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Space: 1999 The Classic Adventures

Discussion about The Classic Adventures site.

Welcome to Space:1999The Classic Adventures

What in the heck is it?

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moonbasealpha_s1 14 Jan 2003 17:03:50	Hello, Alphans...Here are the answers to some questions about the Space:1999The Classic Adventures Website 1) Q: What is it? A: Space:1999 The Classic Adventures is intended to be a continuation of the series as it was in year 1: the stories, the mood, the tone, the characterization. It picks up where Testament of Arkadia left off. The stories are a collaborative effort generated in a play by email simulation environment (simming). The stories are then editted slightly for grammar and clarity then posted on the website. 2) Q: How does it work? What is simming? A: Simming is play by email simulation story telling. Basically, you pick an available character and you write as if you were that character, responding to the events and prompts in the story. In our SIM, you can "play" (write) your character and any character that is not taken by another character, as long as the writing is within the style of the SIM. The responses are sent to the group site via email and when the story is complete, collated into one document to create the story. 3) Q: I don't like any of the available characters. Can I make one up? A: Yes, of course! New character suggestions are always welcome. In fact, if you're a beginner, starting with a new character is probably the best way to gain experience as established characters already have "personalities", which can be difficult to write. 4) What are "public domain" characters? A: Public domain characters are characters that one can write about but none of these characters can be claimed as "their" character. In our SIM, public domain characters are John Koenig, Helena Russell and Victor Bergman. These characters were the main characters of the series. It is the belief of the SIM managers that no one writer (except for the actors themselves who actually portrayed them in the show) can do justice to these characters; however, a compilation of several efforts, several interpretations can come very close to the original. In addition, although John/Helena fan fiction writing in the y1 style is welcome in The Observatory section, we know there is a great deal of John/Helena interaction fan fiction out there...we would like the public domain characters to stay focused on the story events. 5) Q:I'm not a writer, but I'd like to read the stories. Can I join? A: Yes, of course. We currently have 4 contributing writers but readers and "lurkers" are welcome too. The completed versions of past stories are available for reading on the website. However, for past stories still in draft mode and for emails of stories in progress, you will need to join the MSN groups site Space:1999 The Classic Adventures. Go to www.space1999.net and click on Space:1999The Classic Adventures. At the bottom of the welcome page is the link to the MSN site. 6) Q: What kind of stories do you write? A: We have two kinds of stories: original and revamps. The originals are considered "episodes" and are numbered as such in the SIM. These stories are borne of creative input, though there is some direction and an idea of a general outcome before the story is begun. This outline is shared with the writers of the group so they have an idea what is in mind for the story. A revamp is a previous Space:1999 episode that is retold in a different way. It may be rewritten as a serious story or as a parody for comic relief. It is not unusual to have two stories going on at once. 7) Q: Why not just continue after year 2? A: Obviously we have a preference for year one and prefer to "imagine" it continuing on as it was with a few minor changes and additions. However, we prefer the epic storytelling style and the characters and stories of y2 do not lend itself to that style. It is just a matter of preference, really. 8) Q:What about Maya? A: There has been considerable discussion between the group managers of whether or not to bring in Maya or a Maya type character. One thing is certain: if Maya were to join, she would be more mature with emphasis on her role as a contributing scientist. Her metamophic abilities would be downgraded and underplayed. She would not be able to "save the day". as the saying goes. We are not adverse to new and original alien characters in the SIM but we do not want aliens with "super" powers and abilities. That's about it....check it out at www.space1999.net/~simy1 for more info or feel free to send us an email.
moonbasealpha_s1 05 Dec 2003 04:11:15	We received more questions so I'll compile the answers here... 1) Q: So what about Maya? A: After considerable internal discussion, we at Space:1999 The Classic Adventures have decided to definitely not include Maya. In fact, there will be no aliens added to the Alphan population. We feel that addition of aliens to a human population working side by side is a spendid idea for action/adventure type series sci fi....but not Space:1999 Y1 style. In addition, having aliens on the staff for Space:1999 would rob any races they encounter the uniqueness that aliens would possess and make them appear more pendantic. 2) Q: The aliens you encounter have been really strange. Why are they so wierd? A: We feel as the Alphans journey into ever deeper space, things are just going to get more strange and weirder. Everything they have experienced as normal will come into question. It is unlikely that they will encounter humanoid type aliens. Again, creating humanoid aliens robs both Earth humanity and potential aliens of their uniqueness and makes them ordinary. The aliens encountered will either be rather bizarre and usually horrifying physical beings (like the creatures in Empire of Illusion) or "elemental" or non physical beings. 3) Q: You seem to be using the MUF alot. Is there a difference between the MUF and the "elemental" aliens? A: Yes...there is. Think of it as a hierarchy. We won't explain everything. It is up to the reader to decipher who is MUF and who are alien elementals. 4) Q: You revamped Bringers of Wonder into a Y1 version of Empire of Illusion. Any plans to revamp any of the other Y2 episodes and which ones? A: Believe it or not but Space Warp is under serious consideration for a serious episode revamp (it will eventually be done as a parody too!) However, the revamp will look nothing like the original except the premise where Carter and Morrow (not Koenig and Verdeschi) are trapped on the other side of a space warp (we call them "rapture corridors") and need to depend on alien technology to get to the other side to the Moon. We are also looking at a revamp of The Metamorph where Mentor is really and trully evil. If Maya is mentioned, she obviously won't be joining MBA (see above)....but we plan to make the character more dignified and give her a heroic end. I would love to revamp The Seance Spectre and that is under discussion as well. The Immunity Syndrome is also under consideration for Y1 makeover but that would be in the distant future. 5) Q: Are you going to revamp any of the Y1 stories? A: We really enjoyed redoing Dragon's Domain: The Alan Carter Story. We are seriously considering redoing (though not extensively) Testament of Arkadia, though because we are keeping most of it, it will be considered a revamp rather than an episode. We are also looking at redoing Ring Around the Moon and Full Circle, though, again, I don't believe they will be considered episodes because there are several elements we will keep...well....maybe Full Circle...we'll see. Besides those mentioned above, we have no plans on revamping any other Y1 episodes. 6) Q: On your future episode page, why do you have a blinking eye for Insight? What will the episode be about? A: Stay tuned. We are looking forward to doing this one and there is a great deal of excitement among the writers. Think....psychological horror.

