Derek Smart: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:37, 20 October 2006

Latest revision as of 17:28, 10 August 2025

(664 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{For|the rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 1960s|Derek Smart (rugby league)}}

<!--[[Image:Dsmart.jpg|right|thumb|222px|Derek Smart]] -->

{{short description|Video game developer and businessperson}}

{{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

'''Derek K. Smart''' is an American video game designer. He is the president and lead developer of 3000AD, Inc., an indie game development company based in [[Aventura, Florida]]. In addition he is the president of and investor in the video game development company Quest Online.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qol.com/live/about/|title=Quest Online Corporate information|access-date=7 July 2011}}</ref> Smart is an [[List of indie game developers|independent]] video [[game designer]] and [[software design|software developer]], and the creator of several video game series.

==Work==

''Derek K. Smart Ph.D.''' is an independent [[software design]]er and [[Internet]] personality. He is the creator of the ''[[Battlecruiser 3000AD]]'' and ''[[Universal Combat]]'' [[video game]] series and the President/Lead Developer of 3000AD, Inc. a [[Florida]] corporation.

In 1996, [[Take 2 Interactive]] released his first game, ''[[Battlecruiser 3000AD]]''. Prior to the release Smart and Take 2 were involved in a dispute over the premature release of the game. The matter was later settled out of court.<ref name=Take23000AD>{{cite web|url= http://www.gamespot.com/news/smart-take-two-settle-differences-2465926 |title=1997 3000AD and Take 2 settle differences|date=23 December 1998}}</ref>

==Game industry history==

Through his 3000AD company, Smart has developed a total of nineteen games to date,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://3000ad.com/games/|title=Games|date=14 March 2009|website=3000ad.com|accessdate=20 January 2023}}</ref> across his various franchise properties; most of which are derivative works. Through his Quest Online company, he also worked on the completion of the MMO ''Alganon'' as well as that game's expansion pack, ''Rise of the Ourobani''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alganon.com/index/expansion-pack |title=Alganon – Rise of the Ourobani |access-date=22 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117001836/http://www.alganon.com/index/expansion-pack |archive-date=17 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Pre-1996====

Smart also signed a deal with [[DC Comics]] in which several comics have been created for his ''Line of Defense'' games.<ref name="LOD">[http://lodmmo.com/comic Line Of Defense Comic Issues 1–3], Lodmmo.com</ref> A comic for ''Alganon'' was also released.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://myalganon.com/comic/ |title=Alganon – Fall of the Ourobani comic |access-date=22 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035456/http://myalganon.com/comic/ |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Smart [http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.27/guest/index2.php envisioned] a space craft (Battlecruiser) simulation which would encompass various game types with features ranging from space and planatary air combat to ground combat and strategy elements. His game development efforts center on realizing this vision.

Smart is a lifetime [[International Game Developers Association]] (IGDA) member, and was also a board member of the [[Miami]] chapter of IGDA.<ref name="idga200206">{{cite web|url=http://www.igda.org/miami/meetings/2002-06.php |title=IGDA Miami – Chapter Meeting: June 2002 |access-date=28 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427084503/http://www.igda.org/miami/meetings/2002-06.php |archive-date=27 April 2006 }}</ref>

====1996 - 1997====

==Games designed==

Smart's first game, ''[[Battlecruiser 3000AD]]'' which was marketed by then publisher [[Take Two Interactive]] as "The last thing you will ever desire." was released unfinished by [[Take Two Interactive]] in 1996, after a seven year developement. The product release<ref>[http://www.ati.com/gitg/gaming/gamemaker/bcm/index.html ATI interviews Derek Smart]</ref> contained many bugs that made it almost entirely unplayable. <ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battlecruiser3000ad/review.html Gamespot online review of Battlecruiser 3000AD]</ref> <ref>[http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.27/guest History of BC3K self-editorial at Loonygames.com]</ref> <ref>[http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/readers/index2.shtml "The 25 Dumbest Moments in Gaming" Gamespy article]</ref>

* ''Line of Defense'' (2014)

<ref> [http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/september03/25overrated/index8.shtml Battlecruiser 3000AD marketed as "The last thing you will ever desire"]</ref> The initial release of the game was "a train wreck", according to a reviewer who later commented that "Smart consistently overrates his own products and his own abilities."<ref name="Gamespy">[http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/september03/25overrated/index8.shtml "The 25 Most Overrated Games Of All Time"]</ref>

* ''Line of Defense Tactics'' (2014)

* ''All Aspect Warfare'' (2009)

* ''Angle of Attack'' (2009)

* ''Galactic Command Echo Squad SE'' (2008)

* ''[[Galactic Command]] Echo Squad'' (2007)

* ''Universal Combat CE 2.0'' (2009)

