Before I begin allow me to just say I'm njoying every minute of my vacation and can't wait to return to work next month. Now then, on to the show.
I am a huge fan of the new Apprentice 2.0 BETA. Granted there are still many bugs and minor gliches, I still love it. However, my love has been yet again squelched by more delays and server prolems over at Dragonstar. It would seem that my beloved Appr2.0 will never see a finished release, atleast not without intervention. Now that I've regained personal contact with my old friends we've begun tearing this program apart and finishing what's been started. A final version of Appr2.0 will be released before September of this year, even if not by Dragonstar. Is this illigel? Maybe, but it's not like I'm asking for credit, and all the Dragonstar logoage will remain, I just want to see this thing reach completion.
What's Been Done:
-A great cosmetic patch that make the screen look much better
-An image pack that works 100% with every aspect of the program
-Fixed minor bugs in the deck editor
-Added the Promotional cards to the editor (Yay Mana Crypt!)
Very Near Releases:
-Support for other CCG's
-BoK and SoK patches w/ image support
-Pokemon Base Set Patch
-BETTER SHUFFLING!!!!!
-Socket Error fixing
Before 2006 Releases:
-New database system to make adding new sets and games easier
-Atleast one patch for every major CCG
-Special program adaptations depending on the current CCG
These are only a few things we plan to do, expect constant updates after June 25th on our progress. This program will see fruition before the year is through, and hopefully Dragonstart wont sue my ass.
Well, there's a very specil girl I haven't seen in a whole year who wants me to spend some time with her. See ya guys, be back soon.
Hehe, it seems I've hurt your feelings. If yours was the silver gradient scheme then I just wanted something that was easier on the eyes is all. Feel free to e-mail me artwork if you want.
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My Youtube Channel Wolfwood Sama on MTGO (Westane for PureMTGO community events)
ISD Block UR - Burning Vengeance BG - The Rock RUG - RUG Control BBB - Zombies
If you need any testing help, let me know. It wouldn't be the first time I helped test an Apprentice release (I'm pretty sure my name is still in the credits on the most recent "release" version).
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I am no longer on MTGS staff, so please don't contact me asking me to do staff things. :|
Hehe, it seems I've hurt your feelings. If yours was the silver gradient scheme then I just wanted something that was easier on the eyes is all. Feel free to e-mail me artwork if you want.
I didn't do the silver gradient scheme. I was working on the default card templates and macro buttons. If Neoshroom gives me permission I'll give you what I had done.
I can guarantee you that this is about as illegal as it gets. Whether you ask for credit or not. If my reading of other posts on this site is correct, Hasbro owns Dragonstar. Not only will you be infringing on their copyrights, but if you reuse any of their code in any fashion, whether or not before the sale the code was open source, you will be in for a world of trouble. Even worse than what happened to the programs that were using the card images and got cease and desist letters.
If you can dodge that bullet though, more power to you, and good luck.
I just wish my Apprentice would let me fricking dial into another computer >.< That's all I care about. I have had Apprentice for a year or so and still haven't been able to play online because of some sort of access violation that I can't fix.
Hmm... this is where we talk to our friends with the server in Russia (not encouraging illegal activity :D).
I seem to remember an Apprentice 2 website I found at magic-league.com or there abouts, if my memory serves me correctly, that was conspicuously hardly linked to at all. I meant to bookmark it, but I'm sure you guys know where it is.
I also have a build still on my computer back from towards the end of mtgnews (pre-Raa) when I talked a bit with Neoshroom about Apprentice 2. It was nearly done then, and I believe he said it was almost time for a public beta. What happened?
Now that I've regained personal contact with my old friends we've begun tearing this program apart and finishing what's been started. A final version of Appr2.0 will be released before September of this year, even if not by Dragonstar. Is this illigel? Maybe, but it's not like I'm asking for credit, and all the Dragonstar logoage will remain, I just want to see this thing reach completion.
Ugh... I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. You'ld probably be better of hiring yourself out to dragonstar to finish the program for them. You'ld need some proof of their permission to work on it at the least.
