I'd like for people to make fangames, but I don't think the best solution until they are "legitimized" by not being illegal is to go "**** Nintendo" and do it anyways, because that will mean that people do not take Nintendo's opinion seriously, so they will never take fan works seriously. And a fangame is supposed to mean and show that you are a fan of the original work, so it doesn't make sense to ignore what Nintendo says in this case if you don't agree with them - Mario didn't used to be a property that was so much more heroic than it was today until Nintendo "got greedy", if you want to say "Respect the property, not the company". There were so many bad Mario ports being pumped out from day 1, such as Atari 2600 Donkey Kong, Punchball Mario Bros., and SMB Special. These ports show that Nintendo as a company always considered Mario's brand more important than the actual games, even though the specific people working on the mainline Mario games did put their heart into it. And even though SEGA did all of this, at least they do allow fangames at the end of the day. And I'll say again, I really don't understand how it is "fun" to make a fangame knowing that Nintendo probably does not want you to be doing it in the first place. Sure, I understand that the actual process and designing is fun, but to me that is a pretty big elephant in the room to ignore. I know my opinion is different from a lot of people's, but if Nintendo doesn't consider Mario fangames to bolster the brand, then making Mario fangames won't bolster the fandom. Maybe I am being too pie-in-the-sky about Nintendo legitimizing fangames (not saying that I don't want it to happen), but at least it allows us to look at the obvious disconnect in ideologies and goals between MFGG and Nintendo. That is why onpon4 was right about me using Tux in a proprietary engine; even though I actually did like Tux from my memories of SuperTux, Tux's actual purpose is to serve as the mascot of fully open-source software. It's just like how I don't feel good about making a Mario fangame if Nintendo doesn't appreciate it instead of claiming that Mario is to be used for their intents only, and that even though the fangames are good, they are forced to lack a greater meaning. I suppose what I am saying is that when someone says "I don't care what Nintendo thinks, I just want to make a Mario game!", I am thinking "If you don't like Nintendo's stance on fangames, then why would you want to make one for them?". SEGA praises fangames and absorbs them like a plant absorbs water, and Nintendo does not, and nothing happens like when someone waters a rock. I honestly do want to make a Mario game someday, and not a Sonic game, but I am just saying why that would not be a good idea legally, logically, and a bit morally, until Nintendo becomes more fan-friendly, and asking everyone to ask themselves if this idea resonates with them. I hope I'm making sense, and sorry for the wall of text.
P.S. I know it sounds weird, but look around you. None of the things that are good about MFGG need Mario to still be good. The friendly community, the people who help each other with coding, spriting, and even composing, and the remix culture. I am just trying to say that we can still be a good community even without having to like Nintendo unless they change their tune, and we can be our own heroes instead of being heroes for a company that does not appreciate us.
I'd like for people to make fangames, but I don't think the best solution until they are "legitimized" by not being illegal is to go "**** Nintendo" and do it anyways, because that will mean that people do not take Nintendo's opinion seriously, so they will never take fan works seriously. And a fangame is supposed to mean and show that you are a fan of the original work, so it doesn't make sense to ignore what Nintendo says in this case if you don't agree with them - Mario didn't used to be a property that was so much more heroic than it was today until Nintendo "got greedy", if you want to say "Respect the property, not the company". There were so many bad Mario ports being pumped out from day 1, such as Atari 2600 Donkey Kong, Punchball Mario Bros., and SMB Special. These ports show that Nintendo as a company always considered Mario's brand more important than the actual games, even though the specific people working on the mainline Mario games did put their heart into it. And even though SEGA did all of this, at least they do allow fangames at the end of the day. And I'll say again, I really don't understand how it is "fun" to make a fangame knowing that Nintendo probably does not want you to be doing it in the first place. Sure, I understand that the actual process and designing is fun, but to me that is a pretty big elephant in the room to ignore. I know my opinion is different from a lot of people's, but if Nintendo doesn't consider Mario fangames to bolster the brand, then making Mario fangames won't bolster the fandom. Maybe I am being too pie-in-the-sky about Nintendo legitimizing fangames (not saying that I don't want it to happen), but at least it allows us to look at the obvious disconnect in ideologies and goals between MFGG and Nintendo. That is why onpon4 was right about me using Tux in a proprietary engine; even though I actually did like Tux from my memories of SuperTux, Tux's actual purpose is to serve as the mascot of fully open-source software. It's just like how I don't feel good about making a Mario fangame if Nintendo doesn't appreciate it instead of claiming that Mario is to be used for their intents only, and that even though the fangames are good, they are forced to lack a greater meaning. I suppose what I am saying is that when someone says "I don't care what Nintendo thinks, I just want to make a Mario game!", I am thinking "If you don't like Nintendo's stance on fangames, then why would you want to make one for them?". SEGA praises fangames and absorbs them like a plant absorbs water, and Nintendo does not, and nothing happens like when someone waters a rock. I honestly do want to make a Mario game someday, and not a Sonic game, but I am just saying why that would not be a good idea legally, logically, and a bit morally, until Nintendo becomes more fan-friendly, and asking everyone to ask themselves if this idea resonates with them. I hope I'm making sense, and sorry for the wall of text.
P.S. I know it sounds weird, but look around you. None of the things that are good about MFGG need Mario to still be good. The friendly community, the people who help each other with coding, spriting, and even composing, and the remix culture. I am just trying to say that we can still be a good community even without having to like Nintendo unless they change their tune, and we can be our own heroes instead of being heroes for a company that does not appreciate us.
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