Epic vs. Silicon Knights

[Aeni]

For you would-be developers and avid video programming gurus, here's a technical look at the on-going lawsuit:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=15097

"Epic intentionally and wrongfully has used the fees from [Unreal Engine 3 licensees] to launch its own game to widespread commercial success while simultaneously sabotaging efforts by Silicon Knights and others to develop their own video games"

The .pdfs for the technical aspects and Epic's counterclaims of this case can be found on the article's site. For the .pdf of the SK complaint itself, refer to link below:

http://kotaku.com/gaming/breaking/si...-us-280491.php

Silicon Knights was kind enough to send along both their formal press release concerning their suit against Epic and the actual suit itself.

According to the suit, which seems more than $75,000, Epic Games misrepresented the abilities of their Unreal Engine 3 when selling the license agreement to Silicon Knights. The suit says that Epic failed to "provide a working game engine" to Silicon causing them to "experience considerable losses."

I just find the whole thing ... reek of politics. Since when did the video gaming industry resort to mudslinging tactics like this? Did the lessons of the telecom industry during the internet boom ring hollow with all the other industries?

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Epic vs. Silicon Knights

So this means Too Human will be set back another 10 years?

[PhiberOpticks]

Re: Epic vs. Silicon Knights

I just find the whole thing ... reek of politics. Since when did the video gaming industry resort to mudslinging tactics like this? Did the lessons of the telecom industry during the internet boom ring hollow with all the other industries?

It's not mudslinging at all. The claim is feasible but I don't know the details about whether or not it will hold up in court. And I highly doubt that this is a court case worthy of the Supreme Court's intervention. Judging from the price of the suit alone, it doesn't seem like a get-rich-quick scheme. Not like the judge who sued for tens of millions of dollars over a pair of pants.

So this means Too Human will be set back another 10 years?

SK said the game was progressing as planned. They simply revamped the engine to suit them better, as far as I know.

[Malacite]

Re: Epic vs. Silicon Knights

Not like the judge who sued for tens of millions of dollars over a pair of pants.

And is quite likely to lose his job for being such an idiot ^_^

[jwalton]

Re: Epic vs. Silicon Knights

Irrational Games, Mistwalker, Midway Games, Square-Enix, and numerous other developers with licenses seem to not be having problems with Unreal Engine 3. Hmm... I wonder what the problem is.

[Manatra]

Re: Epic vs. Silicon Knights

Irrational Games, Mistwalker, Midway Games, Square-Enix, and numerous other developers with licenses seem to not be having problems with Unreal Engine 3. Hmm... I wonder what the problem is.

It's not about problems with the engine, it's about contractual obligations that Epic failed to meet according to Silicon Knights.

Silicon Knights was one of the first adopters of UE3, if I remember correctly.