Topic: Steven V. Cole's Recent Statement on Star Fleet Battles Software (Read 13903 times)

Lepton1 · « **Reply #40 on:** September 24, 2003, 09:18:43 pm »

Why couldn't ADB just release software sans the proprietary materials (feds = united repubilc of systems, photon torpedoes = antimatter torps, whatever, etc)?? Most of SFB is ADB's own creation. Most of the conceptual stuff (warp drive, etc) is publicly used. No reason they could not do that, except for what I would assume would be a legal battle.

Rod O'neal · « **Reply #41 on:** September 24, 2003, 09:34:34 pm »

As far as changing the names to get around the copyrights goes, Yes, Paramount would most likely drag ADB into court anyway and they (Paramount) would probably win. Thinly veiled attempts to circumvent the law are usually frowned upon. This would also be an admission, on ADB's part, that their license doesn't cover video games simply by releasing something that tries to get around the licensing. The other argument that Paramount could use was that this game, even without the Trek races, is still drawing off of it's Star Trek roots and therefore they are entitled to due compensation. Plus, without Star Trek on the front of the box the sales probably would suffer substantially. They could have released Starfire on PC a long time ago if they thought that the ADB name alone would carry a product. Personally, I would have snatched that game up in a NY minute, but I probably would have been one of the few who did.

Rod O'neal · « **Reply #42 on:** September 24, 2003, 10:17:42 pm »

I wonder if SVC really gets as many requests for SFB/PC as he says, or if it just seems that way? I also wonder just how hard it really would be to translate the entire SFB rulebook to code and impliment it into a game engine? It'd probably be the 1st DVD release, maybe 2. lol

TarMinyatur · « **Reply #43 on:** September 24, 2003, 10:33:26 pm »

"The only thing you CAN do is use it in your own personal gaming,
in games where you are physically present as a GM or player."

Boy, Paramount is generous! They permit me to use software that I wrote myself. Thanks.

I am concerned about the excessive reach of copyrights and intellectual property. A 1960's TV show and SFB have less in common than a crossword puzzle has with Scrabble.

Hopefully, Star Trek wil continue to self-destruct and make licensing affordable for ADB. I'd love to see the best of those 200 SFB programs publically available someday.

Cleaven · « **Reply #44 on:** September 25, 2003, 01:34:50 am »

Maybe Paramount will hire one of the GameSpy reviewers to handle PC games. He will then subsequently write StarTrek and SFB off as not worth the trouble and give away the rights to ADB for half a biscuit and some shiny things.

Azrael · « **Reply #45 on:** September 25, 2003, 07:16:59 am »

Sheesh guys,

Why don't you start a petition stating that:

A) You want to see SFB released as a game.

B) You would pay money for the above.

Talk to the Amarillo people. Maybe something like that has been organised already.

With enough signatures, Paramount will conclude there is a "demand" that would support the undertaking of such a project.

Create a carrot with enough "signatures" to catch the eye of the corporate giant, and you will get even the corporate giant to go where you want it to go.

Azrael

FPF_TraceyG · « **Reply #46 on:** September 25, 2003, 09:55:58 am »

If someone really wanted to, (say a group of aspiring student programmers with more time on their hands than sense), they could develop a complete software package for SFB, and release it anonymously onto the internet. Once its out there, there is absolutely nothing even a million lawyers could do about it.

Rod O'neal · « **Reply #47 on:** September 25, 2003, 10:14:29 am »

Quote:

If someone really wanted to, (say a group of aspiring student programmers with more time on their hands than sense), they could develop a complete software package for SFB, and release it anonymously onto the internet. Once its out there, there is absolutely nothing even a million lawyers could do about it.

lol, I like it!

Kestrel · « **Reply #50 on:** September 25, 2003, 11:53:39 am »

So, if I understand this correctly, you are saying that everyone is thinking about SFB Software the wrong way... We should be treating this as an opportunity to spread an SFB software virus. From my perspective, it would certainly be more destructive to my productivity than your average worm that merely sends out spurious e-mail and corrupt system files.

Voidwar · « **Reply #53 on:** September 25, 2003, 11:59:54 am »

of course doing that screws steve cole harder than it screws Paramount, but then,

screw em both anyway

SVC won't fight for sfb, so why care if we steal it from him. Either that, or he already sold it, in which case it can't be stolen from him. Paramount can only do anything about it IF someone tries to make money from it. Since they aren't why should the "anonymous programmer" ?

David Ferrell · « **Reply #55 on:** September 25, 2003, 04:00:04 pm »

I know the coversation has taken a different turn but:

Saying SFB is based upon Franz Joseph's Techinical Manual is like
making a game with X-Wings and Tie Fighters and saying you licensed
the rights from the Little Golden book "Jar Jar's Tongue Adventures".
The Technical Manual is based upon Star Trek (a license) and so is
SFB. Franz Joseph did not create the Federation, Klingons, Romulans,
Gorn et all, they are part of Star Trek plain and simple. If you insist
otherwise you are only fooling yourself, and maybe a small group
of cohorts, you would never convince a judge or jury of such.

Thanks,

Dave

Dogmatix! · « **Reply #56 on:** September 25, 2003, 05:17:12 pm »

I'd agree with that, Dave. At the very least, arguing otherwise isn't likely to impress a judge (as you've said).

Dogmatix! · « **Reply #58 on:** September 25, 2003, 06:04:23 pm »

heheheh...now that's a thoguth that hadn't occured to me, Strafer! I join you in your plea!

FPF_TraceyG · « **Reply #59 on:** September 25, 2003, 06:32:58 pm »

I dont think the intent is actually to 'screw' anyone over, nor is it to break the law, or justify doing so with some ridiculous diatribe.
Simply put, there is a demand for a product which does not exist. Regardless of legal issues and irrespective of financial considerations, given enough time, that demand will eventually be met, and that demand is completely independant of said financial considerations.
Paramount can either choose to continue in their one and only pursuit, namely making profit, and license the software out to be developed... or eventually someone else will do it for free purely to fill that vacuum. Whilst I am not a big fan of capitalism, clearly even here, we can see which is the better business decision to make.

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Topic: Steven V. Cole's Recent Statement on Star Fleet Battles Software (Read 13903 times) var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};

Lepton1

Rod O'neal

Rod O'neal

TarMinyatur

Cleaven

Azrael

FPF_TraceyG

Rod O'neal

Dogmatix!

FPF_TraceyG

Kestrel

Dogmatix!

jimmi7769

Voidwar

FPF_TraceyG

David Ferrell

Dogmatix!

Strafer

Dogmatix!

FPF_TraceyG

Topic: Steven V. Cole's Recent Statement on Star Fleet Battles Software (Read 13903 times)