GamesIndustry.biz notes Nicalis reportedly issuing DMCA takedown requests to websites hosting a popular fan-decompiled edition of Cave Story titled Cave Story Engine 2
CSE2 allows creation of their own fangames based on Cave Story. Within the DMCA takedown notice, Nicalis accused CSE2 of using the same source code as its own build of Cave Story.
CSE2 Removal
This has resulted in CSE2’s removal from GitHub and other Cave Story fan-sites that relied on the GitHub archive. It’s important to note that the original freeware version of Cave Story is still safe and available across the internet.
Cave Story was originally the brainchild of Daisuke ‘Pixel’ Amaya – who released it in 2004 as a freeware title for PCs. Nicalis soon stepped in to bring the game to the Wii and Nintendo DS, before going on to develop updated releases of the game such as Cave Story+ and Cave Story 3D.
The game soon gained a cult-following and encouraged the modern surge of indie game developers that we see today.
Online outrage
For this reason, many fans and indie game developers alike have decried these recent attempts by Nicalis to erase CSE2 from existence.
Nuclear Throne developer Rami Ismail – who shared his view on the situation and called for a greater appreciation of Amaya’s work noted;
Cave Story is one of the most important games every made and I will 100% recommend you do not buy it.
Download the freeware original, then buy Kero Blaster to support the actual developer of the game, instead of these ugly shenanigans. https://t.co/kQJWH4Yx6E
— Rami Ismail (رامي) (@tha_rami) November 26, 2020
Other Cave Story fans were far more scathing in their critique of Nicalis’ takedown of CSE2 from the internet.
Nicalis remains quite for now
Nicalis has not issued an official statement on these DMCA takedowns.
About Cave Story
A LIFE-CHANGING VIDEO GAME EXPERIENCE!
A young amnesiac hero discovers a hidden land and vows to protect the defenseless creatures who live there! Can he stop the mad doctor and learn the truth about his own past?
Highly polished and addictive, Cave Story+ uses retro-game stylings to deliver an all-out action/adventure extravaganza that’s both charming and deadly!
Super-challenging platform/shooter action…fantastic weapons…colorful characters…deeply nuanced storytelling…this is Cave Story+, your new favorite game!
If you have not played Cave Story or Cave Story + as it is called on Nintendo Switch we would really advice you to.
