The Silver Lining - Cease and Desist

[waltzdancing]

Sendaiko, we don't want you to go to prison. We will look forward to your company here on the forum. I also want to thank you for you support for the team and the fans. You are correct, this is an uphill battle but nothing will knock us down from obtaining out goal. People join our movement everyday and we are doing everything possible to get the word out to the fans and to Activison. TSL will not die, the fans won't allow it. Activision will get a box filled with the distress of the fans for the project and filled with the love we have for the series.

[oberonqa]

Sendaiko, we don't want you to go to prison. We will look forward to your company here on the forum. I also want to thank you for you support for the team and the fans. You are correct, this is an uphill battle but nothing will knock us down from obtaining out goal. People join our movement everyday and we are doing everything possible to get the word out to the fans and to Activison. TSL will not die, the fans won't allow it. Activision will get a box filled with the distress of the fans for the project and filled with the love we have for the series.

I couldn't agree with this more.  Everything that can be done will be done, I assure you.  And for all the naysayers out there... just remember this has happened before... and TSL came out on top.  It'll happen again, just you watch.

[splat44]

Hey! Some letters will be going out soon, vectored not just to PR but also some of the other departments at Blizzard/Activision. But, eh, that's not news. We came up with another idea!


Is anyone reading this a shareholder with the Activision complex? We need to start a shareholder's motion for the next shareholders' meeting. It likely wouldn't get passed, but that's not its purpose: a whole lot more shareholders than Activision realizes will recognize the "Kings Quest" trademark/series. Think about it. The youngest of us are just moving in as wage earners/spenders, the vast majority of us have been in that sector for years, and most of the older of us are investors. While lots of shareholders are too lazy to read their prospectus booklets, the people whom we want to make aware of this are just the type who WOULD read. If we get a shareholder's motion going in favor of reclaiming a license for Phoenix Online Studios, or at least in favor of securing them as Subject Matter Experts and consultants/contractors if Blizzard/Activision is trying to revive KQ itself (8 years of working with this material is about three times as long as most R&D sections get to research a sequel--they'd be stupid to reject such a resource), then even a failed motion will garner about 1000 more petition-signers and maybe 300 more letter-writers.

A PASSED motion... well, you understand.

So, what do you say? Are you a shareholder? Are you willing to try this?

Woa! That's one of the best suggestion!

Perhaps such message should be in all gamers magazines especially those that carries corporates stories and finances so shareholders can consider! At that point this will force activision to listen if not then face losse!

We might need someone having shareholder's mind so documents be proof read however!

[JohnnyJohnJohnJohn]

Gift the source to someone on their death-bed who then releases it publicly.

[liggy002]

That sounds like a good idea Johnny but the team would take heat for it since it would be obvious to Activision that the team in fact released the game to this person.  They would then be sued.  Assuming that no one could possibly go to prison by releasing the game, another idea would be to just release the game anyway and have the fans pay for it.  This would be possible only if the money collected could cover the cost of Activision suing.  Then again Johnny, such person on their death bed could be a member of the team who acted independently of the teams wishes

[waltzdancing]

you know that thought crosses my mind when I was getting my hair cut this morning. Why not have activision release it. I mean the game is completed and they love doing sequels so... was that option brought up during the negotiations? I would be willing to pay big bucks for this game. Good grief we need to know what went wrong with them talking to each other.

[splat44]

That sounds like a good idea Johnny but the team would take heat for it since it would be obvious to Activision that the team in fact released the game to this person.  They would then be sued.  Assuming that no one could possibly go to prison by releasing the game, another idea would be to just release the game anyway and have the fans pay for it.  This would be possible only if the money collected could cover the cost of Activision suing.  Then again Johnny, such person on their death bed could be a member of the team who acted independently of the teams wishes

So far we don't know what activision't intention with KQ series!

If suggestion towards shareholders be implemented, voices of shareholders are usually the ones who decides! If those investors don't like what they're hearning, activision have to face looses until they reconsider!

If we consider the following:
http://www.postudios.com/blog/forum/index.php?topic=8406.msg273196#msg273196

Will be one way in getting shareholders attention!

[oberonqa]

I would strongly advise against the shareholder idea at this time.  If for no other reason such an action might have long-ranging effects on Phoenix's ability to negotiate with Activision if we are successful at convincing Activision to renegotiate. 

Getting shareholders involved is a point of no return and therefore it is my humble opinion it only be considered as an option of last resort.  I'll say no more on this topic... but I strongly encourage waiting before implementing this.  The last thing we want is to make renegotiation impossible due to shareholders doing something that would reflect badly on us and Phoenix.

[splat44]

I would strongly advise against the shareholder idea at this time.  If for no other reason such an action might have long-ranging effects on Phoenix's ability to negotiate with Activision if we are successful at convincing Activision to renegotiate. 

Getting shareholders involved is a point of no return and therefore it is my humble opinion it only be considered as an option of last resort.  I'll say no more on this topic... but I strongly encourage waiting before implementing this.  The last thing we want is to make renegotiation impossible due to shareholders doing something that would reflect badly on us and Phoenix.

Yes, I understand that should be impleted if activsion doesn't cooporate that is!

