Cesar Bittar & TSL on Arena Turbo!

[KatieHal]

Arena Turbo, a Brazilian gaming website, recently interviewed Cesar for an article about fan games that features TSl among others!

The article is here (in Portuguese), and we'll update soon with a link to the full interview as well.

[dark-daventry]

Will Google translate work to translate it well? I haven't actually tried it yet myself (I had a very stressful morning with my anti-lock brakes breaking down on me in the middle of a snowstorm! Curse you, New England weather!)

[KatieHal]

It should translate it, I can't speak to how well since I'm no native speaker.

[Enchantermon]

Google does a good job. The sentences are still a little grammatically odd, but you can certainly understand the point.

EDIT: Well, okay, I should point out that I don't speak Portuguese. Google put the article in English, and it can be understood, but I don't know how accurate it is.

[Haids1987]

Sweeeet. Is Cesar Portuguese?

[KatieHal]

Nope--he's originally from Venezuela.

[Haids1987]

Oh, okay.   Interesting article!

[daventry]

Here is Google Translator from Portoguese to English:

We are all fans of something or someone, either a TV series, a band, an artist, an actor / movie star and so on. Who ever thought of an alternative plot for your favorite series or movie? Or drew their own version of a character who both enjoy? Well, is creating a natural human being, especially when we very excited about something. But when creating uncompromising turn it serious?

Those who follow the game universe knows how passionate these fans can be. And in a way as games in which intellectual property give rise to extensive series, where creativity is a law and more development tools become accessible, it is natural that the public wants to create their own versions of your favorite games.

From consumer to creator

Last year, a curious case has placed the scene of the games made by fans in evidence. For the first time in the history of games, the fans won the game in the spotlight as the official game: Sonic Fan Remix, which is only a demo done with great care by two nostalgic fans, is considered by many the best return (official) Sonic's origins.

"I started working on the game in early 2010, "said Pelikan, 13 which together with Mercury, created Sonic Fan Remix. Thus, with their names at internet forums, they like to be recognized. They even know the real names of each other, said Pelikan.

"I downloaded the [tool] Unity and a tutorial to make a 2D platform game and started experimenting. I found a Sonic game would be a good challenge so I went ahead and started working in graphics. They were better than I expected so I decided to devote to the project. "

Pelikan cites access to tools even more simple and powerful as one of the reasons for the growth of unofficial games, including his own. "The Unity engine is a very powerful and easy to use. Tools like this were not available for free in the past and they allow you to create a look first. It is not difficult for someone with experience in 3D to achieve results flashy - it's just cumbersome and time consuming, "he explains.

Another game made by fans that drew attention in recent months for its quality, although it is in development for over 10 years, was Open Outcast, continuing an unofficial for the acclaimed action-adventure game Outcast, released by Infogrames in ancient 1999 PC.

"We met in 2002 after the Belgian producer Appeal announce the cancellation of Outcast 2. We then decided to create a successor on his own and began the project, "says Reto" madcybi "Schmid, game designer team leader, who has over 23 dedicated fans of the original, including illustrators, animators, programmers, writers and more - not to mention those who have already made their contribution and no longer participating in the project.

Internet for the world

It is understandable that most games made by fans born in internet forums, many of which are created solely for fans. These forums are keeping the flame lit in ancient games that never were sequels, but that marked the lives of many people - such as the Outcast.

Schmid said that while the members work in their own homes, the team works as a real business. "We are divided into departments, each with a leader responsible for managing tasks and 'kick in the ass' if a member does not work as planned. We organized over the Internet and we communicate a lot through Skype and ICQ.

The team is so organized that has its own Wiki page, a platform to coordinate work and resolve bugs and of course a forum. However, Schmid admits that despite all the effort and loyalty of the team, maintaining order is still the biggest challenge. The staff of The Silver Lining say so!

Born from the dream of a group of fans with no experience with game development, The Silver Lining is nothing less than the ninth episode "almost" the official of the classic King's Quest series, with the endorsement of the giant Activision (which owns the franchise) and amazingly, the very creator of the series and co-founder of Sierra, Roberta Williams. "How is it possible? ", you might be wondering? Cesar Bittar, game producer and director of Phoenix Online Studios, is questioned today.

Perhaps the biggest game design made by fans to this day, The Silver Lining (originally known simply as King's Quest IX) has only existed for that as well as very competent, the development team was very lucky.

"Over the years, probably about 250 people were involved in one way or another in this project, "says Bittar, giving us an idea of the size of the project, which began even before the Open Outcast, in the distant year of 2000.

