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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Lone Knight on January 23, 2006, 03:32:44 pm

Title: The Creators of FS
Post by: Lone Knight on January 23, 2006, 03:32:44 pm
Do we know anyone from :V: who is still around or any way of contacting them? I mean, isn't obvious that they must know more than us on the answers of Gam Drac supernova? I mean, I like getting left on a cliff-hanger, but with no FS3 in sight, it's just my mind wanting to know if we know about any :V: developers or ex-staff.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: karajorma on January 23, 2006, 03:57:19 pm
Dave B has been known to pop by ad post about how shocked he is by the progress the SCP have made.

The rest just smile enigmatically if asked about what was going to happen in FS3.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: aldo_14 on January 23, 2006, 04:25:05 pm
Dave B has been known to pop by ad post about how shocked he is by the progress the SCP have made.

The rest just smile enigmatically if asked about what was going to happen in FS3.
...and pretend they actually had a clue what they wanted to do for it

:D
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: TrashMan on January 23, 2006, 04:52:48 pm
When's the last time anyone talked to Dave B?
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: aldo_14 on January 23, 2006, 04:59:30 pm
When's the last time anyone talked to Dave B?

Months ago AFAIK.  I think the last time he popped here was to commend the SCP and ask for shadows.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Lone Knight on January 23, 2006, 09:11:58 pm
Quote
The rest just smile enigmatically if asked about what was going to happen in FS3.

Intriguing. Are there any other people we know of who worked for :V: other than Dave B?
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Turnsky on January 23, 2006, 09:54:17 pm
Quote
The rest just smile enigmatically if asked about what was going to happen in FS3.

Intriguing. Are there any other people we know of who worked for :V: other than Dave B?

y'know, that aside, it'd be nice to see a commendation from all of the :V: guys who have worked on Freespace, not just Dave B, but all of 'em, to the guys at the SCP who have worked pretty hard in their spare time (either lack thereof, or excessive), mind you, just having the engine open source in the first place is a commendation to the modding community in its own right.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: TrashMan on January 24, 2006, 05:28:20 am
Then the next time Dave B pops up, you might wanna ask him to spread the word of the HLP forums among other [V] gusy...and cordial invitation with that too :D
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: BlackDove on January 24, 2006, 07:33:59 am
Allender and Pletcher would be the guys to talk to as well, Toddz left IIRC. If you want the story, Pletcher's your man, he probably has a good idea regarding FS3.

Oh and, it's not a question of werther or not there would/should be an FS3. Baranec stated before how they talk(ed) about it at their lunch breaks and the cool stuff they'd do (programming related though of course, Baranec is a coder).

Too bad the Caen brothers needed their pockets filled with money. Hope they're having fun now making 9 bucks per fiscal quarter. ****ers.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Roanoke on January 26, 2006, 06:05:36 am
Too bad the Caen brothers needed their pockets filled with money. Hope they're having fun now making 9 bucks per fiscal quarter. ****ers.

what's the story behind that ?
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Unknown Target on January 28, 2006, 09:26:06 am
*Bump* Yea, now I'm interested too.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: aldo_14 on January 28, 2006, 12:23:51 pm
Too bad the Caen brothers needed their pockets filled with money. Hope they're having fun now making 9 bucks per fiscal quarter. ****ers.

what's the story behind that ?

It went public listed, posted several years losses, was delisted due to a low share price, got evicted from its offices and had to sack all the staff, and is now basically a shell for holding license rights and having lawsuits taken out upon. 

Unless you're specifically referring to their mishandling of FS2 (IIRC they had a Star Trek game scheduled for the same time, and decided rather than alter release dates, they cut the marketing budget for FS2 to stop it competing against the ST game).
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: karajorma on January 28, 2006, 12:28:37 pm
Does anyone even remember the name of the ST game?

