FreeSpace 3
FreeSpace 3 is the name a hypothetical sequel to FreeSpace 2 would logically have. Asking about FreeSpace 3 on the forums tends to provoke annoyance from established members, since it has allegedly "been asked about so many times before".
Controversy
In July, 2004, news started appearing that controversial game developer Derek Smart, creator of the game Battlecruiser: 3000AD[1] , and active participator in many online forums, was considering bidding for the licence for Freespace 3 with the intent[2] of developing FreeSpace 3. This proposal was met with derision from the HLP community; the reaction was such that Derek Smart registered an account at HLP and threatened to sue members of the forum and shut down community projects once he had acquired the license. According to polls, however, the majority of customers would buy the game regardless of Smart's involvement.
For further information, read the HLP forum official FS3 statement.
In late July further news arrived that Derek Smart had decided not to develop FreeSpace 3. According to a post by Volition developer Dave Baranec on the HLP forum, it would seem that Volition are furthering their talks with THQ about the current situation of the FreeSpace scene and the future of the FreeSpace series.
Derek Smart never acquired the license, and at present the license is believed to be owned by Interplay.
The community
The general consensus among the HLP community is that there will never be a FreeSpace3. Many reasons for this are presented. A select few are:
- Volition, Inc. is the developer of the previous FreeSpace games in the series.
- Interplay owns the rights to the FreeSpace universe (as of 11-15-2006).
- the ownership of Volition has been transferred from Interplay to THQ.
- the emotive consensus "if it ain't by V, it ain't Freespace 3".
Current license status
A nameless Interplay contact has stated numerous times that Interplay does not own the IP rights to FreeSpace. While it can be argued that the contact may not be in possession of the complete facts -- due to his position as helpdesk -- the above is the only known semi-official statement regarding the current status of the license.
Interplay recently introduced their 20th anniversary edition of FreeSpace 2, which can be ordered via their homepage. Moreover, recently Home of the Underdogs removed the game from their download list, only to later re-insert it. No explanation for this has been given.
See also
- The original FS3 license discussion at the Adrenaline Vault.
- An online petition to rescue the franchise.
- Gamespot download page for BC3K.
