• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

A quick history and timeline of Derek Smart vs. Chris Roberts (Star Citizen)

MUnited83

For you.
Hello Mr. Smart, I am interested in Line of Defense MMO. Is it possible for you to give me some steam keys so that I may raise awareness for your title? also if you are interested you could give extra keys and I can make a raffle in the steam thread!

thanks
Derek really should start giving away his game for free, since his "MMO" isn't "massively" in any way, it's barely "multiplayer".


Line of Defense had a crazy good average of 0.2 people playing in the last 30 days http://steamcharts.com/app/266620

Hi Mr. Smart, have you seen Mr. Sterling's attempted review of the game you are selling on Steam for actual money and what have you thought about it?
Here is the review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lw-cwIGuy0

I found it interesting, that anyone would put up a game for sale that consists of blurry (one could say..jizzy) menus and few screenshots.
Dont forget the following:

-Saying on the Steam forums that he wouldn't accept refunds and that is not legally obligated to do so besides one of his points against CIG was that they didn't give him a refund , and even that was false. The idiot can't even remember where he lives apparently , and gave them a fake adress for them to mail the refund to .
- Complains about what exactly CIG are spending the backer's money on, while at the same time apparently not sending a cent of the money people gave to him for his crappy game, since its still shitty as ever, and saying that Star Citizen will never be released while having a game that will never release in a proper shipabble state.
 

striferser

Huge Nickleback Fan
This thread is will be remembered for a looooong time, now that Derek Smart post here...

i respect Derek Smart vision and passion, and i could gave him a benefit of doubt regarding what happen inside CIG. But man, his history make it hard for me to believe him...(no offense Derek Smart)

On the other hand, I want Star Citizen to be realized to prove that huge crowdfunding can be successful.

The escapist case on the other hand, is truly a fine example of "ethics" in game journalism. Spam folder, report with unclear source, hasty investigation.

This whole thing has been interesting so far, so i guess i'll sit back and watch.

Note: I'm not SC backer BTW
 

Bedlam

Member
Saying on the Steam forums that he wouldn't accept refunds and that is not legally obligated to do so besides one of his points against CIG was that they didn't give him a refund , and even that was false. The idiot can't even remember where he lives apparently , and gave them a fake adress for them to mail the refund to .
- Complains about what exactly CIG are spending the backer's money on, while at the same time apparently not sending a cent of the money people gave to him for his crappy game, since its still shitty as ever, and saying that Star Citizen will never be released while having a game that will never release in a proper shipabble state.
Add to that:
- selling expensive addons for his unplayable (in the most literal sense of the word) excuse of a game* on Steam EA while criticizing CIG's ship sales. (real talk: that stuff could be criticized, but not by Derek given the circumstances with his own game*). The content of those addons is just as elusive as the many features of the main game*, btw.
- delaying his game* again and again, "racing through that last mile" since 2011 or so.

* =
handful of piss-poor amateur maps, shoddily thrown together
 

Raticus79

Seek victory, not fairness
This popped up in my Google Alert, so I thought I'd stop by and say hi, goodbye

1st, job well done to the OP, in trying to come up with such a timeline.

Some corrections/notes:

1) Line Of Defense is NOT the spiritual successor to any previous BC/UC game. It just happens to take place within the same world and IP. Just like all my games. It is a totally different kind of game.

2) The history of the original BC3K (1996) is a bit incorrect. You can find the story in this Gaming Urban Legend blog

3) I contributed to Star Citizen in Nov 2012

4) LOD was released on Steam as Early Access for testing the myriad of Steam backend tools that we use. It got "review bombed" by those who couldn't run it because it was accidentally flagged as F2P even though a purchase was required. It was fixed less than an hour later. It continued to be "review bombed". That initial release mishap is documented in this Mar 2015 dev blog.

5) We never - ever - ban anyone for making bug reports. We only ban shit-posters and trolls. It's a tradition that hasn't changed. Which is how I get to make so many enemies over the years.

6) I mentioned my games in the Interstellar Citizens blog, for the same reason that you created your timeline: the new gen don't know who I am, nor are they familiar with my history. As I have explained before, you don't ask a brain surgeon to talk about rocket science. So as someone who has spent 30+ years making massive games, I was able to clearly see the problems with Star Citizen and why I stated that it simply couldn't be done. The more things come to light, the clearer it is becoming that I right. Tough pill to swallow for some. Especially since I had to be the one to spell it out.

7) The FOIA request was rubbish. Not going to type that all up again.

8) The "release date" was not a "sticking point". If that's all you took from the letter to RSI, then that's on you. Try reading it again. It was very clear I thought.

