3 replies to this topic

[Caelroigh Blunt]

Seriously, I want to know.

[Adrienne Vorton]

Death´s Hand Brigade...

naw, not easy to tell... i know that the "MechWarrior" brand itself is still held by MicroFlop...

Edited by Adrienne Vorton, 07 December 2012 - 04:29 AM.

[Strum Wealh]

Caelroigh Blunt, on 07 December 2012 - 01:05 AM, said:

Seriously, I want to know.

PGI's specific sub-license to the MechWarrior franchise does not extend to non-Microsoft platforms (a restriction put in place by Microsoft, who is still the ultimate license holder for the MechWarrior video games); listen to Byran Ekman (PGI Creative Director and Co-Founder) explain the rights situation in the "No Guts, No Galaxy" podcast #44 (starting at the 25:24 mark).

However, a later statement in the same podcast (starting at the 26:07) indicates that, in contrast to PGI, Personae Studios (producing MechWarrior Tactical Command) does have rights to produce MW products for Apple platforms but does not have rights to produce MW products for Microsoft platforms.

So, in addition to the technical issue (dependency on DirectX), there are also legal issues that would prevent MWO from being released for Apple platforms.

More specifically:

• Piranha Games (the company making MechWarrior Online) has the rights, by virtue of their license to the franchise to make MechWarrior games for Microsoft platforms (PC, XBox, etc), but their license covers only those platforms.
  
• Personae Studios (the company making MechWarrior Tactical Command) has the rights, by virtue of their license to the franchise (which is separate from that of Piranha Games) to make MechWarrior games for certain other platforms (including Apple products), but not those platforms covered by Piranha Games' license.

The entity that ultimately decides what MechWarrior video game licenses are granted to whom, and on what terms, is still Microsoft.

As the licenses are ultimately legal agreements, that means that Piranha (one company) and Personae (another company) are legally bound to observe and adhere to the terms of their respective (and separate) licenses.

In a broader sense, the rights to the rest of the BattleTech universe (printed media, TT-related products, etc) belong to some combination of The Topps Company, Smith & Tinker, and Catalyst Game Labs.

'Twould perhaps be better to listen to the podcast itself (the link was included in my previous post) and hear Mr. Ekman explain it in his own words...?

[solops]

Strum Wealh, on 07 December 2012 - 05:23 AM, said:

PGI's specific sub-license to the MechWarrior franchise does not extend to non-Microsoft platforms (a restriction put in place by Microsoft, who is still the ultimate license holder for the MechWarrior video games); listen to Byran Ekman (PGI Creative Director and Co-Founder) explain the rights situation in the "No Guts, No Galaxy" podcast #44 (starting at the 25:24 mark).

However, a later statement in the same podcast (starting at the 26:07) indicates that, in contrast to PGI, Personae Studios (producing MechWarrior Tactical Command) does have rights to produce MW products for Apple platforms but does not have rights to produce MW products for Microsoft platforms.

So, in addition to the technical issue (dependency on DirectX), there are also legal issues that would prevent MWO from being released for Apple platforms.

More specifically:

• Piranha Games (the company making MechWarrior Online) has the rights, by virtue of their license to the franchise to make MechWarrior games for Microsoft platforms (PC, XBox, etc), but their license covers only those platforms.
  
• Personae Studios (the company making MechWarrior Tactical Command) has the rights, by virtue of their license to the franchise (which is separate from that of Piranha Games) to make MechWarrior games for certain other platforms (including Apple products), but not those platforms covered by Piranha Games' license.

The entity that ultimately decides what MechWarrior video game licenses are granted to whom, and on what terms, is still Microsoft.


As the licenses are ultimately legal agreements, that means that Piranha (one company) and Personae (another company) are legally bound to observe and adhere to the terms of their respective (and separate) licenses.

In a broader sense, the rights to the rest of the BattleTech universe (printed media, TT-related products, etc) belong to some combination of The Topps Company, Smith & Tinker, and Catalyst Game Labs.

'Twould perhaps be better to listen to the podcast itself (the link was included in my previous post) and hear Mr. Ekman explain it in his own words...?

Thanks For the info Maybe Ill buy Up shares In some of these companies if open to the public market I speculate that MWO will
do very well.