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Form Letter for Contacting Activision

Started by crayauchtin, March 01, 2010, 11:39:51 PM

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crayauchtin

If you're having trouble thinking of what to write to Activision, or having trouble staying calm while you write, try this form letter. (And if anyone spots any typos or mistakes I've made PLEASE point them out -- the sooner the better, I'm mailing mine tomorrow afternoon!) It is highly encouraged that you contact Activision as well as signing the petition -- the more they hear, the more likely they are to respond!

To Whom It May Concern:

   I, [your name here], am writing to you to express my disappointment in the Cease and Desist letter that Activision recently sent to Phoenix Online Studios in regards to The Silver Lining.  The game was much anticipated by the fans of the King's Quest game series, which ended with King's Quest: Mask of Eternity an uncharacteristically violent game that, while a good game in and of itself, did not provide closure to the series. The team that has worked on creating The Silver Lining for the past eight years intended only to provide closure more befitting of the rest of the series. Even the original creators of the franchise, Roberta and Ken Williams, have expressed their own support for this fan-produced venture.

   As I am sure you are aware, in 2005 a similar Cease and Desist letter was sent by Vivendi Universal to Phoenix Online Studios in regard to the same project. After negotiations with Phoenix Online Studios, an agreement was reached which satisfied Vivendi Universal and allowed them a degree of control over this project but allowed the project to continue. The team of Phoenix Online Studios has followed the terms of this agreement, and the fans of the King's Quest series have been very grateful for the opportunity provided by Vivendi Universal.

   When previous fan-projects, such as the VGA remakes of King's Quest 1 and 2 by AGD Interactive were released, it spurred new interest in the King's Quest games as a whole. These free games reminded old fans of the game series, sparking them to purchase the King's Quest Collection. Many younger gamers also played these revisions and were introduced to the series. It is more likely than not that there would be a similar occurrence with the release of The Silver Lining, and that Activision could potentially make a profit from this fan-made project. The adventure game genre also seems to be gaining in popularity, as one takes a look at Telltale Games and the success they have had with releasing episodic graphic adventure games. This factor, combined with the release of The Silver Lining virtually guarantees an increase in sales of the King's Quest Collection, if not the Space Quest and Police Quest collections as well.

   In summary, I implore Activision to reconsider the decision put an end to the production of The Silver Lining and allow this project to continue. The project has a long history of hard work and is both well-known and well-respected throughout the gaming industry. Activision may also potentially gain financially from this project.

   Thank you,
   [your name here]
"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

#1
You can submit your letter in one of two ways:

Print 'n Scan
----------------
1. Copy and paste the letter in the first post into your word processor of choice and replace [your name here] with your name.
2. Print out the letter and sign the bottom of it.
3. Scan the signed letter and save it on your computer as a PDF file (most scanning software allows scanned items to be saved as a PDF)
4. Email the PDF file to waltzdancing@msn.com

Print 'n Mail
----------------
1. Copy and paste the letter in the first post into your word processor of choice and replace [your name here] with your name.
2. Print out the letter and sign the bottom of it.
3. Mail the letter to the following address:
Adrienne Elliott
2650 Mayfield Lane
Las Cruces, NM 88007

No Printer or Scanner?
------------------------
Not a problem!  Go ahead and copy and paste the letter in the first post into your word processor of choice and replace [your name here] with your name.  Then save that document and email it to waltzdancing@msn.com with a note in the email giving your permission to Adrienne to sign your name on the Save TSL Petition (the name of the letter that is the petition).  This will give Adrienne permission to sign your name on that petition and that petition only.

What about the Online Petition?
------------------------------------
Have you already signed the online petition?  That's ok!  Feel free to take part in the offline petition as well!  Your signature on the online petition and a physical petition with your signature on it will carry a lot more weight than if you simply do one of the petitions.  And likewise, if you have participated in the offline petition, feel free to sign the online petition as well.  The two petitions go hand in hand with each other.
 
