox editor, I'm in the beginning planning stage for a single player TC Mod (with Possible MP Co-op if possible).

I mainly need folks who can model, as I'm pretty deficient in that area. Texture artist is already covered with an amazling local artist friend of mine, who also can also model and animate. Story, sound, and level design I'm keeping to myself for the time being until I get a full game plan written out, but if I'm right I'll need folks with those talents as well. Script coders too as those are a mystery to me as of yet...as probably they are to most folks at this point http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Base info:

# of 'Levels' between 10-15 in mostly urban and rual settings in America. Timeline follows that of the movie.

Basic Story outline:
Protagonist is ex Special forces/black ops (Yeah, kinda like FC but I'm thinking more along the lines of a retired Sam Fisher http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif ) whos living in a small town outside a major American city. Catch is he knows what's causing the dead to walk, having had experience with small scale outbreaks that were contained and hushed up in the 1960s and late 80s. (Following the other movies however I'm taking some creative liberty since the only real connection will be the resurection gas) Our hero knows that all is lost given the scale of the outbreak. The question is how, why, and who. More detail as the story is fleshed out.

IF anyone is interested in the above roles please e-mail at via ncequine AT Hotmail.com or respond to this thread. This isn't 100% go yet, that will depend on how realistic my goals are and how quickly I can learn the editor.

[Hilfy]

After seeing the movie..and fiddling with the amazing SandBox editor, I'm in the beginning planning stage for a single player TC Mod (with Possible MP Co-op if possible).

I mainly need folks who can model, as I'm pretty deficient in that area. Texture artist is already covered with an amazling local artist friend of mine, who also can also model and animate. Story, sound, and level design I'm keeping to myself for the time being until I get a full game plan written out, but if I'm right I'll need folks with those talents as well. Script coders too as those are a mystery to me as of yet...as probably they are to most folks at this point http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Base info:

# of 'Levels' between 10-15 in mostly urban and rual settings in America. Timeline follows that of the movie.

Basic Story outline:
Protagonist is ex Special forces/black ops (Yeah, kinda like FC but I'm thinking more along the lines of a retired Sam Fisher http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif ) whos living in a small town outside a major American city. Catch is he knows what's causing the dead to walk, having had experience with small scale outbreaks that were contained and hushed up in the 1960s and late 80s. (Following the other movies however I'm taking some creative liberty since the only real connection will be the resurection gas) Our hero knows that all is lost given the scale of the outbreak. The question is how, why, and who. More detail as the story is fleshed out.

IF anyone is interested in the above roles please e-mail at via ncequine AT Hotmail.com or respond to this thread. This isn't 100% go yet, that will depend on how realistic my goals are and how quickly I can learn the editor.

[Reppyboyoo]

shoulda done Shaun of the Dead http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[vannostrom1974]

Sounds like a great mod. I love zombies.

[fastsoth]

sound good

[OwenneiL]

yay zombies but i hope your talking about the orignal movie not the lame remake
then again who cares zombies!

[Hilfy]

Mmm..zombies http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

And yes, based on JR's original movie and the current re-make of Dawn of the Dead in theaters now. The entire "Dead" series spawned from Night of the Living Dead way back when...JR's and his co-producers split but they both retained copyrights. The mod's story is going to be present day but it will make reference to the Original NOTLD and the, IMHO, okay and somewhat goofy Return of the Living Dead.

As I said, I'll have to take some creative liberty with some aspects of the history and story as the movies are not really related except for Return of the Living Dead in which eveything gets started by one of the bodies that was forzen and stored from the original movie.

At this point, however, I'm probably going to do a demo level myself using the existing Far Cry models etc, a Proof of Concept level. There's going to be some significant AI behavior additions and changes too. Hmm..wonder if I can make it possible to bly body parts off. http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[eu4ria]

You might want to get clearence from whoever owns the game rights to this movie. Either that or call it something else and dont base to close on the movie. Otherwise you could end up getting sued and losing months of development work.

http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[The_Duggler99]

THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE IS NOT PRODUCTIVE.

Creative freedom of expression should always be allowed. and if it isn't, then do it anyway.