* ''Universal Combat CE'' (2007)

* ''Universal Combat SE'' (2006)

* ''Universal Combat A World Apart'' (2005)

* ''Universal Combat Gold'' (2005)

* ''[[Universal Combat]]'' (2004)

* ''Battlecruiser Millennium: Gold Edition'' (2003)

* ''Battlecruiser Millennium'' (2001)

* ''Battlecruiser 3000AD (v2.0)'' (1998)

* ''[[Battlecruiser 3000AD]]'' (1996)

==Online activities==

In early 1997, Smart sued Take Two in relation to their release of the game in its then unfinished form. The lawsuit was later settled out of court.<ref>[http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.27/guest/index5.php History of BC3K self-editorial at Loonygames.com, page 5]</ref> In late 1998 in a [http://www.gamespot.com/news/1998/12/23/news_2465926.html statement] released by both parties, the then Take Two president Ryan Brant lauded Smart's work and efforts and further announced that the matter had been resolved. Take Two later went public and in its [http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/946581/0000891554-98-000123.txt SEC filings] listed Smart's first game as accounting for 14.2% of its yearly earnings.

''[[Computer Games Magazine]]'' wrote that "over time, his reputation as an online defender of his games and unabashed pistol-whipper of his enemies overshadows the games themselves".<ref>Julian Murdoch, ''[[Computer Games Magazine]]'', [http://www.cgonline.com/computer-games-magazine/article/the_people_vs_derek_smart/ The People vs. Derek Smart], Issue 196.</ref> A 2012 in-depth article regarding the disconnect between his real life and his online alter-ego was written by media veteran Russ Pitts and published by [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]].<ref name="MessageBoardDerek">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/14/3553620/the-redemption-of-derek-smart|title=The Redemption of Derek Smart|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=20 March 2012 |access-date=21 March 2012}}</ref>

In 2015, during the height of the [[Gamergate (harassment campaign)|Gamergate harassment campaign]], Smart appeared on a [[Society of Professional Journalists]] live broadcast panel<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dereksmart.org/2015/08/spjairplay-gamergate-debate/ |title=SPJAirPlay GamerGate Debate |last=dsmart |date=16 August 2015 |website=Smart Speak |language=en-US |access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref> alongside [[Milo Yiannopoulos]], then-editor of [[Breitbart News]], [[Christina Hoff Sommers]] of [[American Enterprise Institute]], Lynn Walsh of the Society of Professional Journalists, Asche Schow of the ''Washington Examiner'', and others. In that panel, he decried the actions of media who were branding Gamergate members as a hate group.

A constant stream of patches and upgrades were later released for the product over the next few months and, eventually, a final patch was released to fix some of the major bugs. Smart then later [http://www.gamespot.com/news/2462678.html?q=battlecruiser released] the game for free on the Internet and hosted on the [http://www.fileplanet.com/153779/150000/fileinfo/Battlecruiser-Millennium-v1.09.03-FREEWARE popular download] sites.

Since July 2015, Smart has been embroiled in heated controversy surrounding the ''[[Star Citizen]]'' crowd-funded game which he claimed<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dereksmart.com/2015/07/interstellar-citizens/ |title=Star Citizen – Interstellar Citizens |last=dsmart |date=6 July 2015 |website=Smart Speak |language=en-US |access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref> in July 2015 could never be developed due to its scope and promises.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pcinvasion.com/star-citizen-will-never-get-made |title=Star Citizen will "never get made" as it's been pitched says Derek Smart |last=Younger |first=Paul |date=5 July 2015 |website=PC Invasion |language=en-US |access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref> With widespread media coverage surrounding the project,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kotaku.co.uk/tag/inside-star-citizen/ |title=inside-star-citizen |website=Kotaku UK |language=en |access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref> he has since gone on to write various blogs about the project.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dereksmart.org/2015/07/star-citizen-blogs/ |title=All Star Citizen Blogs |last=dsmart |date=6 July 2015 |website=Smart Speak |language=en-US |access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref>

====1998====

==References==

In 1998 Smart, who had continued to develop the game, announced a deal with [[Interplay]]. Interplay would distribute an improved version of the original game (dubbed BC3K v2.0) through its Value Product Division<ref name="Interplay">{{cite news

{{Reflist}}

|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20000818014813/interplay.com/press/bc3000ad.html

|publisher=Interplay

|title=Press Release: Interplay Value Products Division to distribute Battlecruiser 3000AD v2.0

|date=August 5, 1998

}}</ref>. After its retail run, Smart also [http://www.fileplanet.com/50393/0/section/Battlecruiser-Series released that product on the Internet for free].