Looks like they backed the wrong horse :)
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: aldo_14 on January 28, 2006, 12:35:35 pm
Well, IIRC FS2 was released in 2000, so we have the following contenders;
Star Trek: Starfleet Command volume....blah/url]
[url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/331932.asp?q=star%20trek]Star Trek - New Worlds (http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/339659.asp?q=star%20trek)
Star Trek: Klingon Academy (http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/137913.asp?q=star%20trek)
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Getter Robo G on January 30, 2006, 03:36:01 am
I hope it wasn't KA, cause that was an awesome game...

New Worlds, however, was a piece of crap! a Low poly, sup-par ripoff of Command and Conquer. 10 mins into the game I was disgusted...
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: BlackDove on January 30, 2006, 03:52:01 am
Unless you're specifically referring to their mishandling of FS2 (IIRC they had a Star Trek game scheduled for the same time, and decided rather than alter release dates, they cut the marketing budget for FS2 to stop it competing against the ST game).

Not exactly that clean cut either. The money was "pocketed". It was a hefty amount as well, which I don't remember. It was as I rememberish, either fifteen or twenty five thousand dollars (perhaps now that it comes back to me, maybe even thirty) that were supposed to go for (most likely) marketing.

It was a long running "joke" about who stole it in the community back when it happened, but the result was always really tragic. A few months after that I believe (mind you after it was public) that's pretty much when Kulas broke it off with Interplay.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: karajorma on January 30, 2006, 03:56:52 am
Was this something that happened before the games actual release? Cause that bit in the EULA sounds like revenge.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Luigi30 on January 30, 2006, 09:12:19 am
I liked Klingon Academy :(
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Unknown Target on January 30, 2006, 10:08:16 am
You were one of the few. That game tanked pretty bad in the mainstream, although it really wasn't that bad.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Roanoke on February 11, 2006, 04:43:41 pm
Seems crazy to prtically sabatge your own launch. Why not just delay the damn thing. No one would have been surprised, and a dev team can never have too much time.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: BlackDove on February 11, 2006, 04:47:53 pm
It was obviously sufficient though. FreeSpace2 is the only big production house game in history that I know of that was actually ready to deploy AHEAD of schedule, and within a year of predecessor.

That was some... heavy ****.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Roanoke on February 11, 2006, 04:58:48 pm
It was obviously sufficient though. FreeSpace2 is the only big production house game in history that I know of that was actually ready to deploy AHEAD of schedule, and within a year of predecessor.

That was some... heavy ****.

oh the irony.  :no:
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Descenter on February 13, 2006, 06:18:25 pm
Well, IIRC FS2 was released in 2000, so....

Actually FS2 was released in 1999, from what Volition's page says.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Nix on February 15, 2006, 03:14:50 am
Definetly 1999, I was a junior when it was put out in HS cause a buddy of mine told me of it's existance.  I was shocked, and when I picked it up, y'all know the story...

Anyways, I'm interested in getting ahold of SOMEONE over at V, specifically Dan Wentz.  The contact page on the back end of thier site doesn't seem to work, but they DO have a Telephone number listed for the V Offices. 
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: CP5670 on February 15, 2006, 09:49:04 am
It would be great if we could get all the extra universe-related content that wasn't included with the games (high res FS2 textures, all the models used in the movies, etc.) Although I think some of that may still be owned by Interplay.

Quote
Months ago AFAIK.  I think the last time he popped here was to commend the SCP and ask for shadows.

Now that I think about it, that was actually a long time ago, more like two years.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: an0n on February 15, 2006, 11:05:22 am
Please. What the **** are Interplay gonna do? They couldn't even afford a taxi to the court-house, let alone the lawyers to actually sue anyone.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: CP5670 on February 15, 2006, 12:04:26 pm
Everyone here knows that Interplay is irrelevant, but the V guys may still be reluctant to give us that stuff because of them.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: starbug on February 15, 2006, 01:25:24 pm
What is Interplay still around????  :nervous: but it can't hurt to ask them can it, worst V can say is no.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: achtung on February 15, 2006, 09:18:47 pm
What is Interplay still around????
http://www.interplay.com/
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: StratComm on February 15, 2006, 09:19:56 pm
If this doesn't say it, I don't know what does.

