Number 15 in the GameSetInterview series is a chat with Dispraiser, project lead on Halogen, the recently cancelled Halo-themed RTS. Slipstream Productions started the project over two years as a mod for Command and Conquer Generals, but got the word from Microsoft just last week that they were infringing on copyrighted IP.
Which is fair enough, really. Dispraiser comments he knew they were infringing on copyright and could be shut down, but that “we had our fingers crossed that we wouldn’t”, which seems like very wishful thinking. When you’re at the point of producing box art for the game, even if it is only intended to be a free product, you’re on dangerous ground.
While it’s bad news for the team right now, it does look like they’ll be bouncing back soon, as all of the models used in the game were created by the team. As a result of that, it’s probably not too much of a stretch to expect that we’ll be seeing the game sooner rather than later, just will a few less Halo references. And, really, they’ve got a whole lot more publicity out of this than they were before.
GSW commenter (and Cave Story translator, for those keeping score) Shih Tzu notes that “This may be a viable new independent game development model”. Indeed!