[MegaManFan]

I've seen three or four posts in different forums suggesting that Infogrames "did something" and now ALL games are going to be removed from both the AA database and the AA store, including homebrews that have nothing to do with either the original Atari or Infogrames today. Is this true and if so what action did they actually take? I thought originally a few hacks got pulled because of the Flashback unit, but it sounds like it's gone much further than that.

[moycon]

Dunno, But I got the goods whilest the gettin's good...Just in case.

[Albert]

MegaManFan said:

I've seen three or four posts in different forums suggesting that Infogrames "did something" and now ALL games are going to be removed from both the AA database and the AA store, including homebrews that have nothing to do with either the original Atari or Infogrames today.  Is this true and if so what action did they actually take?  I thought originally a few hacks got pulled because of the Flashback unit, but it sounds like it's gone much further than that.

Four homebrew games were removed (Castle Crisis, Mondo Pong, JoustPong, and Double Breakout), several reproductions based on Atari titles (such as Saboteur), and most of the hacks as they were based on games from Atari. Beyond that and a few buttons they asked us to remove, there will be no other affect on AtariAge or the store.

..Al

[pmpddytim]

I can understand (don't like but understand) the others but Castle Crisis makes me mad.

-Tim

[Kepone]

I don't understand at all.


IMHO, I think it's very unfair to step on a community like this just because you see dollar signs.

Maybe there is still hope though.

[pmpddytim]

Albert said:

MegaManFan said:

I've seen three or four posts in different forums suggesting that Infogrames "did something" and now ALL games are going to be removed from both the AA database and the AA store, including homebrews that have nothing to do with either the original Atari or Infogrames today.  Is this true and if so what action did they actually take?  I thought originally a few hacks got pulled because of the Flashback unit, but it sounds like it's gone much further than that.

Four homebrew games were removed (Castle Crisis, Mondo Pong, JoustPong, and Double Breakout), several reproductions based on Atari titles (such as Saboteur), and most of the hacks as they were based on games from Atari. Beyond that and a few buttons they asked us to remove, there will be no other affect on AtariAge or the store.

..Al

Hey Al, maybe you should post your response as a sticky in the announcment section?

-Tim

[cvga]

DoubleBreakout? I don't remember ever even seeing that one. Darn, I would have been interested!

[Mock]

hmmm...wonder how long it will be before they decide they want to put out another Atari Age magazine and need their website name back...

Atari needs to create a Classics Division within the new company to work with the hobby on 1 or 2 projects a year...keep everyone happy that way because they "think" they have some kind of input as to what is going on...probably grow the fan base...give the classic guys what they have been wanting...and blah blah blah...all kinds of positive things you could say about that.

As for the way things are going...I wouldn't pay $1 for any of the crap they are trying to come out with at this point. Don't sh*t where you eat.

(Unless you like German hardcore porn and are in to that sort of thing)

[Xot]

One of the more legal-scholarly amongst us should re-read the Capcom v. Data East decision to find out exactly where the line is and perhaps to bring to Infotari's attention. I'd be willing to bet that Joust Pong, Mondo Pong and possibly even Castle Crisis would not violate any copyrights, especially if Pong was taken out of the title.

(For those of you who don't know, I'm referring to the suit Capcom brought against Data East, and LOST, claiming Fighter's History violated Capcom's rights in re: Street Fighter II. If THAT didn't merit a victory, no way Joust Pong and Mondo Pong do.)

[Xot]

Along those lines, isn't there an old PC game called "Flashback"? I wonder who owns the rights to that name. It would be a shame if Atari couldn't release their new console because the name got them tied up in some legal paperwork.

[Rob Mitchell]

Albert said:

Four homebrew games were removed (Castle Crisis, Mondo Pong, JoustPong, and Double Breakout), several reproductions based on Atari titles (such as Saboteur), and most of the hacks as they were based on games from Atari.  Beyond that and a few buttons they asked us to remove, there will be no other affect on AtariAge or the store.

Your answer is too vague. Removed from what? The store or the database or both? Which reproductions and which hacks? Which buttons? What is the total effect here? Is the concern about packaging? Name? or Gameplay? Might the binaries still be available?

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[Dan Iacovelli]

Infograms(atari) gave me simlar trouble when I started to put the fest issues on cafepress.com. I'm glad that it some how worked out so I can have them at cafepress now.

