312 replies to this topic

[Chickybaby]

What a bunch of fucking assholes at Infogrames.
I know there are quite a few people here who put a lot of work into programming games and people like this hurt the entire community. Sadly, we don't have any of the games that got pulled, we were gonna save up and get a ton at the next PC.
Besides getting the word out on what is going on and boycotting them, what can we do to help keep our Atari community together? Many people here at these forums have become almost like "extended" family, and I just hope that those asswipes don't start something because of the AtariAge name. Is there any way to protect that?
I'm sorry I didn't see this thread earlier. The creativity of so many good and darn talented people is being compromised.

[Kepone]

What makes me angrier, is how Infogrames may have singlehandly killed any possiblitiy of pushing the 7800 to its limits. We have yet to see many 7800 homebrews and it's possible we may never see any. I wouldn't rule it out totally. Same goes for the 2600 and 5200.

Let's profess our faith in Albert to work something out with the Evil Empire (InfoAtari).

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Kepone said:

Let's profess our faith in Albert to work something out with the Evil Empire (InfoAtari).

Probably this would be much easier and with a better chance of success if Infogrames/Atari wouldn't be constantly insulted here.

[sku_u]

MegaManFan said:

Did I hear correctly that one of our fellow board members got a "C&D" letter for using an Atari logo in his flyer and on his website to promote a gaming night?  That's really f'n ridiculous, if true.

I can believe it. My wife got a threatening email for using pixellated graphics in the banner promoting our gaming night. That doesn't even have an Atari logo anywhere. They were unhappy over the use of a Berzerk robot and the Adventure yellow block. I wouldn't be surprised if they went after Aimee for her paintings of characters from Atari games next.

[moycon]

LOL well if they wern't before they probably will now that you've posted it to a public internet forum.

What exactly do you have against aimee that you would do this sku_u??

Honestly folks. Take a breather. The hobbies not dead. Quit using someone elses idea's and logo's and whatever else they own for a bit. Jeeze. If you have a 100% percent completed Atari collection and are bored...go read a book or take a walk in the park. Get some stimulation quickly cuz I guarentee this is NOT the end of the world...or even the end of classic gaming.

Here's some advice to home brewers.... Don't use someone elses title in your games...and for the love of god quit starting shit or you may click on Atari Age in your favorites pull down and hit a dead link...think about that smart guy.

[StanJr]

and don't think that isn't a very real concern (you'll note there have not been many paintings as of late.)

Thomas, I understand the "let's be cowed by the big corporation and wait to see what truffles they will throw us and be happy to get anything" but I am very upset about this issue. I can't just let Infogrames shit in my hat and then say "thank you, it fits much better now." I'm pissed. I think they are making a big mistake. And I think they need to know that. If I bottle up the way I feel and just take a wait and see attitude, they are just going to keep taking and taking. They need to be aware of the resistance and the negative effects their actions may cause. The longer we sit and take it, the longer they are going to keep taking away the things we enjoy.

Now while I agree, lobbing insults is not the best way to go about this, I do think angry voices need to be heard.

[moycon]

Get a few thousand potentialy angry voices together and write em down on a list so's you know what your backbone is , other wise wise they aint gonna care.

Angry voice or not, if there's cash to be made.... a couple hundred middle-aged classic gamers.... 70% of which have yet to purchase a product from the "new" atari are not going to make a wave.

You need to quit talking about it and get a game plan...Recruit those angry voices...Make that list.

[StanJr]

moycon said:

and for the love of god quit starting shit or you may click on Atari Age in your favorites pull down and hit a dead link...think about that smart guy.

if you don't start shit, I can guarantee you'll hit a dead link..smart guy.

Right now, I think we are all in the "knee-jerk" reaction phase. What we need is a leader to step forward and organize the very thing you propose. We need to move to action and we need someone with the right contacts and standing to take a stand and lead us to the promised land.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

StanJr said:

Thomas, I understand the "let's be cowed by the big corporation and wait to see what truffles they will throw us and be happy to get anything" but I am very upset about this issue.  I can't just let Infogrames shit in my hat and then say "thank you, it fits much better now."

I never said so. Actually I am quite pissed too. But since we are IMO in a much weaker situation than they are, it won't help us attacking them (except it makes you feel temporary better).

As long as there is a chance for a compromise we shouldn't waste it. The hobby is to precious to me that I would completely risk it by annoying those who are able to destroy it.

And If they refuse to make an acceptable deal with the classic community, we can still start insulting them (and feel better ).

