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In this issue:
	Re: the ultimate game request of the homebrewers
	Re: The ultimate request of international copyright laws.
	Re: The ultimate game request of the homebrewers
	homebrew request- replies to the last few emails
	PC Engine Game
	Re: PC Engine Game

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From: darkman@darkcityproductions.com
Date: Fri Nov 29 03:02:19 EST 2002
Subject: Re: the ultimate game request of the homebrewers



 > Hey List, think of a PC Engine game that you'd like to play in English
 > with English instructions.  (I'll say, as an example, Y's IV: The Dawn of
 > Y's)...would you pay $40 to have a US version of this game?  I'd pay $50.

I paid $80 for mine back in the day, I still have not finished it. I would 
pay the same if not more for a US version.

DarkMan @ www.darkcityproductions.com
PC Engine & other stuff.



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From: darkman@darkcityproductions.com
Date: Fri Nov 29 03:23:21 EST 2002
Subject: Re: The ultimate request of international copyright laws.



 > If you want to know the "right" way to do what you are thinking about,
 > or more right than you're proposing anyway, visit
 > http://www.darkcityproductions and ask the webmaster about his Ys
 > remixed music.
 > 
 > ~Alek

He he... I just can't help myself from answering this. :)

I for one was just messing around, and thought that it would be fun to 
change the audio tracks in Ys, so I did. I thought, "I bet people would 
enjoy this." The idea of making a package design and selling it seemed like 
a fun idea, but I realized that it was not mine to sell. (needless to say, 
not THAT much has changed) I also thought to myself. "People would enjoy 
this, but they would be pissed if they had to pay for it, or wouldn't." 
Therefore I did what I did. (you can see on my site)

Hey, if someone wants to say, translate Ys IV to English, then release it 
(and distribute it like do Ys) more power to them, I just don't see that 
happening. Besides, I am sure when I speak for everyone when I say. "We 
want to be able to buy it, and hold it in our hands"

One last thing. I find in quite amusing that my site was brought up twice 
as of late. I must say, feels good to be part of the community.  (now if I 
could only find some free time to make more updates)

DarkMan @ www.darkcityproductions.com
PC Engine & other stuff.


--- Turbo List Information ----------------------------------------------
Turbo Zone Direct is the official NEC repair staion for all American Turbo 
products.  With the highest regard for customer service in this industry, 
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From: darkman@darkcityproductions.com
Date: Fri Nov 29 03:25:18 EST 2002
Subject: Re: The ultimate game request of the homebrewers



 >      Just think about it, please?  Imagine Land of Y's, Cosmic Fantasy IV
 > (oooohhhhh double disc set), Macross SLG, Gulliver Boy and others on CDs (even
 > with hucard sound, so what) playing on your US TG-16 in English!  THIS is the
 > untapped side of the US Duo and the way for Mindrec and others to get the
 > funds together for bigger original projects.  Will anyone second this?

for one second this (note, I have not read any other replies to this post 
yet). I do agree with you and the issues with copyright. No, they would not 
care. But that still does not make it right, with that said. It's going to 
be hard to get anyone to stand up to the plate for such a project. Who has 
got the balls? Who has got the funds? Who will bother? Sure, If I had any 
extra money at all. I sure as hell would persue such a quest. It reminds me 
of a dream that I often have. (or is it daydream) I dream that I win a 
lottery of millions, then buy the rights to games such as Ys IV, then 
translate them and release them for all to enjoy at affordable prices. The 
question is CAN the rights be bought? Where would you start? Assuming that 
you had the means to buy the rights, I am guessing that the cost would be 
way to high to make any profit, or even come out ahead for this matter.

So, to conclude my thoughts on the topic. "Yes it would be cool, sure 
someone could do it, but I doubt anyone will."

DarkMan @ www.darkcityproductions.com
PC Engine & other stuff.


--- Turbo List Information ---------------------------------------------
Has anyone else noticed that Bonk looks suspicously similar to Dopey
from the Walt Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?  Perhaps
this is one of those "Separated at birth" things.
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From: duo16@mindspring.com
Date: Fri Nov 29 03:42:12 EST 2002
Subject: homebrew request- replies to the last few emails


       jpollock wrote:

 > Kisados aren't a violation of anyone's >copyright, and you don't have to have

 > permission to create third-party hardware for >game systems (Nintendo sued 
 > Galoob over the Game Genie, and lost).
 
   i'll remind you that sony sued NCS succesfully for selling mod devices
(which were really intended to sell imports) and they also got Radio Shack and
most recently, microsoft, nintendo, and sony cracked down on lik-sang.  true,
the mod devices were eventually being used to pirate software or play pirated
software but the bottom line is, for a company that actually cares, hardware
mods/ converters are a really sore spot.  notice how the gameshark for example
is never billed as a device that can play imports?  it's more of an
unadvertised and perhaps even unintended bonus.  

 > Creating an emulator isn't illegal, either, >unless the emulation relies on 
 > copying copyrighted code.
     
      no, it is not illegal.  i am in favor of emulators.  however, making
money on them is a source of serious controversy most recently with sony and
nintendo.  and in the unlikely event NEC decides to rerelease a cheap version
of the Duo or revive it the way nintendo did the SNES through the GBA, then a
$15 magic engine emulator would be the object of some controversy.
  
 > A patch to a commercially released game is >legal, too, if the license
permits 
 > it, and sometimes even if it does.
 
