The Silver Lining - Cease and Desist

[namekim]

you only have yourselves to blame. [...] next time, gather your undoubtably talented team, and make an original game. Make YOUR game. It feels better. Good luck.

No ill will intended, but I believe you seem to lack the knowledge or comprehension of what drives people to develop fan-created material.

In my opinion, it's easier to create your own original game than it is to weave an immersive new story into an already-existing story, to fill plot holes that were never addressed in a cohesive way that actually works, to reimagine what 2D characters would look like in 3D, and to explore the unknown future of a series that was abandoned.

Were they crazy to undertake such an immense task? Perhaps so. Were they too naive to think they would be able to complete it unscathed? I highly doubt it.

To say that they have themselves to blame and that making an original game "feels better" makes your whole post appear to be a means of self satisfaction. Whether this is actual or not, whether you meant it or not, I think that it's a repetitive statement that's been beaten to death over several years.

I'm sorry, but I disagree. There are million fan-fiction stories about,say, the Matrix out there, but only 2 people were able to think the story in the first place, and that's what matters. If it's difficult to do all that you said, it's 10x difficult to invent an interesting story of your own, fill the plot holes on your own, imagine 3D characters from scratch with nothing to rely on but your imagination, and of course start from zero and build your fanbase, risking the possibility that your game just does not becomes popular, not tapping on the existing fanbase of a game someone else thought of and created.

I'm a professional programmer, and hobbyist game developer. Had Vivendi offered me a deal saying 'we grant you a fan licence, but we can take it away any time we like', well that would be the end of it. I value my time and work. Technical skills are good, but you've got to have some common sense too. I can't believe you guys accepted that deal. It's like walking on 1mm ice. Who would spend months,*years* of his life on something that can be taken away from you at any time and there would be nothing at all you could do about it?

[Zazzaro703]

TO everyone who doesn't know yet.
click the link in my signature.  It's an online petition.

I posted your link to the petition at bigbluecup in the games in production thread, Stated it *was* in production. Also posted a thread at adventuregamers.com. Sorry if i wasn't supposed to do that, but this is a crock of sh*t. Sorry for the language but seriously... it is.

Dont the Williams support this project? Its too bad they cant contact activision and tell them something along the lines of "hey, its OUR creation, we dont care if they put it out." I actually wonder how they feel about this, have they posted anywhere? Didnt they respond to first round of C&D nonsense?

(Posted on: March 01, 2010, 08:23:22 PM)

Well i thought i posted at Bigbluecup.... they must of taken it down I didnt say anything out of line. Just what had happened and a link to the petition.
*Edit* Ah already a thread in Adventure related talk... that would be why. Thought it would be strange for them to just take that down.

[atec123]

It does suck because Ken and Roberta STARTED the company.

They dropped in the chat a while ago.  They support the project.

Well cool about the petition.  I Think that the games in development only includes games made with AGS.

[Erpy]

I'm a professional programmer, and hobbyist game developer. Had Vivendi offered me a deal saying 'we grant you a fan licence, but we can take it away any time we like', well that would be the end of it. I value my time and work. Technical skills are good, but you've got to have some common sense too. I can't believe you guys accepted that deal. It's like walking on 1mm ice. Who would spend months,*years* of his life on something that can be taken away from you at any time and there would be nothing at all you could do about it?

That's not a completely fair way to assess the situation. The choice was more like: "walk on 1mm ice and hope to make it across or take a cold dip right here and now". One could argue that exactly BECAUSE fan teams value their time and work, they'll take a fan license and know they MIGHT lose their work in the long run, rather reject and and know they WILL lose their work. The option to reject working with VU and still continue was simply not there.

Dont the Williams support this project? Its too bad they cant contact activision and tell them something along the lines of "hey, its OUR creation, we dont care if they put it out." I actually wonder how they feel about this, have they posted anywhere? Didnt they respond to first round of C&D nonsense?

It may be their creation, but they lost the right to call it their legal creation the moment they sold Sierra. (and in return probably got more money than they can spend in a lifetime)

[mateo360]

It may be their creation, but they lost the right to call it their legal creation the moment they sold Sierra. (and in return probably got more money than they can spend in a lifetime)

They may have sold the company, but every thing related to King's Quest has Roberta Williams name stamped all over it. When they sold the company, they sold the rights to make, produce, sell, modify etc the games. It is still her ideas and creation in the end as the original creator. If anyone company does something to the games she doesn't like, she can speak up and say something.

