18 replies to this topic

[Klove]

Hey Guys...

If I may, I have something I'd like to run by you all.

I'm likely going to be starting a new self-funded retro gaming collection. I'm a bit on the fence as to how / which platform(s) I should go.

That is.. It would be very easy for us to go off and do another 2600 compilation based-off of some other 3rd Party publisher(s). Gawd knows that most, if not all of them have since went the way of the Dodo. Yet... I do know where, how and who to contact in order to get the rights to these licenses.

Obviously Atari and Activision are out of the question. The Anthology package kinda' set the bar with compilations. So, the trick for me, is to out-do what I've already done.

As I trust this community immensely, I'd like to get some of your guys' feedback.

My question, I guess is this...

- Go after another 2600 compilation package?
- Go after a bunch of electronic handhelds?
- Go after another "old school" console

.. OR...

I have one other GRAND (Super BIG) idea that would really be an undertaking, but it would likely cost way more money that what I'm willing to put into this right now. Of course, I guess I / We could start off by just building the foundation with a couple platforms and then add onto that foundation later. Essentially, growing it and / or branching out.

Hmm...

Also, the likelihood of this actually happening, is about 95%. This project IS NOT commissioned by any big game publisher either.

The platforms we'll be looking to support initially, are as follows..

iOS
Android .. and
XBox Live

Lemme' know what you think, please.

Have A Nice Daycade!

- Ken

[sdamon]

I'm pretty much up for any kind of retro compilation, especially one we haven't seen before. A 2600 compilation consisting of games from publishers that have never been seen since their intial release would be fun, but I'm not sure how popular it would be.

Any chance of going after some arcade publishers who still haven't released any kind of compilation? Compaines like Stern, Exidy, Universal and Cinematronics come to mind.

The Grand / Super Big project sure sounds intriguing...

[Torr]

This might not be the direction you were heading but what I'D like to see is a compilation of the old Tiger, Konami and Acclaim (and whoever else made good ones) LCD games.
I had SOOOO much fun back in the day with The Simpsons: Cupcake Crisis, NARC & Bigfoot by Acclaim, plus the TMNT games by Konami and Double Dragon by Tiger.
I love the site http://pica-pic.com/ but unfortunately it's missing most of the games I grew up enjoying and/or wanting.
I know these games seem archaic by most standards but they are technically more advanced (in my opinion) than say Angry Birds.
Sure Angry Birds uses a LOT of physics, therefor making them more 'advanced', but I'm sure 75%+ of players just pull and launch. That's it. These old games are to me the equivalent of the VCS, very simple design, very easy to understand, but damn hard to master. (much like Angry Birds... not shittin' on Angry Birds, just saying if THAT game can be a hit, then so can these old Gems)
The only real compilation of LCD games were the Game&Watch series for GBC/GBA, but they only covered Nintendo's own games and unfortunately even THEY did a less than perfect job of emulating there own games. Come on, if these LCD games were made in the 80's why couldn't even Game&Watch Gallery 4 for the GBA made in the 2000's be accurate when using a 32-bit, high-res, god knows how many colors display? Acclaim is out of business now and most LCD games I wanted as a kid were by them, so who owns the right to their games/creations? Licensing I imagine would be the worst for these games because SOOO many were adaptations of other peoples commercial games/movies/tv shows/whatever.

I suppose E-Bay, mucho dineros, and a good supply of AA batteries is my only way to re-enjoy these classics.

[Gemintronic]

Do you have a 2600 emulator working on all these platforms? How are you going to work around the Apple restrictions on anything emulator-like?

[Klove]

Torr,

I do believe it would be pretty darn hard to go after alot of those "licensed" / popular games. Getting the rights to actually use them wouldn't be so hard, it's then going after the people who own .. say.. The Simpson, etc. that'll be the hard part. They will all want a piece of the pie, thus pretty much making the project DOA.

Doing a collection of old dead IP, now.. that to me, is alot more appealing. I've thought about going the route of say.. the Mattel handhelds, Speak 'n' Spell and a few others. Going the 2600 route though, it would be nice to bring ALOT of those guys back that haven't seen the light of day, since.

