Far Cry Dev Studio Raided
Posted by Toxicfume on 04 February 2004 - 20:39 · 27 comments & 3669 views
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#1 Posted by XT. on 04 Feb 2004 - 20:42
- oh no...
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#2 Posted by .Atlantis on 04 Feb 2004 - 20:44
- haha as long as the new Novalogic game come's out on time, I don't care about this
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#3 Posted by gadean on 04 Feb 2004 - 20:54
- oops. looks like someone is in deep ****!
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(2 replies)
#4 Posted by Yvo on 04 Feb 2004 - 20:54
- heh gotta love those disgruntled employees. wonder if the former employee is going to get sued over the breach of nda, as most companies enforce such an agreement.
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#4.1 Posted by Darkwolven on 04 Feb 2004 - 21:18
- Well, I'm no lawyer, but if the allegations were true, I don't think that an NDA would save their ass from prosecution for using pirated software and I am sure he doesn't care if they sue him if it manages to bankrupt them...
Knowing how common piracy is, I would actually be surprised if the allegations weren't true. Development houses are far from rich and heavily rely on money from their publishers, in this case being Ubi Soft. With all the other heavy hitting games Ubi has had in the last year, I'm willing to bet that they didn't give a lot of money for Farcry development, but then again maybe this is wrong since the importance of a licensable game engine has proven valuable. For instance take the Quake or Unreal engines...
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#5 Posted by FatCat on 04 Feb 2004 - 20:55
- Early today, reports started coming in from Germany that police had raided the offices of Bavarian-based developer Crytek. Apparently, a former employee told police that the studio was using unlicensed software on their upcoming PC shooter, Far Cry. Some of the wilder reports said a special anti-piracy squad searched Crytek offices and seized numerous pirated copies of Maya and 3D Studio Max before hauling away several employees.
Responding to inquires from GameSpot, Crytek vehemently denied that anyone had been arrested. "Despite false allegations that have appeared in various media and forums, no inventory or personnel were affected in any way," said the company in a statement.
However, the developer did admit the kripo had paid them a visit. "Due to the alleged claim of a disgruntled ex-intern, Crytek´s office complex was investigated for using more copies of a software brand with the incorrect number of licenses purchased," said the company. A senior staffer at Ubisoft's Paris, France headquarters echoed the developer's story. "What we understand is that Crytek had not paid for the sufficient number of licenses," the source told GameSpot.
However, the European staffer also said that if Crytek had used pirated software, that Ubisoft was in no way legally responsible, indicating Crytek is on its own, should the developer or any of its employees be charged. Ubisoft's American reps were similarly cautious, saying "We cannot give any comments on the judicial inquiry concerning the management of Crytek and we hope that the suspicion of fraudulent use of an image-treatment software is revealed to be unfounded."
However, both companies addressed the most important issue to gamers--whether or not Far Cry will slip from its March 23 ship date. "The Crytek team has started working again normally as of Wednesday at 2 pm," read the Ubisoft statement. "The game will ship as planned at the end of March." The German developer was similarly soothing; "Crytek would like to assure its fans that completion of Far Cry remains on track."
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#6 Posted by DJ Prem on 04 Feb 2004 - 21:11
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#7 Posted by Valkyre on 04 Feb 2004 - 21:34
- Ouch.
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(1 reply)
#8 Posted by timdorr on 04 Feb 2004 - 21:40
QUOTE we hope that the suspicion of a fraudulent use of an image-treatment software reveals to be unfounded.
So...The pirated Photoshop?
Last edited by 5416 on 04 Feb 2004 - 21:47
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#9 Posted by Jasco on 04 Feb 2004 - 22:16
- lol.. thats ****ed up
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#10 Posted by neural-shock on 04 Feb 2004 - 23:06
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#11 Posted by LordHatrus on 04 Feb 2004 - 23:27
- Wow. Really dumb idea.....
Gheeze.....
Let's all make a game dev firm, and use warez copies of maya, photoshop, and then buy 2 licenses for our other dev software, and spread it 'round the 60 workstations!
