[BlueFlames]

Wow.  It was pretty much a foregone conclusion that I was going to Hell on my own merits, but with that, Eishtmo, you probably just consigned everyone in my apartment complex to the same fate because that image is that heretical that an association so remote as a person in the same building as someone viewing your image is enough to guarantee them a one-way ticket to fire and brimstone.  It's bad when you make an atheist feel like he needs to apologize to a god he doesn't believe in, just to be on the safe side.

[Colonol Dekker]

Why isn't there some sort of popup for new members, or at least a section in the activation e-mail directing them to the DSm4rt thread......?

[Jeff Vader]

Baka. That would scare them off immediately.

Maybe just a simple 'Derek Smart is an idiot' note on the activation email.

[Flipside]

Maybe people should try searching the forums on Keyword 'Derek Smart'?

I'm not 100% happy about this thread, he's not doing Freespace 3, he's made that clear, and personally, I'd be a lot happier if people didn't feel the need to dredge this up once every six months.

I don't know who Derek Smart 'is', but I know how he acted towards us, and that's as much as I would care to.

[JGZinv]

Well I'm reading through all of the former threads, (both money theads done and on 21 of 47 of the original)
but I pose the question that is the effort to try and obtain the license for FS still desired or semi-alive?
With the immediate threat of DS out of the way, does anyone care enough to take
another stab at it?

Seems like everyone axed themselves because they couldn't decide on a donation system,
what Interplay would want for it, what the rights would be after the fact, and how would
folks get their money back if it failed.

To be frank - it's a few years later, people may or may not be better off. Donation systems
are widespread and HLP has one now. SCP has never looked better... Records keeping and methods
of refunds isn't all "that" hard to manage either. The rights once attained could then be distributed
however the initial group sees fit - at least it'd be on our turf. You can either make it 1 individual, a
small group, or a mass group based off the records of the donations... or form a corporate body.

Pretty much all the issues brought up in the past can be solved. The only one that is troublesome
is how much Interplay wants for it - and for that to be axed you have to get in communication
with someone important. This isn't impossible either - but would take some effort.

[CP5670]

That has been brought up countless times too, and the conclusion was essentially that it would be a waste of money and effort.

[Jeff Vader]

Well I'm reading through all of the former threads, (both money theads done and on 21 of 47 of the original)
but I pose the question that is the effort to try and obtain the license for FS still desired or semi-alive?
With the immediate threat of DS out of the way, does anyone care enough to take
another stab at it?

Seems like everyone axed themselves because they couldn't decide on a donation system,
what Interplay would want for it, what the rights would be after the fact, and how would
folks get their money back if it failed.

To be frank - it's a few years later, people may or may not be better off. Donation systems
are widespread and HLP has one now. SCP has never looked better... Records keeping and methods
of refunds isn't all "that" hard to manage either. The rights once attained could then be distributed
however the initial group sees fit - at least it'd be on our turf. You can either make it 1 individual, a
small group, or a mass group based off the records of the donations... or form a corporate body.

Pretty much all the issues brought up in the past can be solved. The only one that is troublesome
is how much Interplay wants for it - and for that to be axed you have to get in communication
with someone important. This isn't impossible either - but would take some effort.

I think HLP doesn't desire the license anymore. If I borrow some COMI, we might be able to acquire a lot of money, but the license would cost an awful lot of money. And basically, why bother? We'd be sacrificing huge amounts of money for a license we do nothing with. We have FSO. We can distribute FS2. Or not technically; it is sort of illegal. But Volition Interplay has showed no interest towards the series, and won't likely be doing that in the near future.

So basically: why pay when there's no need to?

Edit: Critical inaccuracy fixed.

[TrashMan]

All the facts you'll ever need about Derek Smart.

http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Derek_Smart

and all of this is 100% COMPLETE AND TOTAL TRUTH*









*except in 102% of all cases

[JGZinv]

So basically: why pay when there's no need to?