[waltzdancing]

Exactly

[Tj]

I would strongly advise against the shareholder idea at this time.  If for no other reason such an action might have long-ranging effects on Phoenix's ability to negotiate with Activision if we are successful at convincing Activision to renegotiate. 

Getting shareholders involved is a point of no return and therefore it is my humble opinion it only be considered as an option of last resort.  I'll say no more on this topic... but I strongly encourage waiting before implementing this.  The last thing we want is to make renegotiation impossible due to shareholders doing something that would reflect badly on us and Phoenix.

Activision is like negotiating with the devil.  You bow down to them, and they got you.  Why would you WANT to negotiate with them?  Do the shareholder thing.  Heck with Activision.  Their a bunch of idiots, that wouldn't know a good game, if it slapped them in the face.

[mateo360]

Activision is like negotiating with the devil.  You bow down to them, and they got you.  Why would you WANT to negotiate with them?  Do the shareholder thing.  Heck with Activision.  Their a bunch of idiots, that wouldn't know a good game, if it slapped them in the face.

True but as KQVI has shown, the devil/lord of the underworld ca be reasonable if you get through all the obstacles and succeed in their challenge. Anyone have a Magic Mirror to make Activision cry?

[oberonqa]

Anyone have a Magic Mirror to make Activision cry?

I believe that would be our King's Quest Memories thread, which will be included with the package that includes all the physical petition letters and a printout of all the online petition letters.

http://www.postudios.com/blog/forum/index.php?topic=8427.0

[waltzdancing]

That is what the memories are suppose to do. They are meant to touch the hearts of those who read it and hopefully they will see how much we as fans adore Kings Quest and how it has impacted us as a community

[splat44]

I would strongly advise against the shareholder idea at this time.  If for no other reason such an action might have long-ranging effects on Phoenix's ability to negotiate with Activision if we are successful at convincing Activision to renegotiate. 

Getting shareholders involved is a point of no return and therefore it is my humble opinion it only be considered as an option of last resort.  I'll say no more on this topic... but I strongly encourage waiting before implementing this.  The last thing we want is to make renegotiation impossible due to shareholders doing something that would reflect badly on us and Phoenix.

Activision is like negotiating with the devil.  You bow down to them, and they got you.  Why would you WANT to negotiate with them?  Do the shareholder thing.  Heck with Activision.  Their a bunch of idiots, that wouldn't know a good game, if it slapped them in the face.

Well, you said, "Why would we negotiate with them?"

Same question would have been applicable towards "Virendi", after persistance we did manage to convince them did we?

Therefore, the following facebook group, "activision assist" facebook group seems on our side:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=173789739310&topic=15415

They even provided an address contacting them? Let's make use of that!

If all avenues doesn't lead anywhere then shareholder thing will be the next step!

[atec123]

Well, you said, "Why would we negotiate with them?"

Same question would have been applicable towards "Virendi", after persistance we did manage to convince them did we?

Therefore, the following facebook group, "activision assist" facebook group seems on our side:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=173789739310&topic=15415

They even provided an address contacting them? Let's make use of that!

If all avenues doesn't lead anywhere then shareholder thing will be the next step!

We are making use of that
http://savetsl.co.cc
it feels weird typing that link so much in the same thread.

That is just a reminder.  Keep spreading the word.  haha I feel like a spammer posting this so much but ya know.

Send in the offline petition and do the email also.  Those are the two that (IMO) are most important.  But you may as well sign the online one too.

Spread the word about the email and offline petition.  Hey, Cat, how many signatures did you get in 2005 when dealing with vivindi?

[oberonqa]

Yes definitely sign the online one.  We are using that as a baseline indicator of how successful we are at getting the word out.  The offline petition is very important as well, but since it only takes 2 minutes (max) to sign the online petition, I encourage people to sign it. 

As I have pointed out before, the online petition is strengthened by the offline petition and vice versa.  Alone, neither petition has much strength... but together, they bolster each other's strengths while downplaying the weakness's. 

Also, take part in the TSL Demographics Survey I just posted.  From a business perspective, demographic data is essential when it comes to game development.  Identifying the target audience often is the vital step in a game developers pitch to publishers.

http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=c18124e2-bb26-4626-a0d7-e5a8d0621065

[Yonkey]

Thanks oberonqa!  I've now updated the first post with a link to the survey.

[splat44]

To the folks suggesting a leak...last time I heard, Contract Breach is still an offense most companies take seriously. (a lot more seriously than copyright infringement) I personally would never ask another person to open himself up to litigation just for my own personal enjoyment.

As for changes, this one came up a few years ago as well. Seeing that TSL was a game purposely modelled after the KQ franchise, it's not so easy as changing a few names. Not to mention the fact that since Activision already owns TSL in a legal sense, continuing the game without their consent (with or without references to existing IP) would be near impossible without redoing stuff from scratch.

Well about activision owning TSL in a legal sense, I'm not so sure about that. They issue a stop order but what right do they have in stoping TSL in creating own games? They want such rights then it be at their adventage to revoke "Cease and Desist"!

Regarding survey, I hope we get to know results?

[Yonkey]

Regarding survey, I hope we get to know results?

Sure.  Apparently, that website can export the data to Excel.  Once we get a decent amount, I can aggregate it into a few graphs & pie charts for you guys to see too.