DOS Games Discussion

[ShoDan]

Just as an update (as I know you've all been dying to know what's happening) Team17 have said that, due to future plans, Alien Breed is far from being Abandonware - but won't comment further, and the Bitmap Brothers have emailed to say that at this moment they are working though their titles to make them work on XP and will be releasing them for sale on their web site in the near future - which makes me very happy indeed.

Also, Electronic Arts mailed to say:

[486 player]

What 'bout DOS versions?

[KAN]

Just signed the petition.

[ShoDan]

I don't think they'll do anything with regards to the DOS versions, surely their main concern is to re-release the games in a format that will work on all (well, most) modern computers?

I think the fact that people are still signing the petition two full months and a bit after it's original appearance on the internet proves that their wasn't enough coverage of this (although there was a fair bit!), it's nice to see that companies such as Bitmap Brothers and Team17 aren't abandoning their older titles - but I think that, should a bigger gaming site provided this idea, that people in the industry would have been slightly more receptive.

[ShoDan]

Back again!

This campaign took something of a nose dive during the time I was off-line, after writing up a brief summary of the campaign activity so far (including a list of companies that I’ve contacted and their (lack of) responses), I’ve been persuaded that it might be a good idea to continue the campaign - especially as we couldn’t expect the industry to change just because of one article and a few emails being sent to them.

The next stage of the campaign was to be to send out hard copies of the campaign with a covering letter (there’s a template of this, a printable version of the campaign, as well as some addresses in a zip file that can be downloaded – here) to Companies who published some of the older titles that we want the ability to play again. I would really appreciate any further inputs/feedback that people could offer at this stage (the constructive kind, rather than the “This won’t work and you’re stupid for trying” kind please). Also, if you’ve contacted any publishers/developers with a link to this campaign and obtained feedback, it would be great if you could email/PM me, and I could update the list I linked to previously.

I’m not saying the templates that I’ve created are perfect, but they’re a good starting point. If someone can think of a more appropriate way to word the letter, with a turn of phrase that will make publishers give further consideration to these ideas – then I’d be happy to change it and credit the appropriate person.

This ‘campaign’ seems to have consisted (as far as I know) of me chasing the publishers, emailing news sites with the article, and posting in numerous forums (as well as making my friends tarnish their reputations by insisting that they help me spread the word on the forums that they frequent). This really should have been more of a group effort, with others chasing, posting and educating people about what we would really like to happen (however unlikely).

Would appreciate any feedback that you may have with regards to this, or the campaign in general

[Larry Laffer]

I've read the replys

[ShoDan]

Interesting response (especially the first comment... )

So, I take it that you're not that impressed with the feedback received thus far? I'd like to say that it was highly unlikely that we'd get a massive turnaround within the first year of the campaign, it's more of a long effort than something that will instantly produce results; if we can get people from the industry on our side, then it would be a much more convincing fight than a campaign (plus petiton) that sprang forth from one of the smallest game sites that must exist on the internet.

As I say, if it's just me that contacts companies and asks them about this, then it's unlikely that results will happen in any great number (and will probably lead to a restraining order of sorts from games publishers - banning me from ever contacting them again), but if more people become involved contact and contact games publishers about the games that they'd like to see made available... Well, then we might stand something of a chance.

[Larry Laffer]

Don't worry my friend I'm totally backing you up on this
I just thought that those 2 were interesting. And just so you know Ubisoft has an impressive part of the company in Romania...

[abyss]

EA is a terriable company that makes good games and ubisoft is another dumb company that makes good games. Try asking companies like apogee and id to rerelease some of their old games. You may get some good results from doing that. Companies like EA, Ubisoft and are not going to rerelease their games because all they care about is money. Same goes for Lucas arts. You need to ask the smaller companies.I am sure you will get good results from asking Apogee. Ask smaller less successful companies. you may get good results from EPIC Games. Also ask SIERRA because you are going to probaly get good results from that. Ask Id also.

[Larry Laffer]

Smaller companies Well they're they're not small (despite comparing them with EA might make you think so )

ok first and foremost: Sierra has been bought out by Vivendi U.(which is a money-whore as we all know )
2nd: Apogee is now called just 3DRealms
3rd(and most important): Small companies tend to say

[AdamN]

I believe they are only releasing the old games, due to a new game in the series or if a sequel has been released for that game.
With the release of the old game, they normally have warnings inside the box or case which actually state "no technical support exists with this game".

The only exception to this is the Sierra Collector's Edition Box Sets, which actually don't have any new releases for the titles!

[Larry Laffer]

True but they're worth saving my money for

[ShoDan]

[486 player]

Mike Wearing didn't answer either, when I asked Super Angelo.