It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Nope.
To be realistic, it won't be THAT difficult for GOG to pursue SEGA's approval for this, since they themselves have emulated some of their Genesis (Mega Drive, for non-Americans) games on GameTap and a few other DD services.
EDIT: whoa, they even have a Saturn (Panzer Dragoon) and Dreamcast (Crazy Taxi) games on GameTap!
Post edited February 12, 2010 by Catshade
avatar
Catshade: EDIT: whoa, they even have a Saturn (Panzer Dragoon) and Dreamcast (Crazy Taxi) games on GameTap!

Both of those games were on Windows; GameTap probably has the Windows versions.
avatar
Tantrix: Well, this is where are the coders are for, Wishbone ^^

A programmer can do nothing if he doesn't have the source code. And the chances that it is gone forever are high. If not, the chances that GOG would get it are slim. If they did, the chances that it would be financially viable to do the massive amount of work needed to port the game to Windows, are non-existent.
Yeah, I know that about source code-thing.
For example the Ubisoft games made by the Jade Engine(Sands of TIme) are unmoddable because the source code is hidden in the .bf files and I know only a guy called turfster who had tried that but gave up after he lost his works. Unfortunate event.
But I get your point. Sorry, I don't understand much of Coding, so I thought it wasn't that hard to retrieve the Source Code for old console games. So ports like old Snes games are more or less impossible I see..
Post edited February 12, 2010 by Tantrix
If the emulation is correct, it will run all games for that platform. If it doesn't, it's not correct. So the coding is just a matter of getting the emulation working, and then using original ROM files. No source code is required. Emulation works on binaries. There would still be playtesting involved though.
As far as the ROMs, there are both the game ROMs and the ones built into the hardware of the machine. The only way to get distribution rights for the machine ROMs is to get Nintendo, Sega, or Sony to give their permission. I'm not sure that's going to happen. Reverse engineering for compatibility is legal (in the US at least) however, and there is even case law for console emulation (see Connectix versus Sony for details). So someone could reverse engineer the existing ROMs and create compatible ones, and then just get rights to the games themselves.
That said, I don't think GOG is the place for that to happen. This is a place for classic DRM free PC games, and there's still lots of work to do in that direction.
Post edited February 12, 2010 by barleyguy
avatar
barleyguy: If the emulation is correct, it will run all games for that platform. If it doesn't, it's not correct. So the coding is just a matter of getting the emulation working...

No it's not, because he's not talking about emulation, which is easy enough, but about porting, which will have to be done on a game by game basis.
avatar
barleyguy: If the emulation is correct, it will run all games for that platform. If it doesn't, it's not correct. So the coding is just a matter of getting the emulation working...
avatar
Wishbone: No it's not, because he's not talking about emulation, which is easy enough, but about porting, which will have to be done on a game by game basis.

Porting is not a smart approach to the problem. Not much else to say.
avatar
barleyguy: Porting is not a smart approach to the problem. Not much else to say.

Which was pretty much the point both cogadh and I were trying to put across ;-) Tantrix wanted to be able to mod those old games, which would require a port rather than just emulation. We were trying to explain to him why that idea was not feasible.
avatar
barleyguy: Porting is not a smart approach to the problem. Not much else to say.
avatar
Wishbone: Which was pretty much the point both cogadh and I were trying to put across ;-) Tantrix wanted to be able to mod those old games, which would require a port rather than just emulation. We were trying to explain to him why that idea was not feasible.

And I thank you for clarifying that :)
But like I said on the OP, I ain't taking this question seriously because I know there are boundaries one way or the other.
I just wanted to give the gog-forum a few new impulses to think about. Main reason was that there are so many console games on the vote-list who got a not so underestimated amount of votes(Parasite Eve, Fatal Frame) and I wanted an elightment on the porting case.
The modding thing is an honest obsession of mine, but I put modding as an argument for porting since I know many other people who like modding games. Heck, there will be a Resident Evil 3.5 Mod for the RE4-Game.
But thanks for the answers, it's fun to learn more.
avatar
Tantrix: This question seriously because I know there are boundaries one way or the other.
I just wanted to give the gog-forum a few new impulses to think about. Main reason was that there are so many console games on the vote-list who got a not so underestimated amount of votes(Parasite Eve, Fatal Frame) and I wanted an elightment on the porting case.

Square-Enix can't even put the old Parasite Eves on PSN due to licensing issues (Parasite Eve is originally a novel). That's one of the reasons why The 3rd Birthday doesn't have 'Parasite Eve' title in it.
avatar
Catshade: EDIT: whoa, they even have a Saturn (Panzer Dragoon) and Dreamcast (Crazy Taxi) games on GameTap!
avatar
Arkose: Both of those games were on Windows; GameTap probably has the Windows versions.

If only I could get Panzer Dragoon Saga legally without eating the gigantic price tag non-Japanese versions have...or Radiant Silvergun...
My Saturn really needs more love, but the games I want also end up being the expensive ones-not because they're expensive, but because they're apparently so good that people will pay greater-than-brand-new prices to get a taste! (Even not-so-overpriced games like Guardian Heroes still run something like US$60 on eBay.)
Only thing is that if GOG started selling emulated console games, the Saturn in particular would be especially punishing-far more than the N64-mostly due to its clusterfuck of processors and the tight synchronization required between them, lessening the amount of high-level emulation tricks they can get away with and still keep games running.
And while not a console (CDTV and CD32 being the exceptions), I would LOVE to see Amiga games on GOG, especially since many of them from the 1980s have versions superior to the IBM PC releases. (Even games like Starflight may be ports, but the enhanced graphics, sound, and interface are so worth it.)
avatar
NamelessFragger: And while not a console (CDTV and CD32 being the exceptions), I would LOVE to see Amiga games on GOG, especially since many of them from the 1980s have versions superior to the IBM PC releases. (Even games like Starflight may be ports, but the enhanced graphics, sound, and interface are so worth it.)

I really want to see Prince of Persia here. Not the new one, the true classic :)
Amiga is possible. It's been said many times that it depends on how far back GOG are prepared to go. Cloanto already has the perfect working emulator so an agreement to use that would be needed. Amiga Inc can grant the Kickstart ROM's (exactly what Cloanto use). Finally most of the publishers that were active on the Amiga are still around, although they have gone through name changes in many cases (US Gold = Eidos, Gremlin and Ocean = Atari,).
Price would also be an issue. These games are truly old and it's hard to see any justifying a $5.99 price. However as I said in a previous thread on the matter if there were compilations they would be insta-buys like Complete Cinemaware and Bitmap Brothers packs.
avatar
Delixe: Cloanto already has the perfect working emulator so an agreement to use that would be needed. Amiga Inc can grant the Kickstart ROM's (exactly what Cloanto use).

To the best of my knowledge, Cloanto is not an emulator. It is simply a legal package designed for use with WinUAE (which IS an emulator, and is perfectly free), including the necessary kickstart ROM images, the Workbench OS and some games and demos.