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News: Celebrating 30 years of Star Control 2 - The Ur-Quan Masters

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Author Topic: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista  (Read 5479 times)
Shiver
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Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« on: April 05, 2008, 02:43:27 am »

http://www.classicgamingpresents.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=102

I have a strong suspicion that the product I'm linking to is simply UQM on a disc. Just thought the core team would like to know.
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Lukipela
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2008, 08:05:29 am »

Hmm. They also seem to be selling Star Control 3 for XP and Vista. Sure smells scammy.
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2008, 02:05:16 pm »

Even if it's not UQM, they must've contacted Accolade for reselling rights, or something. no?
Anyone cares to "write a review" there linking to UQM? Tongue
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2008, 03:22:47 pm »

Firstly, their screenshots are all from the original DOS SC2, not UQM. If they're actually selling what they promise, they're probably using DOSBox. Their terms state that they're not selling the games, they're selling an installer that combines DOSBox with the original game, both of which they are giving away.

Legal analysis: The whole thing seems to be set up around a PO Box in Hampshire and a web server somewhere near Manchester, so UK law is likely to apply. They're admitting to distributing abandonware, and trying (badly) to argue that they're not selling the game, only a custom installer. Their web site appears to be hacked together from content from different abandonware sites and MobyGames. Either way, they've essentially admitted copyright infringement. The silly part is that they could legally sell UQM, but appear to be warezing DOS SC2 instead.

Conclusion: Moronic low-life.
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2008, 09:38:06 pm »

TfB should sue them and order Chinese food with the money they get.
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2008, 11:21:05 pm »

They didn't even bother to make their own screenshots; these are from MobyGames.
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2008, 12:08:56 am »

They didn't even bother to make their own screenshots; these are from MobyGames.
The description is also from MobyGames. The descriptions and screenshots for the Lemmings series appear to be almost straight from Abandonia, on the other hand; I suspect much of their material comes from there or other abandonware sites.
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2008, 04:49:34 am »

They didn't even bother to make their own screenshots; these are from MobyGames.

This is just sad.  It reminds me of the time when people used to repackage shareware games back in the 1990s and sell them for a high price, which is known as shovelware.

I feel sorry for anyone who actually falls for this scam; it's a great game, and if it wasn't for the Great TFB's decision to release the source for SC2, our community wouldn't be as large as it is now.

I don't think TFB or even Activision can actually sue them directly; the price is listed in pounds, so they may be in another country, further complicating things.

Unless, there's any Star Control hacktivists who want to come together and perform a Denial of Service attack on their website, but that's illegal and would make things even more complicated.

The only thing I hope for is that they search for "Star Control 2" on Google, and find the SourceForge page first.
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jaychant
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2008, 05:03:04 am »

Someone should spam the reviews section with reviews on how it's a scam and link to UQM.
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2008, 11:50:46 am »

I don't think TFB or even Activision can actually sue them directly; the price is listed in pounds, so they may be in another country, further complicating things.
As far as I know, Infogrames (who purchased Accolade) retain copyright (and trademark) on Star Control 2 as released on PC, which would make Infogrames Entertainment SA (in France) the copyright holder. They also have a UK subsidiary (Atari UK Ltd.). I have no idea how legal action would work in practice, though, nor exactly what rights have been transferred where.

TFB (owned by Activision, which is merging with Vivendi SA, also in France) apparently controls the actual content and game (allowing them to create UQM) but not the specific products distributed by Accolade and Crystal Dynamics. Activision also appears to have some sort of presence in the UK.

All in all, I don't think being in the UK is going to be any protection at all.
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Re: Website is selling Star Control 2 for Win XP and Vista
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2008, 08:26:10 pm »

TfB should sue them and order Chinese food with the money they get.
Win.
(I also wouldn't post any links -- though I would mention UQM -- onto said scabs pages; they might actually begin bothering TFB)

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