[Mindfield]

Xot said:

Along those lines, isn't there an old PC game called "Flashback"? I wonder who owns the rights to that name. It would be a shame if Atari couldn't release their new console because the name got them tied up in some legal paperwork.

Different product. Name copyrights only extend to similar products. A game system and a piece of software fundamentally different products, so each can share the same name so long as neither references the other in any way that implies association.

Oddly enough however I don't recall any lawsuits between Palace and Psygnosis; both of them released a game called Barbarian across multiple platforms. Perhaps video games, like music, are ineligible for name copyrights?


As to the Castle Crisis issue -- here too is something I don't understand. Why is it I can find two and a half billion Pac-Man, Tetris, Space Invaders, Asteroids, and other such clones across any platform you care to name, both freeware, shareware and commercial, and none of them have been sued out of existence? Is this not precisely he same issue?

[sku_u]

Albert said:

MegaManFan said:

I've seen three or four posts in different forums suggesting that Infogrames "did something" and now ALL games are going to be removed from both the AA database and the AA store, including homebrews that have nothing to do with either the original Atari or Infogrames today.  Is this true and if so what action did they actually take?  I thought originally a few hacks got pulled because of the Flashback unit, but it sounds like it's gone much further than that.

Four homebrew games were removed (Castle Crisis, Mondo Pong, JoustPong, and Double Breakout), several reproductions based on Atari titles (such as Saboteur), and most of the hacks as they were based on games from Atari. Beyond that and a few buttons they asked us to remove, there will be no other affect on AtariAge or the store.

..Al

Where's Sky Jaguar? Pete's Test Cart?

[Nathan Strum]

Infogrames can go take a flying leap.

I never liked them, and when they bought up Atari and usurped it's name for their own use, I knew they were going to start pulling crap like this.

Is it their legal right to do this? Sure.

Is it winning them any fans? Nope.

They do more harm to their own company by these sorts of actions than any alleged copyright violations ever would.

I hope they spiral out of control and go out of business. Nothing would make me happier than to see them utterly fail. I don't care if it takes the Atari name with it. It's only a name now.

[Kenwood]

This just really sucks....so is this the new Napster type campaign?

[MegaManFan]

Albert said:

Four homebrew games were removed (Castle Crisis, Mondo Pong, JoustPong, and Double Breakout), several reproductions based on Atari titles (such as Saboteur), and most of the hacks as they were based on games from Atari.  Beyond that and a few buttons they asked us to remove, there will be no other affect on AtariAge or the store.  

..Al

Thanks for the official word Al. I think the only one I hadn't already bought was Mondo Pong, but I'm not sweating it too much. For those who haven't gotten to experience the others though, Saboteur in particular, it's a HUGE loss. And how does HSW feel about it?

[SS]

MegaManFan said:

For those who haven't gotten to experience the others though, Saboteur in particular, it's a HUGE loss.

Yeh. Now I kinda wish that I had picked up "Saboteur". Ah well, you snooze you loose, I guess.

I wouldn't be completely surprise if something can't be eventually worked out, however. Especially knowing a thing or two about who else might have a finger in the pot.

[sku_u]

If anyone wants to use my avatar to show their disgust, feel free to do so:

Attached image(s)

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[christianscott27]

man i hope they rethink that, what a way to stick it to your base.

anyways i can sorta see where they're coming from on some of those games but "joustpong"? joustpong is so far from either game in its title.

[Mock]

wonder how long it will be before CNN runs a story about Atari pissing off it's fan base...lol..they eat this kinda shit up...they love bad PR...lol.

I'm guessing the first slow news day after about 3 weeks...lol.

[CPUWIZ]

Mock said:

wonder how long it will be before CNN runs a story about Atari pissing off it's fan base...lol..they eat this kinda shit up...they love bad PR...lol.

I'm guessing the first slow news day after about 3 weeks...lol.

As soon as the slashdot bomb gets dropped.

[Mock]

[Radio F Software]

Mock said:

wonder how long it will be before CNN runs a story about Atari pissing off it's fan base...lol..they eat this kinda shit up...they love bad PR...lol.

I'm guessing the first slow news day after about 3 weeks...lol.

[Adam Ferrara] I'd be like one of those tornado victims like, "It all happened so fast! I dunno, gonna have to rebuild... or something." [/Adam Ferrara]

[Paul Slocum]

CPUWIZ said:

As soon as the slashdot bomb gets dropped.  

I'll submit a story tomorrow.