On the topic of fangames being based on known games or universes, I can understand why amateur developers would want to work on that:
- People who liked the original might be tempted to try out the fangame
- A fangame based on a well-known game is easier to promote
- The universe is already there, so the developers don't "lose time" discussing the workings of their universe, the relationship between the protagonists,... and can start working on the game/story right away. Plus, the whole team usually knows the universe right from the start
Do you really think you'd be interested in playing the Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's mine by
Himalaya Studios if you didn't know that the same team also worked on the King's Quest I and II remake?
Of course, AGDI / TierraEntertainment did ask for the permission upfront (I think?), and they have done it for each game on a case by case basis. VUGames didn't tell them "Okay, you can basically rewrite every one of our games and distribute them for free". (Or this is what I gathered from
here)
