Age -
Technically, while your correct about SFC1, SFC2 EAW , OP and SFC3 are completely different.
EAW and OP were produced by Taldren, and SFC3 by Activision as the publisher and Taldren. When Interplay went KAPLOOEY, and for all intents and purposes become defunct from a business perspective, it's the same thing that happened for SFC3. The intellectual rights to the game still belong to InterPlay, sure, but it's
A.) Technically not standard by todays engine and game standards.
B.) Ceased as an ongoing development project, no one's been actively working on a SFC game for some time now.
So, if we have been *given* the source, as well as the Directory services and we have ran those for quite a few years now... and since Dynaverse.Net is run by a legitamite Non-Profit Organization - we've demonstrated a extended "stewardship" over the game, for lack of better terms. I've consulted with an attorney on this, believe me, because I'm not going to get involved with something on a personal basis that could impact my family.
Bottom line is : We have every intent to produce something to the likes of SFC4. We're going to go to Paramount once we've got a working demo, and we're going to ask them to allow us to release the game on a NON PROFIT basis. We're going to ask them to grant us a license so we can continue to use ST material. We're going to send a letter to Activision and let them know what we intend. If either go nuts over it and say no, then we'll move forward but won't use the name. Simple as that.
Why? Because ... if this comes together as I think it will... we're going to have the best modellers, scripters, coders and designers from ACROSS THE SFC COMMUNITY volunteering to participate in this project. No one "looses", everyone "wins". And a couple positive reviews on a SFC series game again wouldn't hurt Paramout, Activision, or the possibly re-emerging Interplay for that matter.
'Nuff said, atleast for now.
Regards,