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The Silver Lining - Cease and Desist

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

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kindofdoon

#260
The offline, hard-copy letters sent to Vivendi in 2005 were crucial in defeating the C&D then. They're just as important in 2010.

I say we replicate this strategy. A good guide is http://www.savekqix.bravehost.com/, which organized the effort in 2005.

Also, I have sent an email to Ken Williams. It's highly doubtful I'll get anything back, but it's worth the shot.

He writes on his website about "Fan Projects" http://www.sierragamers.com/aspx/blob2/blobpage.aspx/msgid/669573:

"As part of the sale of Sierra I gave up all rights to all games, as did Roberta. Neither of us has the right to do anything with any Sierra product - even Kings Quest (which Roberta wrote).  When I ran Sierra, I loved these kinds of projects. I don't know the people that are running Sierra now, so I don't know how they feel about them.

Personally, Roberta and I wouldn't get involved in one, but mostly because of creative issues. I always think that games should be designed by one person. If Roberta were involved in a project, she would want to have total control. It would have to be something that wasn't connected to any Sierra game (or, they would sue us). With all that said, if she (or I) were to ever do a game again (which I doubt) it would be through some game company assigning us a development team."

Daniel Dichter, Production/PR
daniel.dichter@postudios.com

oberonqa

Quote from: kindofdoon on March 01, 2010, 10:42:14 PM
The offline, hard-copy letters sent to Vivendi in 2005 were crucial in defeating the C&D then. They're just as important in 2010.

I say we replicate this strategy. A good guide is http://www.savekqix.bravehost.com/, which organized the effort in 2005.

Also, I have sent an email to Ken Williams. It's highly doubtful I'll get anything back, but it's worth the shot.

He writes on his website about "Fan Projects" http://www.sierragamers.com/aspx/blob2/blobpage.aspx/msgid/669573:

"As part of the sale of Sierra I gave up all rights to all games, as did Roberta. Neither of us has the right to do anything with any Sierra product - even Kings Quest (which Roberta wrote).  When I ran Sierra, I loved these kinds of projects. I don't know the people that are running Sierra now, so I don't know how they feel about them.

Personally, Roberta and I wouldn't get involved in one, but mostly because of creative issues. I always think that games should be designed by one person. If Roberta were involved in a project, she would want to have total control. It would have to be something that wasn't connected to any Sierra game (or, they would sue us). With all that said, if she (or I) were to ever do a game again (which I doubt) it would be through some game company assigning us a development team."

An offline petition is certainly on the table for consideration at this point and is definitely on my long-term plan for combating the C&D.  The online petition is only phase one.  The idea behind it is to get the word out there as efficiently as possible and as quickly as possible.  It's not meant to take the place of a physical petition.

Think of this as a multi-step process... much like building a house.  You don't build a house by building the attic first.  You start by building the foundation and this online petition is just that... the foundation.
 
Chronicling the history of Sierra through the conversion of it's premiere magazine into an easy-to-use, searchable wiki format.

crayauchtin

We are also in process of drafting form letters so that, along with the online petition and then the offline petition potentially following afterwards, everyone can send a letter through any means available to them out to Activision.
"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!

oberonqa

A Facebook Group and MySpace page is also now available for fans and supporters of the Save The Silver Lining Movement.

Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=382202612795

MySpace Page
http://www.myspace.com/savetsl

Join the movement and help us reverse the Cease & Desist!
 
Chronicling the history of Sierra through the conversion of it's premiere magazine into an easy-to-use, searchable wiki format.

MangoMercury

Quote from: koko_99_2001 on March 01, 2010, 04:50:34 PM
I agree with DD in the fact that I want to do something to help. Again, being a team member, hands are tied. Heartbreaking.

Mayhaps you team members could liaise with some of us non-teamies and we can try to do for you what ideas you manage to come up with!
~RESIDENT MANGO~
The sanest forum-dweller of all!


Countess of Tyrol and Maid of Honour to the Queen

Dan

I am not surprised by this decision but disappointed.  I certainly wondered if the project would ever get released due to its long development cycle.  I hope the project will be released whether it is as freeware or as a paid game.  Perhaps, the game will end up being released by Activision as a commercial game that people can purchase so all the team's work will not just end up in the garbage.

nytefell

I didn't know if anyone had seen this blog yet, presumably by someone who works with Activision - or is linked somehow to Kotik at any rate...

http://oneofswords.com/2010/03/finding-the-silver-lining/

I love the suggestion I've seen numerous times about simply revising the game to blur out the link to the King's Quest Series.  The entire plot of the game is about tying up the loose ends that were left by the - IMO confusingly random - final installment of the series.  With that in mind, and having not seen much outside the original demo, I still think it's fairly safe to assume that the vast majority of the game's plot is going to rely at least partially on events that it would suddenly no longer be able to refer to.  I don't think you're looking at simply changing the dialogue so much as having to find - and potentially find ways to explain - conspiracies and historical events that you've had to invent after you've already found ways to resolve them.  I guess writing a piece of fiction in reverse isn't the most complicated endeavor ever... but still.

