Halloween Horror Nights 35 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[RedRightDan]

I think I must be misunderstanding you, then. Unless I've missed recent IP case law, which is always possible, I really can't see how?

Looking at it logically, Epic licensed the right to use IP names/likenesses/sound clips within the Fortnite ecosystem. That's the extent of the license, so striking a deal to bring Fortnitemares to HHN doesn't convey a sublicense to use those IPs at HHN. Otherwise, we'd have Disney villains running around the scarezone.

Universal would still have to turn around and negotiate licensing name/likeness/dramatic performance rights from Fun World/Paramount/Spyglass to have Ghostface running around, for instance.

It's like you say. If they license "Fortnitemares", they license the character elements/designs/etc specifically approved for use in that property. Also likely limited to a very specific section of the event.

NECA licensed FNM for figures this year, and they are fairly specifically limited to what's seen in the game. Particuarly Billy the Puppet and the Mikey with a keyboard. (Also still pending licenser approval)

 

[Stitch_101]

It's like you say. If they license "Fortnitemares", they license the character elements/designs/etc specifically approved for use in that property. Also likely limited to a very specific section of the event.

NECA licensed FNM for figures this year, and they are fairly specifically limited to what's seen in the game. Particuarly Billy the Puppet and the Mikey with a keyboard. (Also still pending licenser approval)

View attachment 29524

Yes, but NECA has to get a licence from both Epic and the original IP holders to make them... Not just Epic. That is the point of this. It becomes very expensive to have to pay double the license for a simple scare zone.

 

[tdmarshmallow]

When do we think we will get the next actual announcement from UOR?

 

[WryNewsie]

It's like you say. If they license "Fortnitemares", they license the character elements/designs/etc specifically approved for use in that property. Also likely limited to a very specific section of the event.

NECA licensed FNM for figures this year, and they are fairly specifically limited to what's seen in the game. Particuarly Billy the Puppet and the Mikey with a keyboard. (Also still pending licenser approval)

That's not quite the same circumstances, though.

In the case of those Fortnite x Horror, it's most likely more of a 3-way licensing agreement. Epic licensed the properties for the game and created their stylized skins. NECA (who already holds licensing agreements for these properties) decides they want to do figures based on the Fortnite skins. So they negotiate with Epic for rights to the stylized character, and go to Paramount for an extension of their existing licensing agreement to cover the new line.

Basically how it would look for HHN if Universal used the stylized versions, only Universal doesn't have an existing licensing agreement that can be amended with Paramount/Spyglass.

 

[Tobias]

When do we think we will get the next actual announcement from UOR?

Most likely in May, in the past several years they've been announcing a house at Spooky Empire.

 

[Mashmingingmasher77]

Wait, what now? They won't have ANY physical tickets anymore? That sucks. I throw all mine into a scrapbook at the end of the season. Also, wearing my lanyard is pretty much like a uniform after doing it for decades. I will be lost without it. Further, I think this will only delay things in Express lines since waiting for every person to take out their phone and find their pass seems to be a drag. If the pass is hanging around your neck, that process goes much faster.

Same

 

[RedRightDan]

That's not quite the same circumstances, though.

In the case of those Fortnite x Horror, it's most likely more of a 3-way licensing agreement. Epic licensed the properties for the game and created their stylized skins. NECA (who already holds licensing agreements for these properties) decides they want to do figures based on the Fortnite skins. So they negotiate with Epic for rights to the stylized character, and go to Paramount for an extension of their existing licensing agreement to cover the new line.

Basically how it would look for HHN if Universal used the stylized versions, only Universal doesn't have an existing licensing agreement that can be amended with Paramount/Spyglass.

I missed the part about this being a back door entry for Ghostface.

Yah. I don’t see that happening either

 

[HHN Maddux]

What are the chances this is an All Nite Die-In-style zone with horror icons (many happen to also be in Fortnite), and that's where wires are getting crossed?

 

[Spooky_Bitz]

What are the chances this is an All Nite Die-In-style zone with horror icons (many happen to also be in Fortnite), and that's where wires are getting crossed?

I would very much rather have that. They already had All Nite Die-In: Double Feature back in 2015 with licensed characters sooo I don’t see why not do something like that again.

 

[Midnight Detective]

I missed the part about this being a back door entry for Ghostface.

