Is this right?

from Stardock Forums
Just came across this... open source project.
Looks to me to be a Galactic Civilisation Clone.

http://fsc.sourceforge.net/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/fsc/

Now I doubt anything illegal or 'bad' is going on but from the websites it doesn't mention anywhere that the Game Design or even the graphics are inspired by Galactic Civ. Gameplay looks the same, ship names the same, start with a scout and colony ship, same political parties, same shortcut keys... the interface.. same, the same ideas carbon copied! Ok I saw some new additions in the economy screen, but so differences are very few and far between....

Now I don't mind clones of a great game, and I love open source... but fair go to Stardock at least one mention on the website or a link would be nice!
I find it in poor taste theres not one mention considering even the graphics (probably only stand in) are low res versions copied and 'retouched' (scribbled over in paint no doubt). You see the logos are a dead give away...

I'm a stardock fan so maybe I'm seeing this all wrong. But does anyone else think there should be at least one mention to where 90% of the concepts as well as the 'retouched' artwork came from?

~SDC~
376 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Does not look like there is any original thinking here. Even the social projects are using the exact galciv names in the screen shots I looked at. They were even listed in my normal build order
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Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
You saw when it was "registered"? 2002-05-20, this does somehow look like someone, by the look of the built a fan of the original GalCiv, wanted to create "his own" version.
looks suspicious anyway.

Anyhow, I'm interested in Stardocks opinion
[Message Edited]
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Moser shakes his head!

The only purpose behind this project that I can see is to take money out of Stardock's pockets. >:(

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Sounds like at least pleagerism if not copyright infringement. The first is unethical, the latter illegal.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I think this is just a group of coders saying "hey, let's see if we can make a clone!". It's like people learning to draw by drawing trademarked characters from a copyrighted image, only even less illegal because Stardock probably doesn't have a trademark on the GalCiv UI. If there are any derivative images in there, perhaps that's a concern, but eh . . .

Sure, it's a blatent copy in terms of what the gameplay is. But it's not going to take sales away from GalCiv. It's not trying to use the name to make itself look good (one reason not to mention GalCiv would be that they don't want to be seen as diluting the name). It's not using any of the graphics, as far as I can see - if it is, they're probably placeholder because it looks like they're not stupid enough to do so. So as far as I can see, it's not a problem. Let them have their fun. :-)
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm with TheGreenReaper on this, after all is imitation not the sincerest form of flattery, anyway it'll be handy for the old Linux box.

With GalCiv II on the way StarDock will be leaving this clone in the dust - won't they?
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
At first I thought people were over-reacting. I mean there are plenty of games like GalCiv. The concept of space colonization isn't exactly new.

However after looking at the screenshots, holy crap does it ever look like a rip-off.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
That game looks like an exact rip off if you look at the screen you can see that there is almost no change between GalCiv and this game. Its not even an imaginative rip off. I think you can get some of that money you guys need from these people. LOL

You can't say that this game isn't a rip off. Go get 'em!
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Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I do not like this. >:( >:( >:(

And I do not think it will benefit Stardock's sales in any case. It looks quite poor, even in terms of mere look&feel (and we all agree that GC was not the nicest girl in town ;) ). Btw I wonder how the AI will look like...

Anyhow, I am sure that several people will end up downloading it for free, associating this at the end with GC - and maybe taking the wrong conclusion that even GC is bad.

No, to me it won't help GC sales for sure. Any comments?
Any official position from Stardock?


~SDC~
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I was trying to run the game to see but gave up trying to figure out what to download to make it run. It appears it is not good graphically at all. I highly doubt this do anything to Galciv sales.

If I was Stardock I would be filing charges.. :notsure:
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I doubt that it has any affect on our sales, good or bad.  This has been around for awhile; someone posted about it before.   
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Well if Stardock is unconcerned I guess I shouldn't be either. And, if its like so many open source projects, it will lose steam and never really get finished. ;)
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
It is a fairly lame game anyways.. I took the time to install it finally and then ripped it out afterwards. It is horrible compared todays standards of graphics etc. No game will draw my interest more then Galciv does. LOL
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
It is a fairly lame game anyways
End of quote



Forgive my presumption, but I'll bet that when Gal Civ was at the same stage of development it was equally rotten.

If they were "passing off" there would be a serious problem wich would demand serious lawyers, but this is just an open source project which will as stated earlier probably never be finished, if it does get finished it will probably be to the standard of Free Civ on Linux; playable in Linux but not a touch on the original program written for DOS/Windows.
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks CariElf, I just thought I'd point it out.

Funny thing is I never even thought about the effects on the sales. I was more worried/miffed that they couldn't even give the recognition to the game that inspired them so much :).

~SDC~