Fans love to make things to show their admiration for games whether it be in the form of artwork, cosplay, or fan-made versions of the game. The former two usually don’t get that much attention from the companies but the latter does. It’s a fine line to walk when making a fan-made game because you can run into companies that want to end the project to protect their IP. This happened to two such games earlier this year.
First, there was the fan-made Metroid 2 remake called A2MR which was released and promptly hit with DMCA by Nintendo. The game boasted improved visuals along with new areas, bosses, and enemy AI. Then there was Pokémon Uranium, a little fan-made project with nine years of development behind it. It was an all new game set in new region with new creatures to catch. Much like A2MR, the game was taken down by Nintendo’s request.
Despite the legal turmoil the games were up for the “Best Fan Creation” Award at the Game Awards. If you are unfamiliar with the Game Awards, it is the gaming equivalent of the Oscars, although far less well known. According to a post on NeoGAF, both of these games were up for the award along with Brutal DOOM 64 and Enderal: The Shards of Order. All four of the original nominees were fan-created games with the former being remake of the original DOOM and the latter being a Skyrim mod with an all new story.
It’s unclear why A2MR and Pokémon Uranium why the game’s were removed from the running, but odds are it was at Nintendo’s request.
The Game Awards will take place on December 1st in LA. If you can’t make it to the event in person it will be streamed on Twitch, Xbox Live, Facebook Live and any other device and screen you own.