9) I didn't embroil myself in GamerGate. Nope. This is where that came from.

10) My blog comparing LoD vs SC was written specifically to shut up those people who keep telling me crap about them being a competitor. They're not. The only thing they share in common is the genre. And ships.

My latest blog encapsulates everything as to how we got here.

""

Actually no, there isn't. As Chris himself said in his rant, we don't even know each other. We know "of" each other. This whole thing came to a head when they made it personal. Then completely - and utterly - underestimated my industry reach, influence and resources.

That is all.

Quoted for new page.
 

dsmart3000ad

Neo Member
Amazing. Derek, are the allegations about you threatening to sue over the original Wing Commander true?

No, it's false. You see, unlike these people, if I made a claim like that, I'd be posting something about it.

Eric "Wingman" (Chris's friend) made the same claim on the RSI forums. I called him on it on Twitter. And he removed the post.

Fact is, it's false. Back in the day, some things may have been said, and within the normal constraints of making comments about other products etc. But never did I threaten them with any of that.

All of you who know me, know that I'm not the type to back away from stuff like that. It's just not my style. So if it did happen, I would say it did, then find every possible way to explain and justify WHY it happened. Regardless of whether or not it made one lick of sense to someone who had a full functioning brain cell or two.
 

Bedlam

Member
All of you who know me, know that I'm not the type to back away from stuff like that. It's just not my style. So if it did happen, I would say it did, then find every possible way to explain and justify WHY it happened. Regardless of whether or not it made one lick of sense to someone who had a full functioning brain cell or two.
Anyone who knows you, knows that you would immediately make excuses and dispute everything you've said in the past if it suits your current narrative. Derek, it's the same old song and dance at every corner of the internet where you showed up during the last 20 years or so. It's just you who lives completely divorced from reality. Honestly, you should seek professional help. I'm not meaning to sound malicious with that statement. In this single case, it's a serious suggestion.

edit: Where's that gameplay video of your newest 'game', btw? You banned people for asking that question in your private, little Steam corner (after calling them "trolls" and "idiots", of course).
 
All of you who know me, know that I'm not the type to back away from stuff like that. It's just not my style. So if it did happen, I would say it did, then find every possible way to explain and justify WHY it happened. Regardless of whether or not it made one lick of sense to someone who had a full functioning brain cell or two.

Anyone with a full functioning brain cell is already well aware of how full shit you are. You're pretending people don't have more than a decade of evidence and frankly it's getting incredibly tiring to see you propel yourself up onto this pedestal of higher intelligence and pretending that anyone who doesn't agree with you is in some way stupid, when it's incredibly clear who the stupid one is. Since we're on the topic of justification, justify why you keep banning people on Steam for reporting problems in your game.
 

dsmart3000ad

Neo Member
Hi Mr. Smart, have you seen Mr. Sterling's attempted review of the game you are selling on Steam for actual money and what have you thought about it?
Here is the review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lw-cwIGuy0

I found it interesting, that anyone would put up a game for sale that consists of blurry (one could say..jizzy) menus and few screenshots.

Yes. He was running at a non-standard resolution on a 4K monitor that the game didn't support at the time. That was fixed the same day and a patch released shortly after.

Then I kicked everyone out of the thread. :)
 

Anjelus_

Junior Member
If DS is here, let's not have this devolve into a flame war, eh chaps? I know people love to respond to everything someone says and be inflammatory, but there's reaaaaally no point in it.
 

BlackRock

Member
Thanks for replying, Derek. Maybe OP can update with your response. Many of us have concerns that you may have been coordinating between former CIG employees, and that these sources are thus not truly independent. You've made it clear that you've got sources that are former employees. You've also said that you've been sharing these sources with media contacts you have. Have you been sharing, or coordinating stories between them? Also, do you have an evidence of racial discrimination by CIG or of fraud/embezzlement being committed besides the word of these sources? Did these sources first contact you or did you contact them? Would be great if you could clear up any ambiguity here.
 

Darknight

Member
This guy reminds me of the "EDGE" word troll where he demanded everyone using the word, pay him or face a law suit.

Edit: to clarify, anything he doesnt like, he threatens his "big shot" lawyers and gives a rude impression.
 

Falk

that puzzling face
My heart is beating very fast.

Is this... LOVE?

edit: Aw.

Mr Smart, don't take this the wrong way but you've provided a -lot- of entertainment over the years, whether intentional or not. Please never stop being Derek Smart.
 

dsmart3000ad

Neo Member
...and suddently I am reminded of why I tend to only read some choice threads and never posting here.