====2001==External links==

* [http://www.dereksmart.org Derek Smart website]

* [http://www.3000ad.com 3000AD Inc. website]

{{Authority control}}

Smart continued to work on selling his product and later entered into an [http://pc.ign.com/articles/092/092821p1.html exclusive distribution deal] with [[Electronics Boutique]] for his next game, [[Battlecruiser Millennium]], which his company 3000AD, Inc self-published and released later that year.

Asked by the media about his thoughts on the deal, Smart stated "I'm paying for everything. I bear all the risk. I pay for the cost of goods, including the boxes and manuals."<ref name="gamespin2">[http://archive.gamespy.com/gamespin/march01/gamespin2/ GameSpin: Volume 2]</ref>.

The game was reviewed and rated in several print and online game magazines. <ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/468719.asp GameRankings.com aggregate scores of Battlecruiser Millennium]</ref> <ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/battlecruisermillennium?q=battlecruiser Metacritic.com gamer reviews gave Battlecruiser Millennium a 7.5/10 score]</ref>

After its retail run, Smart also [http://www.fileplanet.com/50393/0/section/Battlecruiser-Series released that product on the Internet for free]. He has mentioned [http://www.ausgamers.com/?news=2299928] that he intends to keep up this practice of releasing his products for free once their shell life expires.

====2003 - 2004 ====

In [[2003]] Smart signed a two product [http://www.dreamcatchergames.com/dci/press/releases/battlecruiser_release.html deal] with [[Dreamcatcher Games]] for [[Battlecruiser Millennium Gold]] and Battlecruiser Generations, the latter being a brand new addition to the series, with [http://www.3000ad.com/downloads/uc/ucdev_vcf.html newer technologies] than its predecessors. A few months later, the publisher had discussions with Smart that resulted in a decision to change the premise to be more action-based than the ''Battlecruiser'' series had been known for. The [http://www.gamespot.com/news/6075591.html?q=universal%20combat name was changed] to ''[[Universal Combat]]''.

The game was not ready in time for the [[2003]] holidays and was shipped in early [[2004]] at half of the originally announced price. Smart took legal action against the publisher to stop shipment of the game which was still in [http://www.3000ad.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=32;t=000164 final Beta stages], but failed to obtain a temporary restraining order to prevent the publisher from releasing the unfinished game which was still in Beta.

The game was reviewed and rated in several print and online game magazines. <ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/561677.asp?q=universal%20combat GameRankings.com non-scientific aggregate review scores of Universal Combat]</ref> Gamespot, in their 59% review score, summarized their experience with the game by saying ''"This wildly ambitious simulation is torpedoed by an almost incomprehensible interface, the absence of a tutorial, numerous bugs, and many fit and finish issues, including dated production values."''<ref name="Gamespot-uc-review">[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/universalcombat/review.html Gamespot review of ''Universal Combat'']</ref> PC Gamer, in their 75% review of their experience with the game said ''"...for the latter niche of hardcore space-simmers, Derek Smart's Battlecruiser series has been going strong for eight solid years. Over that time, the idiosyncratic space-combat franchise has transformed itself from a bug-ridden lemon to a respected genre contender. Universal Combat is the latest chapter in this reecently rebranded series (with new publisher Dreamcatcher), and though the game remains an acquired taste, it's better than ever.''"<ref name="PC-Gamer-uc-review">[http://www.3000ad.com/reviews/UC_Review-PCG.pdf PC Gamer review of ''Universal Combat'']</ref>

====2005 - 2006====

Despite an earlier [[2005]] [http://www.gamespot.com/news/6116407.html?q=universal%20combat announcement] by [[Dreamcatcher Games]] to publish Smart's next sequel, Smart later [http://www.gamespot.com/news/6125600.html?q=universal%20combat terminated] his publishing deal with the publisher and severed all ties with [[Dreamcatcher Games]].

Smart's [[2005]] game, ''[[Universal Combat A World Apart|Universal Combat: A World Apart]]'' is a full sequel to the original ''[[Universal Combat]]'' with a [http://www.3000ad.com/downloads/ucawa/ucAWAdev_vcf.html variety of revisions and enhancements] especially to the graphics engine.