Anyway, I always loved apprentice, as it's free, easy to use, and fast, so I'm all for a finished and working version of app2 (do you hear me dragonstar?). As long as it remains free that is...
So does this apprentice have card arts, or is it still a generic artwork thingy? I always hated that, but then I guess there probably isn't a good solution to that
Considering Dragonstar Studios doesn't seem to exist anymore (last I looked, www.dragonstudios.com is the page of a Recording company) I have to wonder about whether they'll actually care.
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Sing lustily and with good courage.
Be aware of singing as if you were half dead,
or half asleep:
but lift your voice with strength.
Be no more afraid of your voice now,
nor more ashamed of its being heard,
than when you sang the songs of Satan.
Has anyone considered using OCTGN? I've been using the software for some time know (and it's one of the choices that I wrote about in my "Ways of Playing Magic Online" article that was published recently on this site). OCTGN allows up to 8 players, has a patch that has all the cards from Alpha through Bok, the Sok patch was released last weekend, and you can draft and play sealed.
So sure I wish Apprentice 2.0 the best, but in the meantime, why not use something that's already out? Give OCTGN a try at www.cardfloppers.com.
I'm biased because it's what I use, but it won't hurt to try it while Apprentice 2.0 is being finished.
you still wont be doing anything for mac tho am i correct?
it seems like almost an excuse... then no one has to be crushed by real magic players after all... the best players i know are on mac, myself included
It's because the Mac is generally a waste of resources to program for. The reasonable Mac user understands that this is the case with an extreme number of software developers, and buys a companion PC.
Last I knew, Shroomie had gotten around some of the legality issues by making App2.0 a giant hash file that *happened* to support Magic very very very well. Its a vast simplification, but you get the idea.
Not sure if DragonStudios is owned by WotC or not. There was talk of it sometime ago, but I'm fairly certain DragonStudios is now defunct. As for the legality of this, I'd be a bit careful (like not posting it on a site like this) that you're picking up where Shroomie left off. WotC seems to be real big on their intellectual property rights. (Not that I blame them, but it would be nice to see App 2.0 come out.)
granted there hasnt been an official release of the fall of dragonstudio's, but I think to all of us who have played for any amount of time, I dont know how long, could see this coming.
I contacted Linda Roberts, she is sort of the legal guru for wizards and she didnt express to me any qualms with someone doing this, actually she was quite surprised I even bothered to ask her.
Its alot like stings song "Ill be watchhing you" and Diddy's song "Ill be missing you." The beat was almost identical, almost. I would say to get away from any legal red tape I would suggest getting rid of all the dragonstudios art and logoage and just use the shell of the old apprentice. Change the interface a bit (which it sounds like you have done), change the appearance (which it sounds like you have done), and improve the gameplay (which it sounds like you have done...). I hate to use another dumb analogy but it does explain the situation at hand; someone came up with a toaster that allowed you to toast 2 pieces of bread at the same time, later on some came up with a toaster that allowed you to toast four pieces of bread at one time. Kinda get the drift? Slap a different name on that toaster and modify it in a way where it is slightly different than the original prototype and you shouldnt have any problems.
I tend to study more criminal law, and Im a little fuzzy on copyrights but I am going to be attending law school in the fall, and as far as I can see this is totally legal.
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Quote from Miscalcul8edRisk »
In IBTG we trust
Quote from Veserius »
Hats off to [BB18 & IBTG], you've found something that may be THE deck to beat post rotation.
....Girl...or..Coding..or....Girl...or...Coding.... dude you best choose the bloody girl.
Incase you choose coding I wish ya miss's my apologies for losing you to a computer or worse still for the betterment of magic O_o.
* Qwerty thinks
[/b]
''wait a minute [/screachstop] you've gone 1 year without it and your thinking about coding... dude you need your butt seriously kicking by your miss's or something else.. :D''
Hehe, she just walked in as I was finishing the report. I don't "think" that releasing a program that plays MTG is illegal, like Appr1.45 for example. The trouble comes from supporting the pictures which is why an image pack wont be "officially" released, but will still exist.
