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Uplink Hacker Elite

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 3:12 pm
by Tom
Guys and Girls.

As you know we had some problems with our US release of 'Hacker Elite'. It would seem that those troubles went a little deeper than the publishers not paying us. In addition to some retailers offering Uplink for download, rumour has it that there was also a budget version of 'Hacker Elite' sold only in a Jewel case.

Before I get out my sub-automatic and head over to Canada, I'd like to know if any of our US friends ever saw a budget version of Uplink in stores, and if so please could you say, when and where...

thanks,

T "I'm about to get nasty" J

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 3:17 pm
by Rkiver
£@$&(%@!(£%&$(!%&&

So, when are you planning on sueing the fuck out of those canookian wankers?

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 3:22 pm
by Deepsmeg
You should borrow Icepick's mop and strike them down with all of your anger.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 6:22 pm
by FrostShard
Rkiver wrote:£@$&(%@!(£%&$(!%&&


I second that, and add several indignant, outraged apostrophes of my own! Yes, that's right, APOSTROPHES!! Feel my wrath!!!

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 7:13 pm
by doormat
Hang on...

So the US publishers let you down big time, but if the're not paying you, what diffrence does it make how much the're charging? I mean, of all the stuff you could be mad about, (like not getting paid), why has the release of a "budget" version got you all fired up?

Is there some issue I'm missing here? Because if you're not getting paid, the only benift from selling Uplink:HE is the goodwill you get. And if people pay less at the till, surely they'll just be that much more impressed by the kick-ass game you made, and more likely to buy Darwinia and Big You Up. (As is the fashion over there, I believe.)

I dunno.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 8:40 pm
by Luigi300
Because a jewel case version is cheaper than $30, meaning lost profits due to an unauthorized product?

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 5:48 am
by AZeeD_uplink
well this is freaky as hell.
yes there is a jewel case budget version of the game. i saw it at my local compusa in the 10-dollar pc game bin the day before last (which is why i say this is freaky). my friend bought it since i neglected on copying the game for her. it is the patched version with the lan hacks and all... also it is on their website.

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 9:21 am
by Iris
Man, and I thought China was the mother of all warez....

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 9:41 am
by FrostShard
The Barras, anyone?

(sorry, Glasgow joke.)

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 12:01 pm
by doormat
It's not warez if they have a licence to distibute, unfortunatly. But I'm surprised that licence didn't include a buy-back clause or a clause requiring that IV be given a nay-say on budget and online sales and the like. In fact, I'm surprised that IV are allowed to sell mail order to the US. Like they care. :lol:

When does this licence expire, anyway?

(On a side note, it might be nice if IV put a page up to make clear exactly what is going on with H.E.)

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 5:57 pm
by dunetrooper
Well, if it helps any, which it probably wont.

I bought the game but it wasn't any budget version. It was the full box and everything. Also I haven't seen any budget verisons in all of the game stores I hang out in. But if I see any I will let you know.

Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 1:32 am
by Iris
doormat wrote:It's not warez if they have a licence to distibute, unfortunatly.

In what manner exactly is the 'license to distribute' supposed to be?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 10:36 am
by doormat
I don't know: I am not privy to the text of the licence.

But basicaly, when we buy Uplink, we get an indefinate licence to USE the software. That licence is transferable, so we can sell it, but we don't own the software: IV do. Strat First have purchased a licence to DISTRIBUTE the software, so they can sell other copies on to the public in North America. That licence is almost cirtainly not indefinate, and includes things like the percentage that IV get back and the rules about territories and media. Strat First do not own the software any more than we do. The right to sell it is in their licence.

The North American distibution licence for something like HL2 would probably change hands for millions of dollars, but with IV being an unknown factor in those days, Strat First probably didn't pay much for the licence. IV may even have begged them to take it, hoping they that would be getting a royalty cut. 'Cept as we all know, they don't.

Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 12:54 pm
by Flamekebab
*waves his original jewel case release*

You know, from before the times of the DVD cases?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 1:51 pm
by Darksun
Hmm, I thought that when (or possibly if) SF clear their bankruptcy, they would have to make backpayments for profits made while they were in bankruptcy? Or have I misunderstood.

Incidentally, if you want Don McFatridge's home address, let me know