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![]() More Publishers Speak Out on Abandonware Bell admits that Infogrames "takes steps" to enforce its intellectual properties but also doesn't devote resources to day-to-day monitoring. "Warez is much more destructive than abandonware sites, as it pirates and distributes newer titles--robbing Infogrames and other publishers of the revenue they need to keep pushing the envelope on content and technology."
You would expect hard-lined answers from large corporations such as Electronic Arts and Infogrames, but we also approached one of the last remaining independent developers/publishers--Maryland-based Bethesda Softworks. Pete Hines, director of marketing and public relations, agrees that abandonware games are downloaded "mostly for nostalgia's sake." He continues, "Despite all of the advances in technology, there are still a lot of gaming classics that provided us with gameplay moments that we've yet to equal--I can think of a lot of these kinds of moments from my days of playing X-COM: UFO Defense and the old gold-box Dungeons & Dragons games." But Hines, like the representatives from Electronic Arts and Infogrames, says that when all is said and done, it's still piracy. "Companies don't forfeit the right to determine how [their games] are distributed simply because they no longer sell the game at retail. Saying that the games are no longer available at retail is a convenient excuse people use to justify appropriating these games so that they can give them away for free."
Hines offers an alternate solution: "I've seen a number of full versions of classic games offered for free through various game magazine CDs or through special Internet download services." But couldn't an old copy of The Elder Scrolls: Arena drive a fan of Bethesda's role-playing series to pick up a copy of the company's upcoming RPG, The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind? "Abandonware is piracy, pure and simple," answers Hines. "It's distributing licensed property for free without authorization from the owner. From a business perspective that's harmful, and from a quality level it's harmful--we have no input into the method of delivery, we have no input or control over the quality of the materials provided, and these factors can leave a bad impression in the minds of users who use these products."
Now, we all know it's usually the publishers--and not the designers/developers--who own the intellectual properties of these games. So what do game makers think about abandonware? You may be surprised at their reactions.
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