Then, let's disgruntle some of our well-informed employees!
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#12 Posted by Sem82 on 04 Feb 2004 - 23:56
- LOL funniest thing i heard in a while
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(2 replies)
#13 Posted by Opio on 05 Feb 2004 - 01:02
- I'll be sure to pirate Far Cry when it's released just to spite those evil-doers
J/k.
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#14 Posted by dacoolness15566 on 05 Feb 2004 - 03:12
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#15 Posted by warwagon on 05 Feb 2004 - 03:25
- Its all a Conspiracy to put .... FarCry behind too
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#16 Posted by altermind on 05 Feb 2004 - 04:15
- who would be stupid enuf to develop software on illigal programs.. (DUH!)
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#17 Posted by Psychoticdemento on 05 Feb 2004 - 07:18
- those warez monkeys!
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#18 Posted by Solarix on 05 Feb 2004 - 11:32
- yes and then LETS RAT THEM OUT! w00t!
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#19 Posted by MitchShrader on 05 Feb 2004 - 11:55
- for SHAME! I wonder (if) it's proven that pirated software is involved, can the makers of said (allegedly) pirated copies sue for FULL RESTITUTION and damages BEFORE the game is allowed to ship? hmm.. seems like they have a financial interest in that (allegedly) illegally produced game.. yes? Any lawyers out there?
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#20 Posted by Ficman on 05 Feb 2004 - 15:55
- Damn Whistle Blowers... Gotta watch those Fired Folks, they just might drop a dime on ya... Been there done that...
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#21 Posted by mrk on 05 Feb 2004 - 23:50
- The management of Crytek is grateful for the diligence of the German Police Department concerning protected software and fully cooperated in every way. As a software devloper [sic], Crytek is always interested in properly obtaining and utilizing third party software. Development of the eagerly awaited Far Cry was only delayed for three hours while police cleared the matter with Crytek and it's management staff.
Despite false allegations that have appeared in various media and forums, no inventory or personel [sic] were affected in any way. Crytek would like to assure its fans that completion of Far Cry remains on track."
http://www.bluesnews.com
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#22 Posted by BonkedProducer on 09 Feb 2004 - 22:27
- How about we RTFA for a change people... and find out what is going on. You see according to the information you can find now - there was no wrong-doing found. And likely the program was Photoshop as Adobe is a major supporter of things like the BSA and other such "anti-pirate" organizations.
We recently went through this same type of thing with the BSA at my workplace, because a disguntled ex-employee had installed warez versions of Photoshop before quitting, and called the BSA to inform them of it after turning in his laptop. Luckily we found it, and were able to tell the BSA exactly what happened - and while the wouldn't release the name of the "anonymous tipster" they suddenly were willing to drop the whole thing - interesting huh?!
Numerous German-language sites are now reporting that Crytek, developers of the forthcoming first-person shooter, Far Cry, have been raided by police and authorities after an ex-employee informed them of widespread software piracy at the studio.
Reports indicate that the software has been used to create the game and that the value of the software, if purchased legally, would be over 1 million Euros. The home of Faruk Yerli, one of the three brothers who set up Crytek, has also been searched for illegal software.
No comment has been issued from either Crytek or Ubisoft as of yet, and if illegal software has been discovered, the ramifications to the release of Far Cry are unknown. Ponder this however - what is the legality of game content if created with illegal tools?
Update: Seems like UBISOFT confirms the raid, but assures that the company maintains the same release date.
Ubisoft just got back to me with an official statement:
"Ubisoft was informed on Wednesday, in the beginning of the afternoon, of the search of the premises of Crytek the same morning. We cannot give any comments on the judicial enquiry concerning the management of Crytek and we hope that the suspicion of a fraudulent use of an image-treatment software reveals to be unfounded.
The Crytek team has started working again normally as of Wednesday, 2 pm and works relentlessly on the finalisation of Far Cry. The game will ship as planned at the end of March."
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