The Silver Lining - Cease and Desist

[Quillicit]

Couldn't you just change the names of people and places and continue on? I mean, as long as KQ isn't referenced in there it's technically an unrelated game. People make parody games all the time, anyway, which to my knowledge is super legal if you're not making a profit on it.

[koko_99_2001]

Erik and I were talking last night when we received word from the team. I am completely heartbroken. Without the forums, we never would've met. Between being part of the team as well as meeting my husband here, TSL has been a huge part of my life.

Neil, as I said last night, I am ready to help go through the forums and help sift through the threads to bring some back.

As to a petition, I'm not sure if that will work. And even if it does (big IF...I only received the team email, I know nothing else), I doubt I can organize it, since I'm a team member this time around. I have to abide by Activision's C&D.

[Vertius]

I've had this account for a long time. I hardly ever used it, I hardly ever visited the site. I only returned after receiving notification of new Journal Entries, which seemed to happen once again. Even though this account was made in early 2006, I've been checking this place for much longer than that. I remember the first Cease and Desist, I remember the furore and the sense of disappointment and deflation as accutely as I experience it now.

I feel so sorry for the team, having invested so much of their lives into creating this over the near-decade. If there's absolutely anything we can do to help revive the project and ensure that it can see its completion, let us know. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we'll do all in our power to assist.

[Manon]

This is absolutely ridiculous. I have been following this game since it was first announced all of those years ago and I cannot believe that after eight years of all of you working so hard, it's going to just disappear. What does Activision care? They no longer sell King's Quest or make money off of it. There would be no money made here either. It was a fan game, nothing more. It didn't threaten their rights to KQ or any of that other crap. It just makes me so mad.

Honestly, I don't think just an online petition will work right now. I think we need to send them emails AND snail mail to try and convince them to change their minds. Perhaps a petition alongside writing to them, but not by itself.

A part of me had hoped, probably unrealistically that Vivendi, or Activision now, would have asked to sell the game after reviewing it, and giving you guys a certain amount of the profits. Sadly, I think the people at Activision couldn't complete the episodes because they were too challenging so they decided to just pull the plug instead.

Anyway, I will continue to write to TPTB about this and damn near beg them to let you guys continue working and releasing the game because there has been entirely too much time spent into it for it to be wiped off the face of the earth like this.

[Oldbushie]

Ugh, why would they go after the forums too??

I'd hope Activision would be willing to bend given a strong enough petition, but they seem even harsher than Vivendi. It's fricken ridiculous that these large conglomerates own IPs that they're basically not doing anything with, and never actually produced in the first place.

[Mila]

I, also, was wondering if I letter writing campaign would change anything? I would be happy to write some letters on behalf of the Silver Lining. I grew-up with the Kings Quest series and was ecstatic to hear about the fan based game.

Also, I was wondering if there might be some value in creating a fan-page on FACEBOOK? It would drum-up support for a letter writing campaign and I could definitely create one so that it wouldn't be affiliated with the Silver Lining staff...   

Also, I have often thought I would buy a shirt in support of the Silver Lining, if proceeds could go to support the project....

I am sadden and dismayed by this news and my heart goes out to everyone who has worked so hard for this dream!

[kindofdoon]

TSL is not beyond saving! This happened once before, and we, the community, reversed it!

Somebody, put together a petition! We could follow the model of "Let's Save KQIX" (http://www.savekqix.bravehost.com/).

This game has come too far to be stopped now!

[Austin]

Been lurking on this site for years waiting for this game to come out.  Sad that heartless business wins again.  So sorry to the dev team.

[tancients]

And ActivisionBlizzard was talking about selling the Sierra brand.

What a load of money grubbing crock Activision has turned into since Bobby Kotick took the wheel.  

As cliche as it sounds, I hope you find a way to stick it to them and see your work come to fruition.  Don't just roll over and take it.

[bulletxt]

There is something wrong here. What has got Activision got to do with this website? How can they say it must close down? Based on what? I'm sorry but I don't believe this. It sounds more of a developer "escaping" from something. Maybe they aren't able to finish the game. I don't see how can Activision force you to close this website. Last but not least, why should you stop the game development? You can just change all names in games, making no reference to the real king's quest.

I can't believe you just say "ok activision, we will throw into the bin 6 years of work instead of just changing names etc".

There is something wrong about this sorry, something you guys aren't telling us.

[Deloria]

Bad troll. Who let you out?

Also, even if that were the case, they really don't owe you anything.

[Yonkey]

There is something wrong here. What has got Activision got to do with this website? How can they say it must close down? Based on what? I'm sorry but I don't believe this. It sounds more of a developer "escaping" from something. Maybe they aren't able to finish the game. I don't see how can Activision force you to close this website.

