Why do people make fangames?

[yamina-chan]

There's no such thing as necroposting on here. :P

For this thread, I agree since aparently many people have something to say but for our forum in generall...really? Then why have I been told that this is not wanted here? I remember seeing comments in threads about it as well I think.
Back on Topic: Legality of course is a big thing to considder with fangames. Especially when people want money for it. (I've seen that. But at least that should be logical, that you do NOT pay for a fangame.)

[Cloak of Laser Cannon]

Well, I usually get obsessed and stuff with the games and their characters, so making fangames just feels normal. It's a strange form of tribute. The problem is, most of my fangame ideas are crossovers. None as ridiculous as the ones an earlier poster mentioned, but still kinda silly. They are usually limited to just "game" crossovers. Even as a kid, sometimes I loved comparing similar things, that weren't actually related. In a crossover, I can take that to a new level. Like, Mega Man X getting a new power from defeating a member of Foxhound. I can make three completely different characters named King all appear in the same game. I don't know, stuff like that amuses me a little. Of course I have my own ideas, but well...when I tried my own game, it's like...MUSIC. It was a pretty big blow. I can do almost all of the other work myself, but my musical attempts are horrendous. I don't want to settle for RTP music (even though I like it) and so far I'm too "proud" to ask for help (and I'm not willing to spend money on that, and I don't want to take up someone else's time, and maybe no one would help me anyway, and maybe they'll get burnt out from the work, lose interest, and not contact me for years...?)

-Making a FanGame is easier then an original because the Characters and the world allready exist.
-Making a FanGame is harder then an original because the Characters and the world allready exist.

That's the way I see it too! Sometimes it's really hard to get a character's personality right. If you have your own character, you don't have to worry as much about getting things right (but if you are careless you might make unrealistic characters) I usually do a bit of research when I'm gonna to write a character in for a fangame (play the game again, look up text dumps from the game, see what other people have to say about the characters...it's a lot of work!)

Tell that to Square Enix. They have a history of cease and desist orders.

Well, wasn't that mainly just for two Chrono Trigger fangames? One being a complete remake and the other being a rom HACK? Neither one was simply a "fangame". One was making a copy of the original in a somewhat different form (3D) and the other was using hacked ROM files to make a game. I don't know how much difference it makes to them, but to me, that says something.

[Kain Nobel]

There was a Super Mario RPG fan game a while back, from what I remember it was very well received, I think it even nominated for a "Project of the Year" award. Yes, with RPG Maker.

A group of fans put in some excellent work on a free Chrono Trigger remake, in full 3D, but Square came down hard on them. Yet, when a Chinese company did an NES-style remake of Final Fantasy 7, apparently there was no issues about it. Maybe they got the license and permission before-hand? Maybe Square doesn't mind bad fan games but gets enraged when somebody outdoes them... for free? Not sure the issue, but I guess I can understand.

I look up to those who put in work to make excellent fan games. Personally, I find it more rewarding to do your own thing and not have to worry about content that didn't originate in my mind, but if I ever did a fan game it would be for the love of the series and for the learning experience.

[MetalRenard]

Chaotech Games, what was that sonic game called? ^^

[NnsNightshade]

Companies DO have a problem with fangames sometimes. It depends on the scope of the game usually. Its always safer just to write for permission. Most companies that I've delt with were fairly nice~ even if they said no.

[Hsia_Nu]

I remember when Square Enix shutdown the Chrono Trigger remake project. These guys went all out and wrote there own development kit and everything. They built a fully robust 3D engine and it was awesome. Project got nix'd though once Square found out. They had their website shutdown, threatened legal action and all kinds of stuff.

[RosyPosy]

Fangames if they are not sold are not illegal. They cant touch you less you intend to sell.
What Square did wasnt right.

Makinga fan game is protected by the same laws that protect youtube videos, cover songs and fan art.

[DerVVulfman]

Sorry, but it's that a fan game is using copyrighted material owned by a person or entity. Their material being used without permission is what allowed Square to force the cease and desist order. They did have the right.

And no, fangames are not really protected. If you look for certain youtube videos, you may find some removed because the artists or companies didn't approve of the postings. I've personally seen a couple removed for that reason.

[NnsNightshade]

Fangames are NOT protected by law if you want to get into legality of it. Will companies do anything over small fangames? Probably not, but they are technically illegal and the companies COULD take legal action if they wanted to. I think the laws for fanart/fanfiction and those for fangames differ quite a bit~~, but that's from my own research from forever ago and maybe the laws have changed.

I think the reason fanart/fanfictions aren't like sought against are because they don't really take away directly from the market. A game is an interactive media. To put it plainly~~~ a fangame would maybe become more popular over an existing game/anime/manga series than say, a piece of art or fiction and become more of a competition than a contribution. ^^;; I still think itd like depend on the scope of the project. Huge 3d fan gaes or online fangames are probably more apt to be shut down than a stick figure sidescroller that wont get much attention.

[MagitekElite]

They are also trying to get it so fanart and fanfiction cannot be made anymore as well, so soon doing that for games or series or books, will be illegal and you will face legal action. Some kind of law that the biggest companies want, I do believe.