Battlecruiser 3000 A.D. Set Free

After securing all of the rights to Battlecruiser 3000 A.D. (BC3K) from Take Two Interactive several weeks ago, creator Derek Smart has taken the much maligned game into the realm of public domain. The latest version of Battlecruiser 3000 A.D. is now free.

In a press release, Smart stated, "I am content and still think I'm ahead. In saying this, due to the recent rekindled interest in the game and in looking forward to a bright future, I have decided to put this game in the hands of the gamers and let them decide for themselves."

On Friday morning version 1.01D7C, the game BC3K was supposed to be, was released on the 3000 A.D. web site. It comes in eleven files and is over 51 megabytes in size. The public domain release also comes with the latest manuals and documents, which also have recently been completed and fully explain the game.

The history of BC3K is extremely long and complex; in 1996 it was finally published by Take Two Interactive - despite the fact that the game was still in beta and wholly incomplete. After nearly two years of wrestling Take Two and the distribution of many patches for the game to make it what it is now, the saga of a complete and playable BC3K in the hands of the gamer is perhaps finally over.

Smart, however, is far from finished. He continues work on upcoming add-on projects to BC3K, including version 2.0, which will feature Rendition and 3Dfx 3D acceleration, along with a host of other modules - for a price.

"With the pending release of v2.0, they can then make up their minds as to whether or not the title or any incarnation thereof, is worth getting. This time around, I'm going to let the game speak for itself."