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Vivendi Shuts Down Indie King's Quest Title

Posted by Zonk on from the not-every-day-has-a-silver-lining dept.

edwardmolasses writes "An ambitious King's Quest fan game, in development since 2000 and nearing completion, has been shut down after a cease and desist letter from Vivendi Universal Games (formerly known as Sierra Entertainment). King's Quest IX: "Every Cloak Has A Silver Lining" was to be an alternative ending to the popular King's Quest series. The first chapter was to be released this winter. Some project stats: 40+ volunteer staff spread over five continents, 2000+ page script, 9 chapters, 450 characters, original theme music, and voice acting. Some screenshots can be seen here."

9 of 44 comments (clear)

  1. Nostalgia by MyLongNickName · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Anyone else remember the original King's Quest? If I remember correcectly, the worked with a palette of 16(?) colors. I believe the authors weree innovative in using pixelation/color combinations to make it look like they had 256 colors to work with. Of course, my memory isn't so great, and my numbers could be off.

    It is amazing how much fun I could have with such cheesy graphics, and low memory requirements. Somehow, I think games became less fun when the imaginatino requirement got removed.

    Don't get me started on Zork.

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  2. Transforme it by imr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Change all problematic art and release it.
    And dont forget to change the script to include some kind of parody of vivendi, like in shrek. You know, you need to hit them at the heart of their soul.
    But with retractable batons inside.

    1. Re:Transforme it by warmgun · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Change all problematic art and release it.

      That would seem like a daunting task. Judging from the screenshots of the first chapter, the game may take place in numerous settings from the older games (especially 6 "Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow", arguably the best one). The "art" in this case seems to be most of the 3d models and textures. Removing King's Quest from this project would remove any reason to make it, IMHO. I really hope this gets sorted out somehow. I loved the the King's Quest series and Vivendi's end to the series, King's Quest 8 Mask of Eternity, was a travesty. I seriously doubt Vivendi is going to make any profits from the King's Quest brandname, so why not let it go ahead? It's not like they were trying to make money. They don't even have ads on their site!

      Whilst writing this, I realized what's going on: http://www.gametap.com/. Sierra, aka Vivendi, has got some games on there it seems, but no adventure games of yore. So let's see how this plays out.

  3. This can hardly have come as a surprise... by Senjutsu · · Score: 3, Insightful

    They didn't honestly expect a big conglomerate to do the nice thing and not notice them, did they?

    That said, all they need to do is change the project name to Qing's Kuest and tweak the art-work.

  4. Ahh.. good ole King's Quest by Datamonstar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Man, that brings up some fond old memories. I remember saving my allowance for the collector's edition on CD-ROM and the happiness that ensued once I finally got it. Many a time imitating the narrator's voice: "Sir Grham eats the cookie..." And Roberta Williams is the first game developer I rememeber knowing by name. Part 3 was my favorite, although the lovely graphics in part 4 were breathtaking to me at the time. Man, I, for one, would have quickly bought a copy of the indie game had it stayed alive. Long live the king.

    --
    The eternal struggle of good vs. evil begins within one's self.
  5. A sad state of affairs. by SpiritMaster · · Score: 5, Interesting
    While I have to salute the KQ9 team for their graceful acceptance of the end of their project I can't help but think this is just another nail in VU's coffin of respect. First of let me point out that while VU does own the rights to KQ shutting down non profit organizations that operate purley for the enjoyment of gamers is just another way of saying 'we don't care about our gamers unless they pay us for the priviledge'. Even this to some degree is disproved by the lack of patches many of their games need yet never seem to get. Assuming for the moment their reason behind the shutdown is because they may have a sequel coming, there is no reason that one must cancel the other, since i'm sure both could be enjoyed equally.

    In addition to KQ9, SQ7 may also be next to come under the axe, although they are apparently in talks with VU and Phoenix Online Studios about this new turn of events. All this being said I hope that VU will come up with a slightly better reason than 'because we said so' since it only encourages people to see VU as another namless corporation that is more concerned with grinding out endless titles for the sake of money. At the end of the day however VU is, as VU does, and it seems it will continue to follow the Microsoft creed of 'if its original, buy it up and make more money'.

  6. Who to Contact by koko_99_2001 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've sent an email to Vivendi's tech support. They told me to email: games.comments@vugames.com Guys, PLEASE send your complaints on what Vivendi did to the KQIX project to this email address! Hopefully, we'll let them know how much we all support this project and they'll be willing to come to an agreement with the team!

  7. Would be horrible if Pirates STOLE the source code by Confessed+Geek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wouldn't it be TERRIBLE if the source code was STOLEN by Software PIRATES and put on a P2P network! All those years of work Free to download for anyone without any control by the original authors...

    All those people out there using the software and the people who volunteered all their time for the love of the game wouldn't be able to do a thing about it! How tragic.

  8. Wow, what jerks by Drachasor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, Vivendi doesn't want KQ9 to be made. I can understand that. I might disagree, but I can see their corporate view. (Even though the popularity such a game generated might help Vivendi sell an official KQ game in the future).

    What amazes me is how vile a tactic Vivendi used. KQ9 was in development since 2000. 2000! That's 5 or 6 years of work done by 40-odd people. After all this work, when the group is almost finished, Vivendi then decides to tell them they can't release it. Thus essentially turning 5+ years of work into a waste of time. This just seems evil and cruel.

    For those that don't care about the immorality of this, it also is horrible from a marketing viewpoint.

    I didn't even know this project existed a day ago, but I'm going to avoid Vivendi products in the future after this.

    -Drachasor