Is the time right to bring back Space Quest?

[Canadave]

^ Yeah, it's unfortunate that the SQ7 project failed. Not sure how it would have turned out in the end, but it's unfortunate we'll never get a chance to see where they wanted to go.

If copywrite could be sorted out, though, I'd rather see the Two Guys From Andromeda get back together to work on it. No offence to Mandel, but it is their franchise and I think they both deserve to have input into any revival.

 

[firehawk12]

You know, I wonder where the "Two Guys" are nowadays. Retires most likely?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

http://forum.spacequest.net/viewtopic.php?p=8111#p8111

It basically explains why the unofficial SQ7 project failed. Vivendi wanted to own all related material to the game but Mandel and others working on the project refused... and so it went kaput.

Well, that's not exactly a ridiculous request... video games are "works for hire." And it's Vivendi's IP in the first place. Sounds like the SQ7 guys were being a little unrealistic.

 

[Canadave]

You know, I wonder where the "Two Guys" are nowadays. Retires most likely?

Well, Scott Murphy has a "website" which I think is as close as we'll get to his current status. Mark Crowe, so far as I can tell, works for a game company called Pipeworks, though that info seemed to be a few years old.

 

[firehawk12]

^
Too bad. A lot of the old Sierra people have just disappeared... but I guess that's just how it is.

http://forum.spacequest.net/viewtopic.php?p=8111#p8111

It basically explains why the unofficial SQ7 project failed. Vivendi wanted to own all related material to the game but Mandel and others working on the project refused... and so it went kaput.

Well, that's not exactly a ridiculous request... video games are "works for hire." And it's Vivendi's IP in the first place. Sounds like the SQ7 guys were being a little unrealistic.

I guess they were sort of hoping for fan fiction-like status.
I mean, does CBS Paramount own all the fan films and fan fiction that's been out there?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

^
Too bad. A lot of the old Sierra people have just disappeared... but I guess that's just how it is.

http://forum.spacequest.net/viewtopic.php?p=8111#p8111

It basically explains why the unofficial SQ7 project failed. Vivendi wanted to own all related material to the game but Mandel and others working on the project refused... and so it went kaput.

Well, that's not exactly a ridiculous request... video games are "works for hire." And it's Vivendi's IP in the first place. Sounds like the SQ7 guys were being a little unrealistic.

I guess they were sort of hoping for fan fiction-like status.
I mean, does CBS Paramount own all the fan films and fan fiction that's been out there?

Technically... yes, they do. When it comes right down to it, all fanfic is copyright infringement. An infringing work is handled a few ways:

1. Distribution of the work is prohibited by the true copyright holder.
2. All revenues from the infringing work must be paid to the true owner.
3. The ownership of the work itself goes to the original copyright holder.

Fanfic is generally ignored because it has almost zero revenue potential. Video games are big business, and a group of indie developers really could give the original IP holders a run for their money with a fan game, which is why they are so frequently squashed.

Since these infringing works are unauthorized, the only way you can legally distribute them is with the blessing--and terms--of the original IP holder. This is why I say the SQ7 guys were living in fantasy land if they thought Vivendi would just let them do whatever they wanted.

 

[firehawk12]

Oh yeah, I'm sort of neutral on this I suppose.

I'm just thinking that there could be a less jerky way to deal with it, like George Lucas with Star Wars fan films.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Unfortunately, fan games just don't tend to get the "free pass" other kinds of fan creations do.