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The Silver Lining - Cease and Desist

Started by Yonkey, February 27, 2010, 08:59:56 PM

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mateo360

I am do a "let's play" of the king's quest series on my youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/mateo360
I plan on posting the petition in all my king's quest videos from now on and I will make sure the news gets out to those who watch my vids.
\  |  /SUN           "For Peace and Justice!"
-(   )-KNIGHT     "A Solider in Blazing Armor!"
/  |  \POWER!    "Solar Knight!"
        BUILD UP! "In the Name of the Sun, I will destroy you!"

StormSpirit86


oberonqa

Quote from: dark-daventry on March 01, 2010, 10:26:33 AM
May I suggest that you contact kotaku and joystiq and other sites and let them know about your efforts? That way the word can spread even more. But I never suggested that...  ;)

Already done daventry.  Both Kotaku and Joystiq have articles up.  I am updating the gaming website form letter thread with links to articles as I find them posted.
 
Chronicling the history of Sierra through the conversion of it's premiere magazine into an easy-to-use, searchable wiki format.

Bennon

Well rename the game rename characters and activision can blow me!

MerlynNY

Hi Folks,

Though I've never posted on these forums, I've always followed the site through the years with a great deal of curiosity.  For me, I was four years old at the time when my parents bought me my first computer (Tandy 1000), and my very first computer game, Kings Quest.  

As with some of you, I was entranced with this game and it sparked my imagination.  To this day I can relate some of my hobbies and interests back to the game.  Of course I've played every Kings Quest in existance, and every other "Quest" game by Sierra Online.  I even had a penpal relationship as a child with Tony Caudill (If anyone knows how to reach him, LMK) that lasted a good many years.

When I came across this site, I'll admit at first I was skeptical, but over the years in reading the forums, I began to really look forward to the finished game and jumping back into the continued tale from my childhood.

I read on Kotaku today that you guys got the C&D and it saddens me greatly to see all the hard work and love poured into this project come to a grinding halt.  A very sad day indeed.  

If there is any petition or any other plans to fight this C&D, I will keep an eye on these forums so that I might add my name as well  

Sorry my first post had to be related to this and not something more positive like saying what a fantastic game this is (after playing it.)

Sincerely,

Dion

oberonqa

There is a petition up.  The link can be found either on the first post on this thread or on my signiture (bottom of this reply).
 
Chronicling the history of Sierra through the conversion of it's premiere magazine into an easy-to-use, searchable wiki format.

crayauchtin

Quote from: Bludshot on March 01, 2010, 07:50:12 AM
That wouldn't work least of all now.  Activision-Blizzard is releasing Diablo III and Starcraft II, highly anticipated games, not to mention WOW expansions.

.....so what you're saying is, if Activision-Blizzard lost money on new releases of its three most popular franchises, they wouldn't notice? I beg to differ, they have poured lots of money into all three releases. NOW is the PERFECT time to arrange a boycott.
I'm guessing they'd get the message pretty quickly after just the first of those releases, and then we could all order the game online when they've stopped behaving like a mix between a schoolyard bully and crotchety old man.
"If your translation is correct, that was 'May a sleepy hippopotamus lie down on your house keys,' but you're not sure. Unfortunately, your fluency in griffin-speak is too low."

We're roleplaying in the King's Quest world: come join in the fun!

snabbott

Obviously, if they lost money, they would notice. The question is whether TSL fans boycotting Actviision would even make a noticeable difference in their sales.  :-\

Steve Abbott | Beta Tester | The Silver Lining

Olmschenk

could always try to post to IGN and gamespot, i do remember IGN doing an article on TSL at one point

dark-daventry

The articles on the internet don't mention the petition. What i'm saying is you should contact them again and let them know that you're not letting this go down without a fight! i'll be updating the facebook and twitter later today (at a time when i don't have a teacher staring at my computer screen every five seconds...) with links to all neccesary information. i'm going to help you guys anyway i can. i may be legally bound, but i will take any loophole i can get. By god, we will resurrect this game again. We did it before, and we will do it again!

Quote from: Olmschenk on March 01, 2010, 12:21:39 PM
could always try to post to IGN and gamespot, i do remember IGN doing an article on TSL at one point

the more web presence we get, the better. i know that a lot of the readers over at kotaku are on our side here, which certainly helps our cause. as the official community rep, i'll be getting information sent out later today. i'll be putting up links to petitions and letter formats, and we should compile information on how to contact them by phone, fax and snail mail. i'll do what i can, within my legal boundaries.
Founder of the (new) Left Handed Alliance Of Left Handed People (LHALHP)

Gay and proud of it!

Avid Adventure Game fan

oberonqa

Like I said dark, already done.  Websites that have an article up have a comment either already up 9Joystiq0 or a comment pending 9Kotaku0 with a link to the petition.  The form letter for contacting gaming websites has been changed to reflect the presense of the petition and all websites I have contacted are getting that form letter.

As for your help... just dont do anything thatmight put you ore POS at risk... as an active member of the team you need to be careful.  I am just a member of the fanbase and not bound by the C&D which gives me a lot of leeway.

If you like I can PM you a list of websites I have contacted.
 