Author

Post

moonbasealpha_s1
14 Jan 2003 17:03:50

Hello, Alphans...Here are the answers to some questions about the Space:1999The Classic Adventures Website

1) Q: What is it?

A: Space:1999 The Classic Adventures is intended to be a continuation of the series as it was in year 1: the stories, the mood, the tone, the characterization. It picks up where Testament of Arkadia left off. The stories are a collaborative effort generated in a play by email simulation environment (simming). The stories are then editted slightly for grammar and clarity then posted on the website.

2) Q: How does it work? What is simming?

A: Simming is play by email simulation story telling. Basically, you pick an available character and you write as if you were that character, responding to the events and prompts in the story. In our SIM, you can "play" (write) your character and any character that is not taken by another character, as long as the writing is within the style of the SIM. The responses are sent to the group site via email and when the story is complete, collated into one document to create the story.

3) Q: I don't like any of the available characters. Can I make one up?

A: Yes, of course! New character suggestions are always welcome. In fact, if you're a beginner, starting with a new character is probably the best way to gain experience as established characters already have "personalities", which can be difficult to write.

4) What are "public domain" characters?

A: Public domain characters are characters that one can write about but none of these characters can be claimed as "their" character. In our SIM, public domain characters are John Koenig, Helena Russell and Victor Bergman. These characters were the main characters of the series. It is the belief of the SIM managers that no one writer (except for the actors themselves who actually portrayed them in the show) can do justice to these characters; however, a compilation of several efforts, several interpretations can come very close to the original. In addition, although John/Helena fan fiction writing in the y1 style is welcome in The Observatory section, we know there is a great deal of John/Helena interaction fan fiction out there...we would like the public domain characters to stay focused on the story events.

5) Q:I'm not a writer, but I'd like to read the stories. Can I join?

A: Yes, of course. We currently have 4 contributing writers but readers and "lurkers" are welcome too. The completed versions of past stories are available for reading on the website. However, for past stories still in draft mode and for emails of stories in progress, you will need to join the MSN groups site Space:1999 The Classic Adventures. Go to www.space1999.net and click on Space:1999The Classic Adventures. At the bottom of the welcome page is the link to the MSN site.