They specifically asked us to remove all material relating to TSL from our website, and to cease the use, display, distribution or exploitation of such materials.

[copycat]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooo
Apart from some of the thread titles, at least in the VIP-forum, very little was KQ-related, you know. I also echo at what's been said by other posters, even if people talk about KQ in a forum, in my 'book' falls under 'freedom of speech', which even Activision is bound to honour.

[Delling]

Bad troll. Who let you out?

lol

Also, wasn't Activision trying to sell off Sierra IP? To my mind that seems the strongest reason for their doing this: i.e.- why should they license anyone to do something for free with an IP they want to sell.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Apart from some of the thread titles, at least in the VIP-forum, very little was KQ-related, you know. I also echo at what's been said by other posters, even if people talk about KQ in a forum, in my 'book' falls under 'freedom of speech', which even Activision is bound to honour.

What CC said. The bulk of the forum was fan activity. I actually suspect that they requested the site be shut down to try to circumvent something like Save KQIX from happening again.

[Suzie]

Bad troll. Who let you out?

Also, even if that were the case, they really don't owe you anything.

I never much cared for this argument. It's like luring a horse with a carrot for miles and miles, only to throw the carrot in a lake just as the horse is expecting to finally get it. I guess they don't owe us anything, but we've had this carrot stuck in our face for a long time. I also don't think expressing regret makes someone a troll.

I feel immensely sorry for the team, however. So much hard work possibly gone to waste. I truly hope that these forums may at least be saved to some extent and that maybe we'll get to see this game released in some shape or form eventually. I may not have always been the most loyal fan of the project, but I know that tons of talented people have worked on this game, putting their love, sweat and tears into seeing it released and now Activision may take this all away from us.

My sincerest sympathies.. but a wish changes nothing.. like someone very wise on this forum always said.

[QtSuzie]

I did a little Web search, found Activision's "Contact us" page... If we contact them directly, and put up enough of a stink, along with the petition there is a chance we will catch their eye. If enough people care and fight TSL could stand a chance of coming back.

http://www.activision.com/index.html#contact|en_US

Also Their phone number.... Calling in (even if it is to a receptionist)  if we could be enough of a pest about us they will listen...

Snail mail may work too... All the information we need to fight is on that contact us page...

[Animan]

First, thank you for the dream and all the hard work.

King's Quest IX and "The Silver Lining" are a lovely dream that we all believe in.

Unfortunately the weasel turds at Lacko'vision/Buzzard people at Activision/Blizzard seem to care for little more than profit. I am guessing they may want to have a petition and public notice (articles in Wired etc...) and after months of struggle try to fake being the nice guys by granting permission to publish. In the long run, they probably want to make sure nobody goes down this road again. A toy displayed in a museum where no one can touch it must look nicer than a toy being played with.

As to taking down the website ... those personally liable are wise to protect themselves from these asses short sighted corporate bean-counters. Team members who live in countries Activision/Blizzard can litigate in would be ... foolish ... not to comply.

I'm not sure how feasible it is for most folks, but please write a letter to Activision/Blizzard that lets them know how you feel. Mention a few game titles you will NOT be buying from them in the future. Let them know a few months later what other titles you chose not to get. Visit their forums and leave your mark. If you are a Warcraft fan ... stage a public suicide of your avatar and let all the players know what happened to Silver Lining and then find a free MMO to play.

Thank you again to the wonderful folk at KQIX/The Silver Lining ... your Phoenix will rise again.

Animan

If there is a petition ... obviously I will sign it.

[QtSuzie]

Also, get your friends involved, use facebook and other online communities to bring awareness to the petition, to the fight, and suggest to the masses to not buy from Activision...

[nytefell]

I think the whole thing is a little crazy, especially considering the vast amount of fan-created visual pollution - er, or do they just call them fan-vids and AMVs still? - on youtube created with virtually nothing but WoW game content, which is supposedly supported and encouraged by Acti-Blizz.  Not to mention the countless add-ons that are sanctioned to be added onto player's games which drastically alter the appearance of the game's GUI or change the gameplay experience in other ways.  To give people direct access to the core content of a game that's still actively being marketed and expanded on, but to shut down an unrelated project that isn't generating income or drawing income away from an active title is ... odd to me.  

In the end, it's their prerogative though, and there's only so much that can be done directly.  I do know, though, that even if the reviews I've read on Dante weren't already iffy enough to turn me off the game, this has done enough to turn me off the brand.  

[fred]

Deeply sorry for all that.
Just a naive question : Why did all these VGA remakes go out without any problem and this one is blocked ? I can't figure this out ! Is it because it's a sequel or is it because it appears to be to good enough and would probably compete with commercial games ?
Why ?