Space Quest heading to the iPad!

[dark-daventry]

Many forum members here may remember me mentioning Sarien.net. I can't stop gushing about the site. Well, Martin Kool, the man responsible for it, is about to complete work on an iPad version of Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter! Best of all? No app store! It's handled through a simple bookmark system through Safari! I highly suggest you follow Martin Kool on twitter and start using Sarien.net if you haven't already!

There are two articles of main interest on his blog for you to peruse:

Sierra Adventure Games Go iPad - Sneak Preview

Space Quest on iPad almost done

On his twitter, it's stated that he has sent out media previews already, so a public demo shouldn't be too far behind. I urge everyone that hasn't already to check out sarien.net! It does have it's bugs, but Martin has told me (via e-mail) that he still plans on supporting the site. He is still working on a VERY unique achievements system called Ways To Go. I'd do your research if you don't know what I'm talking about. Just be aware: None of this is officially sanctioned by Activision. As such, there is the possibility he could be legally obligated to cease and desist down the line. If anything, his efforts have proven, along with TSL and the adventure community as a whole, that the adventure genre is on the verge of a comeback. There IS still life left in Sierra's classics, and it IS worth the time to invest in them. The Monkey Island remakes have proven my point to a T. I know Monkey Island is LucasArts and not Sierra, but my point still stands that adventure game fans still exist and WILL BUY MODERN REMAKES! So long as they are good and not done just for the profits.

[Enchantermon]

Hmm. Very interesting, though I can't see this ending well for Space Quest on the iPad or for Sarien.net. They were both pretty under the radar as far as I was concerned until now; I'm betting Activision is going to be on him like white on rice.

That aside, what's with the phrase selection? If you're going to go through the trouble of porting an AGI game to a modern system, at least do it properly and give it a parser (or use the SCI point-and-click interface). I can't imagine coding a parser was impossible, and since the iPad has a touch-screen keyboard it should work just fine.

[Cez]

I've tried it. It's looking very cool!

[dark-daventry]

wait... How have you tried it?! I want access to it!

[snabbott]

I think it's similar to what's on sarien.net

[KatieHal]

Well...I wish him luck in his crusade and I do hope it works out, but I'm nervous about what he might bring down on himself with this move. That's definitely a few steps beyond just making a fangame and/or remake for free.

[dark-daventry]

Well i think he's mainly trying to show activision that there is a market for these games, as long as they're willing to invest in it. What he's accomplished with sarien.net already is pretty amazing. I mean, it's all done without flash. It's a pretty cheap way to bring classics back as well as improve the experience at the same time. He also just made a forum, and I volunteered to be a moderator over there. So you'll see me being a mod here and there!

[Enchantermon]

Well i think he's mainly trying to show activision that there is a market for these games, as long as they're willing to invest in it.

Granted, but if they decide to come down on him for copyright infringement, he's not going to have a lot to stand on.

[dark-daventry]

I would imagine they would simply issue a cease and desist. I mean, it's not worth the legal trouble for activision. And i imagine that Martin kool would comply with a c&d. If one is ever issued, I'm jumping ship.

[KatieHal]

Yeah, I get what he's trying to do and it would be great if it works. Plus, he's clearly got some programming talent and drive, and that's great!

The problem is, he's distributing games that actually *are* available commercially, via GOG.com. So he's very much infringing on their copyright, and in a way that could potentially be taking money away from the copyright holders, without permission. As Enchantermon said, he's not going to have much to stand on if they come after him, and they could potentially come after him for actual money, too.

[dark-daventry]

Yeah, I get what he's trying to do and it would be great if it works. Plus, he's clearly got some programming talent and drive, and that's great!

The problem is, he's distributing games that actually *are* available commercially, via GOG.com. So he's very much infringing on their copyright, and in a way that could potentially be taking money away from the copyright holders, without permission. As Enchantermon said, he's not going to have much to stand on if they come after him, and they could potentially come after him for actual money, too.

Do you think they'd try a Cease and Desist first, or go straight to the courtroom?

[KatieHal]

I have no idea, but the difference between what he's doing and, for example, what we were doing with TSL, is that he's offering their game, which is available commercially and which they get income from, for free without their permission. We were offering an original game, based on their IP, that was for free.

Even IA and AGDI's cases are/would be different: those were games based on the IP, but made from scratch, and at the time they were released the originals weren't available commercially (KQ1, KQ3...KQ2+ is a bit different as well).

In the fangame cases, no one was taking money away from the IP owners. It's possible to argue that Martin is doing that, though, which is why it might get uglier for him. Add on the usual 'I am not a lawyer' bit here, of course.

I really hope it doesn't, obviously, but I hope he's aware that it's different than what happened in our case. 

[Baggins]

If they were going to get a cease and desist they should have gotten one long ago for the multiaplayer versions of the AGI games.

http://sarien.net/


http://sarien.net/kingsquest

I've messed around wtuh them, they seem to be the full games with the puzzles, just with ability to spawn in and talk to other players in the same world.


They might add multiplayer but they are still commmerical games being exploited. this ipad version is not anything different.

It's a wonder they have ignored them thus far.

[Enchantermon]

Do you think they'd try a Cease and Desist first, or go straight to the courtroom?

My guess is that they'd C&D him, because even though their completely within their rights, courtrooms still cost money. Though again, as Katie said, this is different than in AGDI's, IA's and Phoenix's cases, so who knows.

It's a wonder they have ignored them thus far.

They may not have known. As I mentioned earlier, I had never even heard of them until now. Even with TSL having a website, forums and a fairly substantial following as well as having been in negotiations with Vivendi, according to team member interviews (please correct me if I'm wrong), Activision was largely if not completely unaware of TSL even after they acquired Vivendi. I imagine that if sarien.net remained under the radar, they probably wouldn't ever notice.

[Baggins]

I  learned about the Sarien.net games on Kotaku, and GameSpy, and a few other sites, some time back.

http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/977/977293p1.html

[kindofdoon]

Wait, so you can see other players who are playing the same game if they're on the same screen as you? That's very cool and impressive!

[MusicallyInspired]

All this is is a link to the website, if I'm not mistaken. It's not actually an app. Still awesome, though.

[kindofdoon]

That's correct. It's doubtful if Apple would approve the project if it was an app.

[dark-daventry]

Yes, it is a link to the website, but it's a version of the site designed specifically for the iPad. Watch the youtube clips on his blog and you'll see what I mean.

And yes, Doon, it is exactly like that. I am amazed he was able to get it to work, especially without flash. The whole thing is flash free, which, to me, is the most amazing thing.

[kindofdoon]

But the the iOS version of Safari doesn't have Java either, so how does it work?