Chronicling the history of Sierra through the conversion of it's premiere magazine into an easy-to-use, searchable wiki format.

crayauchtin

Thanks!
A note to people using Google Chrome (at least on a Mac) -- the email form does not seem to allow you to paste anything into it so you will have to type out your letter in that little box they've provided.

Or maybe it just hates me.

But either way, be prepared to type!
"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!

atec123

Cool.  I didn't notice any typing errors.

Hey, do you think we will need a website for this?  I don't want to get ahead of things, but it seems that an easy link like that, filled with info, and the info people keep asking like why we can't just change the names, would be helpful.

Just kinda one place where you can find out everything you need easily.

And then we could have some printible thing that you could sign and mail in to activision if the online petition falis.

just some thoughts.

I will probably mail mine today.
Official maintainer of TSL in linux via Wine. TSL AppDB page
Maintainer of TSL in OSX via Wine
TSL IRC Chatroom Maintainer
We are the Defenders of Jazz Ballet
People say, when they see us:
Hey, folks! It's the Saviours of Jazz Ballet
Fearless heroes of kick and spin

oberonqa

Quote from: atec123 on March 02, 2010, 07:56:24 AM
Cool.  I didn't notice any typing errors.

Hey, do you think we will need a website for this?  I don't want to get ahead of things, but it seems that an easy link like that, filled with info, and the info people keep asking like why we can't just change the names, would be helpful.

Just kinda one place where you can find out everything you need easily.

And then we could have some printible thing that you could sign and mail in to activision if the online petition falis.

just some thoughts.

I will probably mail mine today.

Yes a website is a very good idea!  A place where we can put all this great information together in one place and serve as an anchor point for the Save TSL Movement (which, as of right now, consists of online petition, social networking anchors, letter writing, and media awareness).

If you would like to work on a website, then you have my complete support and the thanks of myself and all of our fellow fans and supporters.  :)
 
Chronicling the history of Sierra through the conversion of it's premiere magazine into an easy-to-use, searchable wiki format.

waltzdancing

If everyone will sign this I will be happy to fax it. Just email it to me on this site and It will go out the next day.  :D

tessspoon

#6
I printed out a letter and will mail it next time I go over to Moseley.

I attached a Word .doc (forum won't let me attatch a .docx) with the letter, date, their address, and spaces for your address and signature for those who want to print it out and send it by snail mail.

Delling

Quote from: waltzdancing on March 02, 2010, 09:22:28 AM
If everyone will sign this I will be happy to fax it. Just email it to me on this site and It will go out the next day.  :D

Quote from: tessspoon on March 02, 2010, 09:27:45 AM
I printed out a letter and will mail it next time I go over to Moseley.

I attached a Word .doc (forum won't let me attatch a .docx) with the letter, date, their address, and spaces for your address and signature for those who want to print it out and send it by snail mail.


Hrmm... I think we should send them all to one person to snail mail in as was done before. Petitioning is largely about numbers and physical presence: hundreds or thousands of letters arriving at once has a lot more physical presence. I mean there are other options. We could mail them in waves for instance.
Noli me tangere! Nescio ubi fuisti!
Don't touch me! I don't know where you've been!

Marquess of Pembroke
Duke of Saxony in Her Majesty's Court
Knight of the Swan for Her Imperial Highness

...resistance was obviously useless against a family that could invent italics.

"Let the locative live."

http://my.ddo.com/referral/Delling87

tessspoon

Was it cray who offered to collect them? Know someone did.

Delling

Noli me tangere! Nescio ubi fuisti!
Don't touch me! I don't know where you've been!

Marquess of Pembroke
Duke of Saxony in Her Majesty's Court
Knight of the Swan for Her Imperial Highness

...resistance was obviously useless against a family that could invent italics.

"Let the locative live."

http://my.ddo.com/referral/Delling87

waltzdancing

You guys are right. Mailing them one by one would be better. I was not here for the last C and D, so this is all new to me. How long did that one go on for?

tessspoon

To mail it in with snail mail, I mean. Didn't mean to ignore waltzdancing's offer to fax them. Don't know if we should do both or just one.

Quote from: waltzdancing on March 02, 2010, 09:42:54 AM
You guys are right. Mailing them one by one would be better. I was not here for the last C and D, so this is all new to me. How long did that one go on for?
I wasn't here either, but I know Cat collected letters for two weeks and then mailed them all at once.

atec123

We should send them to cray with an extra stamp.  Cause that would be a hell of a lot for one person to pay for all those letters.
Official maintainer of TSL in linux via Wine. TSL AppDB page
Maintainer of TSL in OSX via Wine
TSL IRC Chatroom Maintainer
We are the Defenders of Jazz Ballet
People say, when they see us:
Hey, folks! It's the Saviours of Jazz Ballet
Fearless heroes of kick and spin

waltzdancing

#13
I am taking mine and my sisters to the post office today. I may just do that. How do you wnat to organize the mailing? I am more than happy to mail them. I am located in New Mexico, yes it is a part of the US, A post office is right down from my house and I am happy to pay for the postage if you want. I can do the same thing Cat did, If you want to send it that is cool too. Just let me know. I want to help and am making time for TSL.

atec123

Whatever happens, we need to make sure that we are all sending them to the same person.  PRobably either you or cray.

Official maintainer of TSL in linux via Wine. TSL AppDB page
Maintainer of TSL in OSX via Wine
TSL IRC Chatroom Maintainer
We are the Defenders of Jazz Ballet
People say, when they see us:
Hey, folks! It's the Saviours of Jazz Ballet
Fearless heroes of kick and spin

oberonqa

Well if you all want this to be the official offline petition that works for me.  I will let cray chime in on this and we all can go from there.
 
Chronicling the history of Sierra through the conversion of it's premiere magazine into an easy-to-use, searchable wiki format.

atec123

Quote from: oberonqa on March 02, 2010, 11:00:09 AM
Well if you all want this to be the official offline petition that works for me.  I will let cray chime in on this and we all can go from there.
Sounds good to me.
Official maintainer of TSL in linux via Wine. TSL AppDB page
Maintainer of TSL in OSX via Wine
TSL IRC Chatroom Maintainer
We are the Defenders of Jazz Ballet
People say, when they see us:
Hey, folks! It's the Saviours of Jazz Ballet
Fearless heroes of kick and spin

crayauchtin

Well, i mean, this was not really intended or written to be a petition... this was meant for a letter-writing campaign to accompany the petition. I suppose we could quickly edit it and turn it into an offline petition, but I still think using the offline petition to follow up the online one is the best bet -- we don't want to appear disorganized.
"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!

waltzdancing

Me too. The sooner we can get this cleaned up the sooner we can get the game and I can talk to my brother again, who just bought Guitar Hero >:( >:( >:( >:(

I don't think we are disorganized. We are organizing. Edit the written petition and either you or I can collect them. How long is the online petition active? We can collect letters until then and then mail them.

oberonqa

The online petition is active until the target goal of 100,000 signatures is achieved or until I make it inactive.

However, the offline petition was meant to be the 2nd phase of the movement campaign and what cray had written was meant to just be an opening salvo that lead into the offline petition.

However, seeing as this is a movement by the fans, it's easy enough to change that plan and I'm already modifying the overall plan to account for it.

The way I see it, the biggest problem with the online petition is it's general lack of weight.  People don't take online petitions seriously.  However, when coupled with an offline petition, an online petition gains a significant amount of weight and credibility.  On the reverse side of the coin, the offline petition gains weight by having a much higher support count even if the physical amount of petitions is low.

So this is actually a great move.  Maybe not according to the original plan mind you... but a great move nontheless.  You know what they say about plans after all.... The best laid plans of mice and men...
 
Chronicling the history of Sierra through the conversion of it's premiere magazine into an easy-to-use, searchable wiki format.