[eu4ria]

"Creative freedom of expression should always be allowed."
Yes it should be allowed but it is not creative if you just copy somebody elses work and call it your own without permission. I cant just take the cryendgine, change the splash screen to say the eu4ria engine and distribute it. There are copyright laws out that protect IPR. If you break these the big expensive lawyers at the movie company will come down on you like a ton of bricks from a great height and they WILL win as you do not have a leg to stand on.

http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Madmccoy]

You should probably change the name of the modification to avoid IP troubles; its possible to capture the theme of "Oh ****, DEAD PEOPLE ARE WALKING!" without having to go word-for-word copying of Dawn of the Dead.

Have you considered a Co-opish multiplayer mode in addition to singleplayer?

The objectives would be real easy. "Escape city before zombies eat you. Watch out for speedbumps." ;p

[Hilfy]

eu4ria:

The thing is, I don't give a you know what http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
Until I get a C&D order, Even then I'll push it before changing the name to get around it, I'm going to go right on doing it. I don't see Sci Fi cracking down on the BF1942 Stargate mods, etc etc. I'm not sure what the law states as far as fair use goes but I -think-, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, as long as you're not trying to make money off it and give proper credit to the creators and copyright holders etc. you're fairly safe. Though those Paramount twits went after Trek Fan sites a few years back, without much luck.

Anyways...

Madmccoy:

Oh yes http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif That's what I ment when I said Co-op if possible. MP player vs. Zombie or Humans would be pretty pointless in such a genre. And yes, objectives are mostly going to be fairly simple but it's the story and atmosphere of the game that will give it the creepy fun value. http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I think FC lends itself to a semi-stealthy game which will fit right in with trying to avoid zombies when ammo is scarce. http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Expect a nice balance between Bright days, Rainy days, and scary creepy nights. Story, thus far, will span several weeks or months.

[Madmccoy]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>The thing is, I don't give a you know what
Until I get a C&D order, Even then I'll push it before changing the name to get around it, I'm going to go right on doing it. I don't see Sci Fi cracking down on the BF1942 Stargate mods, etc etc. I'm not sure what the law states as far as fair use goes but I -think-, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, as long as you're not trying to make money off it and give proper credit to the creators and copyright holders etc. you're fairly safe. Though those Paramount twits went after Trek Fan sites a few years back, without much luck. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ask yourself this one question: Are you willing to scrap everything you and your team have done five or six months down the road *if* Paramount comes down on you?

You won't be able to change the name and think its peachy. Paramount will already have the proof that its a copy of one of their movies, with "just a name change to avoid &lt;yadda yadda yadda, gimme your money, I own your soul&gt;." The AvP mode that was "FOXed" is a prime example of this. They tried to start over from scratch, but by then, most of the team had lost the motivation.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>That's what I ment when I said Co-op if possible.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Okie. http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Devnullq2]

Just as long as you change the name/theme enough that it isn't a copyright issue...

[eu4ria]

Sometimes name changing is enough. The problem can be that if lawyers send u a C&D because u think you are in violation most ppl do not have the funds to fight it. EVEN if you are in the right and you just created a generic zombie game, if there lawyers wanted to get you they can. That is where it is always difficult for the little guy in these situations http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Madmccoy]

Yeah, but what if you've packed in alot of elements, names, and characters that were originally in the movie? Then you're going to have to go back in and gut the project to take these "copyright infringements" out.

[eu4ria]

The best bet would be simple survival horror theme. That way you are not constrained by anything except your imagination http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Hilfy]

It's not going to have any of the current or past movie characters etc in it. The base Story will be used from the first movie and, as mentioned before, start and take place at the same time as the current Dawn of the Dead. In anycase, it's way to early to even think beyond the basics. I'm having trouble making that freaking tunnel. http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[AcidOsmosis]

Um. Guys don't be stupid. If he isn't planning on making money on this and is only doing it for the enjoyment of making a mod then no one can sue him.

[eu4ria]

No you are very VERY wrong. Just because you dont charge for it doesn't make it ok.

[SS_ChessMess]

Take it from someone who has exprienced being 'foxed', you probably don't want to call it the same as what your modeling it after.

Hasbro nixed the GI Joe Mod for BF1942, Our BF1942/HL2 mod that recreated the Terminator universe was shut down by the movie studios... Sometimes you get lucky as the Star Wars BF1942 mod has and actually get permission to make the mod. I'd recommend seeking permission first, or just renaming the mod but keeping the same subject matter.

Best of luck,
ChessMess
Stratactic Studio

[Hilfy]

Yakity Smackity, my original statement holds http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif And I still need folks who are interested http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif