Civ2's source code petition

[sezoN]

Graphics isn't so important because we've got many more other than original. Text.. hm.. I think it's more important than graphics.

[Mercator]

I think that all kinda comes with the source code. The specifics of the conditions under which they'll be released (or not) is something that will have to be discussed further when we have successfully contacted them. It would be part of license "negotiations", if they really want any. Otherwise it's purely at the discretion of the code owners.

I don't think we should really make any demands on the license just yet. Doing so, I'd imagine, would only decrease the chance of getting the code released at all.

I don't agree with CapTVK about the license, but he does know his stuff.


Oh, and my site would be:
Mercator's Civilization2 Site

[CapTVK]

Finding the right contacts would be the prime concern for now. Find out who´s who and has the authority to back up a decision.

Contact first, code request 2nd, licence 3th.


Initially they´ll probably say no or wave if off and see if it goes away. You might have to do a spot of lobbying. A nice oneliner at this point is that the 10th anniversary of Civ2 (end of 1995) is drawing near. So, why not give a gift to the public.


General advice : become friends with the boss´s boss.


Mercator,
Thanks, if it all pans out we might actually have to start a discussion about which licence is best suited. I´ll be waiting for the debate.

P.S
The HCC is coming again in Utrecht nov 12-14th. Time for another meet? [

[jasev]

Has anyone at all heard from Javier? Its been well over a month. I hope he is alright because this is very unlike him..............

Pablostuka has posted a thread at the Spanish Site informing us that he's not just busy but awfully busy at job (according to Pablostuka, his bosses want to send Javier to Siberia ).

Yaroslav hopes that he'll be back in November.

[Pablostuka]

Exactly. I just phoned yaroslav 1 hour ago (after lots of tries). he is extremely busy at work, and he doesn't even have time to turn on the computer. He expects the situation to end by November.

And yes, that Siberia thing is right...

[Harry Tuttle]

Originally posted by Pablostuka
Exactly. I just phoned yaroslav 1 hour ago (after lots of tries). he is extremely busy at work, and he doesn't even have time to turn on the computer. He expects the situation to end by November.

And yes, that Siberia thing is right...

Thank God, I thought he was dead or something. Yaro has always been an incredible part of Civ2 modding and I'd hate for him to go. Also, on a side note, he's a really nice guy, too.

[CapTVK]

In the meantime I suggest we work on the letter and a plan! Now that Atari is owned by Infogrames they've started to defend their IP very agressively. Tread carefully...



(Note to self) : Hmmm, better keep a close eye on their legal dealings. Seeing as they own and protect Civilization as a brand as well.

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/5672

The four games Infrogrames asked AtariAge to remove are clear derivatives of old Atari titles. It's not clear that anyone would legitimately confuse them with the official Atari versions, but I can understand why a copyright or trademark holder would be leery about allowing distribution of something so close to an existing product.


Reproductions are a similar situation. If there's code or artwork involved, Infogrames has a strong position to ask people not to distribute these products.

....snip....

How could this be a good thing for homebrew game development? Perhaps it will encourage developers to come up with their own ideas, instead of creating clone after clone. If that happens -- if the homebrew community demonstrates that it's willing to keep old consoles and platforms alive long past the point of mass-market commercial viability -- perhaps the publishers will be willing to make their development kits, hardware documentation, and even some source code public more often.


At least, homebrew communities that show more respect for copyrights and trademarks will have a better moral ground from which to make that case.


chromatic is the technical editor of the O'Reilly Network.

[Cyrion]

Originally posted by Pablostuka
Exactly. I just phoned yaroslav 1 hour ago (after lots of tries). he is extremely busy at work, and he doesn't even have time to turn on the computer. He expects the situation to end by November.

And yes, that Siberia thing is right...

Muchas gracias Pablo! I was getting worried too!

I hope he will come back from the gulag... (talk about immersion in the Red Front demo game...)

And I agree with Harry, Javier definitely is a nice guy we really need in this community!

[Nilat]

Im not there!

[curtsibling]

Speaking of phoning - I think our next stage should be actually
trying to get talking to some human being at the atari company.

Bringing the petition to their attention, or getting a staff email may help our cause a great deal.

PS
I have a good phone manner!

[conmcb25]

Originally posted by jasev
Pablostuka has posted a thread at the Spanish Site informing us that he's not just busy but awfully busy at job (according to Pablostuka, his bosses want to send Javier to Siberia ).
Yaroslav hopes that he'll be back in November.

Siberia? Cool! I wish I could go! Great Hunting and fishing.

Javier is probably going to have to import the women however

[N35t0r]

Having the support of Jeff Brigs or Bryan Reynolds would also help...

[Jimmywax]

Is this thing still rolling or am I to late again.

[curtsibling]

The code-petition campaign is ongoing, Jim!

[DarthVeda]

I wonder if the source code is even still stored? I suspect it has probably been lost forever.