[Chickybaby]

I do agree with Moycon in a sense that anything programmed or created should be kept quiet - I don't think though that the world should stop because people are acting like jerks or that creative enterprises should be ceased. I also agree with getting a game plan together and making these issues more widely known.

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a couple hundred middle-aged classic gamers

Thanks sweetheart, see if you get any bikini pics now. And, you know yer still older then me.

[Breakpack]

........Ahhhh,bikini............

[moycon]

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if you don't start shit, I can guarantee you'll hit a dead link..smart guy.

WRONG!!!

This sentence is BULLSHIT.

Your second sentance made more sense, clear your mind and think about it. Starting shit with a company is calling them InFROGgames. Bashing them publically. Sending them crap emails written in a state of mind like you are now obviously.

Organize if it's worth it to you, that's all I got to say, but don't make it worse for the rest of us.

[StanJr]

You can divert any bikini pics intended for moycon, directly to me please

I understand your point about the "weaker position,' Thomas, but sometimes an animal is the most dangerous when backed into a corner. We are being backed into a corner.
When they came and took all the hacks away, the official word was "just be cool, this is all they are going to do, it'll be ok." Now they are taking the Homebrews (bit by bit) from us, and we are getting the same story "just wait and see, we'll find a compromise," but I'm not seeing any attempts at compromise and I can guarantee we'll be the ones being compromised here. As you said, we are the extremely little guy v. the big $$$$ machine. I do not believe for a minute that Infogrames has any interest in what our community wants.

[moycon]

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Thanks sweetheart, see if you get any bikini pics now. And, you know yer still older then me

Ooops I forgot to add, and a handfull of young sweet nubile Atarichicks. Heh Its my age dear... You know what they say, the mind is the second thing to go.

[moycon]

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Infogrames has any interest in what our community wants.

Hmmmm It would be cool if they were planning there own system that only included the games they are wanting to pull. I wont hold my breath for it, but I suppose it IS a possibility.

[StanJr]

I can't believe we are getting a "don't rock the boat" take from you moycon. This is a shocker.

And, as I said, insults are probably not the way to do this, I have never resorted to name calling tactics, but I do think the spirit of such action and the feelings they stem from need to be expressed. The longer you take a "wait and see" approach, the more you are going to lose. It's a historical truth.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

moycon said:

Organize if it's worth it to you, that's all I got to say, but don't make it worse for the rest of us.

My thoughts exactly.

For the record: I will actively support any constructive attempt which helps improving the situation of the classic community.

And bashing and insulting is not constructive!

[Thomas Jentzsch]

StanJr said:

I do not believe for a minute that Infogrames has any interest in what our community wants.

I prefer to base my opinion on facts, not unverified assumptions. Or do you know anything about the (for sure) currently ongoing negotiations?

[Chickybaby]

Well, so lets brainstorm and see what we can do...
My first idea:
- Written petitions are always more effective then verbal, or at least they seem to be. So can someone construct a well written, non-inflammatory letter which illustrates our concerns and we find a main address to send it to? I say that we send seperate since it is more volume.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Chickybaby said:

- Written petitions are always more effective then verbal, or at least they seem to be. So can someone construct a well written, non-inflammatory letter which illustrates our concerns and we find a main address to send it to? I say that we send seperate since it is more volume.

I doubt Infogrames wants to take the time to count the letters, so IMO an online petition would be better.

[StanJr]

sadly, no, it appears no one does, or is going to. This is a closed doors matter, where who knows if our interests are even being represented.

What I DO know, is the history of Capitalism and that is what is going to dictate the out come of this issue. My "unverified assumptions" come from the horrible track record capitalism has for considering the concerns of the "little guy."

[Breakpack]

Maybe my huggs will pull us through..................

[StanJr]

"Thomas Jentzsch said:

I doubt Infogrames wants to take the time to count the letters, so IMO an online petition would be better.

All the better, if they don't want to take the time, I say we MAKE them take the time. If bags of mail are dropped on their desk they have to pay attention. Anyone can just ignore an electronic petition, you can't ignore thousands of delivered physical letters. You can't ignore a jammed telephone switchboard that locks up your ability to effectively conduct business.

[moycon]

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My "unverified assumptions" come from the horrible track record capitalism has for considering the concerns of the "little guy."

Good point but surely there has to be a reason for the recent activity. No doubt financially motivated. Might be Atari has big plans for resurecting classic games. Might just be there's a department in Atari that has to justify their paycheck. I guess only time will tell.

[sniperCCJVQ]

cvga said:

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

Made by Daniel Bienvenu for the Colecovision.