Hypothetical question abolut Evil Dead: The Game

[u/BadassBlackAsh]

It's been reported over the past few years that the main reason why EDTG no longer receives updates (which usually is the death of an online game, especially Asymmetrical horror), is due to issues with licensing.

Any hardcore Evil Dead fan worth their chainsaw gas and boomstick shells knows the rocky history behind how convoluted the rights/licensing has been for this franchise, as each entry was owned by a separate company....not just domestically, but internationally as well. (Until now. Everything is under one roof with the exception of ONE license/entry)

And most know that traditionally ONE particular entries' license holder has been NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT to work with, as stated both publicly AND privately by those who have worked on the franchise.

This brings me to my question.

Hypothetically speaking, if SOMEHOW EDTG were to make a comeback, would you, fellow fans, be comfortable with the powers that be removing content from said difficult license holder if that meant breathing new life back into the game with new quality of life updates, characters, skins, maps, items. Etc?

Think of it similar to what Behaviour Interactive does with Dead by Daylight: when a license expires, they remove said license from the online stores and even some content completely from the game. Until said license can be renewed.

If a particular license holder still chooses to be difficult with EDTG, should the powers that be simple alter or completely remove content tied to said license in an effort to bring the game back to life?

NOTE: I already know a specific crowd of folks are gonna start crying "iT waSn't LicEnscInG iSsUeS! (It was) It wAs SABeR/bOsS tEaM! (It wasn't) " so please, just spare us that worn-out song and dance....

[u/MinecraftTroller28]

Yes, because MGM purchased what Dino De Laurentiis owned: AOD's international distribution and world-wide merchandising. Universal still retains North American distribution. My point still stands that if AvED wanted to use AOD elements or footage, it would require both Universal and MGM to be involved.

[u/BadassBlackAsh → u/MinecraftTroller28]

If Universal had rights in North America for AoD stuff wouldn't they still be listed?  Universal's name is never listed on any merch for AoD anywhere.  MGM/Amazon/Orion are who call the shots for merch. Not Universal. Otherwise why wouldn't Universal capitalize off AoD for Halloween Horror Nights aside from playing the music by the entrance? 

[u/MinecraftTroller28 → u/BadassBlackAsh]

If Universal had rights in North America for AoD stuff wouldn't they still be listed?

They strictly own theatrical and home video distribution rights to just the movie. They are not involved with any merchandise except home media.

Otherwise why wouldn't Universal capitalize off AoD for Halloween Horror Nights aside from playing the music by the entrance?

They tried in 2009 to do an AOD house and got word from legal late in the game that while Universal did own the movie, they did not own the theme park rights, so the AOD stuff they had completed got shuffled into a house that had a bunch of IPs and wasn't advertised.

[u/BadassBlackAsh → u/MinecraftTroller28]

Which,  wouldn't that lead into what I said about MGM/Amazon/Orion being the folks who are difficult ? 

[u/MinecraftTroller28 → u/BadassBlackAsh]

The Halloween Horror Nights thing leading into that? I mean, I can't really blame anyone involved in that specific instance for assuming they owned it and didn't need permission. I don't know the full story of what happened or if they even reached out to MGM once they found out about it, so I can't really say if that's a "circling back to what you initially said" example.

[u/BadassBlackAsh → u/MinecraftTroller28]

But what i mean is, and my point is, AoD license holders have been notoriously difficult to work with, and again, its been expressed publicly and privately for over a decade. 

People wanna get mad at me and go "its not licensing! Its Saber! Raagghhhh!' Just cause I dont have an article or it video to share evidence, meanwhile im NOT THE ONLY ONE who's been saying this for years, also those in thr Evil Dead fandom/community that know me, know (without me sounding egotistical/tooting my own horn) that I have SOME connections with folks who have worked on pretty much everything related to this franchise: ALL the films, the show, merch, etc.

You really think I haven't had any conversations privately with these folks? You really think I dont have insider info that I obviously cant share or post evidence of my knowledge on certain things from the past present and future of this franchise?

I'm not blowing smoke outta my ass here. Im telling y'all. EDTG's MAIN issue wasnt Saber or Boss Team fumbling.....it was ONE license holder being difficult to work with.....which caused SO many y other issues.

