Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 9

Before I start this, this is not the usual 'Is there going to be a FS3' thread. This is instead an observation of an opportunity that has arisen over the last few months.

Since Bioware left Interplay it's become very apparent that Interplay is going down the toilet. With discussions and speculations (on solid inside-information) that Interplay is looking to sell all saleable assets (such as Black Isle) I noticed their is a possibility that Volition could use the situation to obtain the Freespace (and the Descent license with that) quite easily and quite possibly quite cheaply. It's a long shot, but I'm pretty sure that either THQ or Volition could buy their property back and use it to boost Volition.

I've heard it on good authority that Vivendi Universal (Sierra's parent company) is looking to buy Black Isle as it wants a RPG division (and Black Isle are the second best in the game- behind Bioware) and the buzz is that Interplay are begging for it such is their financial problems. Black Isle is a big part of Interplay in terms of sales- whereas a shelved license like Freespace and Descent are not, and could be bought very quickly and for a good price and it's not like THQ can't afford it. In my mind it'd make good business sense.

Volition hasn't exactly set the gaming world alight since Freespace 2- Summoner was pretty much slated by the gaming press as was Red Faction (with a lot of unfair criticisms but some valid one's along the way). With their focus on the console market it'd also make good business sense- Space Sims have sold well on next gen consoles (Star Wars Star Fighter anyone?).

What do you guys think? A glimmer of hope worth bugging V and THQ about? Or just the ramblings of a FS fan.

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Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 9

Before I start this, this is not the usual 'Is there going to be a FS3' thread. This is instead an observation of an opportunity that has arisen over the last few months.

Since Bioware left Interplay it's become very apparent that Interplay is going down the toilet. With discussions and speculations (on solid inside-information) that Interplay is looking to sell all saleable assets (such as Black Isle) I noticed their is a possibility that Volition could use the situation to obtain the Freespace (and the Descent license with that) quite easily and quite possibly quite cheaply. It's a long shot, but I'm pretty sure that either THQ or Volition could buy their property back and use it to boost Volition.

I've heard it on good authority that Vivendi Universal (Sierra's parent company) is looking to buy Black Isle as it wants a RPG division (and Black Isle are the second best in the game- behind Bioware) and the buzz is that Interplay are begging for it such is their financial problems. Black Isle is a big part of Interplay in terms of sales- whereas a shelved license like Freespace and Descent are not, and could be bought very quickly and for a good price and it's not like THQ can't afford it. In my mind it'd make good business sense.

Volition hasn't exactly set the gaming world alight since Freespace 2- Summoner was pretty much slated by the gaming press as was Red Faction (with a lot of unfair criticisms but some valid one's along the way). With their focus on the console market it'd also make good business sense- Space Sims have sold well on next gen consoles (Star Wars Star Fighter anyone?).

What do you guys think? A glimmer of hope worth bugging V and THQ about? Or just the ramblings of a FS fan.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 882

Not unless they can strap on a WWF or Rigrats license, they won't...........

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
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Not unless they can strap on a WWF or Rigrats license, they won't...........

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Registered: Mar 2002
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Posts: 409

I really don't know. But they'll do whatever they think is good for business.

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I really don't know. But they'll do whatever they think is good for business.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: The 5th layer of Hell
Posts: 127

Volition has to know that FS3 would be a "gold mine".
If I were them I would be trying hard as hell to get those rights.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: The 5th layer of Hell
Posts: 127

Volition has to know that FS3 would be a "gold mine".
If I were them I would be trying hard as hell to get those rights.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Duelist Kingdom
Posts: 774

You have to remember, THQ owns Volition; it's more or less their call.

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Registered: Oct 2000
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Posts: 774

You have to remember, THQ owns Volition; it's more or less their call.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1379

that and i think interplay is so hungry for money, they'd sue anyone over the copyright just for some dough.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1379

that and i think interplay is so hungry for money, they'd sue anyone over the copyright just for some dough.

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Registered: May 2001
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Posts: 9

Brando- I don't think you understand the implication. If Volition bought the license- they buy the copyright, hence they own the whole franchise of Freespace. they would never attempt to sue after they had sold the rights- they'd get laughed at by all judges in the world and their lawyers would stop them- they'd would have an absolute zero chance of winning. It'd be like a writer suing a Hollywood studio after selling him the rights to his script- he'd never win and no one has ever attempted. Legally once the rights to something is sold you can have no claim on it. Whether they retain the rights to produce and distribute the previous Freespace games (1 and 2) would be a matter negotiated in the sale- but it'd have no impact on future FS games.

Interplay are so strapped for cash they are considering (and on the verge of) selling there most valuable (both in profit and in size)- Black Isle. That was inconceivable as little as six months ago, but here they are begging for a dollar.

I see THQ have two options- buy the rights now or wait from Interplay to go into the hands of the administrators and buy a lot more then (administrators just sell everything for the highest bid- they aren't in it for profit they are there to strip the company down and sell it for scrap). Either way putting an e-mail or a letter THQ's way to show there is demand may in fact push interest- it's worked quite recently with Vivendi in regard to their adventure licenses (and the rumour is Space Quest 7 is in development as a result of the letters they have recieved). I'm sure Volition would also argue for getting the license- with the carrot that they can develop it for multiple platforms and that it would do quite well on consoles (Space sims have done better on consoles for some reason in the last few years). It'd increase their "market-penetration" and I'm sure that a community the size of the Freespace one (which is quite big for a license that is on the shelf- very big in fact and very active) they can guarantee that it'll probably give THQ a better PC foothold (which is barely there at the moment). THQ stand to win from this situation.