Well I suppose that it would allow the SCP to do with it as they see fit.
It would make things technically legal.
It would give you grounds to license it out to other developers to make spin offs or
something else.
It'd keep it out of the hands of any other foolish company/person/galactic ego.
Each mod group could potentially sell their mod packs, long as it was completely based on FS, and not
say SW for example.
It'd provide a lot of backing for HLP/SCP, and be a news positive - possibly stimulate other gamer communities
to do the same or similar.

I'm probably missing some other ideas here... but just looking at the idea that if it were
still desired - it's well possible to do.

Edit -

Also - correct me if I'm wrong here but if we had the license then you could grant Violition the right
to make another game or I would suppose there's the option that you could use it as a bargaining chip
for say getting all those pieces of FS2 that were cut out... like say Squadwar... that'd take a load off SCP
having to code it from scratch.  A little give a little take.

[Dark Hunter]

Well I suppose that it would allow the SCP to do with it as they see fit.
It would make things technically legal.

The people who own the license don't show much sign of caring what we do with it. Hell, has even helped us out in the past, and are fully aware of what we do. Interplay doesn't seem to care at all (though they've been too busy clearing away debt as of late to do anything anyway).

It would give you grounds to license it out to other developers to make spin offs or
something else.

Why would we want to?

It'd keep it out of the hands of any other foolish company/person/galactic ego.

Well, it would be rather foolish to attempt to buy a license to a game that very few people play in a genre the mainstream gamers don't play and that didn't sell particularly well at any rate.

Each mod group could potentially sell their mod packs, long as it was completely based on FS, and not
say SW for example.

Why would we want to? I for one prefer the free distribution of mods... not only cause I don't want to pay for all the wonderful goodies the SCP and mods have come out with, but also because it would drive people away. One of the major pulls of modding projects like HLP is that it is free, and to pay for it would defeat the basic purpose and drive people away, not invite them in.

It'd provide a lot of backing for HLP/SCP, and be a news positive - possibly stimulate other gamer communities
to do the same or similar.

We already have plenty of backing amongst those who know of us, and the SCP and mods have been featured in major publications before.
But it would be a very rare gamer community capable of paying for something as expensive as an IP. We're talking on the order of tens of thousands of dollars... for the cheaper ones. I seriously doubt HLP could do it, let alone any other community.

Also - correct me if I'm wrong here but if we had the license then you could grant Violition the right
to make another game...

For the same reason Interplay likely couldn't: they have a contract with THQ, and I doubt THQ would allow them to work on a game that THQ doesn't own.

[Jeff Vader]

Each mod group could potentially sell their mod packs, long as it was completely based on FS, and not
say SW for example.

Why would we want to? I for one prefer the free distribution of mods... not only cause I don't want to pay for all the wonderful goodies the SCP and mods have come out with, but also because it would drive people away. One of the major pulls of modding projects like HLP is that it is free, and to pay for it would defeat the basic purpose and drive people away, not invite them in.

Agreed. The word 'free' has been a driving force in recruiting new fans and most certainly shall continue to be. Now, if for example Blue Planet cost some money, I for one would have surely skipped it. Along with any campaign, ship pack or anything that has so far been made by fans, for fans, for free. People who want to make money with games can get into the gaming industry and start making their own games. FreeSpace won't be a money making machine, but a game that gives the players unlimited modification possibilities. For free.

[Eishtmo]

He died for his Freespace sins. Get it straight, dammit.

You have to come at it from HIS perspective.

[JGZinv]

Well since no one's interested... I'll just leave this big ole list of contact info for Interplay
for the next time we get a DS siege or the thing comes into question again.
A good part of this might be out of date - but you don't know till you try it.
Also figured out their e-mail format for people connected with Interplay, so you can probably
e-mail the board of directors if you want.

