Well, i was bored and figured I'd post something interesting to discuss. I'm really confused as to why Vivendi continues to hold the rights for all of these old Sierra games when they're not even selling them. ??? I mean, why can't i just download Police Quest games instead of buying them from some random person over the internet? It's not like they're making any money on them. So I figured we could discuss why Vivendi decides to keep these games copyrighted as opposed to just "setting them free." Is there really any logic behind it? So when do you all think they will become abandonware? Also, I'm aware that there are supposedly some compilations being developed but I really don't think they'll ever release them. As far as the DOS version goes, I can't even see how downloading that can be considered illegal because they can't even sell that to begin with! ::) As far as my opinion goes I think Vivendi just likes to cause trouble...
Your turn!!! ;D
'Abandonware' is a concept with no legal standing, thus KQ will never become 'abandonware' VU will let you freely download. It already is abandonware in the sense it's owners have long ceased to sell it. IIRC such IP rights do expire in 75 years, but it will be a while before KQ is that old. ;)
The compilations were completed and released within the last year or so. :)
I think their idea behind holding the rights is so that they can do things like release these compilations in an attempt to gauge the market.
What they should probably do instead if they really "wanted" to market adventure games is to gauge the successes and sales of more recent adventure games and probably mix in some more classical aspects of their older games (since they are regarded as essentially the best in adventure gaming) with what works from those and market new material.
It would be interesting to see someone buy the rights from Vivendi and actually do something with them, but that's unlikely: big corporations don't like giving up anything if they can help it! (...and they have armies of lawyers to help with that helping it.)
I wonder if Sierra will decide to release box sets of other classics like the Conquest of Camelot and Conquest of the Longbow as one set.
I just played Conquests of the Longbow for the first time. I really liked it, so I'd be interested. :D
Yeah, be nice to own a real copy of Conquests of the Longbow which works again. My disks have been dead for ages. And I never got to play Conquests of Camelot and would like to.
Conquests of Camelot is really fun. You have to overcome challenges such as the black knight, riddle stones, a robber, etc. In addition, you have to be worthy of having the grail after you finally get it.
;)