13 replies to this topic

[davidcalgary29]

I lost the thread on "LodeRunner" back at the start of this forum. Can anyone give an update on the status of this game, and the barriers to its release? I understand that it cannot be released because Broderbund will not allow the title to be used for a new Lynx title. Is this true?

[lucienEn]

If I remember correctly I believe Kurt lost the source code in a hard drive crash. But indeed there's also the issue of copyright.

I believe the port is floating around on the web somewhere.

[davidcalgary29]

I posed the question to Broderbund:

Quote

Message: I understand that "Lode Runner" was developed (and completed!)
for the Atari Lynx in the early 1990s. This game was, however, never
released for that system. Could you please advise what problems with
licensing / copyright / other might exist now to prevent this title from
being released by an independent developer? There are a significant number of fans of "Lode Runner" to guarantee a warm reception to the release of this title, even on a limited basis.

...and received this reply:

Quote

Thank you for your inquiry and for choosing Riverdeep, Broderbund and The
Learning Company and Edmark for your software needs.

Unfortunately Broderbund does not carry or support the Lode Runner
program.  Please contact the manufacturer of the program for assistance.

If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.

Sincerely,

Sara S.

Hm. Given Lucien's response above, should I continue to press, or am I just being a sxxt-disturber at this stage?

[Nukey Shay]

That letter is the equalivant of "Nobody currently here has the slightest idea of what you are talking about...given the 5 seconds that I inquired about the subject to a person that I ran into in the hallway."

[davidcalgary29]

Quick, but rude response:

Quote

Thank you for your inquiry and for choosing Riverdeep, Broderbund and The
Learning Company and Edmark for your software needs.

As stated in the previous e-mail, Broderbund does not carry or support
this program so we would not have licensing information.  Please further
your search online for licensing assistance.

If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.

Sincerely,

Sara S.

[Godzilla]

in other words, you can do whatever the hell you want called 'lode runner' without having to worry too much about it. For more recent clues, there was a Nintendo 64 'Lode Runner 3D' mayhaps tracking down it's information may provide you the information you seek....

[Nukey Shay]

If you are really worried about it, just call it something else. Did anybody sue APEX over clone games??

[badbrad]

Just call it "Load Jogger" or something.

[davidcalgary29]

I didn't develop the Lynx version of "Lode Runner" and, sadly, have no programming skills. I'm interested in:

1. Tracking down the current license holder for "Lode Runner" (perhaps Sierra On-Line?); and

2. Determining if the owner would waive royalty / licensing fees for a Lynx version (or sell them to me for a small fee); and if so,

3. Track down the Lynx prototype of "Lode Runner" if one still exists; and if so,

4. See if anyone's interested in releasing it.

[Nukey Shay]

Yeah, but #1 & 2 are moot if the game is called something else...Load Jogger, Bload Brunner (AppleII joke), Lude Popper, Bishop Bopper, etc.

So there is half the battle done.

[joeybastard]

There was a DOS game called Diamond Dash that was exactly like Lode Runner except for the name(obviously) and the gold was changed to Diamonds. Otherwise it was the same game. I'm sure this method could be applied in this case.

[Nukey Shay]

I'd love to see a Space Panic/Lode Runner dual mode game

[davidcalgary29]

Yes. I'm not disagreeing with anyone!
I simply think that the programmer of "Lode Runner" put alot of thought and, from what I've heard, effort into creating a perfect port of the game for the Lynx -- and I'd hate to see those efforts altered merely to avoid some legal pitfall.

But that point is certainly moot unless a complete version of the "Lode Runner" prototype can be found.

[eric_ruck]

davidcalgary29 said:

But that point is certainly moot unless a complete version of the "Lode Runner" prototype can be found.  

Or rebuilt. Man, why couldn't I have been born a Rockerfeller?

Eric