[LEGAL STUFF] From the past

[_Shadow_]

Saw another thread but did'n hijacked, tempting though, so here I am, making a new thread.

I know which RPG Maker edition is illegal and which is legal. After all, it's easy to spot them since the legal ones cost some money and can be bought from well known places like the official online shop or Steam. End of discussion. I also know that legal ones outside Japan are XP, VX and VX Ace SOLD on legit places. I get it. I got a Steam version and I am really happy I bought it. I love the software and deserves the money. 

What I really wanna know is if there is a way to know if a game is legal of illegal according to the Engine edition?

I will explain what I mean.

Yeah ok, if someone uses resources without permission, the game is illegal.

Let's not talk about that, while having an illegal copy of the engine makes the default content illegal too and I also understand that. Assuming the person uses 100% legal content, is there a way to KNOW if a game was made using an illegal engine edition?

For instance, let's say a japanese guy got a legal copy of RPG Maker 2000.

Let's say he used it to make a game with legal content.

Is there a possibility that he could make a version in English with English fonts?

Because in that case, the end user will be unable to determine which game is a derivative of an illegal copy of the engine. Am I right?

I mean, the guy paid for a legit copy of the software and if he used it to make a game using english fonts it might passunder the radar.

Is there a place that there will be SURELY japanese letters (like a non editable menu or part of a menu) that we can spot if the game is made using pirated software?

For what I know, If you change RGSS scripts to show English fonts, it might be impossible for the gamer to determine what is legal or not. 

Bring me an engine anytime and I can tell you if it is legal or not.

For instance using an "English version" of the Engine with scripts in Japanese... well something is wrong here. Dead giveaway.  Actually I have seen an instant ban of such a guy somewhere. 

But there is a problem here.

Since one of the forum rules is not promoting illegal stuff and the penalty is instant ban, the problem is that a member, especially a newcomer who doesn't know a lot, might not have the appropriate information to determine if a game made by an RPG Maker edition is legal or not. Thus this person might endanger him/herself in a potential ban or something, by saying for instance "Wow take a look at this game, it is cool!".

I can understand that the rule was made for people who might promote rips and illegal copies of software and stuff that could mean instant trouble for the forum staff anyway. 

But if most of the time, people don't bother to see legal stuff.   Actually I read EULAS only if my actions have to do with production of stuff.  Like music for instance. I got a piece of fine software, not cheap but worth every Euro. I have read the "Reason" EULA and now I use it and I am really pleased to even contribute stuff I make with it here. I also read the VX Ace EULA and all the Terms of Use of the packs of resources I got. Because I HAVE TO KNOW these stuff FIRST, before I go on. If I am not sure about something, I ask.

On the other hand... when was the last time you read an EULA of a video game before accepting it? 

Yeah, me neither. I just press Aceept to dive into the game as soon as possible.

Is it right? NO. But still it is really a common phenomenon. 

So here comes a sum of questions that rise:

1] Is it possible to make a full in English game using RPG Maker 2000 or 2003 or XP?

2] Can you determine as a gamer if a game made using 2000, 2003, XP, VX or VX Ace is made using a legit copy of the software? 

3] In case [2] has a bunch of "YES"es, how can we tell without doing stuff against EULA? (Remember reverse engineering is prohibited).

4] Is it against the rules of this forum to talk about such games?

5] If there was no bad intentions, would a user be banned for talking about games like this? 

For your reference, the question came to my mind from this thread, because I wanted to talk about the mentioned game, but on the other hand, I am not sure if it is against the rules:

http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/34296-ib/

Thank you for your time and sorry for the long post, but since my English is not my native language, I wanted to be as clear as I could, so many words was my only weapon here really. 

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

1) XP has legal english version, you can even buy it here.

 

[Andar]

1) yes to all - you just have to be able to read the japanese editor while programming the game in english, and be good enough to translate the vocabs as well (those are not in the database)


2) not really, especially not if it's encrypted


3) you can't


4) yes and no


Topics will be closed if you require support for old makers (no matter if legal or not, because Degica only sells the newer makers)


Talking about questionable games is not prohibited, as long as you don't link to them and don't promote them and especially not promote piracy itself


5) Please grant us that we have some common sense....