That's it guys, I'm out. Thanks for all the fish.
 

Bedlam

Member
...and suddently I am reminded of why I tend to only read some choice threads and never posting here.

That's it guys, I'm out. Thanks for all the fish.
Derek Smart, the one and only game developer who bolts when being asked to provide gameplay footage of his own game. Gold.

lol @ another fake update of your game to keep the "in progress" status on Steam, btw.
 

Spladam

Member
No, it's false. You see, unlike these people, if I made a claim like that, I'd be posting something about it.

Eric "Wingman" (Chris's friend) made the same claim on the RSI forums. I called him on it on Twitter. And he removed the post.

Fact is, it's false. Back in the day, some things may have been said, and within the normal constraints of making comments about other products etc. But never did I threaten them with any of that.

All of you who know me, know that I'm not the type to back away from stuff like that. It's just not my style. So if it did happen, I would say it did, then find every possible way to explain and justify WHY it happened. Regardless of whether or not it made one lick of sense to someone who had a full functioning brain cell or two.

Ok, this is very interesting, as the piece of trivia has been passed around so much that it has all but become fact.

Thank you BlackRock for asking this question, and thank you Mr. Smart for answering, as I have assumed this to be true for a good while now, this changes things.

May I ask Derek, do you know what the original comments you made were that were eventually mistaken for this event?

Edit: I see we've chased him away again, you guys could have turned this into a really interesting Q&A, and refrained from jumping all over him, a little self control in the future maybe? Looking at you Bedlam.

Thanks for replying, Derek. Maybe OP can update with your response. Many of us have concerns that you may have been coordinating between former CIG employees, and that these sources are thus not truly independent. You've made it clear that you've got sources that are former employees. You've also said that you've been sharing these sources with media contacts you have. Have you been sharing, or coordinating stories between them? Also, do you have an evidence of racial discrimination by CIG or of fraud/embezzlement being committed besides the word of these sources? Did these sources first contact you or did you contact them? Would be great if you could clear up any ambiguity here.
I've updated several sections of the OP, but apparently some here are not interested in having an interesting discourse with a real source on this matter. Good questions though sir.
 

Darknight

Member

Lol sad.

Now was this a real reply???:

From: [email protected]
To: Derek Smart
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 4:19 PM
Subject: Re: UC parody review on SA

Dear Doctor Smart,

As per your request, I have changed the offending remark.

"When he was convicted of bank fraud in 1994"

has been altered to:

"When he was convicted of bank fraud and raping an entire petting zoo in 1994"

I hope this is satisfactory.

- Dr. Richard Kyanka, PHD

Holy shit, that slayed me! I wonder if he (lowtax) every had anything happen to him.
 
Edit: I see we've chased him away again, you guys could have turned this into a really interesting Q&A, and refrained from jumping all over him, a little self control in the future maybe? Looking at you Bedlam.

He was never going to give us answer worth anything. I asked him three time what was his reason for banning people reporting problems in his game and as expected he repeatedly dodged it, and I wasn't the only one asking it. He even went out of his way to point out that he kicked everyone from a thread after 'fixing' a bug, which as we know was not the case.

I don't mean to seem rude to you at all if I do, but just generally confused and wondering why we should take anything he says with any sort of credibility. He has lied to everyone repeatedly yet all of a sudden we are supposed to believe him?
 

Bedlam

Member
Looking at you Bedlam.
I have no regrets. This man needs to be confronted with his own bs at every given opportunity. Of course I knew he can't provide a real gameplay video, because there is no actual game there but just a small collection of poor maps that load if you're really, really lucky.

Seriously, all you were going to get would've been the usual spin that he leaves basically everywhere on the internet.
 

Dio

Banned
Lol sad.

Now was this a real reply???:

Holy shit, that slayed me! I wonder if he (lowtax) every had anything happen to him.

Lowtax has been getting dumb emails from stupid people for well over ten years. None of them have really come to anything - the only one that actually turned into something was Uwe Boll challenging him to a boxing match and punching him in real life.
 

Spladam

Member
He was never going to give us answer worth anything. I asked him three time what was his reason for banning people reporting problems in his game and as expected he repeatedly dodged it, and I wasn't the only one asking it. He even went out of his way to point out that he kicked everyone from a thread after 'fixing' a bug, which as we know was not the case.

I don't mean to seem rude to you at all if I do, but just generally confused and wondering why we should take anything he says with any sort of credibility. He has lied to everyone repeatedly yet all of a sudden we are supposed to believe him?