(http://www.interplay.com/images%5CComingSoon.gif)
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: achtung on February 15, 2006, 09:25:29 pm
That's probably the funniest part.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Roanoke on February 17, 2006, 04:45:01 pm
It would be great if we could get all the extra universe-related content that wasn't included with the games (high res FS2 textures, all the models used in the movies, etc.) Although I think some of that may still be owned by Interplay.

Quote
Months ago AFAIK.  I think the last time he popped here was to commend the SCP and ask for shadows.

Now that I think about it, that was actually a long time ago, more like two years.

could do a search, if the fecker was working...>.>
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Andreas on February 18, 2006, 01:47:57 pm
If this doesn't say it, I don't know what does.

(http://www.interplay.com/images%5CComingSoon.gif)
:lol::yes:

Somebody needs to put that sick animal down! :snipe:
And then :v: could do FS3:mad2:!
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: BlackDove on February 18, 2006, 03:58:31 pm
Reading their most recent ****fest regarding legal documents, what is this?

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1057232/000134934606000011/sdf0136.pdf

Under
Quote
Statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership by individuals
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Descenter on February 18, 2006, 09:02:35 pm
I think that artical has something to do with their stock and is probably irrevelent.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: FireCrack on February 18, 2006, 10:57:12 pm
Interplay's assets are like $23.99 or somthing though...
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Zantor on February 19, 2006, 05:33:20 pm
Do we know anyone from :V: who is still around or any way of contacting them? I mean, isn't obvious that they must know more than us on the answers of Gam Drac supernova? I mean, I like getting left on a cliff-hanger, but with no FS3 in sight, it's just my mind wanting to know if we know about any :V: developers or ex-staff.

I believe there are still some original staffers of Volition. You can find their web site here (http://www.volition-inc.com).
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Roanoke on February 21, 2006, 04:24:20 pm
Wooo, check out Vs new (ish) site. Wonder of we'll see a new VBB ?  :drevil:
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Nix on February 23, 2006, 02:29:35 am
doubtful, as they cannot even really provide support for the Freespace series, and such.  All they can really support is what THQ's published.  Putting up a new BB, they would only be able to really talk about THQ's games, not stuff published by Interplay, for the above reason.  Besides, who really wants to talk about Red Faction and Saint's Row?
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Roanoke on February 23, 2006, 11:55:38 am
Wouldn't have to be a FS forum. We could hijack the general V forum, just so they know we're still around.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Charismatic on February 23, 2006, 10:38:35 pm
If this doesn't say it, I don't know what does.

(http://www.interplay.com/images%5CComingSoon.gif)
:lol::yes:

Somebody needs to put that sick animal down! :snipe:
And then :v: could do FS3:mad2:!
Dam lost my post. Am i the only one who dont want :I: to die? I atleast have some loyalty for them. I hope they come around.
If enough of us called :v: 's phone # they would start to get the hint if we all asked for FS2 related info, and FS3. May get something then. Make sure to tell about HLP and give the link to them (verbally).

What are the chances :v: would make, or would be allowed to make FS3.. if :I: died and sold the licenze (to them)?
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Descenter on February 24, 2006, 03:18:50 pm
I was also a fan of Interplay, though that was only for their Descent games.