"At that point we were just a group of fans together around the idea of creating a game, but we had absolutely no idea how to do this. The 'development' was also very scarce, there was discipline in itself, only one group of people who did something once in a while, "said Bittar.

"That was my main priority when I became the project director in 2002, and although I had no experience at the time, if I brought something to the team was the force to motivate them every day, which resulted in a great team. "And in speaking in a project where salary is almost a taboo, motivation is what makes the wheel spin.

Playing with fire

But when the owner decides to knock on the door, charging for what is rightfully yours? Pelikan and Mercury seem quiet when it comes to the dreaded letters of cease and desist (C & D) which require to abandon the project under court order - the copyright for it is there. "Sega is very open with games made by fans and the feedback they give. From what I know, they never sent a letter of cease and desist. " Schmid already assumes that fear exists. "If it really happens, there is nothing we can do, then it's not worth really thinking about it. Just hope that does not happen. "

Many sets of fans were already down the drain because of this, including large and ambitious projects like Chrono Trigger Resurrection (and so many other remakes and sequels unofficial beloved game from Square Enix) and, recently, the open source PokeNet MMO. When it comes to preserving their biggest franchises, some companies are completely intolerant.

That is what makes the history of development of The Silver Lining even more fascinating. The guys not only managed the feat to foil a C & D issued by Vivendi in 2005 (which owns the franchise King's Quest at the time) and repeated the dose a few years later, when they received a second letter, this time issued by Activision, which became the owner of King's Quest with the absorption of Vivendi in 2008.

"With Vivendi was easier because they had a leave policy for fans," said Bittar. "Once we receive the C & D them, follow the instructions and closed the site. At the same time, the first publicity campaign was rolling. Vivendi has asked to see a build of the game and after that they sent us a contract for many pages. We struggle and try to negotiate some terms that were not very good for us. And as a result of this long process over many years, the contract was never signed or concluded prior to take control of Activision. "

Unfortunately for the team, Activision, who barely knew the whole story, did not take long to prepare a second C & D. "This time I really thought were lost forever," says Bittar. However, to the surprise of the team, a community of fans came together and convinced Activision to release the development that was already in its final stages. "That was the happiest day of my life. Since then, Activision has been wonderful to work with, the contract was much milder than what we had with Vivendi and they have been opened to all our special requests for things that might go against the contract, "says Bittar with relief.

Wonder what he would say to someone who wants to start his own game and fan response Bittar, who for more than 10 years dealing with an intellectual property that is not yours, is blunt: "Do not start. Has its own intellectual property. "

"Making a game fan has many benefits, such as a fan base already established, finding people who really care to spend time on the project etc.. But if you're willing to do something really good, tell its own story. In the end, you will have your product, you never have to worry about 'what if they close us? "and will have no limitations on what you can and can not do with it. It is a much better way. "

Still, the passion to speak louder. Although no cash income, a good fan game can open doors. Advertising Sonic Fan Remix Pelikan and Mercury turned in two unsung heroes, without them having to do much to promote the game - the community did it for them.

In other words, creating a fan made game is, by itself, like a game where it takes skill to face the tasks, a strategy to manage its resources and luck, very lucky not to be hit by the raid boss . The prize? Reward and recognition.

[KatieHal]

Thanks daventry!

Yeah, google has a decent translation going on. There are some places where it's a little rough that I think are easy to see, but you can read it and know what it means.

[dark-daventry]

Thanks daventry!

Yeah, google has a decent translation going on. There are some places where it's a little rough that I think are easy to see, but you can read it and know what it means.

I was surprised how good the translation was. I know google translate struggles with certain languages, but I guess Portugese isn't one of them. I know from experience that it's got some issues with French. Either that, or the french website I visit has bad grammar to begin with...

[KatieHal]

The full interview with Cesar has been posted!

[Enchantermon]

However, as they say, 'every cloud has a silver lining' (every cloud has a silver lining, in English) and here we are.

Well, there you go. Google's translation can't be all that bad.

(Posted on: January 25, 2011, 06:33:53 PM)

Just finished reading the interview, and I have a small question.
When asked about where the project is getting funding from, the end of Cesar's answer was:

Our goal is to pass to pay in coming months. We also plan to have commercial products on the market since the third quarter of 2011.

Obviously, the games mentioned are Corridor 9 and anything else you guys may have in the works. What I don't understand is the "pass to pay" statement, which is probably a result of Google's translation. What was that supposed to say?

[Cez]

Katie, do you want to copy/paste the original interview from the word doc here?