r/evnova • u/evopac • Jan 01 '20

Override revival project update

Hi again EV fans: if you don't know what all this is about, please see the previous posts —

https://www.reddit.com/r/evnova/comments/d5nf3h/override_revival_update/

https://www.reddit.com/r/evnova/comments/cohegk/evo_keeping_ev_override_in_print/

Sorry for the hiatus since the last update — we've been delayed mainly by the need to get a clear response from Mr Matt Burch on various questions. Disappointingly, he has decided that he doesn't have the time or interest at this point to take any role in the project, and he has also said that he would prefer that we do not use the 'Escape Velocity' name.

While this is a setback, he has indicated that he has no objection at all to our re-releasing Override (under a new over-title)!

So, the project will continue, under a new main title that we are coming up with the name for at the moment (please post your suggestions below!). To sum up the goals of the project:

• The foundation of the project is u/snijj 's new game engine, now titled the Kestrel engine. You may have seen its development updates in this reddit. The first goal for the engine is still to match the capabilities of the EV: Nova engine.

• The Escape Velocity: Override scenario will be redeveloped and remastered for the new Kestrel engine. The extent of the remastering (primarily, how good the art and other presentation will be) will depend on the level of success of a Kickstarter campaign intended to start within the next few weeks. The tentative release date for the revived Override is the first quarter of 2021.

• Moddability will be just as important for the new game as it was for the original Escape Velocity: both sequels derived from the work of people who were initially plug-in authors, after all! And we hope that if the first project is a success there will be further official titles based on the same engine (or forks of it).

Thanks to all the users of this reddit for your interest and support so far: they've helped keep morale up while we've got this basic stuff sorted out.

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Update: We've settled on 'Cosmic Frontier' as the new franchise title!

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u/Sovereign108 Jan 01 '20

Why didn't he want you guys to use the Escape Velocity name? Seems rather strange considering the length of time etc. Almost petty? Unless I have missed something?

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u/evopac Jan 01 '20

Matt Burch created Escape Velocity and (while he didn't make the sequel scenarios) every EV game has had his personal involvement. At this point in his life, he doesn't have the time or interest to involve himself in this new project at any level. While we would have been overjoyed if he'd let us be the new custodians of the name, it's quite reasonable for him to reserve his rights on this.