Herve is at it again - repurchases Freespace IP from THQ's corpse for $7500

[Infinitron]

http://www.polygon.com/2013/6/6/4403602/interplay-repurchases-freespace-ip-thq-volition

Interplay purchases Freespace IP from THQ and Volition for $7,500

By Dave Tach on Jun 06, 2013 at 6:00p @dptach

Interplay Entertainment Corporation, publisher of Baldur's Gate and the original Fallout games, purchased the Freespace intellectual property from THQ and Volition for $7,500, according to a court document filed on June 4 (PDF link).

A Copyright Assignment and Quitclaim Agreement, which was also filed on June 4 but became effective May 10, states that THQ and Volition relinquish their rights to the combat space sim IP to Interplay. According to a search on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, Interplay is the current trademark holder for Freespace.

Volition developed Descent: FreeSpace - The Great War in 1998 and its sequel,FreeSpace 2, the following year. Interplay published both games. THQ purchased Volition in 2000, after which the developer went on to create the Red Faction and Saints Row series of games. Koch Media purchased Volition earlier this year after THQ's bankruptcy.

Interplay continues to sell both original Freespace games on sites like GOG.com.

(thanks Keshik)

 

[Angthoron]

7,5k? Let's find out what THQ corpse still has to offer, and fundraise for it.

 

[Infinitron]

7,5k? Let's find out what THQ corpse still has to offer, and fundraise for it.

Yeah, it's too bad nobody made a Kickstarter for this instead of Homeworld.

 

[General Maxson]

If it will be Interplay kickstarter and similar to the one they had for "Fallout spiritual successor" it will fail like the previous one.

 

[dnf]

I guess its good news since Freespace is not going to be tainted by next gen shit

 

[evdk]

Jesus, that's pretty cheap. The Codex could have afforded that.

 

[Absalom]

I thought Interplay went bankrupt?

The Star Control IP is going for around 50k, if that fundraising idea was a legit one

 

[General Maxson]

Jesus, that's pretty cheap. The Codex could have afforded that.

We should have bought Freespace. And then only sell it to worthy guys. Who will give us a proper space sim.

Star Control in the ownership of Codex would be awesome. Too bad it's probably too rich for our blood. :D

 

[dnf]

I thought Interplay went bankrupt?

 

[Infinitron]

That is not dead which can eternal lie.

 

[evdk]

I thought Interplay went bankrupt?

Interplay went zombie.

 

[Keshik]

Not even sure who the worthy guys would be. Although, Volition always said they'd kill to make FS3 (but I always wrongly thought Interplay held the IP thus preventing them from doing so). At least Derek Smart didn't get his hands on this like he said he wanted to.

 

[Infinitron]

Not even sure who the worthy guys would be.

 

[baturinsky]

Why people think that bought title with added numeral can make a game better?

 

[Ulminati]

Didn't interplay publish the original two games anyway?

THQ bought the IP from Interplay back in the day and never did anything with it.

 

[Hellraiser]

I still can't believe something as dead as Interplay can continue shambling around for nearly a decade. Herve has mastered the school of corporate necromancy I have to give him that.

 

[Don Peste]

I still can't believe something as dead as Interplay can continue shambling around for nearly a decade. Herve has mastered the school of corporate necromancy I have to give him that.

Plus he is hot.

 

[dnf]

 

[Kirtai]

It would be both sad and amusing to see them make an official Freespace game that's inferior to the campaigns you can get for FS2 Open

 

[Horus]

Why?Freespace was a bland setting that could easily ripped off. I don't get the publishers love for necroing old franchises.
Just build something exactly same and call it space free. No one cares about old IP's and even the ones that care want to see good game more than a mediocre game set in same universe.

 

[FeelTheRads]

No one cares about old IP's and even ones they care want to see good game more than a mediocre game set in sama universe.

Wouldn't be so sure. The most prevalent "argument" you usually hear it "hey, better something than nothing". And that's why we can't have nice things.

 

[deuxhero]

As far as I know, Interplay doesn't have the funds to rape the series, so this is good (compared to say... Homeworld).

 

[BaconAndEggs]

I'd like a FS3 or another game in the same vein, but at least this way it won't be EA'd. Now it can rest once more and live on through FSOpen.. until Herve tries and fails a kickstarter.

 

[warpig]

As far as I know, Interplay doesn't have the funds to rape the series, so this is good (compared to say... Homeworld)

There probably won't be any "FreeSpaceMarine" cinematic AAA+ fps game, but they can rape it in a different way. Imagine a reboot of a classic franchise as an F2P MMO/arena shooter - that's a trendy and modern idea that can lure investors.

 

[Infinitron]

Trent Oster's Freespace Enhanced Edition.