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DarkCryo clarifies Fox's 'well wishes' for Firefly Universe Online, dispels hoax allegations
Not too long ago, we told you about how Firefly Universe Online, a project by DarkCryo, was kicking things back into gear after receiving Fox Entertainments "well wishes." Shortly after that, rumors that the news was a hoax started circulating. DarkCryo has clarified the whole issue, however, which will hopefully put those rumors to rest. During our conference calls we were essentially asking how close to the line we are allowed to tread and still maintain a positive, open comm link with Fox Legal. We've never received a C&D, and don't want one. We gave scenarios, and Fox Legal was generous enough to give us specifics on what they perceived to be derivative. So long as we maintain this fine line, Fox Legal stated that "of course" we can proceed, and that they "wish us well". When we stated 'well wishes', we were simply alleviating people's fear that - no matter what DarkCryo does-it will be 'shut down.' We know now how to avoid this scenario, and should no longer be an issue. FUO was scheduled for a Kickstarter campaign in the not-too-distant future, which "may have to be postponed indefinitely" in response to the recent drama. If that Kickstarter secures funding in a timely manner, DarkCryo will be aiming for an alpha release in winter of 2013.
The Soapbox: Watch out BioWare, it's a (WoW) trap!
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. I want to be up front about one thing first: World of Warcraft was, to me, a truly great game. It was. No matter how easy and trendy it is to take swings at the popular kid, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I had a few really terrific years in Azeroth. So as I go on to criticize aspects of the World of Warcraft phenomenon, I don't want to give you the impression that I'm filled with nothing but loathing for my time spent there. There are many factors -- including plain old burnout -- that drove me away from WoW, but the one thing I never liked from my earliest days in the game until now was the attitude and approach that Blizzard gave. These were relatively minor flaws that became magnified with the game's staggering popularity and size, and they stand as proof that even great game designers can be blind to their own shortcomings. Why do I bring up WoW today? Because with the unprecedented build-up to Star Wars: The Old Republic, I see BioWare teetering on the edge of these same traps that ensnared Blizzard and tainted that company's product. BioWare and EA may be betting on WoW 2.0, but if the people behind the scenes are smart about it, they'll take a lesson from history instead of discovering that they're just as prone to fumbling the ball as anyone else.
