Damn, that's so depressing. It's making
me depressed.
I want him to take responsibility for his unfair and arguably illegal actions just as anyone else does, but it would be messed up if he were kill himself. I don't think I could look at this whole stupid situation without feeling even more bitter about it if he did. He has such a golden opportunity to become successful, but the guy just
refuses to focus on the important parts of his project and keeps trying to take the easy way out by taking advantage of other people's work. If he could just get over his own bullshit, he might successfully pull this project off and even begin to crawl out of the lolcow
grave hole he's dug himself.
It won't be fucking easy, that's for sure, and I could see why making changes to the project and himself as a person would look almost impossible in his eyes right now, but you have to at least try. If you're on a sinking ship and your finger is stuck in a crevice, you have to have the balls to cut it off, or sink to the bottom of the sea with the ship.
Alex, you need to start cutting your (metaphorical) fingers off.
If you have to take time to see what assets you're using correctly and which ones you do not have the permission to use, then that's what you have to do.
If you have to replace assets you're not allowed to use with white blocks, then that's what you have to do. They're ugly, but they won't be there forever.
If you have to write up contracts so you can correctly conduct yourself legally, then that's what you have to do.
If you have to ask a lawyer if "doing X is okay," then that's what you have to do, OR just don't do it and figure out a way to provide your own material.
If you have to re-plan the mechanics and re-start the project file with a fresh understanding of what your goals for the game are, then that's what you have to do.
Your fans are quite forgiving, perhaps sometimes to their own detriment. You have room to make this maneuver. You won't get out of this completely unscathed, no, because some people may complain if you exclude certain features, but your only other option (seemingly at this point) is to drown with the ship, and having a handful of people out of your
millions of fans get disgruntled is a pretty damn good alternative.