Interplay (which still exists) sends cease and desist to ClayFighter fan game developer

destructoid.com:

A Mugenguild member that goes by Dr. Basara Kilnklein has revealed that they’ve received an email from Interplay requesting that they cease and desist development on their fangame, ClayFighter: Infinite Clayfare. The game was being built in MUGEN and, therefore, couldn’t be monetized, so it’s a bit interesting (though not outside their rights) that Interplay are being dicks about it.

ClayFighter was initially released in 1993 on SNES before receiving ports on other consoles. It received a 16-bit sequel, ClayFighter 2: Judgement Clay, in 1994 before moving to the N64 with ClayFighter 63 ⅓. The last entry to the series was 1998’s ClayFighter: Sculptor’s Cut, which was largely just a fixed/expanded version of the previous title. I say this as a fan, but the series was never very good. It largely stood out because of its claymation visuals. However, the development of most of the games were mired in complications, and none of them came out cleanly. The 3D ones are easily the worst. There’s probably an alternate reality where there was one redeeming title, but we’re not living in it.

However, as I said, I consider myself a fan, and I’m not the only one. Beyond ClayFighter: Infinite Clayfare, there are also various ROM hacks for the games to try and turn them into something worth playing. There hasn’t been a new game in the series for 25 years. The only people fans have to turn to are each other.

It’s probably worth noting that the letter has an attachment with the name of Ultra ClayFighter, the ClayFighter: Tournament Edition ROM hack, so it’s not impossible that they’ve received similar correspondence.

Interplay was something of a force in the ‘90s. They’re the publisher that brought us Earthworm Jim and Fallout. But they