As far I see it Interplay dying is a good thing for the industry- especially for us. Interplay is dying- long live Freespace.

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Brando- I don't think you understand the implication. If Volition bought the license- they buy the copyright, hence they own the whole franchise of Freespace. they would never attempt to sue after they had sold the rights- they'd get laughed at by all judges in the world and their lawyers would stop them- they'd would have an absolute zero chance of winning. It'd be like a writer suing a Hollywood studio after selling him the rights to his script- he'd never win and no one has ever attempted. Legally once the rights to something is sold you can have no claim on it. Whether they retain the rights to produce and distribute the previous Freespace games (1 and 2) would be a matter negotiated in the sale- but it'd have no impact on future FS games.

Interplay are so strapped for cash they are considering (and on the verge of) selling there most valuable (both in profit and in size)- Black Isle. That was inconceivable as little as six months ago, but here they are begging for a dollar.

I see THQ have two options- buy the rights now or wait from Interplay to go into the hands of the administrators and buy a lot more then (administrators just sell everything for the highest bid- they aren't in it for profit they are there to strip the company down and sell it for scrap). Either way putting an e-mail or a letter THQ's way to show there is demand may in fact push interest- it's worked quite recently with Vivendi in regard to their adventure licenses (and the rumour is Space Quest 7 is in development as a result of the letters they have recieved). I'm sure Volition would also argue for getting the license- with the carrot that they can develop it for multiple platforms and that it would do quite well on consoles (Space sims have done better on consoles for some reason in the last few years). It'd increase their "market-penetration" and I'm sure that a community the size of the Freespace one (which is quite big for a license that is on the shelf- very big in fact and very active) they can guarantee that it'll probably give THQ a better PC foothold (which is barely there at the moment). THQ stand to win from this situation.

As far I see it Interplay dying is a good thing for the industry- especially for us. Interplay is dying- long live Freespace.

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Registered: Jul 2001
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Interplay is finally going under. Good.

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Registered: May 2002
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You are right. There is still hope for Freespace 3. In just a few months, Interplay will be begging for money, and they will sell anything for a low price. Lets just hope THQ and Volition also see this opertunity.
And as for Interplay; C'est la vie loosers! (Always wanted to say that. I hope I spelled it right, french is not my language, you see).
I gues we just have to wait and see the development of things. But writing a e-mail to THQ or Volition is a good idea.


Stargazer.

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Last edited by Stargazer_2098 on 05-17-2002 at 08:35 AM

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Registered: May 2002
Location: Starship Thor Heyerdahl, 1 tousand billion lightyears from Gaia (Earth).
Posts: 70

You are right. There is still hope for Freespace 3. In just a few months, Interplay will be begging for money, and they will sell anything for a low price. Lets just hope THQ and Volition also see this opertunity.
And as for Interplay; C'est la vie loosers! (Always wanted to say that. I hope I spelled it right, french is not my language, you see).
I gues we just have to wait and see the development of things. But writing a e-mail to THQ or Volition is a good idea.


Stargazer.

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Last edited by Stargazer_2098 on 05-17-2002 at 08:35 AM

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Registered: Apr 2001
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Posts: 1901

Guys this is what we as a community do:

We stay alive and strong. There are more people playing FreeSpace 2 today (seemingly) than when the game came out. And everyone who shows up seems to have the same comment: "this is a great game, never heard about it before".

Word has spread that FreeSpace 2 is a good game and those that pick it up are having a great time. Nobody knew about it at release so it just kinda sat around. If V were to try and make a play for FreeSpace 3....the biggest thing would be for them to be able to show THQ that they already have a GUARANTEED AUDIENCE. Thats a pretty big plus as I see it.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: The Cold Northland!
Posts: 8392

Guys this is what we as a community do:

We stay alive and strong. There are more people playing FreeSpace 2 today (seemingly) than when the game came out. And everyone who shows up seems to have the same comment: "this is a great game, never heard about it before".

Word has spread that FreeSpace 2 is a good game and those that pick it up are having a great time. Nobody knew about it at release so it just kinda sat around. If V were to try and make a play for FreeSpace 3....the biggest thing would be for them to be able to show THQ that they already have a GUARANTEED AUDIENCE. Thats a pretty big plus as I see it.

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Estonia
Posts: 1362

EDIT: volition has my vote for FS3 a shur shure buy





they didnt doo much commercials for FS2.


i remembre the first time i played FS2 dzeesas after playing the demo for a thousand times my brother made me a birthday present gues what yup the full game so i played the thing over and over then found the archives this place TBP and all of you peeps




FS3 geomod engine

and this time it would be cooler if we had the upper hand allmost all of the time and in the missions more near the end shivans would push us back as we did with them before we would be superrior cause we allready have the fear of loosing and so we stride to build stronger faster and more powerful. shivans on the other hand would stay to the current level of tech because only hate remains


couple of new races would be fun someone that is allied with the shivans and some hyper super duper race that is allied with noone and the shivans and shivan allies are fighting then we would allie with the super duper race kill shivans and all other bad guy's and then start fighting the super duper race ourselves




whoooh. thanx ash

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