Battlestations

[Umbroso]

This seems to be an electronic copy of a non-computer RPG called Battlestations at www.Battlestation.info. Was this done with their knowledge and approval or is it just accidentally identical?

[PurpleMoustache]

Pretty sure its accidentally identical (or similar). The inspiration from the game came from the 2 guys who made it were sick of being bossed around at 2K China (I believe) and quit, and they both watched a lot of box sets of sci-fi TV shows after they quit, had programming know-how, and were interested in rogue-like games.

So they put them all together

[Extra Big Swimjim with Cheese]

Both are based around spaceships and use squares. Even if its direct inspiration doesn't mean there's any kind of legal problem. Those people should have thought of making their board game into a computer space-sim roguelike.

[Umbroso]

Board game was out well before kickstarter project and it's not similar, it's identical.

[Werruraz]

Sucks to be them, maybe they should learn to program.

[Datchery |DD|]

Starcontrol predates both of them as does Masters of Orion. Guess alot of people enjoy space games. In looking at the board game, it's thematically similar, but hardly identical.

[Umbroso]

Thematically similar? Do you own the board game as I do? The way that Missiles and Beam Weapons work is IDENTICAL. Name one space combat game that was released prior to 2009 that showed missiles IGNORING shields and maybe you could say this wasn't a new concept. In fact in legal proceeding, you might be able to argue them being conceptually dis-similar in theme but the real question would be if they were dis-similar enough to not violate patents/trademarks.

[Nanostrike]

Unless it has the same plot, setting, and everything, it's different enough to pass.

Board games and electronic games are different types of products entirely.

[Cyborgt]

Identical mechanics do not equal identical games.

Also, i just took a look at the game and you're an idiot. There's nothing identical about them outside of a few common theme/mechanical elements for which you could claim THEY were infringing on ANY other game.

/ignore troll/moron

[Cypher]

Reminds me of Alternity, the old TSR game. There were tons of campaign resources with graph paper maps of ships and it's amazing to see the old pen and paper concepts come to life like this! Here's to everyone with a bag of D20's! ;)

[kschang77]

Missile does NOT ignore shields. Missile has "leakthru". Some damage goes through shields.

[Shatner]

I don't think the OP is a "moron" for mentioning this. Battlestations is a great game that has more than enough similarities FTL that the influence is pretty obvious to anyone that has seen both. FTL even mentions this in the FAQ.

However game mechanics are not patentable, and the medium of a boardgame and digital game are so different I can't imagine anything illegal happened here.

Here's a link to the game: http://www.battlestations.info/

Check out the system designs. Many elements of FTL very clearly heavily influenced by FTL.

http://www.battlestations.info/starships.html

Either way both games are great. Everyone should try both of them.

[Silvador]

BAW! They stole the FTL jump animation and name from Battlestar Galactica. IT'S A RIP OFF, MAN! I'M TELLIN' YA. THEY STOLE IT ALL FROM A TV SHOW!

[Raspberry Crazy Ants]

They ripped off more than that! There was a game company a few years ago called FTL who are one of the original founders of using a mouse to control games, who made a game called sundog where you travel the universe in a spaceship that is falling apart. These people STOLE one part of the game and even had the AUDACITY to name it after the very company they were ripping off!!

[bullex]

Originally posted by Cmunk13:

They ripped off more than that! There was a game company a few years ago called FTL who are one of the original founders of using a mouse to control games, who made a game called sundog where you travel the universe in a spaceship that is falling apart. These people STOLE one part of the game and even had the AUDACITY to name it after the very company they were ripping off!!

But why are you people so angry about it? Don't buy it, don't support these dishonest (in your opinion) people. I have never played anything like it before, so for me it's fresh and sweet game. If it's just a copy-paste of other games, well, that sux, but I'm not gonna suddenly delete FTL from HDD and go play board games or invest in Atari to play Sundog.