Congratulations to the 2015 ENnies Nominees!

Dahak · Jun 29, 2015

Steve Conan Trustrum said:
From my reading, you're mistaking his complaint (although I could also be wrong.)

My reading of his point is twofold: a) the product in question doesn't have permission to use the copyrights and trademarks it is using (as seems to be the case as another publisher who pursued the license pointed out that the video game publisher has zero interest in such a product existing) and thus should not qualify on that basis alone and b) the ENnies are perceived as an industry award process (I don't actually know what their official stance is on fan made materials, and I imagine most other people don't either, which is why I'm saying it is "perceived" as an industry awards process) and that putting in fan made material bumps a publisher (who usually spends money getting their product into consideration for the awards.)

I didn't read his complaint to mean "fan content? Eeeeeeeew."

Note that my objection to his objection is also twofold. His use of "legitimate" rather than "professional" is a statement of quality. His use of "gives the finger" also implies something objectively superior about professional products. In the case of the free product category, that is not necessarily accurate this year.

And for the record, I agreed in my original post that if the product did not have permission from EA, it should be ineligible. Perhaps I should have been more explicit about that point, but now I have been.

Dahak · Jun 29, 2015

Steve Conan Trustrum said:
My personal opinion on the latter point is that there should be a fan product category, at best, if they are to be included rather than mingling them with industry products. There are, after all, reasons why award shows in other entertainment industries don't mix "fan" and "industry" products for the same awards.

Keeping this point separate, but I disagree. Amateur publications should be, and are, eligible. I dare say that most podcasts are not by "industry" publishers, but serve the same niche that Alarums & Excursions did many years ago.

Steve Conan Trustrum · Jun 29, 2015

Dahak said:
Note that my objection to his objection is also twofold. His use of "legitimate" rather than "professional" is a statement of quality.

See, I didn't see it that way. I read him to be meaning "professional publisher who go through the proper channels to license IPs and not a general thumb at "fan made" on its own.

His use of "gives the finger" also implies something objectively superior about professional products.

Again, my reading was not "ew, fan material sucks compared to professional publications" but rather pointing out that its inclusion is an insult to people who go through the proper process to get permission to publish using IPs -- a process they have to pay to partake of.

In the case of the free product category, that is not necessarily accurate this year.

Just because the Twilight fan fiction that eventually became 50 Shades of Grey is a published story doesn't mean it should have been entered into book awards until it went through the transition to a professional offering.

And for the record, I agreed in my original post that if the product did not have permission from EA, it should be ineligible. Perhaps I should have been more explicit about that point, but now I have been.

Green Ronin approached them about a Mass Effect license and, according to people at GR, were flat out told EA had no interest in such a product existing. So, it is reasonable to conclude the author wasn't given permission to make the product, let alone use EA's copyrights and trademarks.

Dahak · Jun 29, 2015

Steve Conan Trustrum said:
See, I didn't see it that way. I read him to be meaning "professional publisher who go through the proper channels to license IPs and not a general thumb at "fan made" on its own.

Again, my reading was not "ew, fan material sucks compared to professional publications" but rather pointing out that its inclusion is an insult to people who go through the proper process to get permission to publish using IPs -- a process they have to pay to partake of.

Just because the Twilight fan fiction that eventually became 50 Shades of Grey is a published story doesn't mean it should have been entered into book awards until it went through the transition to a professional offering.

Green Ronin approached them about a Mass Effect license and, according to people at GR, were flat out told EA had no interest in such a product existing. So, it is reasonable to conclude the author was given permission to make the product, let alone use EA's copyrights and trademarks.

Steve, I get it -- you disagree with me. The converse of that is I disagree with you. I *do* see it as him making a quality judgement about amateur products. If that's not what he meant, he is free to clarify and choose his words more carefully in the future. Or not.

I believe strongly in the concept of the free market when it comes to non-essential things (including the games market). If an amateur product is better than a professional product, the market will decide its worth.

Fildrigar · Jun 29, 2015

Dahak said:
And for the record, I agreed in my original post that if the product did not have permission from EA, it should be ineligible. Perhaps I should have been more explicit about that point, but now I have been.

So, you mean the disclaimer early in the product that goes out of it's way to say that this product is not affiliated with Bioware in any way, shape, or form?

Morrus · Jun 29, 2015

The categories don't currently distinguish between fan work or publisher work, although we have had fan categories in the past and may well again in the future. However, we do agree that IP issues are important, and we're discussing the right thing to do. We've never had to ask about a product's licensed status before, so this is a new situation for us. Thanks to those who brought it up - and we'll have some information soon (likely tomorrow). We'll make sure we do our best to the right thing!

Gradine · Jun 30, 2015

Is there a specific rule against unauthorized fan works in the nomination process? EA is certainly within their rights to shut down distribution but unless and until they do it seems to me that the ENnies have the right to judge it on its merits.

Whether such a rule should exist or not is a subject for another debate but it doesn't already exist I wouldn't feel comfortable retroactively applying it to a current nominee.

Steve Conan Trustrum · Jun 30, 2015

Gradine said:
Is there a specific rule against unauthorized fan works in the nomination process? EA is certainly within their rights to shut down distribution but unless and until they do it seems to me that the ENnies have the right to judge it on its merits.

Whether such a rule should exist or not is a subject for another debate but it doesn't already exist I wouldn't feel comfortable retroactively applying it to a current nominee.

I would disagree by saying the product must be legal to qualify for nominations is a pretty low bar to set for entry. If not, it's "hello, James Shipman! Welcome to the ENnies!"

Abulia · Jun 30, 2015

Hello. My name is Don Mappin and I am the author, developer, and "publisher" of the work in question. I am typing this on an iPad with spotty wifi while celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary in St. Lucia. So I beg your indulgence if parts seem muddled.

As an RPG industry veteran with 20 years experience I have published through Iron Crown Enterprises, Last Unicorn Games, Decipher, and AEG, among others. I've won roughly 5 ENnies, been nominated for an Origins Award and other sundry accolades for the work I've contributed to. I'm quite proud of the work that I've done in all these products, especially the Mass Effect: Fate RPG.

I followed, to the best of my ability, the entry requirements for the ENnies, the Origins Awards, and the Golden Geek (Finalist in 2 categories). The statement that other publishers "who usually spend money getting their product into consideration for the awards" is somewhat meaningless as the ENnies have no entry fee requirement. As an electronic product, I only had to sub,it the PDF. I did, however, send a physical library copy as a courtesy. So I spent as much as any other "legitimate publisher" would. (I spent several hundreds of dollars of my own money to submit for the Origins, as a point of reference.)

The work is a labor of love and it has been downloaded extensively since its release last year. I am very public and open that it is an unlicensed product, made available free of charge and that no renumeration is to be made from its distribution. The Fate core OGL is adhered to (to the best of my ability) as well as content from Brennan Taylor of Galileo Games and their Bulldogs! product, with permission.

I don't believe that I have violated any aspect of the rules for the ENnies and would hope that my work could be considered. Nor do I believe that I am "stealing" (my words) a slot for Best Product if, in the eyes of the judges, my work was, in fact, superior enough to merit inclusion over other publishers.

Conspiracy theories and such aside, I am simply an industry veteran choosing to give back to the hobby I love. I hope you'll consider my work--and its merits--in that vein.

For Morrus, et al., I will be back in the U.S. on Thurs if you'd like to arrange a phone call to chat.

Respectfully,
Don Mappin

Dahak · Jun 30, 2015

Fildrigar said:
So, you mean the disclaimer early in the product that goes out of it's way to say that this product is not affiliated with Bioware in any way, shape, or form?

Edit: Found it. You, sir, win.