Chronicling the history of Sierra through the conversion of it's premiere magazine into an easy-to-use, searchable wiki format.

waltzdancing

Daventry, you need to be careful. Like Oberonqa said, we are the fanbase and Activision cannot legally come after us for anything we do regarding our displeasure. If you saw something Activision may come after the team. It is our job, the fans, to protect the team and the project more openly than you can. Just promise us you will be careful. We don't want to lose a member of the family.

Karen

Katie: not saying I think the script was bad, just too long with too many lose ends, it should at least have been condensed into one or max two games,

script wise there is always room for compromise, like epilogues or other ways of wrapping up the story, but having a fan game that elaborates into this amazingly complex ending,- until further 'possibly' future releases is a little unfair to ask of Activision,

The scale of TSL and the script which is really radical imo, has a fundamental impact on the kq universe and game characters, it will of course set a standard and affect any future commercial KQ game,  

to me it seems that these things really weren't taken into account when the writing and everthing was decided, most of the team was never asked, like polls or other democratic votes etc, it was just pushed through by the directors, like the art direction, game engine, script and storyline, I do think it was a little autocratic at times,

remembering most of us are just a bunch of amateur volunteers,

I support a petition, you never know, that's true, but presenting them with a half finished fan game that leaves the fans wondering about the ending will of course affect a new furture commercial KQ game, I think the situation would have been much better if we had a more whole package that Activision could have 'related' to, as of now Im just gonna cross my fingers and sign every petition there is!:)

thanks,

Karen

Quote from: Karen on March 01, 2010, 12:50:47 PM
Katie: not saying I think the script was bad, just too long with too many loose ends, it should at least have been condensed into one or max two games,

script wise there is always room for compromise, like epilogues or other ways of wrapping up the story, but having a fan game that elaborates into this amazingly complex ending,- until further 'possibly' future releases is a little unfair to ask of Activision,

The scale of TSL and the script which is really radical imo, has a fundamental impact on the kq universe and game characters, it will of course set a standard and affect any future commercial KQ game,  

to me it seems that these things really weren't taken into account when the writing and everthing was decided, most of the team was never asked, like polls or other democratic votes etc, it was just pushed through by the directors, like the art direction, game engine, script and storyline, I do think it was a little autocratic at times,

remembering most of us are just a bunch of amateur volunteers,

I support a petition, you never know, that's true, but presenting them with a half finished fan game that leaves the fans wondering about the ending will of course affect a new furture commercial KQ game, I think the situation would have been much better if we had a more whole package that Activision could have 'related' to, as of now Im just gonna cross my fingers and sign every petition there is!:)

thanks,

Karen

whops, quoted myself there,, sorry bout that!

dark-daventry

#215
Quote from: waltzdancing on March 01, 2010, 12:48:54 PM
Daventry, you need to be careful. Like Oberonqa said, we are the fanbase and Activision cannot legally come after us for anything we do regarding our displeasure. If you saw something Activision may come after the team. It is our job, the fans, to protect the team and the project more openly than you can. Just promise us you will be careful. We don't want to lose a member of the family.

For now I will sit tight, but I'm ready to jump in at a moment's notice.
Founder of the (new) Left Handed Alliance Of Left Handed People (LHALHP)

Gay and proud of it!

Avid Adventure Game fan

Free Gamer

Somebody from the team should get in touch with Groklaw:
http://groklaw.net/

They will be able to offer reliable advice.

Good luck guys.  Your efforts have been amazing.

Lindsay

Hey guys,

I am writing a letter to Activision expressing my disappointment over this decision.  I feel strongly that if they had embraced the project, it would have gained the respect and financial loyalties of countless fans BECAUSE they would have had the fortitude to take a risk on a huge freeware fan-produced project.  

I assume their decision was financially motivated.  That being the likely case, I am writing to encourage them that by allowing production to go forth, it will ultimately generate revenue for them in the months and years to come from dedicated fans who recognize their generousity.  

I encourage you to do the same. I'm working to find an address to send my letter to - if anyone knows of one please help me out!

-L

crayauchtin

Quote from: Karen on March 01, 2010, 12:50:47 PM
The scale of TSL and the script which is really radical imo, has a fundamental impact on the kq universe and game characters, it will of course set a standard and affect any future commercial KQ game,  
I disagree on two counts with this statement, Karen.

First of all, it's pretty clear there will not ever be future commercial KQ games. So who cares what a potential future KQ game might be effected by?

Secondly, it's a fan project. It's always been a fan project and will always be considered a fan project. Fanon is not canon. Sometimes the people who own the IP will see fanon and make it canon, but there is no requirement or expectation that they will do that.
"If your translation is correct, that was 'May a sleepy hippopotamus lie down on your house keys,' but you're not sure. Unfortunately, your fluency in griffin-speak is too low."

We're roleplaying in the King's Quest world: come join in the fun!

Karen

Well, Im sure they have their reasons, Activision,
and there have been 'new' Sierra On-line games made, like the Larry series, Larry's nephew or something, a really bad game, but nonetheless, it could happen, the fantasy fairytale genre has never been more popular with the LOTR movies etc,
but that's not really the point, these guys aren't really interested in 'what if's', they just want to protect their brand names and potential game titles, it's a business after all, and according to the contract we knew this was a risk, if they disliked the beta or we missed the deadline, that was a chance we took when we signed the papers with them,

but this is probably not the best time to discuss this,

thanks,