Spiral Knights - As my UI mod goes on... (Important ToS questions.)

As my UI mod goes on... (Important ToS questions.)

19 replies [Last post]

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 11:34

Autofire

I need to ask a few things about the ToS, all of which are in section 6:

1. reproduce, distribute, publicly display or perform, translate, modify, adapt, create derivative works from, deconstruct, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble in any manner Spiral Knights or any portion thereof, including but not limited to any character, graphic, associated software or proprietary communications protocol used by the software or any utilities, applications, emulators or tools derived therefrom;

Well, the thing is, there probably is already about 100+ people who could be secretly doing this already. Would it be better to have a highly wanted mod completely out in the open so that no one will deconstruct the game, or 100 people who have knowledge on how to do this and each of whom may decide at any time to start showing others how to deconstruct the game or giving them the tools to do it? My intention is to have a script or program to do the dirty work, so users who used this mod wouldn't learn anything about the graphics file architecture. (Either that or I would send you, the Spiral Dev Team, the mod so you could deal with it anyway you wish.)

On that note, this program wouldn't come with any of the files included in the game. It would only include files which have been removed. As it would unpack the old files, it would backup the current ones file so that players may freely switch between the two UI styles.

13. modify any files or use any game hacking/altering/cheating software or tools, including scripting or macroing software, or attempt to disassemble the game client and/or decipher the data transmissions between Spiral Knights' client and server. These activities will result in immediate termination of the Player's Account and may subject you to civil and/or criminal liability.

Technically, I'm not disassembling the client. I'm only changing things which are 100% out in the open. On an unrelated note, could using a macro make me a criminal? (Not that I use one...really I don't! Now I wish that it wasn't in my name. >.<)

14. engage in any behavior that is contrary to the 'spirit of the game' as defined by Three Rings in its sole discretion. This includes the manipulation of the game environment.

What is the 'spirit of the game' exactly? Is it graphics or something else?

I'm posting my questions here because maybe another community member may know more about the ToS than I do.

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 12:22

Mystrian

Send this to support.

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 12:24

Little-Juances

I think it's a simple generalization to avoid any problems and save a couple headaches.
Instead of having to pick wich modification is cheating and wich isn't, they just ban everything.

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 12:33

Mindfreaked

Think as them as a child with

Think as them as a child with asperger's.

If you add anything that they don't want from the full game = lol b&

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 16:56

Draycos

I remember there being a GM comment some time years ago that said they didn't want modding because people would see screenshots and videos of the game that are completely different from what it actually is.

That being said, unless someone is using a strange mod that allows people to make walls transparent, see the hitboxes of weapons or units, or otherwise change how the game works, modding should actually be endorsed, IMO.

For instance, someone modding the game's UI to fit their needs (moving healthbars, getting rid of that damned portrait, etc), recoloring things (or even adding more style to them- what if the brandishes were visually different, more than just recolors?), or changing sounds (making a hilarious Wario "BUUUAAAHHH" whenever someone dies, changing the crown pickup sounds to SMB coin sounds, making Vanaduke sound like TF2's Pyro) are all completely harmless things that are just for fun. They don't break anything, they just change it around. The game is the same game.

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 17:54

Hero-Of-Cheese

BUUUAAA

Imagine how many times that sound would set of when players first face JK XD

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 21:28

Hakumenhuku

Hmm...

Sounds like a good idea! I'm not against modding, and hopefully they won't see yours as a threat.

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 01:58

Krakob

http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Terms_of_Service#Questions_and_Suggestions

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 02:19

Mtax

Ur making UI mod? Screw ToS! Gimme... GIMME IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!11!!1!!!!!!!!!!!!111111!11!1!111!1!!111111!1111oneoneoneoneoneoneoneoneoneoneone

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 08:17

Autofire

You are experiencing a PICNIC ERROR!

Durp...k I'll ask them directly.

Mtax, check the Treasure Vault. >.> This isn't really a thread to talk about my mod.

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 09:28

#10

Asukalan

Lets be honest, if OOO will

Lets be honest, if OOO will tell you its against ToS to fix their terrible UI will you stop developing retro UI even for your own use or for your close friends?

The only way for GM to spot this is either if you will show off around with screenshots or you will confess that you did it.

