A possible CLOK ripoff in progress. This disturbs me.

[Marauder]

Not sure where to post this, otherwise, but, uh. Someone may be attempting to steal CLOK as a game, or already has the code base somehow.

I'll start from the moment I accidentally found it. I was on the MUDConnector, just browsing around as I usually do. Then I noticed a new MUD with what seemed to be an original name... Turns out, they, from their web page, have either stolen the code base, or are attempting to make their own version of CLOK as close to the real thing as possible.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the CLOK code base isn't public, right? Because from what I've looked into, unless they're making false claims, or someone's playing a horrible April Fool's Day joke, they have the framework of the systems CLOK is using.

I'm including a link to their home page for Rias and anyone else who'd like to investigate. http://eonproject.webstarts.com/

To clarify, I'm not advertising nor promoting this. I find it mildly disturbing and incredibly pathetic, and am posting their website purely for the sake of alerting the CLOK staff and warning players of the possible ripoff.

P.S. From their web page, and this is only part of it.

A few suggestions for new players who are starting out:
* Visit the General Store, Blacksmith
* Do a bit of mining in the Camden public mine​​
* Smelt ore, and try some blacksmithing of your own!
* Sell your ore at the town market!​​

...They even have the theme listed as pretty much the same as CLOK.

[Rias]

We've gotten a lot of reports about this. This is a MUD run by Landion (who used to GM for CLOK, for those who may not know). I told him it was okay to use the core MUD engine components to get his own MUD running (I'm all for the continued health of the MUDding community). He was the one to design and code up blacksmithing, and worked a lot of smelting, so there's no reason he can't implement those how they were in CLOK.

We don't want it to end up a competitive CLOK clone, of course, but he's stated that's not his intent. We'll just need to see what it ends up as. There were some problems before with some CLOK-specific things still remaining in the game when he had it open to the public, but he agreed to close it to the public until it's more his own game instead of a rebranded CLOK.

[Landion]

Please believe me when I say that copying or ripping off CLOK is the last thing I want to do. I am not trying to be sneaky or do something behind Rias' back. The thought of being accused of such honestly makes me sick to my stomach.

Rather, I started this as something for my own enjoyment and to work on with friends.

I've been in regular communication with Rias regarding this project, and words cannot express my gratitude for the massive amount of support he's offered me so far. He's even taken the time out of his busy life to call me to troubleshoot several issues I was having in setting up my server. I consider him a good friend, and would never want to 'steal' or plagiarize CLOK in any way.

I must offer my apologies to everyone however. I didn't mean for my little code hobby project to go public. I also didn't even want it to come up here with the CLOK community. I didn't want to distract from the awesome Rias has going here.

This was my fault. (I've requested the MUD connector listing be removed. I admit to being a bit naive or even stupid in having made a MC posting so soon. I admit I was a little overly excited to have my own cool little project running.) I don't want to compete with CLOK with my little project. I still enjoy playing CLOK and even though I'm no longer on staff, I count the staff members as my friends, even if there were times we didn't see eye to eye. No GM team does all the time.

Currently, the similarities for anyone are very obvious to CLOK players as I've only had time to do change a few of the core systems so far. My little project is currently not ready at all, and I had only opened it for some family members and a few close friends to offer input and assistance.

To remedy this, I've limited my server from the public, and it will likely remain this way for quite some time. Firstly because I don't have huge amounts of time to devote to getting this the way I would like it right now. (Since I'm not even able to GM anymore.) It's just a little side hobby when I happen to have some free time.
Secondly, because even with Rias' awesome contributions and allowances, it's going to take a very long time to code the game from the ground up so that it isn't a 'CLOK ripoff'.

Even systems that I coded for CLOK I plan to make changes to so that they are not identical. (mining, blacksmithing, sawmills, etc.) However, this isn't a fast or easy task.

For players who logged in a few days ago and were disturbed by similarities that they saw, you again have my apologies. What you saw was a very basic/raw setup intended for my friends to toy with and to have some supplies to buy. It was not at all a public release of what I intend my game to eventually be. I will be making very significant changes to my project's core systems in the coming weeks and months(years? when I have time). It isn't my intent to take anything away from CLOK, or its player base.

I've restricted the game from being public, and it will remain that way until further notice. (Probably until I have Rias log in and have a look at things down the road to assure that nothing is shady.)

Thank you for your understanding.