The comedy train that is Alganon just keeps on rolling. Ethic over at Kill Ten Rats alerts us to a press release for the newly relaunched fantasy MMORPG that copies, nearly word for word, the verbiage used by Bioware to promote Star Wars: The Old Republic almost two years ago.
"'Traditionally, massively multiplier online games have been about three basic gameplay pillars – combat, exploration and character progression,' Derek Smart continued. 'In Alganon, in addition to these we've added the fourth pillar to the equation; a story. We delivered a fun, immersive adventure that gamers expect in a top quality massively multiplayer online game. To top it all off, we're not done yet. A whole new adventure with new updates will follow soon, starting with a consignment house, new classes, PvP and much more,'" proclaims the offending release.
Sound familiar? That's probably because it was posted a while back on The Old Republic's official site:
"Traditionally, massively multiplayer online games have been about three basic gameplay pillars – combat, exploration and character progression," said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Co-Founder and General Manager/CEO of BioWare and General Manager/Vice President of Electronic Arts Inc., "In Star Wars: The Old Republic, we're fusing BioWare's heritage of critically-acclaimed storytelling with the amazing pedigree of Lucasfilm and LucasArts, and adding a brand-new fourth pillar to the equation – story. At the same time, we will still deliver all the fun features and activities that fans have come to expect in a AAA massively multiplayer online game. To top it all off, Star Wars: The Old Republic is set in a very exciting, dynamic period in the Star Wars universe," reads a BioWare release dated in October 2008.
Check out Ethic's post over at Kill Ten Rats. Additionally, Massively has contacted Quest Online for comment and will update the story as information becomes available.
[Update: Quest CEO Derek Smart has responded with this post over on Alganon's official boards.]
Reader Comments (98)
Posted: May 9th 2010 1:44AM Warrior said
I doubt Derek Smart wrote this press release. It's too short.
Posted: May 9th 2010 2:15AM Teki said
first they copied WoW, now this!
Posted: May 9th 2010 3:14AM (Unverified) said
Next, they will copy Planetside as they think swords and magic are not enough. Guns, lots of guns...
Reply
Posted: May 9th 2010 4:16AM Dranaerys said
Youd think after all the claims of plagiarism, they woud take extra care not to copypasta ANYTHING off ANYONE at this point.
Posted: May 9th 2010 4:45AM (Unverified) said
Sure, Derek Smart & Friends may not have fancy things like a playable non-buggy game, graphics that don't look like they are from 2002 but they have given us something that you cannot put a price on. Their shenanigans bring a smile to our face. Thank you for existing, Alganon.
Posted: May 9th 2010 5:33AM BubleFett said
I don't know how long this game is going to survive.
But the prospects don't look very promising.
This is just another sign of desperation.This game is rip off of WoW
What other proof do you need, really.
But the prospects don't look very promising.
This is just another sign of desperation.This game is rip off of WoW
What other proof do you need, really.
Posted: May 9th 2010 5:47AM DarthCheese said
I bet they wish they could copy the customers of other games too!
Posted: May 9th 2010 5:50AM Dread said
ROFLMAO!!
Just when you think Alganon cannot get any more screwed over they plumb the depths of stupidity to reach a new low - and entertain the rest of us.
Given that they've already copied (if copied means ripped off) successful MMO's WoW and Eve...why not copy (as in rip off) a successful games developers quotes as well??
I'm all giddy with anticipation over the next fuckup coming from Alganon way...I bet its another doozy ;)
Just when you think Alganon cannot get any more screwed over they plumb the depths of stupidity to reach a new low - and entertain the rest of us.
Given that they've already copied (if copied means ripped off) successful MMO's WoW and Eve...why not copy (as in rip off) a successful games developers quotes as well??
I'm all giddy with anticipation over the next fuckup coming from Alganon way...I bet its another doozy ;)
Posted: May 9th 2010 8:05AM Faryon said
Somehow I'm not surprised at all...
From what I understand the Alganon Engine and dev-tools are pretty decent.. Why doesn't QOL just sell off those? It's pretty clear that Alganon will probably never be a good game so why do they bother with developing it further?
From what I understand the Alganon Engine and dev-tools are pretty decent.. Why doesn't QOL just sell off those? It's pretty clear that Alganon will probably never be a good game so why do they bother with developing it further?