 > ROM images are violations of the DMCA.  Whether >or not a copyright owner
comes 
 > after you for them depends entirely on what >assets you have.  If you have
none, 
 > then there's no point in pursuing damages.  If >you have some, then they
might 
 > get interested.
 
      i don't think we need to worry about assets here.  whatever is made
would probably be enough to cover production costs.      

 > If you mess with TRADEMARKS, as opposed to >COPYRIGHTS, you WILL get one of
the 
 > those polite "knock it off" letters from a >lawyer... trademarks have to be 
 > defended, or they can be lost.

     you'll get warned if you mess with a disney, microsoft trademark.  but
Telnet?  Westone?  i doubt it.  unless you really made a significant profit,
the "knock it off" letter would cost more than what was earned on the game.  i
can't even begin to imagine how many fradulencies have been carried out
against SNK and nary a thing was done about it because (again) either SNK
didn't know or simply didn't care to expend resources to hunt down a few
people who likely didn't make very much money anyway.
 
 > There are people who have in the past, on ebay >and elsewhere, sold copies of

 > games, sometimes openly, sometimes >fraudulently.  Look at all the warnings
ebay 
 > has now on the subject.  Hint:  lawyers were >involved, and ebay has money.

      As for what Alek said:

 > Magic Engine is on the up and up. David Michel >programmed it. No sweat.
 > Kisado is on the up and up. David Shadoff >created the thing.

      I am very appreciative of any work people do for our favorite system but
just because these people created something, it doesn't mean it's on the up
and up.  What kind of reaction do you think a kisado or magic engine would get
if they were released for the xbox or playstation 2?  poor bleem was deemed
legal and it still died a fate worse than death.

      and wedge. wrote:

 > If translations are something being considered, >I'd go ahead and try to
contact these companies. 

     It's worth a try of course but I read read from Victor Ireland how very
difficult it is to get them to listen to you unless you are an established
publisher or have some credentials (not to mention money).  If you ask them,
they will not give anything away...that would set the most dangerous of
trends.  However, if and I mean IF they ever learned of the project and the
whole (say) 500-1,000 copies, they'd only consider sending  a cease and
desist, if you will, if they feel that it's even worth it. this project (like
so many fan-based groups) is too unnofficial to rouse sleeping or ignorant
developers in japan to try and trace a handful of copies.  now if, say,
electronic arts tried this, well, they might get noticed because their
projects are in the spotlight and they are easy to find and they are a legit
company violating another company's copyright. but a group of die hards who
could even preface a release with "this translation is not licensed in any way
by so and so or so and X and X aer repective trademarks of X".    
       


--- Turbo List Information ----------------------------------------------
Turbo Zone Direct is the official NEC repair staion for all American Turbo 
products.  With the highest regard for customer service in this industry, 
our reputation is paramount, our track record is an open book.  Check us 
out at http://WWW.TZD.COM/  Your feedback is always appreciated.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


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From: LadyVelm@cybertrails.com
Date: Fri Nov 29 10:56:42 EST 2002
Subject: PC Engine Game


  Not sure if I'm sending this right. I haven't bought Imploade, because I
don't play puzzle games. I only play rpg's. I also would like to see an
english version of Y's IV, or any english rpg.
   I would be very interested in purchasing that. I sold my turbo duo, years
back, it was the biggest mistack I've ever made about games. I really miss
my duo, & can't afford another one. Fixed Income, since I am retired.
   As for emulators. that's the only way I can play games now. Not sure if
that's a good thing or not, but with the magic engine, I can at least play
some games on my pc.
so, maybe sometime soon, you can do an rpg. Yes, I have a ps2, & gamecube,
but I spend more time on my pc, playing pce games than my games that I have
for my other systems.
   Sorry about the long post.
Thank you,
LadyVelm

Zeograd said:

Hey List, think of a PC Engine game that you'd like to play in English
with English instructions. (I'll say, as an example, Y's IV: The Dawn of
Y's)...would you pay $40 to have a US version of this game? I'd pay $50.

george

 > Zeograd



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From: scotfb@attbi.com
Date: Fri Nov 29 11:22:14 EST 2002
Subject: Re: PC Engine Game


As far as Implode is concerned, I am interested in perhaps picking a copy of 
the game up, but the date of release has kind of missed its target. It 
came out around late summer. During late summer, I was busy buying my usual load of 
school books, and now that I am finished paying those bills down, I am greeted 
with Christmas AND the Winter semester of college to worry about.  But enough 
about me.

As far as the translating games thing is concerned.  I wouldn't be as bold as 
to attempt to distribute any games that belong to companies that 
actually still exist. Companies like, Telnet Japan, who is now a publisher of numerous Pachi-
Slot Playstation games might develop the motivation to sue would be copyright 
infringers.  Likewise, Falcom would probably be motivated to do the 
same thing, ESPECIALLY if business becomes grim. 

I would take a stab at translation of some of the lay about Hu-Card 
roms, but I am thick headed when it comes to programming (which is sad, because it was my 
previous major)

If anyone could extract the Japanese font set of a game, and then e-mail it to 
me, or show me how to easily (Read: VERY EASILY) extract the text from a game. 
I would definitely (albiet slowly) attempt a translation.  I am especially 
interested in attempting to translate Maison Ikkoku into English (Mainly 
because I can already understand 70% of the game, and I have a Japanese friend 
that would definitely assist me in the process)

Here is a strange suggestion, has anyone ever considered disecting an existing 
game (like Cosmic Fantasy, Y's 1 and 2, or any other simpler RPG) and posting 
the components of code as templates for the would-be Hu-C programmer.

Well, that's about all I can think of,
Scot

 



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