It will support images for all games, and probobly software adjustments for different games (ala, board and phase changes depending on the game you're playing)
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My Youtube Channel Wolfwood Sama on MTGO (Westane for PureMTGO community events)
ISD Block UR - Burning Vengeance BG - The Rock RUG - RUG Control BBB - Zombies
Linda Roberts? She is a DCI Sanctioning Coordinator for Wizards. The reason that she probably seemed surprised is that what you were asking her has absolutely nothing to do with her role at WotC. Besides I doubt that Wizards has their own legal team now, as they would probably conflict with the legal team of Hasbro, which is not a good thing.
I understand all of your misconceptions about American Law, being that most of your are outside the US, but whether or not the functional entity "Dragonstar Studios" is a legal brand anymore does not make it any more legal to reuse their code. This goes WAY beyond using their logos.
Even if Wizards did not "buy out" DragStar, they did enter in agreement with them to advance the apprentice software. Their legal department (at the time) would have had to have their heads up their collective a$$es (sorry if that word sets off the language patrol) to not put a clause in the contract that the sole ownership of the program belongs to Wizards.
Like I said, proceed at your own risk. Don't even think about using the name Apprentice though. I wish you good luck. But if you do things blindly and stupidly, I wish you to get what's coming to you.
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I am a huge fan of the new Apprentice 2.0 BETA. Granted there are still many bugs and minor gliches, I still love it. However, my love has been yet again squelched by more delays and server prolems over at Dragonstar. It would seem that my beloved Appr2.0 will never see a finished release, atleast not without intervention. Now that I've regained personal contact with my old friends we've begun tearing this program apart and finishing what's been started. A final version of Appr2.0 will be released before September of this year, even if not by Dragonstar. Is this illigel? Maybe, but it's not like I'm asking for credit, and all the Dragonstar logoage will remain, I just want to see this thing reach completion.
What's Been Done:
-A great cosmetic patch that make the screen look much better
-An image pack that works 100% with every aspect of the program
-Fixed minor bugs in the deck editor
-Added the Promotional cards to the editor (Yay Mana Crypt!)
Very Near Releases:
-Support for other CCG's
-BoK and SoK patches w/ image support
-Pokemon Base Set Patch
-BETTER SHUFFLING!!!!!
-Socket Error fixing
Before 2006 Releases:
-New database system to make adding new sets and games easier
-Atleast one patch for every major CCG
-Special program adaptations depending on the current CCG
These are only a few things we plan to do, expect constant updates after June 25th on our progress. This program will see fruition before the year is through, and hopefully Dragonstart wont sue my ass.
Well, there's a very specil girl I haven't seen in a whole year who wants me to spend some time with her. See ya guys, be back soon.
Wolfwood Sama on MTGO (Westane for PureMTGO community events)
UR - Burning Vengeance
BG - The Rock
RUG - RUG Control
BBB - Zombies
For the updated GUI? No, I'm using home made stuff that makes it look like a green felt tabletop.
Wolfwood Sama on MTGO (Westane for PureMTGO community events)
UR - Burning Vengeance
BG - The Rock
RUG - RUG Control
BBB - Zombies
Sad.
Hehe, it seems I've hurt your feelings. If yours was the silver gradient scheme then I just wanted something that was easier on the eyes is all. Feel free to e-mail me artwork if you want.
Wolfwood Sama on MTGO (Westane for PureMTGO community events)
UR - Burning Vengeance
BG - The Rock
RUG - RUG Control
BBB - Zombies
I didn't do the silver gradient scheme. I was working on the default card templates and macro buttons. If Neoshroom gives me permission I'll give you what I had done.
Yes!
EDIT: MWS is still better :tongue2:
http://mkipps.blogspot.com/
I can guarantee you that this is about as illegal as it gets. Whether you ask for credit or not. If my reading of other posts on this site is correct, Hasbro owns Dragonstar. Not only will you be infringing on their copyrights, but if you reuse any of their code in any fashion, whether or not before the sale the code was open source, you will be in for a world of trouble. Even worse than what happened to the programs that were using the card images and got cease and desist letters.
If you can dodge that bullet though, more power to you, and good luck.