Posted: May 9th 2010 9:04AM dsmart said
OK, the weekend is officially canceled!
I have not yet issued an official statement because, tbh, I don't have all the facts yet. Being a weekend and all, I don't expect to know what happened until Monday. I am about to rush off to church, but decided to just post this quickly to let everyone know that this just came to my attention.
I hired a PR firm to handle media relations etc for QOL when I came aboard. They were tasked with that press release.
While I'm certain that there is a reasonable explanation for the similarities in the releases, I simply do not want to speculate but only to say that we are going to investigate this tomorrow.
Next week I will issue an official statement once I have all the facts.
I have not yet issued an official statement because, tbh, I don't have all the facts yet. Being a weekend and all, I don't expect to know what happened until Monday. I am about to rush off to church, but decided to just post this quickly to let everyone know that this just came to my attention.
I hired a PR firm to handle media relations etc for QOL when I came aboard. They were tasked with that press release.
While I'm certain that there is a reasonable explanation for the similarities in the releases, I simply do not want to speculate but only to say that we are going to investigate this tomorrow.
Next week I will issue an official statement once I have all the facts.
Posted: May 9th 2010 9:37AM (Unverified) said
Maybe you can use a presidential concession speech on your way out of the industry.
Seriously get out before you cause the genre to implode from embarassment
Reply
Seriously get out before you cause the genre to implode from embarassment
Posted: May 9th 2010 2:10PM Dustystrike said
So when it says "said Derek Smart" it isn't really you but a random guy you hired to talk for you?
Reply
Posted: May 9th 2010 2:49PM Elmarolly said
Again with the bloody lies. Do you have any balls Derek and do anything original? You have killed the game the first time you posted. If this game was supposed to be your top priority. You would think that you would proof read anything that was put out for others to read.
Or maybe you though that us gamers are just dumb key pushing monkeys, that can not remeber what happened a few hours ago. You might want to think what you do now and in the future if you think anyone is going to buy or spend time on your so called "great" mmo that you are making.
But what do you care about..... oh yeah your freaking ugly ego. Please just get the fudge out of the game industry!. It is not even funny anymore.
I really feel sorry for the poor folks that are left at QOL and have to put up with his lies and BS. Best thing for the investors of QOL is to boot the bloody guy out and hope they can rebuild.
Reply
Or maybe you though that us gamers are just dumb key pushing monkeys, that can not remeber what happened a few hours ago. You might want to think what you do now and in the future if you think anyone is going to buy or spend time on your so called "great" mmo that you are making.
But what do you care about..... oh yeah your freaking ugly ego. Please just get the fudge out of the game industry!. It is not even funny anymore.
I really feel sorry for the poor folks that are left at QOL and have to put up with his lies and BS. Best thing for the investors of QOL is to boot the bloody guy out and hope they can rebuild.
Posted: May 9th 2010 9:32AM (Unverified) said
Very professional, Quest Online, LLC. Hopefully the hard-worker that ripped Bioware's press-release loses his/her job.
Posted: May 9th 2010 10:40AM suicideking89 said
So it's comedic gold when these guys do it but when this guy
http://wizbangblog.com/content/2008/02/18/obama-plagiarizes-speech.php
does it, it's barely news.
http://wizbangblog.com/content/2008/02/18/obama-plagiarizes-speech.php
does it, it's barely news.
Posted: May 9th 2010 10:55AM (Unverified) said
oh god another person who tries to start a political war anytime he finds a chance. Dude, its an MMO site. WHY THE F' do you think MMO NEWS would be on an MMO NEWS SITE and NOT political blog?
Do you want CSPAN to start covering the release of MMO's while you are at it?
Reply
Do you want CSPAN to start covering the release of MMO's while you are at it?
Posted: May 9th 2010 11:27AM suicideking89 said
Posted: May 9th 2010 2:53PM ed511df3 said
Philip, you missed the point of Korz's comment. This is not a political blog, this is an MMO blog. So back when Aion was in beta, some -players- made an avatar that looked a lot like Obama. And Massively reported on that because it was an MMO event, not because it was something politically minded. Yes, the two things were one in the same, but if it had -not- taken place in an MMO, it would not have been featured here.
People really grasp at straws to stir up political arguments, and I for one wish you would stop.
Reply
People really grasp at straws to stir up political arguments, and I for one wish you would stop.
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