6) Q: What kind of stories do you write?

A: We have two kinds of stories: original and revamps. The originals are considered "episodes" and are numbered as such in the SIM. These stories are borne of creative input, though there is some direction and an idea of a general outcome before the story is begun. This outline is shared with the writers of the group so they have an idea what is in mind for the story. A revamp is a previous Space:1999 episode that is retold in a different way. It may be rewritten as a serious story or as a parody for comic relief. It is not unusual to have two stories going on at once.

7) Q: Why not just continue after year 2?

A: Obviously we have a preference for year one and prefer to "imagine" it continuing on as it was with a few minor changes and additions. However, we prefer the epic storytelling style and the characters and stories of y2 do not lend itself to that style. It is just a matter of preference, really.

8) Q:What about Maya?

A: There has been considerable discussion between the group managers of whether or not to bring in Maya or a Maya type character. One thing is certain: if Maya were to join, she would be more mature with emphasis on her role as a contributing scientist. Her metamophic abilities would be downgraded and underplayed. She would not be able to "save the day". as the saying goes. We are not adverse to new and original alien characters in the SIM but we do not want aliens with "super" powers and abilities.

That's about it....check it out at www.space1999.net/~simy1 for more info or feel free to send us an email.

moonbasealpha_s1
05 Dec 2003 04:11:15

We received more questions so I'll compile the answers here...

1) Q: So what about Maya?

A: After considerable internal discussion, we at Space:1999 The Classic Adventures have decided to definitely not include Maya. In fact, there will be no aliens added to the Alphan population. We feel that addition of aliens to a human population working side by side is a spendid idea for action/adventure type series sci fi....but not Space:1999 Y1 style. In addition, having aliens on the staff for Space:1999 would rob any races they encounter the uniqueness that aliens would possess and make them appear more pendantic.

2) Q: The aliens you encounter have been really strange. Why are they so wierd?

A: We feel as the Alphans journey into ever deeper space, things are just going to get more strange and weirder. Everything they have experienced as normal will come into question. It is unlikely that they will encounter humanoid type aliens. Again, creating humanoid aliens robs both Earth humanity and potential aliens of their uniqueness and makes them ordinary. The aliens encountered will either be rather bizarre and usually horrifying physical beings (like the creatures in Empire of Illusion) or "elemental" or non physical beings.

3) Q: You seem to be using the MUF alot. Is there a difference between the MUF and the "elemental" aliens?

A: Yes...there is. Think of it as a hierarchy. We won't explain everything. It is up to the reader to decipher who is MUF and who are alien elementals.

4) Q: You revamped Bringers of Wonder into a Y1 version of Empire of Illusion. Any plans to revamp any of the other Y2 episodes and which ones?

A: Believe it or not but Space Warp is under serious consideration for a serious episode revamp (it will eventually be done as a parody too!) However, the revamp will look nothing like the original except the premise where Carter and Morrow (not Koenig and Verdeschi) are trapped on the other side of a space warp (we call them "rapture corridors") and need to depend on alien technology to get to the other side to the Moon.

We are also looking at a revamp of The Metamorph where Mentor is really and trully evil. If Maya is mentioned, she obviously won't be joining MBA (see above)....but we plan to make the character more dignified and give her a heroic end.

I would love to revamp The Seance Spectre and that is under discussion as well. The Immunity Syndrome is also under consideration for Y1 makeover but that would be in the distant future.

5) Q: Are you going to revamp any of the Y1 stories?

A: We really enjoyed redoing Dragon's Domain: The Alan Carter Story. We are seriously considering redoing (though not extensively) Testament of Arkadia, though because we are keeping most of it, it will be considered a revamp rather than an episode.

We are also looking at redoing Ring Around the Moon and Full Circle, though, again, I don't believe they will be considered episodes because there are several elements we will keep...well....maybe Full Circle...we'll see.

Besides those mentioned above, we have no plans on revamping any other Y1 episodes.

6) Q: On your future episode page, why do you have a blinking eye for Insight? What will the episode be about?

A:

Stay tuned. We are looking forward to doing this one and there is a great deal of excitement among the writers. Think....psychological horror.

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