GameTap severs ties with Derek Smart's Galactic Command

by Jason Dobson { Feb 14th 2008 at 1:25PM }

Derek Smart. It's a name resigned by many to whispers in quiet corners for fear of incurring the vocal wrath of one of the most eccentric, dare we say manic game developers this side of a coke machine. The man behind such nefarious titles as Universal Combat and the Battlecruiser series has made a name for himself by beating up vending machines and releasing buggy, open world-style space titles, though Smart's latest endeavor, Galactic Command – Echo Squad, was poised to be his first take on the growing episodic game market. That is, however, if it is ever released.

The game, first announced last year by GameTap, has been dropped by the would-be online publisher, as GameTap content VP Ricardo Sanchez told Gamasutra that the four-part space shooter "wouldn't resonate too strongly with our audience." He does compliment Galactic Command, however, calling it "one of Derek's strongest games," thought to be honest that's a bit like rating splinters based on depth and propensity to bleed. Smart has said that he's looking to bring the 16-player online shooter to Xbox Live as well, so we may someday see if Galactic Command lives up to Smart's existing triumphs, or if it's actually, you know, playable.

Tags: battlecruiser, coke, derek-smart, dereksmart, galactic-command, galacticcommand, gametap, universal-combat, universalcombat

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

NATO_Duke @ Feb 14th 2008 1:48PM

Let me just be the first one to admit that I bought Universal Combat and it was really really bad.

Here's a hint for developers - when you make the manual, try not to make it the size of a bible. Thanks.

Ihya @ Feb 14th 2008 1:51PM

Oh God, Derek Smart will do his daily google of his own name and appear in a puff of brimstone in 5,4,3,2...

Steve @ Feb 14th 2008 3:26PM

Good for him. Let him come like he ALWAYS does over at Blue's News and I'll own him and his fake PhD here as well. Derek Smart is an arrogant asshole who doesn't seem to understand that one has to earn respect in order to get it. Narcasists tend to be that way. Sparring with him is fun because he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to any sort of intelligent debate and he eventually paints himself into a corner then he leaves in a bluster of bullshit and threats, as fast as he appeared.

burgerbat @ Feb 14th 2008 9:40PM

I've never even heard of Derek Smart till today, but after reading this article, watching this video, and having Steve call him out, I really, really want Derek Smart to show up. Have you seen his webpage? How much you want to bet that's not his last name? He really thinks that using his last name on everything is clever?

mtcantor @ Feb 14th 2008 1:52PM

Oh shit, its ON now!

This guy was the original "He who must not be named" way before Jack was ever acting up.

Countdown to DS lawsuit threat in 10... 9....

Animagnum @ Feb 14th 2008 2:05PM

I would have given it a try if it was on GameTap. I read that it is actually playable with an Xbox 360 controller instead of NASA's launch command center (like the other 3000AD games).

Corbo @ Feb 14th 2008 2:45PM

Oh, come on, that's being a little harsh. Some of his games are all right. Personally, my friends and I have all been playing Desktop Commander for years. We've had great fun, installing things, uninstalling things - I even know a guy who made a mod that lets you change the wallpaper!

If that's not innovation, I don't know what is.