Fallout license goes to...

[kumquatq3]

It would be worth $20 to me anyway . . .

If any of you moderators know any of the people involved in this, run this idea by them. It just could work.

I agree that it could work (six figs tho?...not sure about that. Thats 5000 people donating 20 bucks. Even then, paypal eats like 20cents or something for every donation. So, it would take even more than that. Its possible...but...)

The problem is what happens if it doesn't?

Where does all the money go?

 

[Elissar]

It would be worth at least 100 to me.. and i only bring in about $1200 a month pre tax.


Elissar - US Army and rabbid fallout fanboy

 

[Capelworth]

I don't think they can sell Van Buren, based on the Vivendi deal. But they could have someone else finish it. That way they don't incur dev costs, don't have the extra BIS staff, ect. A deal could probably be structured if someone was willing to take the risk.

This is the way I understand it:

They can sell the PC FO rights (this isn't the same as selling VB)

They can sell the engine

They can't sell the unfinished VB without Viv giving it a greenlight or resturcturing the contract.

They seemingly could let some one else finish VB if Viv published. Not sell VB, just pay someone to finish it. Thats the way i understand this..so far.

That's how I've interpreted it as well, except that I'm really not sure about the engine.

Here's the relevant statement in the Vivendi deal...

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1057232/000117091803000601/iec10q093003.txt
(Section 12.4d)

Interplay expressly acknowledges
and agrees that with respect to any Partner Product cancelled by
Interplay, as contemplated in this SECTION 12.4(D), Interplay
shall not publish or commercially release, or authorize any third
party to publish or commercially release such cancelled Partner
Product during the Term of this Agreement; provided, however,
that with respect to a Partner Product cancelled by Interplay
during development, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, Interplay shall not be prohibited from selling its
ownership rights in the cancelled Partner Product to a third
party.

I'm interpreting that as a green light for Interplay to sell the rights to any game in development, but a red light for turning the actual game in development over to anyone else. That's not to say that it's not negotiable, however. I'm sure that Vivendi wouldn't object if there's something in it for them. Interplay did sell the Hunter sequels in mid-development--under this contract, if I'm not mistaken--but they sold them to Vivendi.

But let me make the following qualifications:
(a) I'm not certain that I'm interpreting it correctly. I'm no lawyer.
(b) This portion of the Vivendi distribution deal may have been amended since this document was made public.

 

[AssassinEdge187]

That would be cool.

I think that would be a good idea for them.

 

[Draconias Galactica]

Selling or liscensing or renting or whatever-ing this game off would probably be a rare good move by Interplay. If they do sell or whatever it, they can make some money and then go bankrupt much later on. On the other hand, if they don't sell, they'll go bankrupt sooner, due to certin...medical expenses (how much does the average funeral cost nowadays? How many people are not liked in interplay right now? ).

Besides, the mysterious and wise Fallout 2 Magic 8-Ball told me it could happen. Who (what, maybe?) is fate to compete with a dark, ancient power like a magic 8-Ball?

 

[Bobbin]

Re: Maybe we could be of assistance . . .

The BIS people could set up some sort of PayPal account that we fallout fans could contribute to to help raise money to help Black Isle buy Fallout away from Interplay.

I'd give 50$, no joke. I will start a new topic for this. Maybe we can work something out. If we get a few hundred or even thousand people donating 10-20 bucks it won't finance Fallout 3 but set a clear sign (and help financing it).

 

[Chronus]

But guys wait, maybe IPLY want to make a port of FOBOS to PC so they aren't able to sell the pc license...the horror!

As much as i'd love to help the development of fallout 3, I still can't put money into a paypal account(mom would never let me) even if i'd be willing to buy 2 copies of fallout 3 just like I did of fallout 1 & 2 to see to it that BIS stays alive..well look how well that went still.

Imho, guys at black isle should've seperated from interplay a long time ago around the time after releasing fallout 2 and gone DIRECTLY to fo3 and not wasted their time and money with crappy IWD games etc and maybe then they wouldn't have had these problems.

 

[cloot AKA PiP]

the one bad thing about giving 20$ (to which I'm otherwise quite willing) is that I' have to NOT eat about 13 dinners at the students' cantine, since my income = the cost of dormitory + cheap food

 

[Francisco M L S G S]

20$ ? that's about 20€ as well, right?
If Iplay is willing to sell FO3's licence and the ex-BISers really want to buy it then its worth every cent!

