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General discussionThe search for game rights (a diary-esque thread)(952 posts)(952 posts)
(952 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted August 10, 2013
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Piranjade: ...
Great stuff, man. I'm glad other people are working on this in their spare time besides just I, SCPM, and of course GOG.

I'm working on a list for Turnip, going back through Abandonia and this thread, and seeing what GOG can bring from publishers already here and letting them know who I've tried to make contact with. SCPM and others, please consider making lists, too.

BTW, got a response from the Ascendency (1995) people: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=489582637786131&id=196689277075470&comment_id=3362040&offset=0&total_comments=2

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Old thread, but important.

Amiga Forever interested in teaming up with GOG

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/amiga_forever_is_interested_in_teaming_with_gog/page1

"[Barry_Woodward] got this response from Mike Labatt in a PM on May 5th...:

Hi, Mike here from Amiga Forever. Thanks for your message about GOG. We had contacts with them, but it was years ago. Did you see recent signs of renewed interest?"
Post edited August 10, 2013 by tfishell
Posted August 10, 2013
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tfishell: Great stuff, man. I'm glad other people are working on this in their spare time besides just I, SCPM, and of course GOG.
I'm a girl. :-D
And in the end it's all thanks to you: You tickled my interest with this thread, so I thought, hey, why not give it a try.
And as there are quite a couple of German devs among the ones that could be contacted I now decided to focus on those.

And...

I just got an answer from SEK founder Carsten Orthbandt concerning Wiggles and ParaWorld! He answered within a few hours and was nice about it!
The rights to ParaWorld lie with Ubisoft. So I'll mail Ubisoft Germany tomorrow. (Too tired now.) Or would this be the moment to ask GOG to get in contact with Ubisoft Germany about this?
Carsten himself owns the copyright to Wiggles because he bought it back. BUT he doesn't own the rights to the name. He says it's complicated.
I wrote him back (thanking him for his fast reply, of course) and asked if he would be at all interested in Wiggles being re-released and if he knows who has the rights to the name.
Post edited August 10, 2013 by Piranjade
Posted August 10, 2013
If there is anything I can do to help, let me know. Though I think my expertise mostly extends to old and obscure games in this regard. Still, I'd be happy to chat with contacts if other folks are feeling overtasked.

Speaking of old games, here is another obscure one which could benefit from GOG-ification - Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition. It seems to tick a lot of boxes that folks look for in a GOG release, and I think these somewhat unknown titles are better releases here than some of the more prominent ones. I know there are dozens of games in my GOG shelf that I probably never would have played and enjoyed if not for their efforts in uncovering them and restoring them to modern playability.

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tfishell: Old thread, but important.

Amiga Forever interested in teaming up with GOG

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/amiga_forever_is_interested_in_teaming_with_gog/page1

"[Barry_Woodward] got this response from Mike Labatt in a PM on May 5th...:

Hi, Mike here from Amiga Forever. Thanks for your message about GOG. We had contacts with them, but it was years ago. Did you see recent signs of renewed interest?"
I'm a long-time supporter of Amiga Forever and an inveterate Amigan, so I would be happy to help with this in any was as well.
Post edited August 10, 2013 by IAmSinistar
Posted August 10, 2013
Take Two
According to these old SEC filings, and from information from former GameTek employees I've emailed, here are some old games that Take Two last held the rights to:
Numerous licensed titles based on Wheel of Fortune, Monty Python, Jeopardy, etc.
Bureau 13
Dogs of War (2000)
Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller
Jetfighter III (license may have expired)
Jetfighter 2000 (license may have expired)
Millennia: Altered Destinies
Oni
Ripper
Star Crusader
Also acquired from GameTek:
Dark Colony
Quarantine
Road Warrior (Quarantine II)
The Reap
The Quivering
Sources:
http://www.rockstargames.com/oni/
http://www.lawinsider.com/contracts/2sIdgwfpL6Up4dGo7EpVkk/gametek-inc/law-firm/1997-08-14
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/946581/0000891554-98-000123.txt

Ubisoft
Albion
Source: email correspondence with two of the developers

Shadows of Cairn
Rights are held by Ant Software
http://www.antsoftware.com/
Source: Email correspondence

