Thomas the Tank Engine Invades Morrowind Amid Legal Battle
The iconic Thomas the Tank Engine, once a terrifying dragon in Skyrim, has now made a defiant entry into the alien landscapes of Morrowind. Modding legend Trainwiz, creator of the original viral sensation, has released "Really Useful Cliffracers," transforming The Elder Scrolls III's infamous flying pests into menacing locomotives. This latest creation comes amidst ongoing legal pressure from toy giant Mattel, signaling a clear challenge to corporate authority within the gaming modding community.
The Return of Thomas: From Skyrim to Vvardenfell
Trainwiz, the modding superstar behind the infamous 2013 Skyrim mod that turned dragons into Thomas the Tank Engine, has struck again. His latest creation, "Really Useful Cliffracers," injects the beloved (or feared) engine into The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. This new mod replaces the notoriously annoying cliffracers found in Vvardenfell with Thomas, promising a truly unique and perhaps terrifying aerial experience for players. The mod, surprisingly, was crafted "years ago" but held back until now, with Trainwiz stating he "doesn't particularly care anymore" about the implications.
A Modder's Defiance: Trainwiz's Stance Against Mattel
Trainwiz has been vocal about the motivations behind his work, particularly regarding toy giant Mattel, owners of the Thomas the Tank Engine brand. On the Nexus Mods page for "Really Useful Cliffracers," Trainwiz declared his "incapability of learning lessons whenever it involves corporations," openly stating he doesn't view "toy company CEOs or media CEOs as people." He vowed to continue his parodic mods "no matter how many legal threats, actual threats, black vans with the Mattel logo on them, or severed Barbie heads are mailed to me," attributing this stance to fundamental "issues with authority." His BlueSky bio also reinforces this sentiment, chillingly stating, "Mattel is constantly out to kill me."
The History of a Meme and Legal Tussles
The saga of Thomas the Tank Engine in Bethesda games began spontaneously in 2013. Trainwiz recounted in a 2019 interview with The Face that a friend supplied him with Thomas models, leading to a half-hour creation that replaced Skyrim's dragons. This quickly became a global gaming meme. However, the viral success also caught the attention of Mattel's legal teams. Trainwiz revealed receiving "takedown notices" from an "intermediary law firm based out of Macedonia" after YouTube videos showcasing his Skyrim mod circulated. These complaints specifically targeted Thomas "blowing up," rather than the implied violence against in-game characters. While one takedown was successful, YouTube later upheld the mod's legality under "parody law." The modder also hinted at continued pressure, explaining that his Fallout 4 Thomas mod is not available on "any normal website" due to Mattel's persistent actions.
Bethesda's Unofficial Blessing
Despite the ongoing corporate friction, Trainwiz's modding prowess has garnered recognition from Bethesda itself. The developer published an interview with Trainwiz in 2016, highlighting his "locomotion-related mods" and implicitly giving a "seal of approval" to his creative endeavors, even those involving controversial intellectual property. This makes Trainwiz's latest act of defiance a compelling narrative in the ongoing battle between fan creativity and corporate intellectual property rights. The iconic Thomas mods for both Skyrim and now Morrowind remain online, cementing their place as enduring symbols of gaming meme culture and modding rebellion.