13 replies to this topic

[Tordin]

I've been searching on online stores and ordinary gamedealers for any sign of MW 3/4 collection editions and MC 1 and 2 collections. But its seems that either its only for you folks in the US or there arent any copies to be had at all, digital or retail. Since Im based in northern Europe, the search seems futile.

So I have a few questions.

1: Since MWO is planned for released for Steam once the kinks are worked out and polished. Will there be ANY hope PGI/ Microsoft etc can give permition to release any Mech Warrior and Mech Commander games on Steam (they do hold the rights, right?)

If so they should be optimalised, compatible and polished for newer OS and such though.

2: If not, couldnt MS give PGI the right to release them games in a separate dedicated site for those old and possible upcoming MW/ MC games via a digital store? Like hitting a different tab on this very MWO site and vice versa?

3: I really want those old games again. Also there were not long ago we had the chance to download MW 4 Mercs and mek paks for free (MekTek, was it?). Is there ANY chance that will happen again?

Im glad though that we can get MC 2 Omnitech, but in its current stage there are several (resolution) problems among others still ongoing. Still they are doing a great job with it so far.

I do really hope there wont be long before we can finally enjoy the old classics once again, been way to long and about time.



An no, Im not using Ebay or Amazon, dont trust those by different reasons.

Edited by Tordin, 08 March 2015 - 12:02 PM.

[Koniving]

1) Nope. Rights to use the trademark doesn't entitle to rights to former developer's work.
2) Very unlikely, and PGI wouldn't have any right to do so anyway even with MS's approval.
For the most part, the older games can be acquired for free as the copyrights for selling them have expired. Much like if not renewed, you could have done with the older Super Mario games -- but you might notice Nintendo keeps re-releasing them to prevent that from happening.
3) Just find them. You'd be surprised.

[Sylonce]

Don't quote me on this, but Mechcommander 1 and 2 was released for free a while ago. The source code for Mechcommander 2 can still be found somewhere if you can figure out how to recompile it.

What I'd really like to see is the entire Mechwarrior 1 through 4 on sites like GOG.com, that does make older games much more compatible with current systems. The series is on the wishlist, but could always use more votes.

Edited by Sylonce, 09 March 2015 - 08:00 AM.

[Tordin]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll check it out more in-depth

[Anjian]

I still have the packages for Mechwarrior 4 Inner Sphere and Clan packs.

[Sylonce]

Marack Drock, on 08 March 2015 - 07:24 PM, said:

And straight to be banned for you most likely.

Why? It's not like I am promoting anything illicit. I've only stated what I came across.

Edited by Sylonce, 08 March 2015 - 10:49 PM.

[Vassago Rain]

MW4 and MW3 went out of retail print sometime in the early 2000s.

MW2 was out of print before MW3 even hit the market.

They're never gonna be re-released, because to do so, microsoft, zipper, activision, whatever shell company inherited the FASA interactive rights, microprose, mektek, tsunami visuals, and a bunch more companies would have to come together and agree that there's gonna be a re-release of these games. That's not ever gonna happen.

If you want to play old mechwarrior games, you download them from the internet. MW2 is *20* years old, MW3 is 16 years old, and MW4 is 15 years old.

Most of the companies who made the games are LONG DEAD.

[Rushin Roulette]

Sylonce, on 08 March 2015 - 01:50 PM, said:

Don't quote me on this, but Mechcommander 1 and 2 was released for free a while ago. The source code for Mechcommander 2 can still be found somewhere if you can figure out how to recompile it.

Not sure about MC1 (Although im pretty sure that it can be found on the MS site as well). The MC2 Source game is easy to download directly from the Microsoft database

http://www.microsoft...s.aspx?id=11457

As MS hold the rights to the Mech Warrior franchise, you can be pretty sure that this download is 100% legal as it comes from their own website.

EDIT: Found this on the NGNG site;

http://www.nogutsnog...php?topic=576.0

Edited by Rushin Roulette, 09 March 2015 - 01:12 AM.

[CyclonerM]

I find it amusing that MS stands both for MicroSoft and MercStar..

Just a random thought

Anyway, i do not see why PGI could not sell a "remake" of these old games. Maybe even make them from scratch, but with HD graphics, balance tweaks etc. They would sell REALLY well among the old MW/BT fans. And the companies that first developed them are long dead, so again i do not see issues.

[Sylonce]

Marack Drock, on 09 March 2015 - 07:00 AM, said:

You just promoted pirated material.

This is a heavy offense of CoC and of Copyright and Licensing laws. You posted the name of a website that has these which are not legal in anyway anymore thus you just promoted pirated material and not only that of this franchise which is licensed to PGI making twice as bad.

Good grief kid. Sorry if I don't follow the legalese of the franchise as closely as you do. But I suppose in the interest of PGI's license that apparently bars the release of previously free material, I have edited and removed my vague mention of the website of which I had not even linked. I suggest you to remove my quotes from your own post, lest you also promote pirated material.

Edited by Sylonce, 09 March 2015 - 08:11 AM.

[CyclonerM]

Marack Drock, on 09 March 2015 - 07:56 AM, said:

Because they do not have the license for the old games. Those copyrights are still maintained by the developers (activision still renews theirs and the rest haven't expired). MS did not license the old games only the future continuation of the series. As such PGI has no legal rights to the old games. The only company ever to acquire those rights was MekTek.

Licensing has to be very explicit and Microsoft knows what it is doing so they made sure the old games stayed in their pockets.

Then they could just ask MS for the license; if MWO does well enough, i do not see why they should refuse, they would smell the $$$..

As i understand they cannot just call it "MechWarrior Reborn" or something like that and pretend it is not a MW2 remake

[Vassago Rain]

Marack Drock, on 09 March 2015 - 09:44 AM, said:

I follow them to avoid being banned for life here, and so I don't get sued by Microsoft for Copyright and Licensing infringements which can cost you all the money you have and more.

[Tordin]

Alot of interesting points. What I just dont get is (nature of the beast, I know), if they want to curb piracy. Wouldnt it be worth colloborating to make the games avaiable for purchase worthwhile in the long run?
As I see it, most of the involved parties seems to sit on the licenses but dont want to do swada about it, too much greed, grudge and lack of perspective (games as culture, not only economical product). Its incredible, wouldnt even a fistful of dollars awaken cooperation and bury old socks of disagreement?


Another case, just as sad is that those with power want to curbstomp Mech Warrior Living Legends out of existence. I got no nice words for that one case.
That game really had the potential and I was way late to the party, being able to enjoy it when it was at its peak, regarding player population (3 years ago?) Some regret there, yup. Now the player population are at two digit number I guess.

At least MWO is something. Have to thank PGI for the effort though, doing a great job, even with some bumps on the road but thats understandable. Cant wait to see what they will do once MWO have gotten the polish, balance and features yet to come

[Tordin]

That... cleared up alot. Its clear that we gamers shot ourself real hard regarding this otherwise great franchise. Talk about blindstruck and biased indeed. I know there were no separate arm aim, still I liked MW 4 mercs, maybe becasue it was the first game I tried. And I barely tried the Mech Commander and MC 2 demo.Thats my experience, would really like to play more of them, but alas alack.. Not easy when access is limited, illigal and/ or downright incompatible with newer systems

And now MWO is possible dying to the frantic FPS? I can bet on the reasons,... Im speechless