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 09:35

#11

Mystrian

The new UI is not that bad. The Game Masters are doing a good job! The new UI doesn't even change how you play the game.

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 09:48

#12

Sweet-Hope

Maybe for few isnt bad.. maybe for other is awesome, but there some stuff i really dont get why its THERE...

I mean whats the purpose of that BIG KNIGHT PORTRAIT. if you know whats its purpose i would gladly hear it. (and yeah i know there are the party options... but was really necessary to PUT A BIG KNIGHT PORTRAIT FOR IT? what was wrong with the small knight portrait like the OLD UI have?)

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 11:57

#13

Autofire

You are experiencing a PICNIC ERROR!

Woah woah waoh, since people want to keep on talking about the UI, I'll join.

First off, The only way for GM to spot this is either if you will show off around with screenshots or you will confess that you did it.

Yes, I'll stop, but that won't stop other players from doing the same thing. I'd rather have a few people do this so that others don't have to even learn of the core files. Come on, the only way to stop them would be to bar down on the security of the game. (Which would definitely lag it.) I don't think it will be possible at this point to stop people from either creating mods and/or passing them around secretly.

The new UI is not that bad. The Game Masters are doing a good job! The new UI doesn't even change how you play the game.

I agree! However, I also agree with the other side of the argument: in compairson, the old UI is better IMO. I loved the simplistic style which wasn't like any other MMO to date, and so did many others. Many players have fallen in love with the old UI, and are leaving because their favorite thing about the game was the UI itself. My brother argues with me on this, saying those players are silly and should leave anyway. However, he bought a certain game because he loved the music. If the creators of the game changed the game's music, would he be mad? YES! If someone comes along who had the potential to love the old music but it's no longer there, would they just pass it up? YES! It would capture a much larger audience to have both, so the ones who love modern can go their way and so can the ones who love the old style.

The big portrait? It's up there because many other games have stuff like that. Not nearly so big, I know, but they have it anyway. They're trying to copy other games as far as I can see. On that note, however, I am not going to get rid of this portrait, as that is entering the realm of "Modding to make the game easier" because you can see more. Yeah, I know, it's a bit lame, but anything to increase the odds of a yes will be thrown in there.

All in all, they can say no to me, but I believe saying yes will help the game. Any of you who like the new UI can ignore us. It's the people I know love the old UI who matter when focusing on this mod.

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 12:05

#14

Krakob

I think the new UI is for better and worse. I just wish health, shield, and that would be moved to where it was earlier as I can't determine my health with as great accuracy as before at all times.

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 14:51

#15

Mystrian

So not like this?

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 16:30

#16

Doctorspacebar

Node 53120 is credit to team

As a young adult with Asperger's, I have to say that, in their place, I'd think an optional UI change would be really freakin' awesome- and a player going so far as to do it for me? Free stuff is good.

Valve and Mojang are successful and they don't have problems with drastic game-changing mods (like TF2's Versus Saxton Hale or Minecraft's Technic Pack) so I don't see why OOO should refuse a client-side mod that merely changes what the UI looks like... or just make the UI movable, like a few other games I played (and liked, partially because I could put every status bar, options menu, and attack button wherever the heck I please).

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 20:38

#17

Autofire

You are experiencing a PICNIC ERROR!

...or just make the UI movable,...

My brother has said that he thinks that somewhere they mentioned doing this...but I'm not sure. Whatever the case, if they will do this, I'd rather keep my mod fluent with the new functionality.

Sun, 06/02/2013 - 00:43

#18

Fehzor

I think that OOO should make the UI move on its own. Slowly at first, but then a bit faster as time goes on. The icons and UI parts could all just kind of float around the screen, disconnected from reality. The icons should also help you attack stuff, and should make the knight uncontrollably dash and bash around the screen, and, if allowed to continue long enough, leak an alphabet soup of UI parts out of the players computer and onto her desk.

Sun, 06/02/2013 - 00:58

#19

Klipik-Forum

No, Fehzor!

WE SHOULD INFUSE THE UI WITH DARK ENERGY! AND WATCH AS IT SLOWLY SHAKES ITSELF APART AND CEASES TO EXIST ENTIRELY!!!

Search

As my UI mod goes on... (Important ToS questions.)