The Ur-Quan Masters Discussion Forum

Hey guys,
Long time lurker. I've been coming out of the shadows more with the lawsuit stuff. I've been around, and I'm sure at least one mod should recognize my nick from many bug reports submitted circa 2005 era or the Fred and Paul IRC chats.

I've got somewhat of a controversial question and it'd be okay with me if this gets deleted / edited / frozen.

I'm simply curious.

If Brad Wardell full on and completely asked the Star Control (Ur-Quan Maters) community for forgiveness, if he dropped the lawsuit, and tried his best to make it right to Fred and Paul, if he started trying to mend fences, if all of that, how many of you would live and let live, and even potentially buy Star Control Origins? How many would continue to invest in Stardock games?

I honestly don't know where I stand. In my personal life, I try to encourage people to work with people wherever they are, morally speaking. I try not to assume too much, but sometimes I have to draw the line and exclude people from my life (though rarely).

So, there is a part of me that thinks, he deserve forgiveness, and he does usually make good software. He deserves a positive reputation for his positive contributions. But his previous actions, which show his character, make it impossible for me to invest in him.

So, (long way around of saying it) I'm not sure.
What do you guys think?

if and only if ... "ghost of the precursors" was on the market for purchase, no holds bared, except for the the name "star control". then yes, live and let live.

Just to clarify: When you say "Invest", you mean actually investing in the company? Or just buying their products?

Um, seriously?

You've created a new thread here just to imply that even if Brad and Stardock make a complete U-turn, drop their lawsuit, and make full amends to F&P, you still won't forgive them and will hate them for the rest of your life? On top of it being irrational, petty, and vindictive as hell, do remember that Stardock employees read this forum too. Do you want to give them more reasons to pursue their lawsuit in the most aggressive way possible?

You forgot how much of F&P's personal funds / GOTP development funds he has drained by suing them frivolously.  To undo the damage he's done this would also have to be paid back.
But I for one would forgive if stardock did everything you outlined plus payed F&P's legal expenses.  Of course, that will never happen.


The employees probably have zero decision making power over the lawsuit.  Anyone who even questions it could be putting their job at risk.

If GotP is published and Stardock isn't on the attack anymore, I might give SC:O a try. I wouldn't even need them to have reached that point willingly.

Indeed. Origins (of which I'm heavily spoiled through the Let's Play videos) seems like the game I've been waiting for for years.
IF that point would come where Stardock has been handed a court's decision in the general outlines of "Star Control" is Stardock property, and all the remaining demands were frivolous", and Stardock would not fight the decision or simply delay the payout, I would likely buy Origins just to explore my own story of the whole stuff.

Heck, I understand FF and PR, who had in response to the attacks by Stardock take an overprecise line of "our copyright/IP you're infringing".
This situation bothers me. More than is healthy for me.

Thing is, I fear the court decision will be appealed (likely by both sides - except if there is a very clear winner, then only the loser will appeal, if there's money left), so by the time we get a final decision and everything sorted, the game will be old again.

There's a catch for me though: I don't want to become a Steam or GOG registered customer....
Nor do I buy with credit cards online, nor do I use Paypal.
So I cannot buy the game, currently.
(Apparently Stardock now has its own store: https://store.stardock.com/checkout ; but it accepts Steam codes, so it may just be an interface for Steam, and not really an own version.

That's correct, SCO is currently only sold through Steam and GOG, according to Stardock's own posts.