In addition, you wouldn't have to just change the names of the characters.  Graham has worn the same outfit in what, every installment he's been featured in or appeared in?  Not altering his character model is going to be a pretty obvious pull from the original game - and his character is still part of the original KQ IP.  Plus, think about all the environments that would have to change.  We're not talking about scenery they've invented from a text game description, or assembled from the description in a novel.  Take a look at the demo, the way POS recreated the scenes from the Green Isles gave me goosebumps because it was so eerie how much they looked like the originals from KQVI.  You're looking at environments... altering the characters appearances maybe... dialogue... plot lines and plot references... not to mention - how much of TSLs musical score was derived from scores from previous games?

And I still don't see how the fan-game differs so much from a piece of fan-fiction.  Didn't the adventure gaming genre used to be about immersive and interactive storytelling?  I know it's a pretty foreign concept in a lot of today's games - unless you count some copy-and-pasted backstory of why you're blowing up fifty million [insert enemy here] from [insert planet/plane of existence/enemy country here] all over [insert environment conveniently filled with cover/extra ammunition/places to hide here] as storytelling... but these games have always been about the story.  I don't see - other than the multimedia aspect - how this is so different from the millions of game-derived fanfiction that has flooded the internet forever.  At least in TSL, there isn't some bizarre plot adjustment where the characters have all developed deep romantic ties to inappropriate characters.

Cez

#267
Hey everybody,

I've been a little quiet. Seeing how things are slowly progressing, trying to digest all the information that has been flying through my email lately. And trying to cope with the news as well.

As many of you, my heart sank when I received the letter from Activision. All I could think was "not again..."

However, seeing the energy with which you, the fans, have supported us, really brings a smile to my face and reminds me of why I was doing this in the first place.

I wanted to thank you. To thank each one of you. To thank you for being there. For the support. For the energy. For the passion. This is the same energy and the same love I had when I started this project.

One thing I do know. Anything's possible when our hearts are into it. Anything. I don't regret any of the time spent on this journey, and you'll see, how somehow, someway, there WILL be a Silver Lining to this story.

Just like the opening words of The Silver Lining say... "To Roberta... and to all those who dare to dream..."

Dream away, my lovely dreamers!

Love,
Cesar.


Cesar Bittar
CEO
Phoenix Online
cesar.bittar@postudios.com

pj2elliot

I'm another one of those people that have an account with the TSL forum but never sign on (that, and my sister is on the forum all the time, so I get all my info from her).  She sent me a text telling me it had been cancelled and got so mad.  First, I thought she was joking, because she'd sent me a text once before saying the game was released to tease me (I got so mad at her for that, haha!  Good times).  But I checked for myself, and I almost cried.   :(

I mean, is it just me, or are games today defined by violence, predictable storylines, and rushed graphics?  I miss adventure games.  Games where I had to think and got to enjoy the story and didn't have to kill everything in sight.  *Sigh*  Even if all the games are in 3D, there's no detail to the characters faces, no personality.  I loved when I played the TSL demo and saw REAL ART going on.  Just like the music and movie industry, the gaming community doesn't care about quality, just the dollar bills.  So sad, and what a terrible thing for future generations, ya know?

Anyway, I'm not giving up!  I've signed the petition, and I'm going around to all the gaming blogs and leaving comments telling all to sign the petition as well.  As soon as I'm done typing this, gonna go hit up the international blogs and tell them to sign the petition. Thank God for online translators!  ;D

If anyone needs anything from me, let me know.  I've got a lot of time on  my hands.  I'm being serious about that, tell me if you need me to do something, I want to be involved. 

Keeping my fingers crossed!  Let's do this!  :thumbsup:

kylie

why don't you guys just change the names of everything and release it as something which isnt connected to King's quest?...why throw away all that hard work?...just do it!!

K.

Why can't you just upload the game to rapidshare? Hide behind seven proxies, upload it, share the link, and they will never know...

chucklas

Quote from: K. on March 02, 2010, 04:08:26 AM
Why can't you just upload the game to rapidshare? Hide behind seven proxies, upload it, share the link, and they will never know...

First off, I want to thank everyone on the development team for years of hard work and bringing back old memories and for inspiring me to relive KQ once again.  I have replayed the entire series a few times since learning about the project and it has brought back many of my childhood gaming memories.  And for that and much more I thank you.

To those who keep asking for them to just leak the game or put it up on rapidshare...you are asking them to undermine years of hard work.  When all is said and done if the game is ever released, it is importand to do it the right way (as the team has been dedicated to do).  I cannot ask them to go back on that, especially now.  We have been patient and have overcome this once before.  We can do the same again.  And if we never see the story or play the game, at least we can say that we were here, either as a part of the forums, or just watching and waiting to see the adventure game genre stay alive. 