Phones n' Addresses:

(310) 432-1958

Investor Relations Contact    
Customer Support Contacts
Liolios Group, Inc.
2431 W. Coast Hwy, ste. 202
Newport Beach, Ca 92663
Telephone: 949-574-3860
Fax: 949-574-3870

Interplay OEM, Inc.
16815 Von Karman Ave. Suite 100
Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 223-5987
+1.949.553.6655
(949) 724-5039 FAX
[email protected]

USA Headquarters:
16815 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine, CA 92606
For business inquiries
(949)553-6655
(949)252-2820 FAX
Support and Customer Service
(949)553-6678
Product Orders
(800)INTERPLAY
Product Information
(800)969-GAME

Headquarters:
16815 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine, CA 92606
(714)553-6655
(714)252-2822 FAX
Customer Service
(714)553-6678
Ordering and Information
(800)INTERPLAY

Interplay
Customer Support
16815 Von Karman
Irvine, CA 92606
Interplay Support: (949) 553-6678 (M-F 8am-5:45pm PST)
Fax: (949) 553-9549

Investor Relations:
Luke Haase
Intelligence Agency
[email protected]

Online Advertising
16815 Von Karman Ave
Irvine, CA 92618
TEL: 949-553-6655
EMAIL: [email protected]

Interplay Productions
Attn: Development Coordinator / WS2
16815 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine, CA 92606
[email protected]

Shiny:
Laguna Design
1088 N. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 494-0772

Various E-mails:

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
General Information: [email protected]
Webmaster: [email protected]
[email protected] - Latin America :
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
[email protected] - Japan
[email protected] - Australia and New Zealand
[email protected] - China, Korea, India
[email protected] - SE Asia: :
Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
[email protected] - US and Canada
[email protected] - Europe, the Middle East, and Africa

International:

Germany & Spain

Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Deutschland) GmbH
Borselstr. 16 C
22765 Hamburg

direct line: 040-8970 33 00 (M-F 15.00-20.00)
24 hour infoline: 040-8970 33 33
Fax: 040-8970 33 11

Web: http://www.setupcs.de
E-Mail: [email protected]

irgin Interactive Entertainment ESPA-A, S.A.
C/ Hermosilla, 46-2? Derecha
28001 Madrid

Tel: (91) 578.13.67
Fax: (91) 575.45.88
UK & remaining European countries
All Other Territories outside Europe, N. America & Canada

Virgin Interactive
Customer Support
74a Charlotte Street
London
W1P 1LR

Tel: 0171 551 4266
Fax: 0171 551 4267

Web: www.vie.co.uk
Email: [email protected]

Interplay - Canadian
Sales and Marketing:
103 King Street East
Bowmanville Ontario
Canada L1C 1N4
Support: Call Interplay US or
email [email protected]

Interplay - Australia
Interplay Productions PTY Ltd.
Level 14, 33 Berry St.
North Sydney, NSW 2060
Australia
Dealer Sales and Marketing:
[email protected]

Interplay UK
Harleyford Manor
Harleyford
Henley Road, Marlow
Buckinghamshire
SL7 2DX England
For business inquiries
+44 (0) 1628 423666
Fax: +44 (0) 1628 423777
[email protected]
For mail order inquiries
Contact Interplay Direct
+44 (0) 1628 423666
Fax: +44 (0) 1628 423777
Customer Service inquiries
Phone: +44 (0) 1628 423723
Fax: +44 (0) 1628 487752
European Public Relations
[email protected]

Japanese Office:
Hiro-o Plaza 6th floor
5-6-6 Hiro-o
Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 150 Japan
For business inquiries
Phone: 81 3 5421 3721
Fax: 81 3 5421 3722
Email: [email protected]
http://www.interplay.com/japan/
For domestic distribution inquiries
Phone: (03) 5421 3815
Fax: (03) 5421 3722
Customer Service inquiries
Phone: (03) 5421 3815
Fax: (03) 5421 3722

Other Information:
FTP Site: ftp://ftp1.interplay.com
FTP Site: ftp://ftp.interplay.com
BBS Modem Phone #: (949) 252-2822
BBS Modem Phone #: (714) 252-2822
America On-line: Keyword INTERPLAY
AOL Email IPTECH
CompuServe: GO GAMBPUB
CompuServe Email: 76702,1342
Prodigy: Use the Web browser to our Web site
Prodigy Email: PLAY99B

Important People:
Tim Dawes - President.
Herv Caen - CEO/Chairman of board/Interm CFO.
Eric Caen - Chairman.
Nathan Peck  - Chief Administrative Officer.
Michel H. Vulpillat - board of directors.
Michel Welter - board of dirrectors.
Luc Vanhal - board of directors.

