KickStarter Free Stars: Children of Infinity - upcoming Star Control 2 sequel from original creator Fred Ford

[Cael]

I believe they do own the rights to the original games. The way Wardell is portraying the issue on Twitter now is dishonest IMO.

And yet you call me retarded for pointing out exactly that. You are one biased sack of shit, Shillarytron.

 

[mastroego]

Shady crowd-funding with sob-stories for legal expenses in a litigation about money between millionaires has to be a novelty.
If one needed more proof that Stardock was right all along, this has to be it.

 

[Alex]

From reading all this, I am inclined to believe in Wardell more than I am inclined to believe the guys from Toys for Bob. But at the same time, I do think this drama isn't really helping. It is hard to know who is in the right without having all the facts (such as the contracts they signed, and we probably would have trouble interpreting those even if we had them). Which makes me think that airing everything about the case might not be a good idea. No matter how well the correct party (if any) state its case, most people who aren't committed to either side won't come out convinced of what happened. And that being so, the case will only result in dragging the good name of those involved through the mud.

In Bard Wardell's case, I think this is even worse, since the rights he obtained are really only good in drawing attention from the fans of the series. The same fans that are more liable to side with those who createeddesigned the game than those who bought the rights to it. Perhaps, even being (if he is) in the right, Stardock would have been better off simply separating the game from the IP and selling their game as an spiritual sequel.

By the way, what is the status of the old games? Did the rights of those really go to Toys for Bob, or are they still arguing? If they are arguing, what is the point of contention exactly?

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Originals seem to be unavailable on both Steam and GOG.

 

[Deathsquid]

Leftard style circle jerk. Politics of envy. Projection. And more. There isn't a box the idiots didn't tick in their "we are the underdogs" whining. Fuck Wardell and his fanbois. I hope they lose everything.

Wow friend you are really winning hearts here. It's like in your hatred of EVIL INTERNET BULLIES you suddenly became an even bigger internet bully that's wishing ill to average people that have fuck-all to do with a battle of three autistic millionaires. You should really try the SJW camp, I hear they like to anti-bully people out of their livelihoods.

Also, regarding "leftie this and leftie that", did you maybe forget that time when the SJW brigades came to Wardell for comments for an ex-employee's statements of MISOGYNY, and he sent them to fuck themselves and all the righties cheered? What's your stance on that? Did you cheer at this event? How does it compare to actions of inXile and Obsidian? Which is more leftie, and why?

 

[Unkillable Cat]

I believe they do own the rights to the original games. The way Wardell is portraying the issue on Twitter now is dishonest IMO.

And yet you call me retarded for pointing out exactly that. You are one biased sack of shit, Shillarytron.

That's because you tout it as fact, while he expresses it as a personal opinion.

 

[Zombra]

Where can I contribute to the Stardock Legal Offense Fund?

 

[Heretic]

Buy their game.

 

[Dexter]

It is their fault and theirs only. They should have cooperated when Wardell offered it.

Ah. I see. Wardell gave them an offer they can't refuse, eh?

Correct, he owns the Trademark and can decide what he wants to do with it, even 2 million won't help them with that. Too bad for those hacks.

 

[Drakron]

Trademark yes but not the content, its kinda the hilarious situation of say owning the rights to Tom Clancy name but not the rights to the characters Tom Clancy craeted.

So in one hand they can create what is a Star Control game but cannot use the name and on the other, Stardock can make a Star Control game but in name alone without any of the things that makes it Star Control.

 

[Deathsquid]

Trademark yes but not the content, its kinda the hilarious situation of say owning the rights to Tom Clancy name but not the rights to the characters Tom Clancy craeted.

So in one hand they can create what is a Star Control game but cannot use the name and on the other, Stardock can make a Star Control game but in name alone without any of the things that makes it Star Control.

And the funniest part? Instead of creating idiotic drama, both sides could've made their own games by now. Stardock could have another spreadsheet simulator and the TfB guys could have made a possibly fun game and named it, I dunno, ASTRAL DOMINION or something.

But noooo, instead we'll only have the spreadsheet simulator and nerd martyrs.

 

[Zombra]

You know, more Star Control would be great, but Reiche & Ford should really be working on The Unholy War 2.

The Unholy War shared 98% of its DNA with Star Control, except in three dimensions and with individuals instead of ships. (The "Killcycle" pictured is not a spaceship but a hoverbike.) Imagine if they'd made an exploration/RPG type follow-up to this fascinating world like they did from Star Control 1→2. They could forget this idiot lawsuit and get back to simply making good games.

 

[Deathsquid]

You know, more Star Control would be great, but Reiche & Ford should really be working on The Unholy War 2.

The Unholy War shared 98% of its DNA with Star Control, except in three dimensions and with individuals instead of ships. (The "Killcycle" pictured is not a spaceship but a hoverbike.) Imagine if they'd made an exploration/RPG type follow-up to this fascinating world like they did from Star Control 1→2. They could forget this idiot lawsuit and get back to simply making good games.

That sounds really interesting. Those PS1 era graphics though, ouch. UrQuan Masters in their 2D glory look so much better.

 

[Zombra]

That sounds really interesting.

Yep. Though it is certainly dated now, Unholy War in its day was just as good as Starcon 1, or Archon. And the units were just as crazy as the different Starcon aliens. The theme was "magic vs. technology", with a coalition of high tech aliens invading a dark fantasy planet (with all original races). You had lizardman sword mages vs. heavy missile tanks, unicorn rhinos vs. buzzsaw robots, fire witches vs. tower-building scientists. A story/exploration game in that world would be HELLA AMAZING. Really sad they never did anything more with it.

Maybe I will buy the rights to the series for 10¢ somewhere and trick them into battling for the right to make an awesome sequel and have it be this huge problem.

 

[lophiaspis]

I would contribute if someone started a third fund to sue Ford and Reiche for being such dicks.

 

[Werdna's Revenge]

Ritchie and Ford are dumbfucks for trying this gofundme. The dudes need a public relations firm, not a law firm. They could have used their reputation to steer the drama, but instead have come across like greedy bastards. Wardell at least seems to care about getting a game out.

 

[SerratedBiz]

But they already hired a PR firm back when this all started.

 

[Infinitron]

I was looking at Twitter the other day and realized that Frogboy is putting the Arilou in Star Control: Origins.



That is more than a minor reference. I don't think he's allowed to do that. Wouldn't surprise me if they end up being renamed.

EDIT: This makes no sense to me - "Stardock owns all the trademarks. So Star Control games can have the Star Control aliens."

 

[Infinitron]

Some honesty here:

 

[LESS T_T]

About that, Inf... Melnorme designs:

 

[Infinitron]

Yeah, he seems to think that if they change the art then it won't be copyright infringement.

 

[MRY]

That progression is like the Jackie Jormp-Jomp of Star Control.

 

[Roscoe Scaggs]

Man fuck all of this, I still have my SC dics from 25 years ago and just downloaded UQM on every PC I have, in case this ends up with that gone. I'll play a great game while these retards fight it out. Fuck Brad for playing twitter copyright lawyer and fuck Paul and Fred for jumping on the crowd-funding bandwagon ass-backwards. Even Fargo wouldn't pull this shit.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

About that, Inf... Melnorme designs:

Infinitron meets Eversion.

 

[MRY]

About that, Inf... Melnorme designs:

This is what happens when a Melnorme is forced to gaze too long into the Codex.