Hard Light Productions Forums
General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: admiral_wolf on August 22, 2007, 04:23:28 pm
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Just seen on Amazon (UK) that FreeSpace 1 + Silent Threat AND FreeSpace 2 are being re-released for XP on September 14th!
In the words of Prof. Quirrel, Thought You Ought To Know...
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By who?
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U Wish Games by the look of it.
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link please
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/202-1073473-5653453?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=freespace
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English: What? Who? When? Where? How? Why?
Italiano: Cosa? Chi? Quando? Dove? Come? Perché?
Latinus: Quid? Quis? Quando? Ubi? Quomodo? Cur?
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-Wish-Games-Freespace-PC/dp/B000S0PEVW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4/202-9366647-9623815?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1187818447&sr=8-4 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-Wish-Games-Freespace-PC/dp/B000S0PEVW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4/202-9366647-9623815?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1187818447&sr=8-4)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-Wish-Games-Freespace-PC/dp/B000S0NZCM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/202-9366647-9623815?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1187818447&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-Wish-Games-Freespace-PC/dp/B000S0NZCM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/202-9366647-9623815?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1187818447&sr=8-1)
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This is probably like when the guy was selling TBP and SCP cd's on ebay.
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Wouldn't selling SCP CDs be legal (but still underhanded) due to the GPL license?
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Selling would be illegal. Distributing legal if you only charged for shipping, but that wasn't the case back then.
For whoever it is selling these ones, in order to sell them they would legally need the rights, and the selling of the rights would have made news all over.
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I find this odd--they're called "U Wish Games"... I can't find anything from this "U Wish Games" place other then Freespace.
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Wouldn't selling SCP CDs be legal (but still underhanded) due to the GPL license?
The SCP is not released under the GPL. In fact, the license specifically prohibits making profit from it. Anyway, looking at the other games there, it definitely looks suspect. All of them are listed as 2007 releases, none of them actually are.
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As if anybody that doesn't know about freespace is going to care...
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Off topic: Bob, shorten your signature please.
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http://www.uwishgames.com/index.cfm
this is U Wish Games website?
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It seems it's one of those companies that sell old games for cheap. I don't know how they work, but my guess would be that they buy some sort of limited license... Or something.
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except FS2 is not an xp game and has problems such as the ETS and afterburner not working when freshly installed on XP
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Where is the mention of any re-release? As far as I can tell, this games company is just selling old copies in Ebay.
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Where is the mention of any re-release? As far as I can tell, this games company is just selling old copies in Ebay.
As far as I can see they're a legitimate publisher who specialise in picking up old games and selling them on. All their box art on their website has been updated to include their logo (something I doubt a reseller or pirate would bother with) and a google search turns up lots of mentions of them.
The big problem I see is that if these guys are legitimate we're going to have to take down the ISOs and remove FS2 itself from the installer.
On the other hand £8 for FS1 & FS2 isn't really a huge amount to pay and we can hook newbies in by giving them links to BtRL, WCS and TBP to get them started.
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The big problem I see is that if these guys are legitimate we're going to have to take down the ISOs and remove FS2 itself from the installer.
"You may make copies of the Software for your personal noncommercial use and to give to friends and acquaintances on a no cost noncommercial basis".
"ac·quaint·ance
–noun 1. a person known to one, but usually not a close friend."
Wouldn't the EULA cover it if they ask for it on the forums?
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I wouldn't rely too heavily on that, it was later changed iirc, I personally wouldn't like to say whether, if you bought the game under the old agreement, that the new, altered one didn't apply to you, according to the EULA it can be changed without notice, so I strongly suspect the whole 'sharing' aspect of it is very unstable legal ground.
Edit : Basically we get away with it, I think, because Volition and Interplay either don't consider us a problem, or possibly see benefits in keeping the Franchise alive. Either way, I'm pretty sure [v] know that the ISO's are available to download, and have chosen not to concern themselves about it. For now, I'd not worry too much about it, if a request is made from a legitimate source, then we will have to stop supplying the retail stuff with the downloads, I can't tell if this is legitimate or not, many 're-release' companies have been caught re-releasing stuff that they didn't own, so I'd suggest just waiting and seeing for now.
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Where is the mention of any re-release? As far as I can tell, this games company is just selling old copies in Ebay.
As far as I can see they're a legitimate publisher who specialise in picking up old games and selling them on. All their box art on their website has been updated to include their logo (something I doubt a reseller or pirate would bother with) and a google search turns up lots of mentions of them.
The big problem I see is that if these guys are legitimate we're going to have to take down the ISOs and remove FS2 itself from the installer.
On the other hand £8 for FS1 & FS2 isn't really a huge amount to pay and we can hook newbies in by giving them links to BtRL, WCS and TBP to get them started.
^2
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Uhh... If HLP gets sued I never used the installer nor any of the ISOs. Just so that you know. I got the white label package...
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and now we know who jumps ship first :sigh:
and we wont get sued, nothing will happen either way
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and now we know who jumps ship first :sigh:
It's non-profit... But I still had nothing to do with it.
I'm a complete coward. :(
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*downloads ISOs before they can be taken down*
(don't get me wrong, I own a copy, it's just a PITA to deal with, running installer with WINE and such)
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I own a copy too. I bought it and then found HLP...
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Wouldn't the EULA cover it if they ask for it on the forums?
Quite frankly legally the ELUA isn't worth ****.
And I'd rather not piss off the rights holders to the FS2 IP. Even if you do manage to win on those grounds (which is quite frankly very unlikely) you won't be laughing they ban the use of the media VPs and distribution of any mod based in the freespace universe as a derivative work.
But hell, even without the threat of legal action, these guys are trying to sell FS2 legally. It's in our interest to help them make it a financial success rather than taking the short-sighted view of causing them problems by distributing the game ourselves.
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Actually, If they re-release FreeSpace 2, their EULA only applies to THEIR version. Since we all have an interplay version, they can't do anything to us... I think... possibly... ehrm....--*
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Bollocks
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Bollocks
I didn't know you said "bollocks..." It's such a weird phrase.
But if they do re-release FS2, do we have to take down our ISOs, remove it from the installer and ban use of the mediavps?
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I doubt anything at all will happen - in fact, I'm 99% sure nothing will happen. Interplay already re-released FS2 a little while back, and the only thing that happened after that was Hotu and I think FSZone took down the ISO links for about two weeks. After that they were back up, no problem. If Interplay didn't have the muscle or will to go after us, I doubt these chaps will.
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If Interplay didn't have the muscle or will to go after us, I doubt these chaps will.
Isn't that because Interplay is deceased?
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If Interplay didn't have the muscle or will to go after us, I doubt these chaps will.
Isn't that because Interplay is deceased?
1nt3rpl4y r3turn4th 4z 4 z0|\/|B3|-|!!!!11
Actually, Interplay still lives, look around this board, you'll find a topic.
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AFAIK, at that time, it was deceased.
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Interplay has been deceased for a while.Thats were I bought FS1.
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Well there's a thread around here saying "Interplay lives!"
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AFAIK, at that time, it was deceased.
Well since I'm pretty sure it was them that released it, then they probably weren't deceased.
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Hmm... Frikken zombies. Well we better not get into a crap with these guys.
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How did these guys find out about us?
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How did these guys find out about us?
Googlesearch? We're on... One of the pages...
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The first one :blah:
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But if they do re-release FS2, do we have to take down our ISOs, remove it from the installer and ban use of the mediavps?
My suggestion would be to remove the FS2 retail components and link to these guys Amazon page (if they are indeed legitimate - something we still need to check). The media VPs can stay.
I mentioned the media VPs as an example of how they could hurt us if this turned into a legal battle. They are within their rights to ban us from distributing them but only a fool would do it unless we gave them a damn good reason to. The media VPs won't hurt their sales of the game, in fact they'll probably improve them.
First thing we have to do is find someone willing to ask [V] if this is a legitimate company. Preferably someone who already has had contact with them.
How did these guys find out about us?
I've not seen any proof they do know about us. But you can bet they'll find out sooner or later if they don't already know.
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The media VPs won't hurt their sales of the game, in fact they'll probably improve them.
:yes:
Right. FreeSpace is old, upgrades are needed. They can't kill the mediavps!
How did these guys find out about us?
I've not seen any proof they do know about us. But you can bet they'll find out sooner or later if they don't already know.
The release of BtRL, WCS and TBP must have attracted their attention....
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I mentioned the media VPs as an example of how they could hurt us if this turned into a legal battle. They are within their rights to ban us from distributing them but only a fool would do it unless we gave them a damn good reason to. The media VPs won't hurt their sales of the game, in fact they'll probably improve them.
mektek.net is allowed to make its add-ons for Mechwarrior 4, and the publisher of that game is Microsoft...
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Like I said, they'd have to be insane or very pissed off to ban the the media VPs but legally they do have the right.
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You have the same amount of posts that Aldo has! Congradulations, Kara! :D
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You have the same amount of posts that Aldo has! Congradulations, Kara! :D
Oh man, I'm sooooo jealous.
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As far as we know, they don't know we exist. So why the speculation and fear of being shut down? It's blowing a non-existent situation way out of proportion.
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I still have a sick feeling in my stomach about this.Or it is the food I just ate.
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As far as we know, they don't know we exist. So why the speculation and fear of being shut down? It's blowing a non-existent situation way out of proportion.
How you can say something like that? They must know about the FreeSpace Community and the conversions. Why would they try to sell an old game? They must know that its graphics can be enhanced!
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Because people will buy anything.
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As far as we know, they don't know we exist. So why the speculation and fear of being shut down? It's blowing a non-existent situation way out of proportion.
How you can say something like that? They must know about the FreeSpace Community and the conversions. Why would they try to sell an old game? They must know that its graphics can be enhanced!
So then by that logic, they know about us, and are selling the game because they know it can be enhanced. Hence, they're counting on our community upgrades for revenue. Which means they wouldn't shut us down.
Either way, why the panic?
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That's the point. Don't panic. Thanks to the SCP, Interplay has a chance of survival! :)
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That's the point. Don't panic. Thanks to the SCP, Interplay has a chance of survival! :)
That's a good thing?
Besides, isn't it someone other than Interplay releasing this?
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Well if they're selling it, won't we have to shut down the ISOs? Isn't that something bad?
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I'm not doing anything about this ( except maybe buying a copy... 8 pounds is a lot cheaper than the Ebay price ) until a C&D shows up in my mailbox. I suggest the rest of you do the same.
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I have a real copy so I could care less.
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Well if they're selling it, won't we have to shut down the ISOs? Isn't that something bad?
Not unless they tell us to. Legally we shouldn't have them up in the first place, but unless they start *****ing about it, we don't have to take them down.
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Contact Interplay about it and ask if The Most Feared Company (tm) has the right to publish it?
edit: thats the second most rfeared company
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They didn't... and probably won't
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Why do you care so much? If they do have permission, then you'd be alerting Interplay to us, and then subsequently to the fact that we have ISOs of the games up. If they don't, then the same problem arises. Just let it go, guys, it's nothing to panic or even think about.
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I don't... and probably no one does... I think nothing will come of this, and everyone will forget about this in about a week.
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Hopefully the re-releases will be compatable with Vista, but for a few quid I don't mind buying than trying, especially as I still have the Silent Threat add on.
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I think nothing will come of this, and everyone will forget about this in about a week.
Exactly. I'm surprised so many people are getting uptight about this. Let's worry about what to do if and when they actually contact us.
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if it hasnt been mentioned already...SCP builds and mediavps can count as fanmade patches
(patches are usualy downloaded for free, but a copy of the game is needed for them too be useful)
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Well to everyone who doesn't own a license--we all have the ability to say that we intended to buy the license but were unable to do so legally, until *now*. Basically, if this "re-release" gets to the USA, I'll spend a few quids just like the rest of you to legally buy my license of the game. The problem is that a copy of FS2 on eBay is at least $60 (last time I checked)... I'm not willing to buy something used off of eBay, so I'll just wait until I get a S&D letter or buy the game in a real store.
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SCP builds and mediavps can count as fanmade patches
SCP builds are completely excempt from any repercussions except by angering [V] themselves, actually. The code was licensed for non-commercial use by [V] when they released it, and Interplay never had any claim to it. The mediavps are more iffy, I agree, but as Karajorma has pointed out, it would be shooting yourself in the foot to block them.