 

[Spider]

Interplay expressly acknowledges
and agrees that with respect to any Partner Product cancelled by
Interplay, as contemplated in this SECTION 12.4(D), Interplay
shall not publish or commercially release, or authorize any third
party to publish or commercially release such cancelled Partner
Product during the Term of this Agreement; provided, however,
that with respect to a Partner Product cancelled by Interplay
during development, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, Interplay shall not be prohibited from selling its
ownership rights in the cancelled Partner Product to a third
party.

I'm interpreting that as a green light for Interplay to sell the rights to any game in development, but a red light for turning the actual game in development over to anyone else. That's not to say that it's not negotiable, however. I'm sure that Vivendi wouldn't object if there's something in it for them. Interplay did sell the Hunter sequels in mid-development--under this contract, if I'm not mistaken--but they sold them to Vivendi.

They also sold Galleon which definitely has been in development for quite some time and that wasn't sold to Vivendi afaik.

Now doesn't this deal expire by the end of next year? So technically (depending on where you place the emphasis) couldn't Interplay give out VB to a thid party developer as long as it isn't released in 2004 without being in direct violation of the deal? After all it only says Publish or Commercially release, that's not the same as deveoping...

Then again I'm no lawyer and really have no insight in american law practices.

 

[Brother None]

They also sold Galleon which definitely has been in development for quite some time and that wasn't sold to Vivendi afaik.

No they didn't, they sold the rights to Galleon. As noted above, they can do that without consulting Vivendi, but they can't sell any unfinished Galleon games, just the rights to the game

 

[Azael]

So, in other words Galleon is yet another money sink? Good work Interplay!

 

[Brother None]

So, in other words Galleon is yet another money sink? Good work Interplay!

Uh-huh. Didn't deem it worthy for a newspost, though I spotted the news 'fore going to bed last night...Maybe I should make a news, Interplay selling PC titles is a good sign.

 

[Spider]

They also sold Galleon which definitely has been in development for quite some time and that wasn't sold to Vivendi afaik.

No they didn't, they sold the rights to Galleon. As noted above, they can do that without consulting Vivendi, but they can't sell any unfinished Galleon games, just the rights to the game

I'm not sure I understand the difference here. Galleon has been in development for some time now and the company that bought the rights to it from Interplay talked about buying the game (ie releasing it fairly soon).

I'm guessing the fact that Galleon is developed by a third party could make a difference?

 

[Brother None]

I'm not sure I understand the difference here. Galleon has been in development for some time now and the company that bought the rights to it from Interplay talked about buying the game (ie releasing it fairly soon).

I'm guessing the fact that Galleon is developed by a third party could make a difference?

I believe the company that bought the rights was one of the developers of the game and already had legal acces to it. Or something. Don't remember, where's that article?

 

[Grum]

What about buying "Wasteland" rights! For those how doesn’t know original name of Fallout is Wasteland. And Fallout was build on game Wasteland!

Copy rights of Wasteland belong to Electronic Arts.

I’m sure it will be much cheaper, to buy it. And Interplay will suck because it wont get anything!

So let’s say kiss our ass Interlay!

 

[Brother None]

What about buying "Wasteland" rights! For those how doesn’t know original name of Fallout is Wasteland. And Fallout was build on game Wasteland!

Copy rights of Wasteland belong to Electronic Arts.

No they don't. EA sat on the rights too long, someone else picked it up and is working on a game...uhm...InXile, I believe.

 

[Spider]

I believe inXile has picked up the Wastelands liscense. Or I know they have, though I'm not sure if it's the same deal as with Bard's Tale or not (ie they have it everywhere but in the US).

As for the Galleon article, here is the Interplay press release:

http://www.interplay.com/investor/readpress.asp?CID=562

and here is the first article I saw on the topic (it was published before the Interplay press release):

link too long to write out without breaking tables

and here is one from Gamespot that I haven't read and that I can't acces at the moment (my connection is crap at times):

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/adventure/galleon/news_6085173.html

Basically it says SCi has signed the rights to the games and expect to publish it sometime spring 2004. Not very detailed.[/url]

 

[Grum]

No they don't. EA sat on the rights too long, someone else picked it up and is working on a game...uhm...InXile, I believe.

http://www.nma-fallout.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1552

Yep, i found a topic... look like i am out of life...

Hope Wastelands will resurrect...

 

[Briosafreak]

They also sold Galleon which definitely has been in development for quite some time and that wasn't sold to Vivendi afaik.

No they didn't, they sold the rights to Galleon. As noted above, they can do that without consulting Vivendi, but they can't sell any unfinished Galleon games, just the rights to the game

Kharn are you sure about this? I think they`ve sold everything, but i`m not sure anymore. The game is for the Gamecube anyway, here is the press release
http://www.interplay.com/investor/readpress.asp?CID=562