Online petition for an updated Civ III editor

[Ozymandias]

Hi Steph,

Wouldn't your (albeit very interesting) idea of adding a "shell" onto the editor nonetheless require access to the main code's APIs?

-Oz

 

[Mirc]

We would probobly have to double that figure to account for taxes. Plus add some money in to account for capitol expenses and administrative expenses (accountants, lawyers, etc.) That leads us to needing $750,000-$1,000,000.

1,000,000? It's more expensive than I would have thought...

Edit: Crosspost.......

 

[Steph]

Hi Steph,

Wouldn't your (albeit very interesting) idea of adding a "shell" onto the editor nonetheless require access to the main code's APIs?

-Oz

I'm not sure. Darque trold me that's how some Diablo II trainers are working.
But it would require someone with skills other than mine to start with this idea

 

[Ozymandias]

1,000,000? It's more expensive than I would have thought...

Yeah, I think my original guesstimate of just buying the full (non-commercial) rights to Civ3 for USD 100K is still a good number to work with - unfortunately, for non-commercial use, getting investemnts from any of the usual capitol markets sources is hopeless.

Why can't there be at least one Civ3 crazed, spendthrift multimillionaire among us? (Sorry, I just had to use the new smiley )

Best,

Oz

 

[Stormrage]

100k? We can raise that much, can`t we? Its the internet! People are being sent money just cos they asked for it! And this if for a noble cause - Civ is being used in education

But, Oz, what would we do with the rights?

 

[Ozymandias]

But, Oz, what would we do with the rights?

I'm assuming they won't sell code without stipulated rights of use. They'll want some $$ with (I'm guessing) the stipulation that any end-product resulting from the code would not be used for commercial ends (e.g., burning CDs of the best mods and selling them essentially in competition with Civ4).

-Oz

 

[Stormrage]

So, um, eh, mebbe they`ll reply if we include some dinero in the deal? See how much they really want? With the mention of $$$ involved, they might even answer if they even have the (even) code anymore!

 

[Ozymandias]

So, um, eh, mebbe they`ll reply if we include some dinero in the deal? See how much they really want? With the mention of $$$ involved, they might even answer if they even have the (even) code anymore!

Somewhere buried in this thread is the letter I sent to inquiring as to what a hypothetical purchase price, +/- 10%, for non-commercial use might be. I have yet to receive a reply, and do not expect one.

-Oz

 

[Stormrage]

They don`t want money???? Its worse than I thought..

 

[rifleman]

Another route might be to look into contacting the key people involved - directly or indirectly. What do we know about the decision makers at this company? Who are they? Where do they operate?

Knowing this, we might be able to either make our case better, or find people who could do it for us.

 

[Virote_Considon]

Out of interest, if there is no chance of them updating the game, or using the code at all, what is their gain for keeping hold of it?

 

[Virote_Considon]

Another route might be to look into contacting the key people involved - directly or indirectly. What do we know about the decision makers at this company? Who are they? Where do they operate?

Knowing this, we might be able to either make our case better, or find people who could do it for us.

Currently, 2K is like some kind of Cold-War African country, meaning we can never be too sure who the top decision makers are, as the previous ones have just been ousted, and for all we know, anyone in a "dominant" position could get ousted again, or various other scenarios.

 

[Stormrage]

Stupid spam filters.. if it weren`t for them we could send them thousands upon thousands of e-mails untill they yield.. Nagging is a taskmaster`s sidearm

Where do they operate? Better yet, where do they live? - "Give us the source code. We know where you live. Moving won`t solve anything. We are everywhere. Some of us even have cars. Resistance is futile."

 

[Virote_Considon]

New York, I think...

 

[Ozymandias]

Gentlemen, Gentlemen,

To briefly recap:

1. TakeTwo is about 3 blocks from where I live in NYC, and a member of the board is someone I MIGHT be able to get access to.

HOWEVER:

2. Their big $-maker is Grand-Theft-Auto, so let's take a moment to contemplate the relative $ merits of the franchises involved. We simply (IMHO) cannot get their attention even by waving wads of $100 bills beneath their nostrils.

3. Commercial use of the C3 code - unless we could someone buy the full rights - is never going to happen.

4. Turning over the code for any $ amount for even non-commercial use still means parting with intellectual property rights, which they might, for whatever reason, be loathe to do.

5. Any sale/granting-of-use-to-us can only be seen as a threat - however small - to their Civ franchise, steering players (buyers) away from the foul abomination that is C4.

6. Even acquisition for non-commercial use would necessarily involve us taking up many person-hours of their staff's time (I, for one, would insist upon some sort of support!) - staff that could be working on GTA, C5, and Heavens only knows what else (Pirates perhaps?).

7. We're doomed to live by our wits, and I'm not certain we've milked the current editor for everything it's worth.

8. And, yes, should opportunity arise, I'll play Sisyphus rolling that stone up that hill ...

Best To All,

Oz

 

[flamescreen]

Somewhere buried in this thread is the letter I sent to inquiring as to what a hypothetical purchase price, +/- 10%, for non-commercial use might be. I have yet to receive a reply, and do not expect one.

-Oz

Er...maybe if you'd re-send? (Half-joking)
If they'd open an account for deposits via Paypal I'm sure we'd all be glad to contribute. I was wondering, is it possible we could make some sort of poll(with real name and data of the poster) were people would talk about wanting to contribute to that and post the minimum amount they'd contribute for a non-commercial use of the code/etc. Might be easier if you have something more tangible to present to them.

 

[cubsfan6506]

1,000,000? It's more expensive than I would have thought...

Edit: Crosspost.......

Come on i'm already clearing out my lives savings.

 

[Stormrage]

You can play Sissy Puss˙y all day if you want, but all that is need to be done is buy me a ticket to NY, help me smuggle my axe trough customs, and show me that guy.

Its far cheaper and far more effective than any plan we have devised so far!

 

[Fo0dman]

if it has already not been said, maybe we can trade units like tanks, like we trade workers. That why we can help a friend without getting in the war.

i would really like a updated editor please.

 

[rifleman]

To take a break from griping for a minute, I have some technical questions -

If we were to succeed (get the rights, do the work and end up with a NEW AND IMPROVED version), what exactly is possible? An event editor, additional terrains, more civs - all of these would be great - but are they all possible? From a progammer's perspective?

I'm just interested to know what's practical.
(ignoring the fact that this whole idea might be a prolonged pipedream)