Firaxis Civ4 Col Mod Competition

[DarkCloud]

As for legal or other issues don't seem to play a part when shipping the game worldwide for profit.

Rules for contests are very different from rules for retail. And lawyers cost a lot per hour... Upwards of $20-100/hour for expertise to even check that Take2 doesn't violate any laws.

[Dale]

Don't forget, any computer used as a prize is useless in 95% of other countries due to power differences and cable prong type.

[DarkCloud]

Don't forget, any computer used as a prize is useless in 95% of other countries due to power differences and cable prong type.

Hmm... with prong type it's fairly easy to get an adapter. Power wattage differences are another matter, but even those can be corrected if you have the right third-party tools.

Thus far I've blown speakers and an electric razor while traveling overseas due to not paying attention to specifications. . But when I've used the correct connectors, I've been fine (!)

[Dale]

Problem is, US powers supplies are gauged for 110 volts, which is useless when you connect it to a 220 mains (even with a transformer). The chance of blowing it and blowing fuses is too high a risk, and I'm sure the 2K legal team doesn't want that sort of case on their hands.

[Keygen]

Originally posted by DarkCloud

Rules for contests are very different from rules for retail.

Is this a fact or simply guessing?

Originally posted by DarkCloud

And lawyers cost a lot per hour... Upwards of $20-100/hour for expertise to even check that Take2 doesn't violate any laws.

Don't they have a legal department for this kind of things?

[Keygen]

Originally posted by Dale

Don't forget, any computer used as a prize is useless in 95% of other countries due to power differences and cable prong type.

Well, there are several ways to solve such problems!

Anyway, I don't think it's the kind of the price that matters, the reward could be as expensive as an invitation to spend a day at Firaxis headquarters with all expenses covered, to a half an hour online session with Sid himself. Even the signed copies of the games are perfectly OK and should not have any legal restriction shipping worldwide, at list regarding the developed world. I've received copies of software before free of charge outside the U.S. from U.S. companies.

[DarkCloud]

Originally posted by Keygen
Is this a fact or simply guessing?

Well, it's why the game can be sold in New Mexico, but New Mexico residents, who are American Citizens, cannot participate in the contest even though other American citizens may participate. I would assume the situation of differing laws would be the same for other countries which will have diverse statutory laws.

Don't they have a legal department for this kind of things?

Some companies do. I don't know if Take2 does. A lot of companies contract out their legal needs, however. This is why there are so many "law offices" and "big law firms." Big Law firms generally do work for corporate employers who lack in-house counsel.

[N35t0r]

Even if they do have a legal department, it's unlikely they are just sitting around waiting for T2 to have them investigate how to possibly get contest prizes to every possible country (and province/state) in the world.

[jnh140]

mispost

[moriety]

There is only one winner worthy of the "prize": Dale in Australia.

Were it not for him this version of this classic game would have died more quickly than it currently is.

The electrics are a non-starter- both on electrical facts and the ability for Fireaxis to pay for a 220V machine. (All of Europe is now on a 220-230V band (The UK switched to 230V theoretically back in 1995, even if readings can at times make you think we didn't), as is Aus, and all electrical equipment works within a 20V difference).

Dale has already fixed in a major way much of the bad work this company has done to the title, I for one vowed after buying Alpha Centuri that I would never buy another product from this company- I now have and know why I was right the first time.

Is EA still trying to take them over? I've never bought shares in my life- perhaps now is the time.

[Stuie]

Why is this still stickied?

[Dale]

Because the competition is still live. No winner has been announced yet.

[Stuie]

A month and a half later? Ouch.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Since last 6 months I would say... not a big surprise, the official patch is yet to be announced -and I don't see anything coming soon.

Isn't it obvious? They do not want to spend money on the patch, so they hope to get the moders do the job. The later it comes the better... I wouldn't be surprised to see a close version of the nominated mod coming out as an expantion pack! Doesn't it say, once you submit a mod Firaxis has the legal rights of this product?

As far as I know Dale, doesn't want to enter the competition. Strangely or annoyingly enough, it seems he doesn't even have the rights to do so!

I don't know what Dale will get for his awesome job in AoD II and patchmod, but he surely has earned the respect of our community.

In my opinion AoD II mod is the best mod, although ten colonies and LooF are very good mods. If I could vote, I would vote for AoD II.

[moriety]

I second what Prince is saying,

It is very clear they delivered an unfinished and unworkable product and are now hoping a modder will save them tens of thousands of dollars by doing the work for free. Shame on them- It is the worst type of corporate practice, unluckily for them, it is also very obvious to consumers.