Raven Software
Black Crypt
ShadowCaster
CyClones
Necrodome
Mageslayer
Take No Prisoners
I don't know what are the circumstances regarding the Heretic/Hexen games.
Source: email correspondence with Raven employees

John Passfield
Halloween Harry/Alien Carnage
Zombie Wars (Halloween Harry 2)
Source: email correspondence with former Gee Whiz! Entertainment employees and Mr. Passfield

Konami
Nectaris (aka Military Madness)
Source: Wikipedia (I believe it)

MK Consultancy
Street Rod
Street Rod 2
Source:
http://streetrodonline.com/about/

indiePub Entertainment (formerly known as Zoo Entertainment, inc.)
Army Men series
Last known rights-holders of these games
Source:
http://armymen.wikia.com/wiki/Army_Men

Omnitrend
Breach 1 + 2 + 3
Paladin + Quest Disk: The Scrolls of Talmouth
Paladin II
Rules of Engagement 1 + 2
Universe 1 + 2 + 3
The company still exists, still has the rights to its titles, and is considering re-releasing them.
Source:
Post by MobiusArcher

David Gray
The Hugo Trilogy
Nitemare 3-D
Source:
David Gray's website

Kogado Software Products/Kogado Studio Inc.
Cosmic Soldier: Pyschic War
Power Dolls
Rasetsu (Japanese only?)
Symphonic Rain (Japanese only?)
Source:
http://www.kogado.com/

Kevin Stokes
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-stokes/4/a40/b19
Lethal Tender
Terminal Terror
Corncob 3D
Source:
http://www.pieintheskysoftware.com/menuitem-resources-history.html

Game Arts Co. Ltd.
They're still around:
Fire Hawk (Thexder 2) - Published by Sierra
Grandia II - Published by Ubisoft
Thexder - Published by Sierra
Slipheed - Published by Sierra
Zeliard - Published by Sierra
Sources:
http://www.gamearts.co.jp/
http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/grandia-ii

Namco
Dead to Rights Series
Source:
http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/dead-to-rights

VectorCell
Future Wars - Adventures in Time
Source:
https://www.facebook.com/LesVoyageursDuTempsLaMenaceFutureWars

I'll keep adding to this post as I find new information.
Post edited December 08, 2014 by SCPM
Posted August 10, 2013
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tfishell: Great stuff, man. I'm glad other people are working on this in their spare time besides just I, SCPM, and of course GOG.
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Piranjade: I'm a girl. :-D
Well I'll be. Good to know.

I just got an answer from SEK founder Carsten Orthbandt concerning Wiggles and ParaWorld! He answered within a few hours and was nice about it!
The rights to ParaWorld lie with Ubisoft. So I'll mail Ubisoft Germany tomorrow. (Too tired now.) Or would this be the moment to ask GOG to get in contact with Ubisoft Germany about this?
Carsten himself owns the copyright to Wiggles because he bought it back. BUT he doesn't own the rights to the name. He says it's complicated.
I wrote him back (thanking him for his fast reply, of course) and asked if he would be at all interested in Wiggles being re-released and if he knows who has the rights to the name.
You could try to email Ubisoft G. if you believe there's a chance they would respond, but personally this is about the time I'd write down what the situation is in a list, then send it to Turnipslayerr eventually. (But I may be a little bit lazier than you. :P)

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IAmSinistar: If there is anything I can do to help, let me know. Though I think my expertise mostly extends to old and obscure games in this regard. Still, I'd be happy to chat with contacts if other folks are feeling overtasked.
Hey, if you have the time, please do try to make contact with some people if you believe they can help figure out rights. :) Purely up to you, though. I'm still up to doing research and making contacts (on good old games that seem to have slipped between the cracks), but given how a lot of my messages haven't been returned, the amount of time I'm willing to spend researching a single game has dropped a little.

My focus right now is preparing a list based on Abandonia titles, of both games that I believe they could bring because the publishers already here have the rights, and on the games I've researched up until now.

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SCPM: ...
Nothing new I can say except killer work, man. :)
Post edited August 10, 2013 by tfishell
Posted August 10, 2013
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tfishell: Hey, if you have the time, please do try to make contact with some people if you believe they can help figure out rights. :) Purely up to you, though. I'm still up to doing research and making contacts (on good old games that seem to have slipped between the cracks), but given how a lot of my messages haven't been returned, the amount of time I'm willing to spend researching a single game has dropped a little.

