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IDSA Requests VIC 20 Cartridge Roms Takedown
An anonymous reader writes "The VIC20 cartridge dump archive has been taken down by FUNET following a request by the IDSA (Interactive Digital Software Association). More info from comp.sys.cbm."
Of course, VIC 20 users are now going to have to buy their cartridges in stores, and by "stores", I mean garage sales, flea markets, and swap meets.
Remember, they are still covered under copyright. For the next century at least, unless Disney extends the mouse again. There's no such thing as abandonware. Which is why Disney can put their movies into "the vault" for long periods of time, only to open it again for the next generation.
I can't say that I don't give a fuck. I've just run out of fuck to give.
I used to buy this argument, but I don't anymore.
(Note on the last one, I purchased that once for $2 just for Beamrider, which remains a truly awesome game.)
Of course it need not be a "threat to civilization", it need only harm a bottom line, and the argument can be made that it indeed may. (Note a lot of old stuff is coming out for the Gameboy Advance, for instance; I purchased the Phantasy Star Collection recently, and I am pleased. What I'd really like is the Bard's Tale on the GBA, though. If it weren't for the infernal need to make money that would be a cool development project to undertake.
We all know that the copyright system needs a bit of an overhaul in the face of the technological changes of this and the previous century.
We all know that it is in the most profitable interests of large content holders/providers to fight these changes.
Whining will help, but not much.
If you want the Vic20 cartridges, buy the rights from the copyright holder and release them.
If you want to win the right to all the old cartridges and games and the technology that has blended into our cultural heritage in decades past, but is no longer profitable to package for consumers, support the EFF and change the law. This is not simply how honorable people fight these battles, it is how we win them in such a way that our children can fight new battles with these safely behind.
I recall some ROM site (TI99/4A site perhaps?) where the owner got explicit permission from the copyright holders to post their ROMS, but he still got a letter from these goons.
Short of the discovery process of a lawsuit, is there any way to force the hand of these organizations to prove they are in the right for each specific case?
Method of processing duck feet
1. Are there any VIC 20 games that are actually worth playing, and aren't inferior versions of games available for other formats?
2. Is there a comprehensive list of VIC 20 software (like Cowering's goodtools)?
3. How big would a zip file containing all available software?
You can see where I'm heading with this...
P.S. kids, where are the automated tools to automatically download rom list updates, locate the missing data through various channels (web, news, irc), download, verify and update?
I'm one of the lucky few who still owns a perfectly working Atari 2600. Although I've had to make some repairs on it over the years...
To me, these 10-in-1 games are a really great idea for getting the games that I played growing up out to the "unwashed masses" who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to play them. Believe it or not, most computer users AND computer games, I would dare say, do not know about emulators.
Go down to your local RPG or war game store. Most of those people probably play video games. Ask them, "Did you know you can play old NES and Atari games on your computer using an emulator?" Most of them will give you blank stares!
But I digress - the on-topic part of this post is simply this. Retail outlets for these games no longer exist. When you buy them at a garage sale or at a flea market, the publisher and/or copyright holder do *not* receive any portion of that sale.
So how can the IDSA argue that it's hurting the copyright holder since these games are no longer available for retail sale (or, for that matter, for purchase directly from the probably-out-of-business-by-now developer)?
All of this copyright and patent stuff that's going on right now WILL have serious consequences for the future. I, for one, do not want to live in a world where I merely lease content for a certain period of time where I only can use it in one of three "pre-approved" ways or some such.
The IDSA be damned. Someone with some money needs to put up a big site full of these games for free download. Wait for the IDSA. When they come, BAM!, take them to court. Yes, you'll lose the initial battle, but take it up. Keep appealing. Once it reaches a court high enough, you'll begin looking at the laws themselves, and maybe people will start to see how corrupt the copyright and patent system has become. It'll be a long and expensive fight, but it MUST happen before things will get any better.
... M$ will push their mobile phone platform into everyone's ass sooner or later and these games are just waiting to be repackaged in a cool new .NET shrinkwrap (or .99 $ one-click dl ;-) You all know the crowds are holding their breath to play pacman on the cell... sigh! Sad to think I'm only joking while those fools are probably dead serious, eh? Let's play an old game instead: guess how many PowerPoint presentations have been wasted on these scenarios?
Mi domando chi à il mandante di tutte le cazzate che faccio - Altan