That would be Dead By Daylight if it ever happens - they worked with the mask maker to develop an original character

I think people are getting carried away with this line of reasoning. Most of those other IP's are in Fornite are there based on existing agreements between those IP holders and Epic. The chances of those IP holders having allowed language that allows Epic to then licence out those same characters to other 3rd parties is almost certainly non existent. Like you, I am also extremely skeptical.

For sure - if Fortnite is coming the benefit is for Universal, not the other way around. Japans HHN mascot was featured in Fortnite last year for a gamemode. If HHN were to work with Epic it would be a level of advertising you can't just outright buy. It's similar to what's been discussed a lot in recent years in the music industry - the best thing to happen to musician is getting a track into a major game for the same reason.

It also works really well on an Anniversary year where the event is character (icon) forward. It wouldn't blow my mind if we saw Jack or Oddfellow in the Fortnite shop this year if it's a scarezone

 

[Kichkinet85]

I would very much rather have that. They already had All Nite Die-In: Double Feature back in 2015 with licensed characters sooo I don’t see why not do something like that again.

Because they got in trouble for having IP characters in it without paying the licensing fee by my understanding.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I think I must be misunderstanding you, then. Unless I've missed recent IP case law, which is always possible, I really can't see how?

Looking at it logically, Epic licensed the right to use IP names/likenesses/sound clips within the Fortnite ecosystem. That's the extent of the license, so striking a deal to bring Fortnitemares to HHN doesn't convey a sublicense to use those IPs at HHN. Otherwise, we'd have Disney villains running around the scarezone.

Universal would still have to turn around and negotiate licensing name/likeness/dramatic performance rights from Fun World/Paramount/Spyglass to have Ghostface running around, for instance.

I mean in terms of opening the door towards licensing properties that have been historically hard for them to get due to whatever reason. Sure you have to double pay but you're working within an existing licensing agreement that have chains of communication.

 

[Jake S]

I mean in terms of opening the door towards licensing properties that have been historically hard for them to get due to whatever reason. Sure you have to double pay but you're working within an existing licensing agreement that have chains of communication.

I can’t imagine that’s an issue for Horror Nights though, is it? Like, I assume (and I could be wrong!) that Universal can get a meeting with Spyglass (or whomever). The issue (again I assume) is drawing up a contract that everyone is happy with.

 

[Legacy]

I really suspect that, if Fortnitemares is happening, it’s more about getting Jack and Oddfellow into Fortnite than getting Fortnite into HHN.

 

[Kichkinet85]

I really suspect that, if Fortnitemares is happening, it’s more about getting Jack and Oddfellow into Fortnite than getting Fortnite into HHN.

That’s what I’m thinking. Have a Jack skin and Oddfellow skin in Fortnite. They both fit more as skin than Fortnite just being at the event.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I really suspect that, if Fortnitemares is happening, it’s more about getting Jack and Oddfellow into Fortnite than getting Fortnite into HHN.

This has been a thought of mine through all of this. Getting the Icons into Fortnite could do a lot for Universal as far as advertising goes.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I really suspect that, if Fortnitemares is happening, it’s more about getting Jack and Oddfellow into Fortnite than getting Fortnite into HHN.

Could this be part of the anniversary zone then? Hmmm.

 

[Legacy]

Could this be part of the anniversary zone then? Hmmm.

No. Not from how I’m hearing it. The anniversary zone is very much “an anniversary zone.” Fortnitemares is explicitly a standalone rumor that Epic would have wanted separate.

 

[johnathanm]

Any ideas what decor / set pieces could work for a Fortniitemares zone in Central Park (simply presuming locations on spec map are right)? Can’t visualize anything but characters, but I’m not the target audience here

 

[WryNewsie]

Any ideas what decor / set pieces could work for a Fortniitemares zone in Central Park (simply presuming locations on spec map are right)? Can’t visualize anything but characters, but I’m not the target audience here

I'm definitely not part of the Fortnite crowd, but the one thing that comes immediately to mind is that stupid hot air balloon "battle bus" thing.

Still holding out for it being a misunderstanding or something.

Central Park's can be one of the better scarezones, so to lose it to Fortnite.....What I don't understand is both last year at Spooky Empire and this year at MegaCon, both Mike and Lora reiterated the goal of bringing a more cohesive experience to the park. They accomplished that very well last year, so sacrificing a scarezone that could be used to expand on the Jack/Oddfellow storyline to a random pop culture reference is just baffling.