(hence the username)
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: StratComm on February 24, 2006, 10:49:56 pm
You realize that Descent and Freespace, besides sharing the same root codebase, are by essentially the same people, right?  I.e. that's Volition too.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: karajorma on February 25, 2006, 03:41:03 pm
Yep. There are even a few bits of code in FS2 that are obviously from Descent :)
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Nix on February 25, 2006, 04:01:51 pm
I remember when Parallax split, and how I thought that Outrage would have been the better developer.  Where are they now? heh..  Though I really don't understand why they split in the first place because if they were splitting off to keep thier number of developers small, why does V have over a hundred devs now? 
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Carl on February 25, 2006, 05:04:01 pm
If enough of us called :v: 's phone # they would start to get the hint if we all asked for FS2 related info, and FS3. May get something then. Make sure to tell about HLP and give the link to them (verbally).

They already know about us.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: WMCoolmon on February 25, 2006, 05:07:23 pm
Yep. There are even a few bits of code in FS2 that are obviously from Descent :)

Not to mention some that are blatantly ripped from Descent. :p

Code: [Select]
char type; // what type of object this is... robot, weapon, hostage, powerup, fireball
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: karajorma on February 25, 2006, 07:10:05 pm
That's actually the one I was thinking of.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Lone Knight on February 25, 2006, 07:45:52 pm
They really outta clean up the FS 2 website.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: UGCThorn on February 26, 2006, 03:13:12 pm
doubtful, as they cannot even really provide support for the Freespace series, and such.  All they can really support is what THQ's published.  Putting up a new BB, they would only be able to really talk about THQ's games, not stuff published by Interplay, for the above reason.  Besides, who really wants to talk about Red Faction and Saint's Row?


I find this comment on the site funny:

We don't offer technical support for our games. If you're inquiring about support for a THQ product, go to http://info.thq.com/support. If you're inquiring about support for an Interplay product, your best bet is fan forums.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: karajorma on February 26, 2006, 04:00:03 pm
Well between 7 years of FS2 experience and access to the code it's probably true in our case :)
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Descenter on February 27, 2006, 05:07:40 pm
If you're inquiring about support for an Interplay product, your best bet is fan forums. [/i]


How true that is..  :lol:
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Dark Hunter on February 27, 2006, 10:14:47 pm
Probably the biggest problem with creating campaigns taking place 20-30 years after Capella (like Inferno) is that we don't know what V was planning to do, but it's almost moot now. Even if they got an FS3 together, I think those who have played Inferno might actually accept that as the "official" story, simply because Inferno came out first.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Jal-18 on February 28, 2006, 03:20:35 pm
That's terrible logic.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: jr2 on February 28, 2006, 03:52:22 pm
Dark Hunter:
Quote
Probably the biggest problem with creating campaigns taking place 20-30 years after Capella (like Inferno) is that we don't know what V was planning to do, but it's almost moot now. Even if they got an FS3 together, I think those who have played Inferno might actually accept that as the "official" story, simply because Inferno came out first.
Why couldn't they just do a slight alteration to their timeline, and make the plot be after Inferno?  Unless the storylines were totally opposite. 
BTW, I see they finally got their "Send a message to Volition..." (under http://www.volition-inc.com/Contact/ ) link working.  I tried using it a few weeks ago for about a week straight, and it just gave an error about a resource not being available.
So you could ask them if they have any old renders, etc. that we could use.  If we all said "pretty please", maybe they'd do it. -- couldn't hurt to try!! :D
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Lone Knight on February 28, 2006, 05:07:55 pm
Hmm. Who knows what V would ever do. Who knows if they'd care or not about changing their story to match Inferno's or just plowing it to pieces because they can.
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: karajorma on February 28, 2006, 05:50:42 pm
Um. Inferno is not canon and next to no one in the community either believes that it is or that it should be considered any more authoratative than any other campaign out there (2nd Great War included!)

:v: Wouldn't give a flying **** if their plotline contradicted Inferno and pretty much no one else would either. And that's the point of view of someone who LIKED Inferno. :p
Title: Re: The Creators of FS
Post by: Dark Hunter on March 01, 2006, 03:43:15 pm
Alright alright! Just a thought that occured to me. I'm one of those insane players who enjoys continuity. :cool: