If the words “Spathi” and “Ur-Quan” mean anything to you, then you probably spent far, far too much time playing Star Control (or the digital, Ur-Quan Masters release!), and have been waiting for a sequel. While the two delightful chaps who created Star Control – Toys for Bob’s Paul Reiche III and Fred For – own the rights to just about everything Star Control related, what they don’t own is the actual name. It was, until recently, owned by Atari, who’s been doing squat with it.
The name has now been picked up in an IP auction by Stardock – and they will be making another game in the series.
“We expect the new Star Control to come in the form of a reboot, similar to what Firaxis did with the XCOM series last year,” said Brad Wardell, president and CEO of Stardock. “We are looking at Star Control 2 as a major source of inspiration.”
Here’s where it gets weird. They wouldn’t be able to use terms like “Ur-Quan” or “Spathi” without licencing them from Toys for Bob.
“Stardock hasn’t contacted us, so we don’t yet know their plans,” Paul Reiche said on the Ur-Quan forums. “Looking at the court schedules (and this is consistent with my recollections), they acquired the trademark ‘Star Control’ and copyright to the original materials in Star Control 3 — that is to say, not any of the copyrightable materials from Star Control I & II, which Fred and I still hold. “
The IP being split like that could end up being a colossal monstrosity – but it seems that Stardock doesn’t want to do anything without the blessing and approval of star control’s creators.
We won’t be making any changes to the existing Star Control games. And Atari doesn’t actually own the copyright on Star Control 1/2 so it’s not like one could make a Star Control 2 HD or what have you without a license from Paul Reiche. And even if we did have rights to SC 1/2 I wouldn’t touch them without his blessing.
I think what most Star Control fans are looking for is a new Star Control game where the inspiration comes from Star Control 2. They want a game with fun, adventure and top down ship battles like in Star Control 2 that all play within a fun sci fi universe. Preferably one with Ur-Quan and Spathi and lots of insults.
Last Updated: July 24, 2013
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 24, 2013 at 11:32
Cool, always nice to see a worthy reboot
JadedCriticalB@stard
July 24, 2013 at 11:47
LOL, one can tell the general age of LG followers by how little excitement there is over the potential of a new Star Control inspired by Star Control 2 (not the abortion that was SC3). I will start it off…
Feck me, I haven’t been this goddamn excited since hearing about the XCOM reboot!
Brad, do a good job or the ULTIMATE EVIL will find you…
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 24, 2013 at 12:15
I honestly thought more people would give a damn. I was wrong. 😛
Spathi
July 24, 2013 at 12:22
Geoff, it is not about the quantity, it is about the quality of the people that give a damn. And dammit, the people that do give a damn, are of a damn fine quality!
Brady miaau
July 24, 2013 at 14:54
Yeah, me too.
Nicholas Rowan
July 24, 2013 at 21:12
I’VE BEEN WORKING TOO HARD! I DIDN’T KNOW! THIS IS LIKE… Probably my top game of all time just ahead of Homeworld.
Edit: Wait… Toys for bob isn’t involved… I thought they managed to secure the IP. What is going on?! Noooooooo. Stardock dont fail me! I’ll hunt you all down if you damage this IP I swear.
Brady miaau
July 24, 2013 at 12:16
I worry sometimes because Brad was involved heavily in earlier projects, but his company has grown and he must manage so many things.
It does seem that he has managed to foster a company culture that works HIS way, which is ok by me.
He actually used to write blogs that I read about company culture and other such interesting tidbits.
Eric
July 24, 2013 at 13:33
SURPRISE AND TERROR!
If you know peace, it only means you haven’t seen the thing trying to kill you
Neil Greening
July 24, 2013 at 11:54
At first I was like YEEEEAAAAHHHHH!!!! But then I saw that Toys for Bob won’t be involved and I was like MEEEEEEEEHHHHHHH!!!!
Want it so much, but from the original creators! Got burned bad by SC3. What a monumental piece of trash…
Lets hope they do get heavily involved!
Brady miaau
July 24, 2013 at 12:10
Stardock are a good company with some good products. They should do a good job.
and pretend 3 did not exist too.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 24, 2013 at 12:17
Yeah, they did Galciv – so I’m confident that it’s in the right hands.
Ben
July 24, 2013 at 11:59
Fuuuu yeah!
Brady miaau
July 24, 2013 at 12:10
This is AWESOME.
Can I say it again? THIS IS AWESOME.
I want this. Badly’. Now. Tomorrow.
No messing around.
One Word: Thraddash!
Eric
July 24, 2013 at 13:19
I hope the hunam(see what I did there?) ships will be a bit cooler. Favourite ships by far? Arilou! Teleport the f*ck out of everything out there. Favourite race to chat to? Spathi… by far. And making the Yehat cry by telling them how dishonorable they are.
Brady miaau
July 24, 2013 at 14:53
I see what you did there! Cruisers were quite crappy. Ur-Quan dreadnought kinda fun. Most other ships must get lucky all the time, the mighty dreadnought lucky once!
I cannot remember my favourite, different ships were more fun depending who you were fighting against. The Arilou was fun, but one hit and die was not!
The butterfly ships (name?) that would come back to life. Now that is awesome! Hallelujah! The Yehat cousins or brothers or whatever.
Andre116
July 24, 2013 at 14:56
I liked the Orz ship. The ones with the rotating turret. used to just circle the slower enemies with them.
And the Syreen’s Penetrator ships…just for the name. A race of blue female aliens with a ship called the Penetrator.
Brady miaau
July 24, 2013 at 14:58
Ah man, I have been playing KOTOR. Must I play this now?
Orz were a creepy race. Great little ship, tough as nails.
Ah, the Syreen. What a race.
You know, I still have parts of that map in my head, were the aliens were, the spheres of influence and stuff. Wow.
Eric
July 24, 2013 at 16:00
Pkunk! lol! Regenerated energy by throwing insults, but preaching loooove. This thread is pure nostalgia
Spathi
July 24, 2013 at 12:11
I WILL HAVE MY FAME AND FORTUNE!!
Brady miaau
July 24, 2013 at 12:14
I was waiting for you to show up.
Indeed you will!
Shard
July 24, 2013 at 12:13
…*Happy* campers are best. It is good to *smell* you again…
HvR
July 24, 2013 at 12:37
WernerE
July 24, 2013 at 12:57
This is great news!
I still remember getting my pirated copy on floppy disk all those years ago and playing it day and night.
I have the same concerns with this “new Star Control” that I had with XCOM EU. Obviously they are catering for a market that grew up with the Star Control franchise so there will be plenty of fan-boy nostalgia going around. Younger players however could be shut out and not understand the hype that we “old-ballie” gamers are creating around this.
But if we consider how awesome XCOM is, I can only hope that they will do it justice! 😀
Skande
July 24, 2013 at 13:08
They must just not forget to add the planet lander sell bug in the new version…. 🙂
Andre116
July 24, 2013 at 14:34
hehe…yeah, I remember those. Money was not an issue.
Brady miaau
July 24, 2013 at 14:49
That was great. New version I bought years ago, had the bug fixed. It is such a pain starting out, move so slow, turn so slow. Arg
CrasH
July 24, 2013 at 13:12
“Hey” can own a name?
Someone had to say it…
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 24, 2013 at 13:16
I hate you. 🙁
Eric
July 24, 2013 at 13:22
My best bud and I literally still do the 2 player battles when we get drunk. “Oooooh! Kak close” “Whaaaaaaat! Hou op knoppies in hou!!!”
CrasH
July 24, 2013 at 13:25
Forgot about the days sitting next to somone on a pc playing on the same keyboard… was the best of days and the worst of days… (i never hold in buttons… unless i am going to lose?)
Andre116
July 24, 2013 at 14:39
Funny how nobody mentions SC3.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 24, 2013 at 14:51
Everyone has erased that horseshit from memory.
Andre116
July 24, 2013 at 14:52
But it had puppets in it?!?
Brady miaau
July 24, 2013 at 14:55
that is not even horseshit. When did it get the upgrade?
Andre116
July 24, 2013 at 14:42
Star Control 2….being Mass Effect before Mass Effect was cool. Somebody should make a meme.
Andre116
July 24, 2013 at 14:42
Star Control 2….being Mass Effect before Mass Effect was cool. Somebody should make a meme.
Nicholas Rowan
July 24, 2013 at 21:11
OH…. MY … GOD… MY dreams… have been answered!
Alex Hicks
July 25, 2013 at 09:31
YESSSS!!!!!! Star Control 2. Time to break the Spathi’s out of that slave shield, rejoin with us “hunams” and destroy the Ur-Quan like we used to.
Spathi Eluders whipped Ur-quan butt (black or green- no matter).
DARK_SETH
July 25, 2013 at 10:03
Hell YEAH!!
Loved SC2!
Lupus
July 25, 2013 at 14:41
pkunk were awesome, I played urquan masters again the other day, love that game. I remember getting it back in ’93 and spending a loooooong time on it, even pretending to be sick so I could stay home instead of going to school.
The storyline was amazing for SC2, I didn’t even mind the screw up 3 was
GriAulE
August 1, 2013 at 11:46
This is bloody excellent news. 😀
Ygorbla
October 7, 2013 at 22:21
This is awesome, especially given Stardock’s track record of remaking old classics! Remember when they decided to make a remake of Master of Magic? That turned out wonderfully!
Jerreeee
October 31, 2013 at 00:55
Literally almost shit my pants with excitement when I saw this. I demand high definition renderings of all the glowy bits I can handle.
gotglitter inmyguts
November 19, 2013 at 14:56
I am absolutely ecstatic about this news. There has YET to be a video game that touches me the way Star Control II did. That music when you enter a solar system…that soothing music with the weird sound effects. The music as you evaluate a planet or moon. The wonderful and deep story line with all of the different alien races. There has never been a game like it and I pray there soon will. Thank you for this wonderful news.