Text 345, 109 rader
Skriven 2006-05-24 23:05:00 av Robert E Starr JR (791.babylon5)
Ärende: Re: Anything new going on
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* * * This message was from Charlie Edmondson to rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.m * *
*
         * * * and has been forwarded to you by Lord Time * * *         
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@MSGID: <446cb579$1@news.cadence.com>
@REPLY: <e4i43a0oeu@drn.newsguy.com>
Jan wrote:
> In article <oK%ag.4$bY4.0@newsfe5-gui.ntli.net>, AC says...
> 
>>
>>Just recieved a reply from Mr Sprange. All I will say is that he seems 
>>genuinly (sp?) upset by Joe's reaction and he seems to really care about B5, 
>>like the rest of us. I've also seen Joe's recent post, which actually makes 
>>no sense to me, baring in mind what Mr Sparnge has just written to me. I 
>>would post the reply I got , but I dont feel I have permission.
> 
> 
> I've never had the impression that Mr. Sprange has any but good intentions
> toward the B5 universe and that he and the writers want to do a good job.
> 
> 
> 
>>I think Joe needs to to be a little more candid here. For me, there is 
>>something in between what Joe and Mr Sprange is saying. I like to know what 
>>it is.
> 
> 
> I think it's gone entirely far enough, or too far, in public.  They'll either
> work it out or they won't but none of their correspondence or negotiations
has
> ever been any of our business in the first place.
> 
> 
> 
>>I cant help feeling that had a way of continuing the Crusade arc been found, 
>>years ago, we wouldnt be in the middle of this. If Joe cares about the story 
>>and his fans, perhaps he should do something that addresses Crusade, before 
>>others do.
> 
> 
> You seem to be implying that, regardless of how Mongoose approached JMS or
what
> they offered him that JMS should have bent over backwards to help?  I
completely
> disagree. If that's not what you're implying, then what do you suggest he do?
> 
> Jan
> 
> 
This reminds me of a situation in my own industry.  While my company, 
and most players, are in it for the big bucks (and they are pretty big) 
there are of course, others out there doing free or almost free software 
to do the same thing.  There are two, in particular, that have made 
notable efforts.

One of them works for a major company, and for him, the simulator is the 
key part of the puzzle.  He has a very, very good simulator, is 
supported by his big company, and has been very responsive to user 
requests.  Our own software could learn a thing or two from his.  But, 
he has one major deficiency - his front end is difficult and 
non-standard, which makes using it professionally a problem.

The other individual is the opposite.  While he has made a few 
improvements to his simulation engine, it is in his front end that he 
has made many improvements.  His software is easy to use, intuitive, and 
very productive.  But, his back end is only mediocre, with the usual 
bugs and deficiencies of open source software.  He is also just a single 
individual, and has no other corporate backing for his software.

Now, if these two folks should get together, there would be a real 
competitor in the marketplace, with a great front end tied to an 
excellent simulation engine, but fortunately for me and my livelihood, 
they hate each other!  Seems when each of them first began publishing 
their early efforts, they both delighted in taking pot-shots at each 
other, mainly in the Usenet newsgroups I frequent.  By the time the dust 
began clearing, and each has started to achieve worthwhile results, the 
well had been poisoned - they will never work together.  At best, they 
have recently become somewhat civil towards one another...

So, we have a very similiar situation here.  Joe is a professional, and 
while he enjoys being recognized as an 'Artiste' and having created 
'Art', he and his spousal overunit are much more gratified by those nice 
dollars that have rolled through his bank accounts while doing so!  He 
also has a vision of this B5 universe that is unique, since he created 
it, and is somewhat possessive of it.  Matthew has come into this 
inspirational playground with a lot of enthusiasm, and maybe a few 
bucks, but may or may not have a good understanding of it.  When he 
initially approached Joe, it is apparent they were not on the same page. 
  It sounds like Matthew was approaching Joe the Artist, and had 
evidently not done his homework on Joe the businessman!  If he had read 
Joe's book on screenwriting, he would have had a much better 
appreciation of where Joe's head is at.

So, where does that leave us, the fans?  Screwed as usual, with the guy 
that has the bucks and license separated from the guy with the knowledge 
and vision.

I mean, even if he had tried to negotiate a creative consultant credit, 
like Joe did with Ellison, we would at least have been able to get a 
little guidance on how Mongoose will take B5.  What I suspect is that we 
will get a Star Trek type of business, with writers taking B5 in a 
hundred different, competing directions, i.e. a lot more Del Rey novels...

Charlie
                                                                               
                 
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