Thoughts
February 2009


2/17/09

Wow, it seems like forever that I have been locked out of this website (forgot the password) and forever before that that posted. So there is a ton to catch up on, but that feels overwhelming so I will just do a real quick summary of what I remember.

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Immortal

Lee Visits

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There had been some renewed interest in Ultimate Universe after someone had figured out who to run door games from the internet, and someone else figured out how to get UUTerm to work on that system. Christopher Darque started a society site to help those looking for a Ultimate Universe game in action, start their own or just talk about the old days.

Meanwhile way back in September, Caliban Darklock was discussing that he was deciding between three rather lucrative jobs. Then on Sept, 20th he stopped blogging. So either he took the job or has hit by a bus on the way to a meeting about it.

So as preparation to begging for money I thought I should collect any fees owed me, or sell any assets I owned. With increased interest, I figured I might be able to lock down who owns the rights to Ultimate Universe. And I thought I could play Caliban off Darque as they dislike each other.

So on Jan 3rd I sent this email to Caliban Darklock:


Hi Caliban,

I was hoping to write this on a day when my mind was clearer but time is becoming an issue, so bare with the typos and possible digressions or incoherence.

Judging from the silence on your website I figure you have been employed about two and half months. As money is becoming a large issue with me, given the ever lengthening of my life and a couple of missteps,

As I will be beginning full scale fund raising (read: begging) this month I am trying to get closure from those that actually owe me money first.

I would like to get this issue of the rights to Ultimate Universe nailed down this month. Since you have the only remaining known copy of the code, the only issue is the rights to the name.

Someone recently brought to my attention that Marvel Comics has a Ultimate Universe title. As mine provably predates theirs, and the abundant cross overs of comic to video games makes "potential confusion' a real issue, there is presumably a case of copyright infringement in my favor. While I would never become involved in any court of law, they could be persuaded on a cheap out of court settlement to save themselves the legal fees. Anyone with the rights could do the same thing.

Christopher Darque's group has some interest in the matter as well, though I do not know how swiftly they could come up with the funds. It has not more than tangentially been discussed.

I would like $2000 in my PayPal account (thai.bigelow@gmail.com). I will in the website and in email to you that you have all rights to the name of the game.

If not, on January 26th. I will ask the same of Christopher Darque and send an email to the legal department of Marvel Comics.

I'm rereading the above, it reads a bit angry to me, please do take it that way. What it should read is desperate. I am grateful for all you have done for my game. Without you and Darque it would have languished much deeper in the shadows. Because of you two, a much larger audience got to experience one of my favorite works, But the fact remains that I am a little less than $9,000 short of what I need to survive until May. Should I still be functioning after that, and it is starting to like like a possibility, Mai's shop should be turning a profit by then. BTW, we were married on the first.

Also if you can see your way to adding a prominent tribute link on your sites I would be very appreciative. Somehow does feel as much like begging when it comes from fans.
The donation link is: http://garthbigelow.com/Donation.htm

Thanks
Garth

 

January 26th came and went. I did not even receive an email from him telling me to go to hell.

So on Feb. 5th I sent this following email to Christopher Darque:

Hi Chris,

On January 3rd I sent the message below to Darklock. He has not posted on his blog since September, or been involved in his discussion forums since November. Mor did he respond to the letter. I figure he got the job, last time he was employed he was silent like this as well. Maybe he was hit by a truck on his way to work. I'll probably never know.

Point is, the rights to the name of Ultimate Universe (sorry, I don't have the code; it is irrelevant anyway) is up for grabs to the first person to put two grand in my PayPal account (Donations Page is the easiest foolproof way to do that.)
I offer you first crack as you are more invested in the game than most out there.
If you have no interest or the funds could you please orchestrate getting the offer out to the fans?

Thanks
Garth
PS: Tell LD I really liked the MetaHuman stories.

I never got a response from this email either. And with a slightly more than a touch of self pity I thought: fuck 'em. I thought about just posting my offer on their forums, but frankly I was tired of shattered illusions and I started thinking about just giving the rights away.

After all, so much had gone wrong on so many different areas of my (and others) lives lately to keep money out of my hands you had start thinking there might be a reason. Maybe I am being protected from my greatest fear: a stroke that leaves me trapped in an unresponding shell. As money equals lifespan at the moment, just maybe it is not in my best interest to push that boundary much farther.

I started thinking about Darklock's claim to have spent 'six figures' working on revamping UU before he ran out of money (years ago.) Now, I can look at that statement three ways:

  • A outright lie.

  • The straight up truth, in which case the idea that he would spend six figures on development but not finish the four digits paying for the rights is either very insulting or makes this answer unlikely to be true.

  • The 'six figures' number is generated by counting his, and possibly other's, time involved at full (or possibly ideal) market value. In other words not money actually possessed or spent. Just potential money, and padded potential money at that. I find this the most likely answer.

Regardless, Darklock seems to have two modes: unemployed, broke and unable to move any project forward or employed and too busy to move any project forward. I was very specific in our agreement that if the rights were not paid for in full, partial payment was forfeit and teh rights returned to me. This was because I was giving him the code before payment was complete.

So who to give the rights to? Besides Andrue whose life has changed way beyond thsi type of thing, Troy Jones was perhaps the greatest enjoyer of the game. Both CDs certainly did more for the game, but I truly believe Troy had a pure love of the game. Also he had written some time ago about an Ultimate Universe like project. So the rights are his. Sadly, I no longer possess the code to original game, but if Darklock has any honor, and Troy can reach him, he will send him a copy.

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Laos Alone

Temp 104F

Immune Suppressors

Moving. Downsizing. Enough money to get by minimally.

Why is gold acting so strangely?