A question relating to packed-in assets in accepted maps

⁽ᴵᴰᴳ⁾CaptainRussia94

L2: Junior Member
Nov 26, 2018
91
75
Ok so, later down the line I'd like to use a few of the underwater assets from Cursed cove. (mostly just the rocks)
Thing is, I'm not sure if this is ok or not. I would be thinking since the map is accepted (IE valve bought it) that valve owns the assets now and they are up for use with other mappers. But I don't think that's the case with them still being packed in.


I want to play it safe, the whole permission thing is a granted, but still, how do I approuch this? (I'm pretty sure Stuffy360 made the assets but that's besides the point)
 

B!scuit

L4: Comfortable Member
Aug 12, 2016
195
266
I think the current system is to make sure asset creators are credited / paid every time they're used, instead of only the first map they're added to the game with.
If the assets were in the .vpks I'd say fair game, but seeing as they're not I'd ask the map creator directly here on TF2maps (ideally on the map's page)

I imagine they'd be fine with you using their assets if you're going to credit them, but it's always a good idea to ask (especially if you're not sure exactly who made the assets)
 

⁽ᴵᴰᴳ⁾CaptainRussia94

L2: Junior Member
Nov 26, 2018
91
75
I think the current system is to make sure asset creators are credited / paid every time they're used, instead of only the first map they're added to the game with.
If the assets were in the .vpks I'd say fair game, but seeing as they're not I'd ask the map creator directly here on TF2maps (ideally on the map's page)

I imagine they'd be fine with you using their assets if you're going to credit them, but it's always a good idea to ask (especially if you're not sure exactly who made the assets)
As far as I understand, they get paid when you buy stamps for their map (and maybe to another extent, the case key that is tied into the event, in this case the violet vermin case. I'm thinking that because the people who got their first accepted map this halloween have a self made key)

But yeah, and if they're ok I could also add them as a contributor on the workshop release.
 

⁽ᴵᴰᴳ⁾CaptainRussia94

L2: Junior Member
Nov 26, 2018
91
75
You definitely need to get permission to use someone's assets if they aren't in the game folders already, outside of a map file. The assets aren't bought in the traditional sense.
I guess before I call this topic good I got one more question, is there an FAQ relating to what sense they are bought in then?
This was nothing to do with using them, but rather my desire for knowledge on how it works.
 

Yrr

An Actual Deer
aa
Sep 20, 2015
1,308
2,743
Maps Featured in updates aren't bought, just featured. Valve doesn't own them, they're just paying for the right to use them in the update.

As such, they should be treated the same way as non-accepted maps in regards to custom content and decompiles.

tl;dr ask first.
 

⁽ᴵᴰᴳ⁾CaptainRussia94

L2: Junior Member
Nov 26, 2018
91
75
Maps Featured in updates aren't bought, just featured. Valve doesn't own them, they're just paying for the right to use them in the update.

As such, they should be treated the same way as non-accepted maps in regards to custom content and decompiles.

tl;dr ask first.
A: So realistically valve-buying-maps mentioned here is not the proper context.
B: what kind of person can't read 3 sentences? The only time I'd call for tl;dr is a massive essay of a wall of text, such as my introduction thread.
 

Diva Dan

hello!
aa
Mar 20, 2016
1,024
1,951
I dont think yrrzy is trying to insult your intelligence with a tl;dr, its just summarizing the entire conversation said previously; and yes, valve no longer "buys" maps and map assets. They instead get revenue from campaign pass and key sales, which is split among the contributors. Because of this, the map and map assets are not valve property and are still entirely property of the asset creators. So you will need explicit permission from the asset creators to use them in your map, since they are technically not made for public use. The workshop page for Cursed Cove should have a bunch of names on it with a few asset makers that you can ask.
 

⁽ᴵᴰᴳ⁾CaptainRussia94

L2: Junior Member
Nov 26, 2018
91
75
I dont think yrrzy is trying to insult your intelligence with a tl;dr, its just summarizing the entire conversation said previously; and yes, valve no longer "buys" maps and map assets. They instead get revenue from campaign pass and key sales, which is split among the contributors. Because of this, the map and map assets are not valve property and are still entirely property of the asset creators. So you will need explicit permission from the asset creators to use them in your map, since they are technically not made for public use. The workshop page for Cursed Cove should have a bunch of names on it with a few asset makers that you can ask.

Neat, is that documented anywhere? I couldn't find info of that anywhere on the internet, like when did they change the legal policies from buying>using maps?

I don't mind the Tl;Dr, I'm fresh meat here anyways with nothing to show... Yet.
Hoping after that then I can prove I'm a worthy herald of using others' assets.

Because I've seen some pretty bad maps that use assets from community content packs which honestly brings shame to the talented creators of those packs.
 

Diva Dan

hello!
aa
Mar 20, 2016
1,024
1,951
People make asset packs public for a reason; for people of any skill level to use, they know what they're getting into :) If they are public you can use any assets you want, with credit, of course. Doesn't matter if your map is bad, everyone makes them at some point, it's a learning experience
 

ics

http://ics-base.net
aa
Jun 17, 2010
841
541
Neat, is that documented anywhere? I couldn't find info of that anywhere on the internet, like when did they change the legal policies from buying>using maps?

Because I've seen some pretty bad maps that use assets from community content packs which honestly brings shame to the talented creators of those packs.

Since you're new here and even if you werent, I dont think you should be underestimating the work that the people put into those content packs. You dont need to use any of that stuff if you dont want to anyway.

As for the map buy/feature/host thing, everything from the old "bought" maps are open in hammer directories. Meaning, you can use anything that comes by default with hammer and dont have to worry about a thing.

If you get stuff out from map bsp, maps that are hosted/featured only by Valve. Then like Crash explained, you need a permission to use that stuff, unless its already in some public map pack like frontline or similar. Even then, you need to credit the people who made them.