Space Quest heading to the iPad!

Sslaxx · January 28, 2011, 01:08:11 PM

Interesting. They're breaking up the Sierra IP portfolio. Considering what's been said about King's Quest and The Silver Lining before now, that is potentially either good, or bad...

Enchantermon · January 28, 2011, 01:21:53 PM

Codemasters has owned LSL for a while now; they made Box Office Bust back in 2009.

That's cool that they're letting him come back, though. Good for them. Activision is getting a good track record going concerning fan projects.

Baggins · January 28, 2011, 01:23:59 PM

That seems extremely fair, actually (although if I was in charge, I'd probably limit it to a portion of the game, and not the entire full game, as a demo of sorts). Might actually draw new players to the series, and maybe Activison will think of making new original "sequels" for portable use (adventurer's are quite popular on the DS and Iphone for example).

He'd better avoid Gold Rush! though, that's not actually owned by Sierra anymore as far as I know. He'd have to ask the original programmers who regained the rights to it, and are still selling it from their website. That's only fair. You don't really want to hurt indie companies right?

I've also heard that the owners of Manhunter have retained the rights to their series as well, over the decades. They still want to make Manhunter 3 if they can find the chance.

QuoteCodemasters has owned LSL for a while now; they made Box Office Bust back in 2009

Its been a while but was that under Vivendi when it was sold off? I can't remember exactly.

Enchantermon · January 28, 2011, 01:29:49 PM

Quote from: Baggins on January 28, 2011, 01:23:59 PMIts been a while but was that under Vivendi when it was sold off? I can't remember exactly.

Dunno.....Vivendi and Activision merged in 2007, so I guess it depends on how long BoB was in development.

Do you have a link for where Gold Rush is being sold?

Baggins · January 28, 2011, 01:33:37 PM

Hmm, I'll look for it, I discovered it a year or so back.

Enchantermon · January 28, 2011, 01:36:05 PM

Thanks.

Baggins · January 28, 2011, 01:37:36 PM

Apparently they rereleased it with a "special edition" box back in 2000, lol.
http://www.softwarefarm.com/

On a similar note, I understand that The Realm was also sold off to another company as well.
http://www.realmserver.com/

Enchantermon · January 28, 2011, 01:43:08 PM

Quote from: Baggins on January 28, 2011, 01:37:36 PMApparently they rereleased it with a "special edition" box back in 2000, lol.
http://www.softwarefarm.com/

That's sweet. Thanks.

Baggins · January 28, 2011, 01:45:11 PM

Kinda expensive, it seems (by today's standards), but they have the right to defend and sell their product for as much as they want.

Actually frankly for all the sierra AGI games, its probably one I'd be willing to pay that much for, now a days. It's a huge game, with lots of replayability. Although its one that I would love to see an official extended remake. That would make the value all that more.

The manual/history book that comes with it is professional, and probably half the reason the price is so high. You can still find that book for sale by itself throughout Gold Mining districts of California (at least I saw copies the last time I was up at Sutter's Mill, and other places 4-5 years ago). The book wasn't made specifically for Gold Rush!, and actually predates the game I think.

KatieHal · January 28, 2011, 02:12:49 PM

Nice! Glad to hear it's still working out for him.

Baggins · January 28, 2011, 02:15:47 PM

Actually, looking again, I'm not sure if it comes with book California Gold: Story of the Rush to Riches, anymore. I don't see any pictures of it in the pictures on the site.

It has a deluxe manual though, so maybe they moved the material to that?

KatieHal · January 28, 2011, 02:17:03 PM

I'm guessing you meant for that to be in the Gold Rush thread? I can move it for you if so.

Baggins · January 28, 2011, 02:17:36 PM

Just commenting on an above post, about the "manual/history book".

KatieHal · January 28, 2011, 02:18:30 PM

Ah, gotcha.

Baggins · January 28, 2011, 02:25:13 PM

Back to Sarien.net, if anyone is a member of the site, or can contact the developer. It would probably be nice to point out that fact about Gold Rush!. Give them a chance to contact the MacNeills for permission.

Enchantermon · January 28, 2011, 05:41:13 PM

Quote from: Baggins on January 28, 2011, 01:45:11 PMKinda expensive, it seems (by today's standards), but they have the right to defend and sell their product for as much as they want.

It does, but since it's coming with a manual, physical copies and all (and that sweet box), I don't mind that much, especially if it's as good as you say. I'll be picking it up when I can afford it.

dark-daventry · January 28, 2011, 05:53:54 PM

I'm very happy he's being allowed to continue! It sounds like a very reasonable compromise to me, and I intend to support him!

Yes, Activision is getting my support back little by little. The only thing left for them is to allow the SQ7 fan project to get revived now. If they do that, that would mean that almost all fan projects, to my knowledge, have been allowed to continue. I wonder if Activision is starting to realize the potential of new technology bundled with old games. Quite a powerful combination in my opinion.

Lambonius · January 28, 2011, 08:14:11 PM

Quote from: dark-daventry on January 28, 2011, 05:53:54 PM

The only thing left for them is to allow the SQ7 fan project to get revived now. If they do that, that would mean that almost all fan projects, to my knowledge, have been allowed to continue. I wonder if Activision is starting to realize the potential of new technology bundled with old games. Quite a powerful combination in my opinion.

Just to clarify--the SQ7 team was offered a fan license, and THEY declined it, not the other way around. So it really wasn't Vivendi/Activision's fault there. The SQ7 team was composed of several former Sierra employees, and they explicitly did NOT want their work to become property of Vivendi/Activision. So as much as it sucks, that game isn't coming back. $:-\$

dark-daventry · January 28, 2011, 08:21:29 PM

Quote from: Lambonius on January 28, 2011, 08:14:11 PM
Quote from: dark-daventry on January 28, 2011, 05:53:54 PM

The only thing left for them is to allow the SQ7 fan project to get revived now. If they do that, that would mean that almost all fan projects, to my knowledge, have been allowed to continue. I wonder if Activision is starting to realize the potential of new technology bundled with old games. Quite a powerful combination in my opinion.

Just to clarify--the SQ7 team was offered a fan license, and THEY declined it, not the other way around. So it really wasn't Vivendi/Activision's fault there. The SQ7 team was composed of several former Sierra employees, and they explicitly did NOT want their work to become property of Vivendi/Activision. So as much as it sucks, that game isn't coming back. $:-\$

I didn't know that... Thanks for clarifying. It's a shame the game may never be, but perhaps Activision has plans for Sierra's licenses that we don't know about yet. The properties are ripe for an official return, and I'd like to see what they can come up with for UI designs and all that stuff. Whether or not Activision will ever actually do an official game based on Sierra's properties is another question entirely. One can only hope I suppose.

Baggins · January 28, 2011, 09:33:06 PM

Seriously, I'd love to see one of Activison's Nintendo DS/Iphone departments use the IP. A new portable KQ, would probably sell pretty well. The systems are easy to develop for, built for adventures, and as I understand fairly cheap to develop for. All they would need is some decent advertising and they'd be good to go.

It doesn't necessarily have to be an 'adventure game' I think KQ1 is detailed enough that an overhead rpg could be designed within the bounds of the universe. I know some people are die hard against violence in KQ games, but imo I think RPG's allow for tight stories to be told, and violence need not be a detriment to the enjoyment of the game. Besides, I'd still have alot of fun.

IMO, I don't think Police Quest breaking out of the constraints of the Adventure Game genre, hurt the series at all. The SWAT games were loads of fun (especially the ones that dropped the Police Quest moniker). But I think it would be cool if they did go back to the series roots for a DS/Iphone app.

News:

Space Quest heading to the iPad!