Hmm, well I think a simple email asking is probably harmless, so I'll give it a go. Naturally I won't mention GOG or their existing partnership, because I am not legally empowered by GOG and have no desire to imply any kind of deal would necessarily be forthcoming if they did hold the rights.

That is a good question. It sounds like Thalion and the game rights were scattered to the four quarters, so it could be a situation where almost every game is in a different person's hands.

I did find one other common person bridging both Thalion and Ascaron, and she worked on Amberstar and Ambermoon - Monika Krawinkel. If anyone wants to try to trace her through the German sites, she may know something as well.

I don't think it was one single company; I believe it was several different companies or people who bought the various properties. The email makes it sound like they weren't keeping very good records on who bought what, unfortunately, as they were just trying to get "every last scrap of cash" for the IP.

Here's Henk Nieborg's website; he did the art for Lionheart. http://henknieborg.nl/old/index.html

I still believe that THE question is who bought Thalion as that is company/the persons who sold the rights/licences.
If the people who then bought the rights/the licences never did anything with them, we'll not find any trace. But the people who sold the licences might remember where they went to or which licences didn't sell at all.

I contacted Computec about Amberstar, they say they don't have the rights.

So really, who bought Thalion?

If you're talking about Alex Holland, you can follow his YouTube link to his Google+ profile, which gives you his Twitter, email, etc.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/103790748659967386935/about
It even mentions that he is a contributor to the Thalion webshrine.

Email sent to Kalypso Media (at their info@ address):

----------------------------------------

Hello,

I am a games researcher and I hope you can help me with a request for information, or alternately forward it to someone who may. I am researching the ownership history of two games produced by Thalion, the games Amberstar and Ambermoon. I have found that many Thalion titles were acquired by Ascaron when the former folded, and that Ascaron in turn was acquired by yourselves. Can you tell me if Amberstar and/or Ambermoon are among the properties you still hold? If not, any information as to who now holds them would also be appreciated.

Thank very much for your time, and I look forward to your reply.

----------------------------------------

Professor Plum in the Conservatory with the Pipe Wrench. ;)

Seriously, I'm beginning to concur that the Thalion properties are all over the map, and that you'd need to get access to the legal documents disbursing the goods to find out where they all ended up.

Jokingly, you may have to resort to publishing the games and then wait to see who sues you to find the real owners.

Well, erm, Alex was actually the person I was in contact with, but he said he wouldn't be able to help me anymore once he learned GOG was a commercial site.

Well the email to Kalypso was a bust. Looks like their bot got ahold of it before it ever reached a human. Here's the response I received, which also included the same in German below it:

----------------------------------------

Dear Sir or Madam,

You have mailed info@kalypsomedia.com - please note this address is reserved for general inquiries about Kalypso Media *only*.

Please send all game support inquiries to support@kalypsomedia.com

Your message was not forwarded.

Best regards,

Kalypso Media

----------------------------------------

I suspect an email to support@ won't do any good either, since it will likely generate a form response that Kalypso Media doesn't sell or support Amberstar/Ambermoon.

Technology makes life so much easier...

I've got a lead! It might take a few days to resolve though.
I also started looking at the legal documents here at the register of companies but I would have to play € 4.50 for more information, so I'll first see if the other lead turns something up.

Don't feel obligated to pay unless you're really into this. :) I have not been willing to pay for information either.

That's actually what the person at Thalion Shrine has been doing for years now, and he claims he has not received a single complaint.

No worries. So far it looks like the other lead might turn up something. And if I'm right about this, I think I might know why everybody from the old Thalion team is a bit tight-lipped about what happened to the rights.
I'll tell you all about it when (or if?) I have verified it.

Hurm, maybe you'd have to actually sell them to bring down the wrath of the true owner. Assuming they are still alive and actually care.

Wow, can't wait to hear about this! I have to confess, all this sleuthing and contacting is pretty exciting at times, too.

Huh? Aren't those rights with Warner Bros.? Or am I missing something?

By all accounts they ought to be.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/13/business/technology-briefing-deals-warner-brothers-acquires-monolith.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fF%2fFinances
Apparently, the rights were 'lost' when parts of Vivendi were sold to Warner Brothers during their merger with Activision.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_0n-ENboZY

That is less than obvious: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Interactive

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_One_Lives_Forever_2:_A_Spy_in_H.A.R.M.%27s_Way.]NOLF 2.[/url]

Edit:

So in other words, the NOLF and NOLF 2 rights may well be with Activision.