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It's not like Interplay currently has a foot--maybe they'll regrow one eventually. Anyways--I would have thought they'd put some assets towards purchasing our work individually (and paying us as freelance artists) and having Freespace and Freespace 2 re-released with said work (aka: MediaVPs and/or AdvMediaVPs).
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I read whole topic, and viewed the links.
This could be a BS sale, intended as a joke, or to cause commotion.
IF it is real, they will not take legal action against us, nor will or [V]. Who started this panic, there is no reason for it.
The topic starter did not fully know what he was talking about.
U Wish Games is just selling copies of freespace 2, and they have not yet attained them. They are not re releasing the game, like did. Its not a new version.
Its iffy, but they probably do not know about us. Why would they search for fanbases? They simply buy old games, and sell them.
They are trying to sell FS2, and they mostlikely don't have a license, so its probably illegal.
If someone re released FS or FS2, we would take down our ISO's and stuff, so that we would not be stealing business, which would piss them off enough for legal action.
If people cannot get FS2 for free from us giving the ISO's, they have to, for the time being (as mentioned, 2 weeks or so) they would have to buy it from the company, and everyone is happy.
At least this is what i take from it. I could be wrong.
I don't get what the huss and fuss is. Someone put a BS or illegal sale up. End of story.
P.S. Interplay sold their foot for money. IT might regrow.
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I'm just worried because I want to buy a legal license to this game... they're out on the market again but it's not in my particular market (the US doesn't have it being sold again--too bad really).
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The big problem I see is that if these guys are legitimate we're going to have to take down the ISOs and remove FS2 itself from the installer.
"You may make copies of the Software for your personal noncommercial use and to give to friends and acquaintances on a no cost noncommercial basis".
"ac·quaint·ance
–noun 1. a person known to one, but usually not a close friend."
Wouldn't the EULA cover it if they ask for it on the forums?
To be safe, lets all become each other's "myspace friends"!!
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That EULA can be changed at any time--it makes it terribly unreliable to follow those EULAs with wording like that... particularly because the changes don't come as headlines--they come as obscure and hidden updates.
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Well to everyone who doesn't own a license--we all have the ability to say that we intended to buy the license but were unable to do so legally, until *now*. Basically, if this "re-release" gets to the USA, I'll spend a few quids just like the rest of you to legally buy my license of the game. The problem is that a copy of FS2 on eBay is at least $60 (last time I checked)... I'm not willing to buy something used off of eBay, so I'll just wait until I get a S&D letter or buy the game in a real store.
I got FS2 new from a guy in the UK and I got FS1/ST from a guy in Calif. Total Price - 60$.
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I don't buy from eBay... that's not an option to me. Anyways--they're being "rereleased" for ~5 euros... that's about $6.80 USD.
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Why not?
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Where's the zombies, man, i really want to shoot undead somebody.
Just keep your iso images. Who cares really, even if it does turn into a legal battle, i'm not letting go of my fs2 iso's, even though i haven't used them in a long time, they're nice to have either way. It'd be just like keeping those illegal mp3's you have you know :lol: What's the long arm of the law going to do when they're not going to take the time to figure out that you got the fs2 iso's illegally? Hlp would probably just get a cease and desist for hosting of the fs2 isos and nothing else. We'd instantly turn into the fs2 underhand black market then.
Besides, why would anything legally happen anyway? We don't use the original fs2 engine anymore, it's no longer the same engine anymore. So much of fs1 and fs2 has already been remade everyone could just run mediavp enhanced fso without the option of running vanilla. Or something on the lines of that.
Why would this whole thing be cool? I'd only want to see something good to come of it. It get's fs2 more publicity, interplay may or may not rise from the ashes. Hell, i might be interested in actually buying the Uwishgames version. I bought the original back in the day, goy edition, i wonder if the uwishgames version would have anything cool. I hope they don't use same ****ing old packaging in the least :blah:
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Well said, but we do use the original FS2 engine, upgraded.
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HArking back to the u-wish games website, FS and Paintball heroes saold by the same firm?........................Nooooooooooooooooo :mad:
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I saw a review for paintball heroes. It was sad to think humanity could create shuch a ****ty and horrible game.