E-mail Notes:
Interplay's e-mail system consistently follows a pattern:
Example -

[email protected]   is Robert Berzins/webmaster

[email protected]  is Garett Barnes/webmaster

[email protected]  is Jaaj Leipold/webmaster

[email protected]  is Johvan Scheurer/webmaster

So it would follow that if you wanted to e-mail the President Tim Dawes... you'd send mail to [email protected]  etc etc.

[Getter Robo G]

That's great and all, but shouldn't that have been internal?

WHen you throw info around freely someones eventaully gonna use it (not always to a benefit).
last thing we need is a well mening but cluless member to try to make contact to various persons "on behalf of the community" and not only possibly screw teh curret status quo up, but inadvertantly make the powers that be aware they might want to do something in teh future (but not in the direction we are hoping for).

Let sleeping dogs lie I say (except for Mr D. S. Here's a pointy stick for you to enjoy)...


Lets just say if I ever win the Lottery: Research will be done, lawyers called, and offers made and leave it at that.

[For a real life example look at Raven Night (former Trek forumite, now owner and developer of the Bridge Commander 2 license) ]

[TrashMan]

anyone notice the new uncyclopedia netry:


The Enemies of Derek Smart

    * Chuck Norris - it is said Chuck Norris rebelled against his creator, the mighty Derek Smart (many scientist speculate that Chuck Norris is in fact his own creator, so in reality there was no rebellion) to prove he is more badass than Smart.

    * Freespace fans - a group of mysterious, rarely seen creatures that live in a giant space station orbiting Earth. The station is named HLP - to this day it is unknown what it stands for. Freespace fanboys are an evil, uncultured and disorganized rabble that rejected the Way of Smart, even when He paid them a personal visit and tried to enlighten them with His holy words. Surprisingly enough He was defeated and driven off from the station, leading many to believe that Freespace Fans are immune to His PhD powers. This is yet to be confirmed.

    * Coca Cola - the great evil from beyond, the fizzy horror from the can. Because of it's evil seducing powers, Derek Smart has wowed to destroy it and is even now waging a titanic battle to save our souls.

[Dark Hunter]

The Enemies of Derek Smart

    * Freespace fans - a group of mysterious, rarely seen creatures that live in a giant space station orbiting Earth. The station is named HLP - to this day it is unknown what it stands for. Freespace fanboys are an evil, uncultured and disorganized rabble that rejected the Way of Smart, even when He paid them a personal visit and tried to enlighten them with His holy words. Surprisingly enough He was defeated and driven off from the station, leading many to believe that Freespace Fans are immune to His PhD powers. This is yet to be confirmed.

GO HLP! 

[Bob-san]

The Enemies of Derek Smart

    * Freespace fans - a group of mysterious, rarely seen creatures that live in a giant space station orbiting Earth. The station is named HLP - to this day it is unknown what it stands for. Freespace fanboys are an evil, uncultured and disorganized rabble that rejected the Way of Smart, even when He paid them a personal visit and tried to enlighten them with His holy words. Surprisingly enough He was defeated and driven off from the station, leading many to believe that Freespace Fans are immune to His PhD powers. This is yet to be confirmed.

GO HLP! 

I edited it too...

"Derek Smart made some computer games once. Needless to say, they all sucked."

[Snail]

Bah, the rest of the article talks about how great he is, so I think that the whole "needless to say they all sucked" is a bad edit. I would change it back but I've forgotten my bloody Uncyclopedia password.

[Jeff Vader]

Quite. It might be better on the Encyclopedia Dramatica's article.

[TrashMan]

The gist of uncyclopedia it to distort the truth, but to do it so funny and over the top, that it's obvious it's the complete opposite.

That's why I described the HLP'ers as uncivilized rabble...cause we all know it ain't the truth, right?....Right? ...right?