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Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

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Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#31

Post by pak »

kghose wrote: post #20

I'm on Mac OS X Lion and Firefox. I lost my cursor after I loaded this page. So now, when Firefox (any firefox window) is active my cursor disappears. It returns when I make some other app active. This sometimes happens on Chrome and Flickr, so I wonder if there is some HTML5 thing that is buggy for FF and Chrome? Any one else with this issue?

I've had this happen to me on Chrome. It was definitely a browser bug, because restarting the browser resolved it. I first noticed it when I was working on a web page with complicated CSS rules for 'cursor'. If I had to guess, it has to do with loading custom .cur or .gif files as the cursor, since it didn't seem to happen unless I tried to do that. However, it was very sporadic and I could never get a reproducible minimal test case.

Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#32

Post by rmc »

artmageddon wrote: post #18
roschdal wrote: post #16

I would advise you to stop working on this project immediately, and instead focus your efforts on creating a game with original game content. EA owns the trademarks and copyright to the material. You'll be much better off by starting your own project, instead of cloning a commercial product. Yes, the source code of command and conquer might have been released by EA, but EA still owns the trademaks. (speaking as someo…

I can see EA getting up in arms over a game like this since they are still selling Command & Conquer Games (Tiberian Dawn was part of Command & Conquer: The First Decade which came out a few years ago), but what about for other games that aren't being sold? The author here is giving proper attribution and isn't making any money off of it, as far as I understand. What about remaking games from companies that don't exi…

There was an article on HN recently about how many people (esp. young people) have a different idea about copyright from the law, and seem to think that so long as you attribute something, and especially if it's not taking sales away, then it's OK. That is one idea of copyright, the law has a different idea.

In short, the Command and Conquer trademark is still in use, so EA are legally required to sue you.

The copyright on the art work is fully covered or for the next 50 years (or maybe more).

It doesn't matter if the company doesn't exist anymore (their assets, incl. IP) belong to someone. It doesn't matter if a copyrighted content is not being commerical exploited anymore, it's still copyright.

If this sounds outragous to you, talk to your politicans, read Free Culture by Lessig, talk to a Pirate Party.

Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#33

Post by rmc »

robertmrangel wrote: post #27
roschdal wrote: post #16

I would advise you to stop working on this project immediately, and instead focus your efforts on creating a game with original game content. EA owns the trademarks and copyright to the material. You'll be much better off by starting your own project, instead of cloning a commercial product. Yes, the source code of command and conquer might have been released by EA, but EA still owns the trademaks. (speaking as someo…

I'm in a similar boat.. I'm trying to recreate Squad Leader by Avalon Hill in a browser. I think Hasbro might own the trademark, but I don't think copyright applies to game rules: http://www.battle-board.com/minisl/ If they send a cease and desist I guess I'll just take it offline. I don't think there are any damages in my case, but I'd still hate to be sued!

Probably not game rules, but be careful with logos (of the game and of game pieces).

Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#34

Post by cpeterso »

larrydag wrote: post #26
twelvechairs wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or Herzog Zwei or perhaps earlier games (Ancient Art of War anyone?). (sadly I guess this discussion somehow has to come up every time someone mentions the word RTS.)

How about Command HQ and Dan Bunton's games http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_HQ . I'm pretty sure Ancient Art of War predates that though. I'm showing my age.

Command HQ was 1990. The Ancient Art of War was way back in 1984!

The Ancient Art of War was an awesome game. I started working on a clone for iOS, but I got lazy. <:)

Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#35

Post by eru »

rmc wrote: post #33
robertmrangel wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in a similar boat.. I'm trying to recreate Squad Leader by Avalon Hill in a browser. I think Hasbro might own the trademark, but I don't think copyright applies to game rules: http://www.battle-board.com/minisl/ If they send a cease and desist I guess I'll just take it offline. I don't think there are any damages in my case, but I'd still hate to be sued!

Probably not game rules, but be careful with logos (of the game and of game pieces).

And careful with the names, too.

Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#36

Post by eru »

phalasz wrote: post #5
swombat wrote: post #3

C&C is not the "grandaddy" of RTS. Dune 2 is.

Still it is EPIC especially in HTML5. Quite impressed how far you can go with HTML5 and javascript :)

You can probably make StarCraft in the browser, too. If you remove the nostalgia filter, that's a much better game than Command & Conquer. (I enjoyed both back then.)

Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#37

Post by eru »

Serentiynow wrote: post #13

ea is making the same thing. http://www.ea.com/tiberium-alliances Command and Conquer Tiberium Alliances brings the battle to your browser in this epic strategy MMO. Compete or ally with your friends in a worldwide war for precious resources. Based in the Command and Conquer Tiberium story world, C&C Tiberium Alliances allows players to experience C&C in a brand new way. Using HTML 5 technology, players are able to a…

You should have probably marked the citation somewhat more.

Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#38

Post by eru »

user9756 wrote: post #22
samwillis wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't matter if its a dupe of something everyone missed before and people up vote it this time. So much stuff gets submitted now that links are only on the first page of the new list for a few minutes and can easily be missed. This time its hit at the right time and there could be a good discussion about it.

I agree with your argument, but why is he being down voted? All he did was to point out that this article has been published before. Maybe there are some interesting comments in the "dupe" thread? (in this case no, but you get the point) I'm still new to HN and I find the up/down vote behaviour rather peculiar from time to time. This is such a time.

Oh, it's probably best not to value the early voting too much. It usually balances out to something sensible over time.

Providing a bit more context in your post would have probably helped.

Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#39

Post by jiggy2011 »

scriptproof wrote: post #15

Very interesting. These games in the browser will change the world for gamers.

Like the flash/java games we've had for the last ~12 years?

I'll be impressed when we get a full 3D FPS/RTS with full shader effects.

Re: Command and Conquer – Programming an RTS game in HTML5 and Javascript

#40

Post by molmalo »

swombat wrote: post #3

C&C is not the "grandaddy" of RTS. Dune 2 is.

I thought the same thing, and even went to YouTube, just to feel a little nostalgic for a moment :)

I remember having to move one unit at a time. That alone required some skill!! =)

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