The game was also reviewed and rated in several print and online game magazines. <ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/universalcombataworldapart Metacritic.com aggregate review of Universal Combat: A World Apart]</ref> <ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/924075.asp GameRankings.com aggregate review of Universal Combat: A World Apart]</ref>

Smart also released ''[[Universal Combat Gold]]'' in 2005. This is an updated version of the original ''Universal Combat'' with new scenarios and graphics enhancements. Both of the 2005 games can currently only be purchased via online resellers.<ref>[http://www.3000ad.com/sales/ucawa.shtml Links to online resellers at official Battlecruiser 3000AD website ]</ref>

In late [[2006]] Smart released [[Universal Combat Special Edition|Universal Combat: Special Edition]] for online purchase only through retailers. <ref> Links to online resellers of Universal Combat Special edition [http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/results.aspx?text=universal%20combat&bcatid=923&tabId=1 Microsoft Windows Marketplace] [http://www.direct2drive.com/909/product/Buy-Universal-Combat-Special-Edition-Download IGN's Direct2Drive]</ref>

==Online controversy==

Derek Smart is a controversial online personality who in the past has engaged in various controversal discussions on [[Usenet]] and game forums. His notoriety for this was such that [[Gamespy]] lampooned him for it in its ''Daily Victim'' column.<ref name="victim">[http://archive.gamespy.com/dailyvictim/index.asp?id=232 Gamespy "Daily Victim" for June 27, 2001], Last accessed 16 October 2006</ref>

In an [http://www.3000ad.com/press/ds_interview_cgw0401.jpg interview] about his online persona featured on the cover page of [[Computer Gaming World]], Smart said: "Sometimes when I get online, and it's quiet, and I see something that attracts my attention, I'll post just to piss these guys off. That's why I do it. Because I'm in a good mood that day, I go in there and I start trouble." This tendency to create controversy led web site ''Something Awful'', in their satirical "Completely Libelous review of Universal Combat" to opine: "Dr. Smart is a man so entrenched in controversy that he is unable to accomplish virtually any task without volunteering to submerge it in tomes of ridiculous lawsuits, Internet threats, and a general cesspit of idiocy."<ref name="awful">[http://www.somethingawful.com/articles.php?a=2010 Completely Libelous Review of Universal Combat], March 3, 2004</ref>

Smart was [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/freespace2/news_6102932.html reported] to be seeking to license the [[Freespace]] IP to develop a game based on the popular space-sim previously published by the ailing [[Interplay]]. This sparked a controversy between both Smart's supporters and detractors in which the rumor was [http://videogames.yahoo.com/newsarticle?eid=356937&page=0 further debunked by Yahoo video game news] who wrote ''"Following Bethesda Softworks' acquisition of the Fallout license earlier this week, word spread that cash-strapped publisher Interplay is having a franchise fire sale. So the rumors started a-flyin' when Smart posed the question, "Would you buy Freespace 3 if I made it?" However, those who took the effort to look at the next paragraph would have seen that Smart is still only "seriously considering" licensing the space sim. However, the very possibility of Smart taking over the series has generated a strong reaction, prompting him to post a typically verbose response to his critics."''

==Published games==

{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 85%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; width: 70%;"

!style="background: #ececec;"|Title

| bgcolor=#ececec |Released

| bgcolor=#ececec |Publisher

|-

!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Battlecruiser 3000AD]] (U.S.)

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[1996]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[Take Two|Take Two Software]]

|-

!style="background: #ececec;"| Battlecruiser 3000AD (UK)

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[1997]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[GameTek]]

|-

!style="background: #ececec;"| Battlecruiser 3000AD v2.0

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[1999]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[Interplay]]

|-

!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Battlecruiser Millennium]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[2001]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[3000AD]]

|-

!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Battlecruiser Millennium Gold]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[2003]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[Dreamcatcher Games]]

|-

!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Universal Combat]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[2004]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | Dreamcatcher Games

|-

!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Universal Combat Gold]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[2005]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | 3000AD

|-

!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Universal Combat A World Apart|Universal Combat: A World Apart]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | 2005

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | 3000AD

|

|-

!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Universal Combat Special Edition|Universal Combat: Special Edition]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | [[2006]]

| bgcolor=#ddffdd | 3000AD

|}

== References==

<references/>

==External links==

{{content}} <!-- Removing or inserting ther werewolves link is disputed. Changing the status of this link without discussion should be considered tenacious editing - editors doing such should be aware that editwarring is bad. -->

* [http://www.3000ad.com/ 3000AD Inc. website]

* [http://www.dereksmart.org/ Derek Smart's website]

* [http://www.3000ad.com/press/index.shtml/ A compilation of Derek Smart interviews]

* [http://www.igda.org/miami/meetings/2002-06.php Derek Smart appointed to the board of the South Florida IGDA chapter]

* [http://www.igda.org/miami/meetings/2005-09.php Derek Smart talks about his 2005 release at IGDA meet]

* [http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/10107/3000-AD-Completely-Sells-Out-to-Xbox-360/ 3000AD announces several XB360 games in development]

* [http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/16103 Editorial: Why I love Derek Smart]

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:Computer and video game designers|Smart, Derek]]}}

[[Category:Living20th-century people|Smart,African-American Derekpeople]]

[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]

[[Category:American video game designers]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]