Save Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes

Old-skool wrote:Important update to all you people concerned about Crimson Echoes:

A fan of the series who also has experience in law has taken some interest in the details of Square's letters. He is not defending the team, nor could he. He is only versed in literature claims and has offered to analyze the letter, see what Square means by what. In the meantime, some members believe that Squeenix sent the letter in error, confusing Crimson Echoes with a means to crack the antipiracy measures on Chrono Trigger DS.

It should be noted that Crimson Echoes was a hack of the 1995 Super Famicom title, not the 2008 rerelease. It also could not get around the 2008 game's anti piracy measures.

I don't know why this is encouraging at all. The letter is brief and to-the-point -- there isn't much to be interpreted.

This is what happens when you have a forum full of Chrono Trigger fans fighting against the law. Lots of people are willing to offer "any help they can", but unfortunately most successful lawyers probably don't follow Chrono Trigger fan games. The "help" will probably take the form of pseudo (useless) legal advice and maybe a few emails to Square-Enix. That isn't enough when SE has such a solid legal case. :shrug:

From CT:CE's own readme file:

"ROM altering and modification is illegal, and the demo has been made without the consent of Square Enix... Should Square Enix perceive the project as a threat... Kajar Laboratories will immediately cease operation on the project and comply with Square Enix's orders."

It sucks, and I think its lame that SE is sabotaging their fan-base, but the developers have NO legal basis to fight back. The best they can hope to do is spread the word and try to embarrass SE into rescinding the letter.

Well, I guess this just goes to show (as DFW pointed out): if you want to start a large fan game project and REALLY want it to be released, then work on it in private, don't release a demo, and don't post tantalizing website updates every time you update something (which tells the company the exact extent of your infringement). In other words, keep it quiet.

I know that's practically an impossible task to ask of fans, but it's what ya gotta do in order to finish your project. Although, I do wonder whether the company's retribution would be more heavy-handed if the "damage" had already been done by the time they caught wind of it...

Oh, and also: ROM-hacking in particular is especially impossible to defend, since it is directly reliant on the company's original code as well as their creative ideas. To tell the truth, I think the only reason ZC has never been targeted is because it poses no real threat to the profit of any of their current titles... so unless the pipe dream of ZC on a handheld really comes true, we're relatively safe. :P

isent there a way we can get them to retract it and let them release it or they could allways go underground as someone said b4 me and release it on a site were enix's hands cant reach like Finland or Russia

Beldaran wrote:They should just pay someone $20 to "steal" the game from them and upload it to piratebay. And then they can throw up their arms and be all "damn, we got robbed. Sorry Square."

im with you on this i really wanna play it lol