Zebranky

Tis just names.

S'a bit more than just that.

Creature I met describes the entire Zoq-Fot-Pik-Zebranky conflict and even mentions Frungy.

I’m not sure where you got the idea that we’d be removing all references or Easter eggs to SC2.

We took out the Arilou and Melnorme references as an olive branch to Paul and Fred. In response they used their GoFundMe to sue GOG and Valve for carrying Star Control: Origins.

If you look, Stardock has trademarks pending on the Zoq-Fot-Pik and Zebranky I believe.

We are continue to support an amicable resolution but it’s difficult to take seriously a complaint regarding an Easter egg reference to previous games in the series while Paul and Fred are actively trying kill our game and sue GOG and Valve.

B

Somehow, I thought it was the kind of thing that got P&F grouchy, but okay.

Possibly. Trying to destroy our game makes us a little grouchy. 

Believe me when I say, I wish that had never happened.

And I was definitely amused to bump into that particular easter egg.

Tbh, it wasn’t intentional. I haven’t personally run into that Easter egg. 

Broadly speaking, I am hopeful for a resolution where the sc2 related creatives strictly go to them and they stop trying to use/take the Star Control trademark and stop trying to interfere with our game. I think that’s the cleanest solution.

Dang.

I was hoping for covert assassination and seizure of intellectual assets.

LOL

I really shouldn't laugh but... dang

I mean, certain parties DO like to paint Brad as a villainous mastermind...

Searches internet to find wiki that will explain pluses and minuses of each quest path in the "Assassinate the Toys" quest....

To me it is more a case of that the ZFP seemed like an entirely new encounter in Star Control 2. After all, they had to introduce themselves to the player and fight over "which one is the Fot?" Of course, one can imagine that with the Ur-Quan encounter somewhere between the intro of Star Control 2 and the player's return to earth, and all structures older than 500 years demolished by the Ur-Quan, that it can be reasoned that some of the alien history may be destroyed with it and the ZFP got lost in the anals of time?

Hehe, I ran into them also. Was a nice encounter. There are a bunch of other little easter eggs like that. There's a silicoid-type race (a nod to MOO?) that you can find as well. There were some random encounters that I didn't know what to do with...like that random hermit. Maybe there's a quest hiding in some system somewhere? My left hand genuinely started having some carpal tunnel running the lander around all those planets for so many hours. Definitely getting my gamepad up and running for any further gameplay...

I hope the next iteration of the game has all races animated instead of a little picture in the bottom left. That really took away from the experience for me. I also want the music to be more powerful, funky and varied. Won't lie, this game makes me want to replay SC2 again. 

Agreed. 

A while back, someone said that the game felt half-finished, and I totally know what they meant; it's exactly that sort of thing--plus the occasional moments where there is no voice, only text--that makes it feel that way.

See, I actually disagree, there.

One thing I love about SC2's music is it has that sort of deep-space, wonder-of-the-universe quality that really made me feel the size of the universe, made me feel like an explorer.

SCO's music, in the other hand, sounds like a console game from the mis-90s. I feel less like I'm plumbing the depths of the galaxy and more like I'm running around as a blue hedgehog.

I'm hoping they at least eventually make the little portraits animated CGI (like avatars on some forums) even if not a full-blown comm screen.  That'd probably help somewhat without breaking the bank on animating full screens for all the lesser/minor races.

Funny, the same guys made the music.

Quoting SWVRoma, reply 15

Funny, the same guys made the music.

Probably the music for the comm screens with the aliens.

The music for planet exploration, though...the mood is definitely different.

If I wasn't afraid of copyright issues, I'd make a comparison video on my YouTube channel. But there are already some videos out there; not comparisons, but you can do the math yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZIWEGp_w8

That is soooo not like the music in SCO; it has a very different vibe. It's, I d'know, calmer. It's like New Age music, almost. It set the scene perfectly. But SCO's music is...the only way I can describe it is "action-packed". The pace is faster, "it's got a beat and you can dance to it"; it feels more like console-game music.

Riku did the planet music too.

There is a lot of music in SCO.

b

I think we both agree we want more SC2-style music. It's really just the aliens I have problems with. The other music was fine. When I say powerful music, listen to any SC2 alien theme and then compare it to any SCO alien theme. You'll immediately notice a dramatic difference in tone and how it matches the personality of the alien. I really hope that gets refined/done better.

I still think the tune for the Mowlings is adorable.

I don't know any of the drama behind the scenes. I am a huge fan of Ur-Quan Masters, and this new game has perfectly scratched an itch I've had for over 25 years. Origins is not a perfect game by any means, but it really IS Star Control. The humor, the horror, the music, the atmosphere - you've been faithful to the theme in a way I wasn't sure could be pulled off again. I would have thought the original creators would have been pleased, unless I'm missing out on 5 books written in the universe that have been upended.

I'm not the sort of person that often leaves reviews, but I enjoyed this game, and I'm not an easy person to please. Please give my congratulations to the crew!

That's an odd way to characterize their lawsuit - you're suing P&F for selling the games on GOG:

"Additionally, on or about October 22, 2017, Stardock became aware that Reiche and Ford were, without Stardock’s permission, marketing, advertising, promoting, selling, offering for sale, distributing, supplying and/or causing or contributing to the sale and/or distribution of the Classic Star Control Games on GOG, pursuant to an agreement with GOG, in connection with the STAR CONTROL Mark and the Stardock Marks and in violation of the Star Control Copyrights.

- https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6239751/51/stardock-systems-inc-v-paul-reiche-iii/ (page 25)

So why are P&F suing?

"On December 8, 2017, Stardock filed its lawsuit claiming that sales of the Classic Star Control Games on GOG infringed on its purported trademarks and copyrights and that Reiche and Ford were liable as a result. While Reiche and Ford dispute Stardock’s aforementioned claims, on or about December 11, 2017, Reiche and Ford provided notice of Stardock’s claims to GOG and specifically requested that they not repost the games without Reiche and Ford’s consent. Notwithstanding this notice, in early January, GOG resumed selling the Classic Star Control Games"

- https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6239751/71/stardock-systems-inc-v-paul-reiche-iii/ (page 34)

It would appear neither side actually authorized GOG to sell the games! Stardock certainly didn't give permission for these sales, or else you wouldn't be suing P&F for enabling those sales? So why then turn around and complain that P&F are suing a company that sold your games without permission?

Right, it's really Stardock's fault that Paul and Fred created a "defense" GoFundMe and then used their fans' money to sue GOG and Valve. 

All this could be over in a day if they'd quit using the Star Control trademark to promote their game, quit challenging the validity of our mark and quit meddling with the Star Control series going forward. We'd even drop the trademarks to UQM and the old alien names. 

From the start, our position has been that we must protect our investment in Star Control which includes its historical association with the classic Accolade games.  

Paul and Fred had numerous opportunities to acquire that IP. They declined and so Star Control has moved on without them. We are already working on expansions and designing future sequels to be released over the next decade.

Stardock demanded that P&F stop selling the games on GOG. So, yes, they would be following through on your own demands here.

Uh huh. And what is the excuse for suing Valve?

BTW, the games haven't been for sale on GOG since last Winter I believe. 

It'll never happen, but you know what I would love in ways you've only read about...? Porting Star Control 2 into the Star Control Origins engine.

Like, no other difference whatsoever--like, seriously; change nothing about the game itself--but give it a weapons-grade make-over.

That'd be so much fun.