My focus right now is preparing a list based on Abandonia titles, of both games that I believe they could bring because the publishers already here have the rights, and on the games I've researched up until now.
Sounds good, I'll see if I can select some titles I'd like to work on and run them by you all so that I'm not overlapping efforts. I expect I'd need GOG's permission to talk to Cloanto about Amiga stuff, since that needs to be negotiated between businesses. Though if they want me to make the first overture, I'm more than happy to.
Posted August 10, 2013
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IAmSinistar: Sounds good, I'll see if I can select some titles I'd like to work on and run them by you all so that I'm not overlapping efforts.
I wouldn't worry too much about that, unless it's important to you. I just bring that up because it's really hard for me to remember what all I've already gone through, and I know for sure SCPM and I have gone after the same things/games. (He's definitely gone a bit further than I have many times.) So don't feel bad if you end up going after titles we've already done research on. The search for so many rights can (at least to me) feel like a bit of a clusterf&&k at times. :P

But you're welcome to lay out the titles that interest you here. :)
Posted August 10, 2013
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tfishell: But you're welcome to lay out the titles that interest you here. :)
Ha ha, okay, that's probably for the best then. As I say, my expertise is more in the direction of the games themselves. The business side, eh, not so much. ;) But if I do reach out to any companies, I'll let you know how it goes. It may help to have multiple people clamouring for their titles, after all.

Thanks, and I'll continue to try to chime in where useful, as well as see what other gems can be unearthed. And thanks again to you and all the other diligent game hunters on here!
Post edited August 10, 2013 by IAmSinistar
Posted August 11, 2013
Two things:

- would it be any easier to use some sort of chat software (we wouldn't on at all times of course, but we should be able to see past conversations) to do this instead of bumping this thread, or is this sufficient? (I was wondering if we'd want something a little more private than "#gog on QuakeNet", but maybe I'm thinking too "exclusively". :P)

- I created a Dropbox folder to help share information in text document form. (We could keep sensitive data out, though.)
If you're interested in having access to it, send me a PM and I'll give you my email address.
Post edited August 11, 2013 by tfishell
Posted August 11, 2013
Street Rod copyright holders

http://streetrodonline.com/

you can download original copy in the Downloads section, but I remember TET wanted to bring this to GOG.
Posted August 11, 2013
During my searches I came across Rage of Mages, a familiar title which seems to have been a well received game. Following up on that it turns out it is published by , whose [url=http://www.nival.com/us/games/pc-games/]back catalogue is almost completely on GOG already. It seems like it would be a fait accompli to get the remaining works - Rage of Mages, Rage of Mages 2, and Evil Islands - on here, though there may be technical concerns or marketability issues that GOG has already considered which rules them out.

Two other games with good GOG potential are and [url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/siege-of-avalon]Siege of Avalon. I've played both RPGs and they are quality titles. Siege of Avalon is especially appealing to folks to who like a lot of story in their game, as the illustrated novel aspects and multiple chapters will attest.
Post edited August 11, 2013 by IAmSinistar
Posted August 11, 2013
How about Gorasul - Legacy of Dragon ? JoWood published it.
Posted August 11, 2013
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SLP2000: How about Gorasul - Legacy of Dragon ? JoWood published it.
I've never heard of anyone having a positive opinion of that game.
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SCPM: I don't know what are the circumstances regarding the Heretic/Hexen games.
I think we can at least safely assume they are not in any sort of rights limbo, considering they are currently available in Steam. Raven Software would be a wonderful addition.

Has anyone tried to contact Tony Crowther? He should know at least know what's the deal with Captive and Knightmare.
Post edited August 11, 2013 by RaggieRags
Posted August 11, 2013
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IAmSinistar: During my searches I came across Rage of Mages, a familiar title which seems to have been a well received game.
That would be a very good addition. Didn't it get a sequel too?
Posted August 11, 2013
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RaggieRags: I've never heard of anyone having a positive opinion of that game.
It has 7/10 based on 365 votes on polish website, and I remember I always wanted to try it.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionThe search for game rights (a diary-esque thread)(952 posts)(952 posts)
(952 posts)