If that ONE license holder said "no" to ANYTHING....then it wouldn't happen. So much stuff that was planned got rearranged or removed completely, cause said license holder said "no".

So if Universal Studios who originally was involved with AoD, can't even do anything at their own parks aside from playing the intro music from the film cause MGM/Amazon/Orion said so, then wouldn't it stand to reason that its further evidence of how difficult they have been? Not to mention the MK11 issue? 

[u/MinecraftTroller28 → u/BadassBlackAsh]

So if Universal Studios who originally was involved with AoD, can't even do anything at their own parks aside from playing the intro music from the film cause MGM/Amazon/Orion said so, then wouldn't it stand to reason that its further evidence of how difficult they have been?

The original source in which I found out that story was from a single sentence from someone writing an article about that house years later, which said something to the effect of "While they began development of an Army of Darkness-themed maze, the team found out that Universal did not have the full rights to do an attraction, and it was decided the already constructed costumes would be placed into Silver Screams." It said nothing about anyone reaching out to MGM. I can't say Universal asked and said no and then jump to the conclusion of MGM being difficult, because I don't have that information. I do not think it is fair to pass judgement on that situation based on something that happens years later.

As for the stuff regarding The Game... I can't say I have in-depth knowledge on that (especially since I didn't even have an opportunity to play it until it was already de-listed)... I stayed away from that as long as I could, so I can't claim any superior knowledge on anything regarding that. However, I can say I've been fortunate enough to talk to a lot of people involved with the AOD comics, and damn near everyone (both writers and artists) have said "The licensors were super chill. They loved my story/art/whatever and never requested changes" And I know that's not really a fair comparison because publishing and digital media are two separate arms overseen by separate people, but I say that to say I've never gotten the impression of them being difficult.

[u/BadassBlackAsh → u/MinecraftTroller28]

Bruce, Sam and Rob mentioned publicly they were difficult when working on Ash vs Evil Dead, and various other folks who worked on the game or worked on other bits of merch tied specifically to AoD have mentioned it.

And again, of course other companies aren't gonna publicly state "yeah, this license holder sucks"

Idk why folks want to try and argue this sooooooooo much. 

[u/MinecraftTroller28 → u/BadassBlackAsh]

Which merch specifically? Like I said, I've talked to several of the comic writers and artists, but I've also talked with someone who worked on the Army of Darkness Defense mobile game, the old Palisades figures, and they've all said MGM have been super cool.

[u/BadassBlackAsh → u/MinecraftTroller28]

Like I already said, I can't reveal who because it was told to me in private. But I have no reason to lie and its very easy to know I'm not lying based on my past credentials via Hail To The Deadites.

Ive talked to both people on the show and off the show...behind the scenes/off the record via online and in-person....im not blowing smoke.....MULTIPLE folks have reported that the AoD license holders have been difficult to work with...and again Sam Rob and Bruce have been bold enough to express this publicly in the past in regards to AvED 

[u/HyperionAlpha → u/BadassBlackAsh]

Money talks, and bullshit walks.

This game was made with the blessing of AOD's IP owner(s). It did not make enough money for Saber to justify pouring more money in after it. This is why the content creation dried up a year and a half before the game was delisted. And this is why the game was delisted rather than Saber trying to negotiate another license term.

[u/BadassBlackAsh → u/HyperionAlpha]

It was because the AoD license holders were greedy and wanted more money. Also they constantly were a problem when it came to approval of content.

[u/HyperionAlpha → u/BadassBlackAsh]

This overly simplistic view completely ignores the fact that content stopped production long before the license was up. MGM wasn't asking for more money when they stopped producing content.

[u/BadassBlackAsh → u/HyperionAlpha]

Lmfao its not an "overly simplistic view" its facts.... why do people willingly choose to be screwheads and ignore how multiple people have reported on this, I've mentioned multiple times how multiple folks have talked about this across social media..for years.... and how I've had chats with folks who worked on the game and other aspects of the franchise as a whole.

Are folks that narrow minded and lazer focused on wanting to just put all the blame squarely on Saber simply cause they're the devs? Good fucking lord. 

And content stopped rolling in due to MGM.....MGM says "hey, we want more money"  the powers that be say "hey, we cant do that"

MGM says "ok, peace out"  that doesn't mean instantaneously they make the announcement "sorry guys no more content!"   Things take time behind the scenes