You could have taken it in any way you wanted to, but now there is nothing to take in any way, it could have been an interesting conversation even if he didn't answer all the questions, just like it works on AMAs. There are many threads for talking about the woes of Derek Smart, but GAF could have gotten some answers about things, that first answer about the infringement lawsuit was the first time I had heard any other take on this in much research, and it kind of affects the narrative of my timeline. I mean, you guys know how he's going to respond to a bunch of hating, we could have tried A MORE INTERESTING approach. It's done now, so......

I have no regrets. This man needs to be confronted with his own bs at every given opportunity. Of course I knew he can't provide a real gameplay video, because there is no actual game there but just a collection of poor maps that load if you're really, really lucky.

Seriously, all you were going to get would've been the usual spin that he leaves basically everywhere on the internet.
With Derek, you never know really what he's going to say, it might be good sometimes, and if reading about him all these years tells me anything, it's that he responds much better when the flames are not thrown, otherwise, it's just the circus. These days, he just leaves. I kind of thought GAF was different from most other forums. But it looks like we are in reality just the same. It's not like he's never been confronted before, but if you look at the articles where people just ask him thoughtful questions, he actually gives thoughtful answers.
 
You could have taken it in any way you wanted to, but now there is nothing to take in any way, it could have been an interesting conversation even if he didn't answer all the questions, just like it works on AMAs. There are many threads for talking about the woes of Derek Smart, but GAF could have gotten some answers about things, that first answer about the infringement lawsuit was the first time I had heard any other take on this in much research, and it kind of affects the narrative of my timeline. I mean, you guys know how he's going to respond to a bunch of hating, we could have tried A MORE INTERESTING approach. It's done now, so......

Yeah that's fair enough and I honestly can respect that view. I just personally can't help but feel that Derek will always run when backed into a corner and that it's essentially what happened here, but with that issue in the way we can never push him on any questions since he will only selectively answer what he chooses to. I can see how it may have been a missed opportunity too, but generally, Derek doesn't take well to being asked the hard questions and I do think he would have turned tail and ran had we tried to get him give an answer he couldn't twist into a positive for him.

I know this is a pretty one sided view so I apologize for adding to the problem, but cannot deny my personal view of the man and his behavior still.
 

Breads

Banned
Lowtax has been getting dumb emails from stupid people for well over ten years. None of them have really come to anything - the only one that actually turned into something was Uwe Boll challenging him to a boxing match and punching him in real life.

Almost 20 years at this point.

Man I miss happy/ funny Lowtax. Depressed/ divorced/ possibly drunk lowtax hurts to see in very real ways.
 

Falk

that puzzling face
Almost 20 years at this point.

Man I miss happy/ funny Lowtax. Depressed/ divorced/ possibly drunk lowtax hurts to see in very real ways.

I know it's kind of a cliche to say at this point but the funniest people are often the most depressed.
 

FyreWulff

Member
Derek Smart is a lifer troll who's "career" has been mildly resurrected by aligning himself with racist, white supremacist assholes, much like when someone tries to reheat Great Value Tater Tots the next in the microwave the next day, they find out that you just can't bring back what was already gone.

Edit: I see we've chased him away again, you guys could have turned this into a really interesting Q&A, and refrained from jumping all over him, a little self control in the future maybe? Looking at you Bedlam.

Derek "Creative Commons assets would actually improve my games" Smart has no intention of ever actually engaging people in conversation. We dealt with this crap eons ago over on the Penny Arcade Forums. He always cuts and runs. He will never be accountable to anything. He's the Nancy Grace of gaming, nobody likes him, he's a racist, but people keep giving him airtime for god knows what reason, and he is only notable because he keeps attaching himself to the latest tragedy of humanity. Or whatever is in his latest /release/ trunk.
 

DrWong

Member
You could have taken it in any way you wanted to, but now there is nothing to take in any way, it could have been an interesting conversation even if he didn't answer all the questions, just like it works on AMAs. There are many threads for talking about the woes of Derek Smart, but GAF could have gotten some answers about things, that first answer about the infringement lawsuit was the first time I had heard any other take on this in much research, and it kind of affects the narrative of my timeline. I mean, you guys know how he's going to respond to a bunch of hating, we could have tried A MORE INTERESTING approach. It's done now, so......


With Derek, you never know really what he's going to say, it might be good sometimes, and if reading about him all these years tells me anything, it's that he responds much better when the flames are not thrown, otherwise, it's just the circus. These days, he just leaves. I kind of thought GAF was different from most other forums. But it looks like we are in reality just the same. It's not like he's never been confronted before, but if you look at the articles where people just ask him thoughtful questions, he actually gives thoughtful answers.

You can ask him in private, PM is a thing.