To get a real instaban you'll have to go really far, like linking to a site that gives shop resources for free.


In all cases where we suspect the use of an illegal engine, the poster gets a chance to prove that he purchased the engine before being banned - AND he or she has the option of getting unbanned simply by providing that proof later (including purchasing it later).


Just because you do not see the discussions in the hidden boards and the PMs, that doesn't is the same as a real instaban the second we see something. In several cases the discussions about some cases took days or weeks (for example when someone copied scripts from someone else and changed the credits to claim ownership and we needed to sort out who really wrote the script first).


And no, I will not tell you how we determine if something is legal or not (for obvious reasons)

 

[_Shadow_]

1) XP has legal english version, you can even buy it here.

Thanks but as I said I know this already. :3

I mention this one since there was an illegal copy out there. Thus some games might be made out of it.

Fortunately, the company published XP, VX and later VX Ace so we can enjoy it, at last.

I have both XP and VX Ace ( I mean legal copies on Steam).

Dear @Andar:

4] "Talking about questionable games is not prohibited, as long as you don't link to them and don't promote them and especially not promote piracy itself".

Well this is common sense. Indeed.

5] "Please grant us that we have some common sense...."

Of course I do grant you that. I actually never saw a more nice and friendly community. Not that I have a lot of experience with forums, but still participating in different communities give you an idea about what is good and what isn't. And I really like you people. So I give you more than common sense.

About the instant ban policy, and the chances of unban and stuff, good to know that.

The banned guy I mentioned had an illegal copy of the maker, and of course was instantly asked why the scripts were in japanese before got banned.The guy never replied to that so.... busted. I confirm that cause I remember it.

You do speak the truth. Never wanted to state that you don't discuss stuff like that.

I don't try to start a drama like "you don't let us speak freely" and stuff like that here,

I just wanna know where the red line is, just so I will not get banned by discussing a game that might, without my knowledge being made by illegal means. And since I can never be sure about it, as you already confirmed that, the question turns out to be:

"Can I discuss or even say a good word about a game, that might potentially been made without a legal copy of the software?"

A good word counts as promotion, thus it might sound like promoting piracy, or a derivative of a pirated copy and stuff like that, so it is a potential red line. That's what I was asking about.     

"And no, I will not tell you how we determine if something is legal or not (for obvious reasons) "

Yes I understand that.

I will have faith then in the common sense I have granted you people long ago anyway.

But please @Andar just remember this post and please,

grant me that if I will ever say a good word about a game,

that might not be made without legal issues,

is not intended to promote stuff like piracy or something.

That's what my thread is all about.

I take such issues seriously. Since I am also an artist and a graduate academic plagiarism is a sin for me. I would feel embarrassment if I would ever be accused of piracy promotion and stuff and mostly if I ever, even without intention, do such a thing.   

Sorry if something was offending. English is not my native language and some people told me in the past that sometimes what I write seems a little... crude or something. I got good intentions though always. 

You really have to cover yourself as a moderator and Internet is full of jerks, I get that @Andar.

I just state I am not one of them, or at least i try.   

So firstly thanks for your time and also please clarify me if it's ok to say good words (I will avoid links to be safe) for a game I played, as long as I talk about my gaming experience and nothing more. (I am talking about other people's games, if a game is mine I know what is going on since it is ME who writes the Credits and I make sure everyone is mentioned).

Cheers mate and once again, I apologize if I sounded strange, offending or just plain stupid. 

 

[Shaz]

To get a real instaban you'll have to go really far, like linking to a site that gives shop resources for free.


In all cases where we suspect the use of an illegal engine, the poster gets a chance to prove that he purchased the engine before being banned - AND he or she has the option of getting unbanned simply by providing that proof later (including purchasing it later).

Not quite. We don't always give someone a chance to provide proof before they are banned. Sometimes they will be banned immediately, and sometimes we don't even need to discuss it with other mods. Sometimes it's just obvious they're using a pirated engine. When they next log in, they are given a notification that they're banned for suspected use of a pirated engine, and are given instructions on what to do if they want their account unbanned.


I think in the three years I've been here, there has only been one person who had been banned for using a pirated engine when they actually weren't. They followed the instructions given and were unbanned.