Bionicle: Masks of Energy – a fan sport 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 scenario for followers who’ve been ready to really play the sport in spite of everything this time. The devs, who had been making ready to drop a demo this August, declare that LEGO reached out to request they shut down improvement on the mission 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 Truthful Play Tips, 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 particular person could mistake the sport for an official sport, reasonably than a fan mission. It appears this fan sport was a sufferer of its personal good website positioning.
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 identify is nice by the way in which, hinting in the 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 longer term has in retailer, and for what we’ll get the possibility to create subsequent. We hope that you just’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 way in which. That is the final time any precise toys had been produced by The LEGO group. There was a collection 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 scorching, one thing LEGO is clearly doing so much with. Sarcasm apart, such are the methods of authorized departments. IP should be protected, even for IP that has had no improvement or frankly relevancy for over a decade. That’s, apart from a comparatively small group of followers who had been, till very just lately, excited for a brand new fan sport. Rattling disgrace!
It is a bummer. It is a widespread perception that one of the simplest ways to method making fan video games is to “shut the f**k up“, however clearly not all fan mission groups have the posh of silence and a sudden shadow drop earlier than any stop and desist can come by way of and smash all of the enjoyable. Nonetheless, if you happen to had been excited for Masks of Energy, why not give the oldsters at Unmasked Video games some love, and help them going ahead.
We have reached out to The LEGO Group for remark, and can replace this text if and once we get a response.
When’s the final time you even thought of Bionicle, this fan sport apart? Tell us under.