In fact, it's the only good solution, for him and for us because in a thread it will be flames and laughs. Not because of us but of what he's as social persona: a curiosity.
 

BlackRock

Member
Considering that Derek was the one known quality in this story - the others being anonymous sources - I think his responses are indeed worthwhile. One would naturally evaluate his responses, but aren't they still worthwhile having in the first place? So far we have nothing but questions about what went on with The Escapist and the possibility of collusion between these anonymous sources.

Derek, if you're still reading, I'd certainly still be interested in hearing your responses and it's a chance to answer these outstanding questions about what's going on. Spladam can update with your responses.
 

Spladam

Member
You can ask him in private, PM is a thing.

In fact, it's the only good solution, for him and for us because in a thread it will be flames and laughs. Not because of us but of what he's as social persona: a curiosity.

Not a bad idea, but I doubt he watches his NeoGAF account that he has only just posted on today after being summoned by Google Alert. I'll try I guess. Edit: I don't even notice PMs sometimes.
 
Almost 20 years at this point.

Man I miss happy/ funny Lowtax. Depressed/ divorced/ possibly drunk lowtax hurts to see in very real ways.

What happened to him that made him like this? I haven't really followed much of SA for a few years (been meaning to post back there again).
 

Breads

Banned
What happened to him that made him like this? I haven't really followed much of SA for a few years (been meaning to post back there again).
I don't know anything in exact detail. What I do know came from a random stream of his that I caught that he either never saved or immediately deleted from this youtube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/user/lowtaxico

It was a long while ago - soon after Schmorky stopped doing videos with him and it was a rough watch. The channel kind of died since then.
 

aliengmr

Member
You could have taken it in any way you wanted to, but now there is nothing to take in any way, it could have been an interesting conversation even if he didn't answer all the questions, just like it works on AMAs. There are many threads for talking about the woes of Derek Smart, but GAF could have gotten some answers about things, that first answer about the infringement lawsuit was the first time I had heard any other take on this in much research, and it kind of affects the narrative of my timeline. I mean, you guys know how he's going to respond to a bunch of hating, we could have tried A MORE INTERESTING approach. It's done now, so......

It was a bullshit answer that amounted to "It's not true because I said so". Don't turn this around on GAF because people aren't going to pat him on the back and whisper sweet nothings in his ear. If he can't take it, let him take is ball and go home. I respect what you were trying to do, but I absolutely disagree. If he doesn't feel the need to hold back then we shouldn't either. He can either answer or walk, but he shouldn't get a pass.
 

Bedlam

Member
Not a bad idea, but I doubt he watches his NeoGAF account that he has only just posted on today after being summoned by Google Alert. I'll try I guess.
I can assure you he is glued to this thread right now (and has been for days), even if he won't answer your pm.

If he actually does, most of us know pretty much exactly what he is going to say (he is not going to change suddenly after more than 20 years of this circus). As mentioned above, people tried what you're trying to do many times before, always with the same result.

Attention is what Derek feeds off and it's best to not give him any nor any platform to spew his bs. But it seems every new generation of gamers has to learn this anew.

It was a bullshit answer that amounted to "It's not true because I said so". Don't turn this around on GAF because people aren't going to pat him on the back and whisper sweet nothings in his ear. If he can't take it, let him take is ball and go home. I respect what you were trying to do, but I absolutely disagree. If he doesn't feel the need to hold back then we shouldn't either. He can either answer or walk, but he shouldn't get a pass.
.
 

anothertech

Member
This is Derek, when someone posts about major issues like framerate and buttons dissapearing in the menu in your new LoD game on the forums, and your response is "Your framerate being in the low teens is largely irrelevant to me." it makes it a little hard to take what you say without a large helping of salt. That is just my point of view though.
 

Timeaisis

Member
Holy shit, hey Derek!

I will say, in my opinion of this whole mess, regardless of what you think of Mr. Smart, Star Citizen and Chris Roberts are looking mighty sketchy right about now.
 

cakely

Member
...and suddently I am reminded of why I tend to only read some choice threads and never posting here.

That's it guys, I'm out. Thanks for all the fish.

Thanks Derek! Though you did say "goodbye" two posts ago, so I'm fairly certain we'll hear from you again, imminently.

On a good note, It looks like absolutely nothing needs to be changed in the OT.
 

nynt9

Member
Holy shit, hey Derek!

I will say, in my opinion of this whole mess, regardless of what you think of Mr. Smart, Star Citizen and Chris Roberts are looking mighty sketchy right about now.

uh, why? They just had a convention where they showed a ton of content?
 
Top Bottom