[Zazzaro703]

Yeah i understand that Erpy it's just frustrating. I was so frustrated the two places i posted i was shocked i didnt see anything about it and of course both places already had threads. I never do that lol. Sad day indeed i hope for everyone involved this isn't the end but man it doesnt look good.


*Off Topic* I've dropped by your forums too during your projects. Congrats on those. Cannot wait for the new game from Himalaya (you aren't involved right?)

[atec123]

They may have sold the company, but every thing related to King's Quest has Roberta Williams name stamped all over it. When they sold the company, they sold the rights to make, produce, sell, modify etc the games. It is still her ideas and creation in the end as the original creator. If anyone company does something to the games she doesn't like, she can speak up and say something.

IT should be that way.

Not sure if it is, but Roberta or Ken contacting Activision couldn't hurt.

[Enchantermon]

It is still her ideas and creation in the end as the original creator. If anyone company does something to the games she doesn't like, she can speak up and say something.

Unfortunately, while she can certainly speak up (free speech and all that), Activision has no obligation to listen to her. It doesn't matter that she originally created King's Quest, it only matters that Activision owns it lock, stock and barrel.

[Haids1987]

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.

[atec123]

260 supporters.

I checked about an hour ago and it was 241.

Nice.

[Haids1987]

 

[Enchantermon]

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.

That I would agree with and I certainly wish that they would speak out if this course of action does in fact displease them (assuming they have heard about the new C&D). Even if Activision is not convinced by them, it may help rally people to the cause.

[Banjo]

Thinking more about this, I'd say the only real way "public opinion" is going to change Activision's mind is if it is negative press. Not a bunch of crazy fans emailing threats andabuse, but something that shines a light on their corporate villainy. To that end, I'd say the one chance of doing this is to get some high profile folks on board to make this as public as possible, in a critical but mature way.

For example, I don't know if Yahtzee (of The Escapist) is a KQ fan, but I'm pretty sure he's a fan of intelligent games (and likely old school ones), so somebody like him would be a good voice. Al Lowe, of LSL fame, has had his share of disappointments with the current industry. Heck, just getting this news "out there" via big, popular pop culture internet icons (e.g. contact Egoraptor to make an Awesome Quest video! would be a big step in the direction I feel Activision doesn't want.

I do think this needs to be up to the beta testers and fans, though... the dev team really can't be the ones spearheading this; I still think their best course is to change it to their IP (I'd happily live without any voice acting if that was the major stumbling block).

I'd love to see Ken and Roberta come out on this, but honestly, they've worked damn hard to enjoy a very well-earned retirement (AFAIK Ken is still working on his Talkspot project), and while I can imagine they'd be against Activision's evilness, it really isn't and shouldn't be their fight. Of course, considering them Gods of Gaming, it's a nice dream to imagine them buying back Sierra for a few bucks and letting people who actually care about it sell it.

[crayauchtin]

The petition has more supporters in like two days than the last one had altogether (I think?) -- which is GREAT because we're up against a tougher foe. Tougher than Mordack! Tougher than Malicia! Tougher than that witch in KQ5 who we had no hints at all on how to defeat!

[Animan]

Now posted on Gamasutra (Game Developers News, job postings and info website)

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27441/Activision_Shuts_Down_Kings_Quest_Fan_Sequel.php?

[cygnus]

just my $0.02, the petition would have a lot more supporters if the site was easier to use

btw, any beta testers? please private message me thanks!

[Tage7]

I do think this needs to be up to the beta testers and fans, though... the dev team really can't be the ones spearheading this

Let me express my deepest wishes to contribute to the cause, but I honestly believe beta testers shouldn't be involved either.

[Randy_of_Neuron]

Someone from Phoenix Online Studios might want to contact us.  You can either extract my email from the private user data on this PHP BB, or got to our site and send me a message from out contact form.  I don't want to give out email addresses on forums.  So  go here and we can talk

http://www.neurongames.com/contact/

[Pete]

I was really looking forward to seeing this game released. Sorry to hear this...

[Dirk Delshire]

Oh, what a sad time this is for you guys especially. At least you can focus on your own properties now. Maybe you could rework the engine for a fresh Adventure! You'd finally get paid no more:   -ing