Are we prepared for potential Microsoft harassment?

[benrob0329]

True, how could Microsoft sue for something that they themselves are doing? Leagle or not.

Of course, this is Microsoft we are talking about...

[programmingchicken]

Microsoft would sue a 10-yr old programmer for making a game that has spaceships in it because:
'Spaceships are in Halo, and we have money'
#MSwillPayTheJudge

[benrob0329]

Reasons to not use MS stuff......LINUX AND MINETEST ALL THE WAY! :-P

[Gael de Sailly]

That's sure that MT don't take an important part of voxel games players, but I think that, if MS wants to attack the MC-similar games, MT would be the first in their line of sight. BUT :

Even if they tried, they would fail in court, and only get a lot more hate directed at them. And even if they magically did succeed in court and Minetest went down, there are already several forks, and people would immediately make more to get back at them and ultimately continue the project as if nothing happened.

In the worst case, MS can impede MT's popularity and development, but they can never get the complete disparition of the game. If they try it, at least 200 people, if not 1000, will keep the source code of MT on their local computers. And the project would be resumed.

But, without being harassed by MS, we are pressured by the MC players and community. That's not a danger for the game because they have no power, but it's annoying and boring.

[PoignardAzur]

A lot of people here seem to assume that Microsoft is lead by a bunch of moustache-twirling villains who enjoy nothing more that eating live puppies at breakfast and playing kitty baseball. I mean, sure, Microsoft is evil (like all big companies owned by shareholders), but they're trying to make loads of money, not to hurt as much people as they can.

Anyway, Microsoft is probably not going to sue Minetest before it gets much, much bigger than it is right now., because trying to take MT down is basically the best thing that could happen to Minetest short of Notch deciding to fund it or something in that vein. It would be a waste of their money and time, it would bring attention to MT, and it would incite some players to switch from MC to MT. So, nothing to worry about here.

[Gael de Sailly]

A lot of people here seem to assume that Microsoft is lead by a bunch of moustache-twirling villains who enjoy nothing more that eating live puppies at breakfast and playing kitty baseball.

Generally people don't act by pure nastiness. When someone makes something bad, there is almost always a reason. Money is one of the main reasons. That's why we should beware of people that have much money. Without these vices, Microsoft would be one of the best societies of the world. They are able to do the best… and the worst !

It would be a waste of their money and time, it would bring attention to MT, and it would incite some players to switch from MC to MT. So, nothing to worry about here.

I haven't thought to that. I agree, definitely. So the most dangerous for Minetest would be Minecraft ads ?

[PoignardAzur]

Generally people don't act by pure nastiness. When someone makes something bad, there is almost always a reason. Money is one of the main reasons.

Sure. My point was, a lot of people are assuming that Microsoft is going to take whatever course of actions hurts the most people at the same time as they can, when realistically speaking they do :
- random things, because big companies usually have a much more incoherent leadership than you'd think,
- whatever brings them most money.
By the way, notice how Microsoft has bought MC a year ago and still haven't done anything evil (or done anything at all, for that matter) with it ?

I haven't thought to that. I agree, definitely. So the most dangerous for Minetest would be Minecraft ads ?

Minecraft is getting better every day, and is getting faster at getting better, while Minetest is stagnating. The most dangerous thing for Minetest is status quo.

[benrob0329]

Wow, I never would have thought that such strong religious views would have come from a gaming forum!

Mindblown

Andyways I also agree with paramat, we need new ideas that aren't tied to MC.

[programmingchicken]

Wow, I never would have thought that such strong religious views would have come from a gaming forum!

????

[Gael de Sailly]

I suppose that benrob0329 has only read until page 2 xD

[Ranzabar]

It might. A 2.5BN purchase indicates MS has a lot of plans for MC. Into Xbox, Windows, Windows Phone, etc. If they perceive the brand has to be protected against even the most minor of threats, MT could be targeted.

But, MS would be hard-pressed to tick off the FOSS community considering that they've assumed a non-hostile stance as of late.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. We can keep working on MT and playing with it without too much worry.

My 2 cents anyway

Oh, and hi to all. First time posting. Long time watching.

[Don]

Welcome Ranzabar. I agree that we shouldn't worry.

[SabreMC]

Why do i suddenly feel like there are less minecraft players here than i thought? i've been playing minecraft for several years, the reason i play minetest is it's ease of modding. it has quickly become a bit of a testing ground for the just starting programmer i am. modding in minecraft seemed like a daunting task, so i began searching for alternatives. i for one am loving minetest, and do not regret discovering it one bit. i doubt microsoft would ever pursue legal action against MT, but if they tried to scare us off, i think they'll find us much stronger a community than they might think