I seem to remember an Apprentice 2 website I found at magic-league.com or there abouts, if my memory serves me correctly, that was conspicuously hardly linked to at all. I meant to bookmark it, but I'm sure you guys know where it is.
I also have a build still on my computer back from towards the end of mtgnews (pre-Raa) when I talked a bit with Neoshroom about Apprentice 2. It was nearly done then, and I believe he said it was almost time for a public beta. What happened?
Ugh... I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. You'ld probably be better of hiring yourself out to dragonstar to finish the program for them. You'ld need some proof of their permission to work on it at the least.
Anyway, I always loved apprentice, as it's free, easy to use, and fast, so I'm all for a finished and working version of app2 (do you hear me dragonstar?). As long as it remains free that is...
Machius proudly supports R_E's right to Rumour!
Suffer the wrath that is our bordom. That's right, I'm helping wolfwood, since we live together.
it seems like almost an excuse... then no one has to be crushed by real magic players after all... the best players i know are on mac, myself included
And good workin Wolfwood
Be aware of singing as if you were half dead,
or half asleep:
but lift your voice with strength.
Be no more afraid of your voice now,
nor more ashamed of its being heard,
than when you sang the songs of Satan.
So sure I wish Apprentice 2.0 the best, but in the meantime, why not use something that's already out? Give OCTGN a try at www.cardfloppers.com.
I'm biased because it's what I use, but it won't hurt to try it while Apprentice 2.0 is being finished.
www.CinderGirl.com
It's because the Mac is generally a waste of resources to program for. The reasonable Mac user understands that this is the case with an extreme number of software developers, and buys a companion PC.
Not sure if DragonStudios is owned by WotC or not. There was talk of it sometime ago, but I'm fairly certain DragonStudios is now defunct. As for the legality of this, I'd be a bit careful (like not posting it on a site like this) that you're picking up where Shroomie left off. WotC seems to be real big on their intellectual property rights. (Not that I blame them, but it would be nice to see App 2.0 come out.)
I contacted Linda Roberts, she is sort of the legal guru for wizards and she didnt express to me any qualms with someone doing this, actually she was quite surprised I even bothered to ask her.
Its alot like stings song "Ill be watchhing you" and Diddy's song "Ill be missing you." The beat was almost identical, almost. I would say to get away from any legal red tape I would suggest getting rid of all the dragonstudios art and logoage and just use the shell of the old apprentice. Change the interface a bit (which it sounds like you have done), change the appearance (which it sounds like you have done), and improve the gameplay (which it sounds like you have done...). I hate to use another dumb analogy but it does explain the situation at hand; someone came up with a toaster that allowed you to toast 2 pieces of bread at the same time, later on some came up with a toaster that allowed you to toast four pieces of bread at one time. Kinda get the drift? Slap a different name on that toaster and modify it in a way where it is slightly different than the original prototype and you shouldnt have any problems.
I tend to study more criminal law, and Im a little fuzzy on copyrights but I am going to be attending law school in the fall, and as far as I can see this is totally legal.
Anon - control RGW
Hehe, she just walked in as I was finishing the report. I don't "think" that releasing a program that plays MTG is illegal, like Appr1.45 for example. The trouble comes from supporting the pictures which is why an image pack wont be "officially" released, but will still exist.
It will support images for all games, and probobly software adjustments for different games (ala, board and phase changes depending on the game you're playing)
Wolfwood Sama on MTGO (Westane for PureMTGO community events)
UR - Burning Vengeance
BG - The Rock
RUG - RUG Control
BBB - Zombies
I understand all of your misconceptions about American Law, being that most of your are outside the US, but whether or not the functional entity "Dragonstar Studios" is a legal brand anymore does not make it any more legal to reuse their code. This goes WAY beyond using their logos.
Even if Wizards did not "buy out" DragStar, they did enter in agreement with them to advance the apprentice software. Their legal department (at the time) would have had to have their heads up their collective a$$es (sorry if that word sets off the language patrol) to not put a clause in the contract that the sole ownership of the program belongs to Wizards.
Like I said, proceed at your own risk. Don't even think about using the name Apprentice though. I wish you good luck. But if you do things blindly and stupidly, I wish you to get what's coming to you.