Activision Kills Kings Quest Fan Project
New IP holder not interested in continuing non-commercial license.
Phoenix Online Studios, the fan team that has spent years working on an unofficial continuation to Sierra's King's Quest games, has now discontinued its work following a Cease & Desist letter from new IP holders Activision.
The publisher, after buying the rights to the franchise, decided "that they are not interested in granting a non-commercial license" to The Silver Lining, an episodic freeware game that was planned to begin this Spring. Activision has requested the studio remove all materials relating to the project off of its website.
"As before, we must and will comply with this decision, as much as we may wish we could do otherwise," writes The Silver Lining team in a statement. "We cannot say enough how much we appreciate the support we have had over these years from our fans. Without you, we would never have gotten this far.
"There would be no game to develop, and no one to develop it for. You have been amazing and steadfast, and we will always remember that and appreciate it more than we can say."
Phoenix Online began work on a follow-up to King's Quest VIII: Mask of Eternity as far back as 2003, but this is not the first time the game has seen legal trouble. Former IP holder Vivendi Universal also sent a Cease and Desist letter to the studio in 2005, but later granted a non-commercial license provided certain elements were changed.
So another fan project bites the dust. Sad news, good news? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
The publisher, after buying the rights to the franchise, decided "that they are not interested in granting a non-commercial license" to The Silver Lining, an episodic freeware game that was planned to begin this Spring. Activision has requested the studio remove all materials relating to the project off of its website.
"As before, we must and will comply with this decision, as much as we may wish we could do otherwise," writes The Silver Lining team in a statement. "We cannot say enough how much we appreciate the support we have had over these years from our fans. Without you, we would never have gotten this far.
"There would be no game to develop, and no one to develop it for. You have been amazing and steadfast, and we will always remember that and appreciate it more than we can say."
Phoenix Online began work on a follow-up to King's Quest VIII: Mask of Eternity as far back as 2003, but this is not the first time the game has seen legal trouble. Former IP holder Vivendi Universal also sent a Cease and Desist letter to the studio in 2005, but later granted a non-commercial license provided certain elements were changed.
So another fan project bites the dust. Sad news, good news? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Companies:
Activision
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Comments
Serpream 1 Mar 2010 10:50
1/3
I think this is truely disgusting. Games are ment to be something enjoyed by all and a community enjoying experience. Activision have just again proved there lack of love or care for game development by crushing the ability of most likely better designers. I am starting to feel empty inside everytime i see a large (and very lost) corperate games company step on the little person just because the gameplay quality has the potential to show that mass funding doesnt equal better gaming. I am waiting for the day that gamers will bite back and get back to the good old days of enjoyable retro gaming.
oberonqa 1 Mar 2010 21:17
2/3
There is a petition available for fans and supporters of The Silver Lining over at http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/savetsl/
Cubi 17 May 2010 17:15
3/3
Activision has every right, its their IP, would you honestly be okay if someone stole your authored work and recreated it in a new fashion?
Fanboyism never translates into reality, there are too many politics involved try reading the EULA that comes with any of the software you usually install. You will be surprised just how little in the way of rights your have when it comes to IP.
Fanboyism never translates into reality, there are too many politics involved try reading the EULA that comes with any of the software you usually install. You will be surprised just how little in the way of rights your have when it comes to IP.