Star Control sequel - "Ghosts of the Precursors"

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
The original creators of Star Control 1 and 2 are returning to make an official sequel!

https://dogarandkazon.squarespace.com/blog/2017/10/6/launch-fighters

Star_Control_II_cover.jpg


Squeeee! :D

These were two of my favorite games when I was a kid.

I'm really interested to see what they do with it. I know Stardock is working on a prequel, too, but from what I've seen of that so far I'm not so interested. But a game from the creative duo of the originals.... count me in!
 

hunvagy

hunvagy
Jenner said:
Oh yeah! :)

And for anyone who doesn't know the series, I can't recommend the open source release of Star Control II highly enough:
http://sc2.sourceforge.net/
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Funnily enough, mentioned it to a friend who is also super into SC2, and has backed SC Origins. Apparently Stardock was fully aware of this, and it was part of their deal with Paul Reiche of NOT making a sequel themselves. It just took this long for him to convince Activision to let him do it.
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
Jenner said:
The original creators of Star Control 1 and 2 are returning to make an official sequel!

https://dogarandkazon.squarespace.com/blog/2017/10/6/launch-fighters

https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...1031688/Star_Control_II_cover.jpg?format=300w

Squeeee! :D

These were two of my favorite games when I was a kid.

I'm really interested to see what they do with it. I know Stardock is working on a prequel, too, but from what I've seen of that so far I'm not so interested. But a game from the creative duo of the originals.... count me in!
Click to expand...

I missed this thread. But this right here makes me happy..... very happy.
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
So i guess that Star Control 3 will be bypassed as a story.
I managed to complete Star Control 3 and despite the games short cummings, i didnt actually mind the story or its conclusion.

The precursors de-evolving themselves into space cows in order to hide from an Ancient Evil that feeds on Sentience.
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
Vasco Sapien said:
So i guess that Star Control 3 will be bypassed as a story.
I managed to complete Star Control 3 and despite the games short cummings, i didnt actually mind the story or its conclusion.

The precursors de-evolving themselves into space cows in order to hide from an Ancient Evil that feeds on Sentience.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't share the burning hatred of SC3 that many of the fandom possess. It's.... ok. Enjoyable in its own way, but certainly a bit different. The story was ok, but felt a bit uninspired after the greatness that was #2.
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
So apparently this is in legal limbro right now, as the creators are in a battle with Stardock over the rights.

https://www.dogarandkazon.com/blog/...eat-battles-and-some-of-them-involved-lawyers

Too bad, too... I don't have much interest in Stardock's reboot of the franchise whereas I'm totally down with a sequel to 2 from the original creators.

I hope they get it resolved amicably and can get back on track.
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
Vasco Sapien said:
isnt it down to the rights to sell the originals in a bundle?

But star control 2 is open source now and freely available.
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I don't understand it fully. They are saying that Stardock is preventing them from pursuing their own game without obtaining permission first.

I get the impression that a lot of older IPs suffer from such labyrinthine legal issues since they have been divided and sold and transferred so many times.
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
Jenner said:
And the legal drama continues:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...suit-aims-to-invalidate-stardocks-trademarks/

TL;DR - Both sides are suing each other in a bid to stop the other side from selling Star Control games and/or making new games with the title "Star Control"

It's getting ugly!
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A shame.. and yet one wonders if the games will even be that popular once released (to justify the legal costs). Most millennials wont even know what SC is.
Ive seen so many great 90's games get the remake treatment only to fail, fail to deliver or vanish.

System Shock remake is the latest game to go belly up.

-

I also discovered a few days ago that 2 more sequels to Mad Max fury road where to be made, but they are also stuck in legal hell and now are doubtful to ever be made.
 

Vasious

Vasious
Jenner said:
And the legal drama continues:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...suit-aims-to-invalidate-stardocks-trademarks/

TL;DR - Both sides are suing each other in a bid to stop the other side from selling Star Control games and/or making new games with the title "Star Control"

It's getting ugly!
Click to expand...

So sad.

Felt odd Star Dock supposedly had the rights to make a Prequel, but could not use the Star Control races, which sort of defeated the purpose of the having access to the IP
 

Mengy

Mengy
Jenner said:
And the legal drama continues:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...suit-aims-to-invalidate-stardocks-trademarks/

TL;DR - Both sides are suing each other in a bid to stop the other side from selling Star Control games and/or making new games with the title "Star Control"

It's getting ugly!
Click to expand...

This makes me very sad. I'd love to see the original creators come out on top in this, Stardock can just give there game a different name as it seems to be only loosely based anyway.
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
Mengy said:
This makes me very sad. I'd love to see the original creators come out on top in this, Stardock can just give there game a different name as it seems to be only loosely based anyway.
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Yeah, me too. I'm biased in Fred and Paul's favor, though. They worked on the original game and they know more than anyone what makes the thing 'work' as a compelling game and story. Stardock just bought some rights in a fire sale. (The rights being disputed now of course). Also from what I've seen of Stardock's new game it's really not doing anything for me.

SO yeah. I hope Ghosts of the Precursors will see the light of day.

BTW, Stardock replied to Ars to give their side of the story. The article has been amended with their reply.
 

Mengy

Mengy
I actually like Stardock as a developer and own a few of their games, but this isn’t the first time Wardell has gotten into fire regarding copyright issues. Their game Elemental was originally supposed to be called Master of Magic 2 but Stardock ran into issue acquiring the copyright for the name, thus they renamed it to Elemental. Thank God too because while Elemental is an allright game it is NOT deserving of the name Master of Magic 2. MoM is even today one of the best fantasy 4X games ever made, and Elemental is nowhere near as good. Wardell was trying to use name recognition to make a different and lesser game sell better.

I fear this may be a repeat performance. Their SC inspired game looks interesting and I probably would have bought it, but now this whole situation has soured me on it. Stardock should honestly capitulate and do what they did with Elemental: just rename their new game and call it a “spiritual successor” to Star Control. It will still sell as such, and honestly the gamer good will and PR they’d garner by doing so would most likely boost sales quite a bit.

In the end I just want a modern well made Star Control game. Work it out people!!!!
 
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