Maybe this would be the best route to go. I believe that I could chase down most, if not all of their current respectful owners. Alot of them, I sorta' met or ran into while doing the Acti Anthology project.

Theloon, you have a good point. I will be speaking with Apple Dev Reps, shortly. I think the pitch for the project, will be more like an Anthology one, where it's not simply about emulation, but that there is a bigger picture here that can allow the app itself to branch out into the "social" arena as well.

I'm certainly not saying I'm out of the woods though. :-/

Thanks for your guys' input.

- Ken

[Random Terrain]

So this would be for people who don't already use a PC emulator like Stella or an online emulator to play classic games and newer games like Seaweed Assault?

[Klove]

Uhmm... well.. it's meant for people with iPhones and Android's. I realize that people can D/L the old roms 'n' play them on their PC's and Androids.. for that matter. This package would more than likely be another Anthology of other 3rd Party developers and publishers from that same time period. But again.. as like with the Anthology package.. to present them "as they were then". To once again capture that atmosphere and do these guys justice. Like what we did with AA. Those other guys were Atari guys too. Maybe not to the extent of Activision, Imagic or Atari.. but still.

[jhd]

I think that it would be great to see a proper re-release of some of the games not created by by Atari/Activision/Inmagic, but I wonder if there is a sufficient market. Obscure titles will have little nostalga-value for most people and so the games would really have to stand on their own. Only a few third-parties have would have enough good games in their library to justify a collection.

I never much played handhelds growing up (and I still don't own portable system) so I have no comment on that proposal.

[fiddlepaddle]

"RetroVCS: The Froggo/Mythicon Collection"

[Random Terrain]

I wonder if any of these companies would be good:

Tigervision

Parker Brothers

U.S. Games

20th Century Fox

Coleco

M Network

[roberto]

What about a collection based on Imagic titles?

[Klove]

Activision owns the Imagic catalog. "I should know." RT, that listing you have there... those are a few of the companies that I'm going to start tracing down today. US Games is first on the list. :-/

Will update here as I go along.

Stay Tuned!

- Ken

[jhd]

Coleco titles would present a challenge because (almost) all of their releases were licensed ports of arcade games (except for the Smurf games). Even if the copyright/permissions could be obtained, they are still sub-part ports of arcade games that are all(?) available on the same platforms in their original glory.

That said, it would be fun to see the response from Nintendo when asked for permission to re-release the 2600 version of Donkey Kong.

[Klove]

Funny you should mention that, 'cause while at Namco, we did get the rights to do the coin-op Popeye game for Mobile.. AND.. that did happen.

I have phone calls and emails into some U.S. Games people as well as some Fox people. We'll see how these go. I have a follow-up with some Quaker people, next Monday. I've also got a call into some ex-Data Age people.

The interface for this one, will take place in an 80's toy store. Think.. "The Counter." Heh.. at one point, I also thought about "The Bin". Though, I'm not sure some off these people would appreciate that idear. :-)

- Ken

- Ken

[stephena]

I'm just wondering, would this project be using Stella in some fashion behind the scenes? It not, then you can ignore my message. Otherwise, I'd want to make sure, before any work begins, that the licensing for Stella is being followed and everything is above-board.

[Klove]

Stella is not involved at all, actually.

[FujiSkunk]

At one point Atari Corp. either bought or at least licensed the Parker Brothers and Coleco 2600 catalogs. Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior, Venture, Mouse Trap and Q*Bert were re-released as first-party cartridges, and Turbo and Frogger were also planned for re-release. The new Atari may still have those rights. On the other hand those were all arcade ports so you would have to talk to the owners of the original games as well.

Edited by FujiSkunk, Fri Jun 15, 2012 3:00 PM.

[jhd]

Funny you should mention that, 'cause while at Namco, we did get the rights to do the coin-op Popeye game for Mobile.. AND.. that did happen.

Interesting, because that would also have included third-party rights (Nintendo owns the game code and someone else owns the characters).

[garyd97]

I would love to see a new Atari compilation project. Personally I would like to see a new Atari anthology with a better interface and maybe some 7800 games included like Food fight and Pole Positoin II. The activistion anthology was just put together so much better (still bitter about riddle of sphinx and phoenix though). I would like the game to come out on a Nintendo product though.