I feel as though with all of our energy we need to not only support the tsl team, but we should be supporting adventure gaming in general.  Continue to be a part of that movement and perhaps, companies lick activision might see that there is a market out there for things other than warcraft and guitar hero. 
I didn't know how much I really enjoyed the Sierra Adventure Games until I played them all over again 15 years later.

copycat

Petition signed.
K.: Don't underestimate Activision. The moment they find out anything of the game is somewhere online, they know it's something coming from the team. Everybody who has ever had access to the game, was a member of the team at the time.
Also, there's a lot more than just the names of the characters that's part of the KQ-IP.
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The Silver Lining rises from its ashes!

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bernstein

thats sad...
but if you don't release all your material now anyway you are VERY stupid. espcially the episode already finished.

even if they sued, there is no way any judge one earth would decide in their favor.

i have not heard of this project before, have absolutely no interest in it, but for you to just delete/never publish the work of 8 years is just downright stupid. except if you were employees of activision and in fear of loosing your job. so stupid.

clearly in pursuing such a project for so long you are far from stupid, more likely exceptionally brilliant people. but really to think such brilliant humans can be intimidated to being that stupid?

well thats even more sad.

splat44

Quote from: Haids1987 on March 01, 2010, 07:38:59 PM
That's kind of what I was expecting to hear.  :'(  But then again, like I said, Ken and Roberta's voices might be louder than ours.

Ya! I agree to this!

One way to beat Activision at their game is having Roberta and Ken Williams on board here!

If game will be put back on, then Roberta and Ken Williams can evaluate/decide on art works and character making sure works wouldn't ressemble original games

Come on admin, at least make an effort in contacting Roberta and Ken Williams!

Bad Asp

I signed the petition yesterday.  I was number 166.  Today, I checked the petition and there are more than twice that many signatures.

King's Quest is more popular than any of us realize...

waltzdancing

Pj2, Hey, its about time I see you on the forum. In truth she does have a lot of time on her hands. I am her sister and know that she can write anthing up for us if you want her too. She has a way with words, even though I am older, I take my college papers to her for corrections. I hope to hear more about this project and maybe try to sneak a phone call to Avtivision to see what they say.  :D. Maybe I'll get hung up on. We have currently 403 signatures. That is truly something!

Tamara

What an incredible tragedy! I have been following your progress for years and enjoyed the demo very much. I hope the petition works! If nothing else, I hope what you have achieved will bring you success and pleasure for years to come. Good luck to you and fingers crossed!! I hope the petition is spread far and wide so your fans realise what is happening. Have you considered putting out another email with the web link to the petition?

MKCaylor

I just found out about this today. I have been following TSL since probably 2004 or so, and while I wasn't active on the forums I always checked up on everything every few months.

I'm very sad and disappointed. I don't have much else to say.

I joined the Facebook group. I'll sign a petition, but I am finding it hard to have much hope.

Early on in this thread I noticed someone mention Serenity as being produced because of Firefly fans. That isn't true, it's just a nice a belief that a lot of people have and spread. Serenity was created because Joss wanted it, not because of fan involvement. So the lesson to learn here is that fans AND developers need to be working on a way to try to continue the project.  Developers probably have the most sway and control over what's going to happen next.

I hope that the discussions between the creative team include things like 'what do we do next' instead of 'goodbye'. I understand that it is frustrating and I expect that a break is needed just to get over the grief, but there is most certainly something that can be done with what massive amount of work has been completed.

atec123

Quote from: MKCaylor on March 02, 2010, 11:21:51 AM
I just found out about this today. I have been following TSL since probably 2004 or so, and while I wasn't active on the forums I always checked up on everything every few months.

I'm very sad and disappointed. I don't have much else to say.

I joined the Facebook group. I'll sign a petition, but I am finding it hard to have much hope.

Early on in this thread I noticed someone mention Serenity as being produced because of Firefly fans. That isn't true, it's just a nice a belief that a lot of people have and spread. Serenity was created because Joss wanted it, not because of fan involvement. So the lesson to learn here is that fans AND developers need to be working on a way to try to continue the project.  Developers probably have the most sway and control over what's going to happen next.

I hope that the discussions between the creative team include things like 'what do we do next' instead of 'goodbye'. I understand that it is frustrating and I expect that a break is needed just to get over the grief, but there is most certainly something that can be done with what massive amount of work has been completed.
the issue is, there is only so much the team can ddo under the C&D.  They pretty much have to leave it up to the fans.  That includes beta testers, dark-daventry (Public Relations I think), and anyone on the team.

Read the form for contacting activision or whatever it was called.  That thread has a lot of ideas.  We are gonna send a bunch of letters to someone, who will send them to Activision.  You know, this happened 5 years ago with vivindi.  I wasn't here then, but it worked like this before from what I hear.  The fans got together and helped.  Koko_99_2001 lead that one, unfortunately she is now on the team, (Not thata that is a bad thing, haha) and cannot help much.
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