The Game Gadget

[kiwimike]

Gamegadget tweeted Alan Sugar a few days ago asking how they would need to go about licensing Amstrad games...

Wow. So they're actually begging. In public, too! Brilliant.

And proving to all that see it actually how much research into game aquirement they'd done in the months building up. Asking THAT two months after release? Be very afraid if you're expecting a wealth of games on the thing. It's one point of difference to the competition was the ready made retro games library in their store...
We'll see. It's kinda interesting to watch...

[kiwimike]

One things for sure, if I had ownership of classic games and they came knocking, I would know how desperate they are and maybe my asking demands would be a little higher now...

[HankTzar]

Gamegadget tweeted Alan Sugar a few days ago asking how they would need to go about licensing Amstrad games...

Wow. So they're actually begging. In public, too! Brilliant.

And proving to all that see it actually how much research into game aquirement they'd done in the months building up. Asking THAT two months after release? Be very afraid if you're expecting a wealth of games on the thing. It's one point of difference to the competition was the ready made retro games library in their store...
We'll see. It's kinda interesting to watch...

I hope they do manage it, a lot of my old favourites are classic Amstrad titles

[HankTzar]

anyone want to buy a gamegadget with 4gb memory card complete with roms and emulators!!!

Does it work? If so, I might be interested...

[Antiriad2097]

Gamegadget tweeted Alan Sugar a few days ago asking how they would need to go about licensing Amstrad games...

Wow. So they're actually begging. In public, too! Brilliant.

And proving to all that see it actually how much research into game aquirement they'd done in the months building up. Asking THAT two months after release? Be very afraid if you're expecting a wealth of games on the thing. It's one point of difference to the competition was the ready made retro games library in their store...
We'll see. It's kinda interesting to watch...

Do Amstrad still own any game rights? I thought all their computer stuff was sold off to a third party a couple of years back.

[adippm82]

But surely they must know that Amstrad were not like Nintendo or Sega who required the software houses to have a licence to make a game for their systems, does anyone at Game Gadget have a clue what they are doing?

They published a few games like Harrier Attack and the Roland games, but surely never actually licenced games.

They would have to talk to each individual rights holder for the games, even the likes of Burnin' Rubber on the GX4000 would be Ocean's or whoever swallowed them up's property.

[Lorfarius]

Maybe they are thinking more of the games that came out on the Amstrad phone ages ago? The one with the monochrome screen.

[Antiriad2097]

There's a licensing issue for the system ROMs for emulation to consider. Amstrad made theirs (and by association, Sinclair's) free for non-profit use. Anyone could write a Spectrum or CPC emulator and distribute it freely and Amstrad wouldn't object. Making money off their property is an altogether different matter and they'd no doubt want a slice of that pie.

I don't know if the current licence holders (if it has changed from Amstrad) still hold to that. My understanding was that Amstrad's blessing was taken as trasnferred to the new owners unless they specifically announced otherwise, since they'd have bought the property as it stood at that time.

The Amstrad eM@iler phone just used Speccy emulation.

[killbot]

There's a licensing issue for the system ROMs for emulation to consider. Amstrad made theirs (and by association, Sinclair's) free for non-profit use. Anyone could write a Spectrum or CPC emulator and distribute it freely and Amstrad wouldn't object. Making money off their property is an altogether different matter and they'd no doubt want a slice of that pie.

I don't know if the current licence holders (if it has changed from Amstrad) still hold to that. My understanding was that Amstrad's blessing was taken as trasnferred to the new owners unless they specifically announced otherwise, since they'd have bought the property as it stood at that time.

The Amstrad eM@iler phone just used Speccy emulation.

I appreciate that there's an issue in terms of licencing - but come on! No credible company would try to negotiate with Amstrad by messaging Alan Sugar on Twitter! That's what a bunch of 14 year old kids doing something for business studies class might try, not a company that's asking me to invest £60 of my hard earned cash in their product.

[Antiriad2097]

I understand that, I was just pointing out that the licensing they enquired about need not necessarily be for the games themselves but for the emulator to support them.

A bit worrying when I've got a better handle on this than the company trying to sell the stuff.

[The Laird]

What next, poking Clive Sinclair on Facebook

[kiwimike]

That's what I got from it, OMFG this is the company that for a few months was bragging it was going to make the itunes of retro gaming?! And this is their technique, tweeting old individuals from the gaming era for advice? Two months after their machine is on the market (and five months after saying in an interview they'd be making game announcements in the next couple of weeks)? Oh dear, oh dear.
I'm thinking with some of you guys knowledge, perhaps they need to hire your help...!

My optimism things will change are rapidly diminishing

[DreamcastRIP]

What next, poking Clive Sinclair on Facebook

Don't credit these guys with being that smart. They sound so on the ball that they're probably trying to reach Jack Tramiel using bebo and Myspace!

[Liamh1982]

^ Nah - they're messaging "Slug" Russell on Friendster!

[commanderkaiser]

Get's worse and worse everyday.

Still I suppose they will be worth something for anyone who wants to stick their own ROMs on there and emulators although I don't really know what's supported cause I haven't really looked into it.