Reckon its some sort of emulator running it. Either way it looks identical, cant be a remake. Must have 'cheated'. But the way the guys website is inactive i think says it all.
Needn't necessarily be an emulator. The Retrospec remake is identical too. You just need to know the precise game logic and timing. I think it's a shame Microsoft hasn't decided to sell an Ultimate Play The Game app through the app store. Maybe it's that 30% cut that goes to Apple that it's not happy about.
Needn't necessarily be an emulator. The Retrospec remake is identical too. You just need to know the precise game logic and timing. I think it's a shame Microsoft hasn't decided to sell an Ultimate Play The Game app through the app store. Maybe it's that 30% cut that goes to Apple that it's not happy about.
Thats the thing, i want to be 'legal' and i'll buy it for sure but its a shame when its sat there gathering dust. Yeah i know the IP is now owned by Microsoft and its not our 'right' to have the games released, but just a shame nothings happening.
So how can we play these Ultimate retro titles ? Only way is to use 'illegal' files with an emulator. If Ultimate/Microsoft released them as some special download/file for ?5 i would be happy to buy them. But sadly we cant do it.
Reckon its some sort of emulator running it. Either way it looks identical, cant be a remake. Must have 'cheated'. But the way the guys website is inactive i think says it all.
Yeah, it's VERY close to the original, but I think there's less enemies on screen, so it's probably "just" a remake.
Well since format shifting is still illegal, currently the only completely legal way to play them is to load the original cassette into an original ZX Spectrum. Of course once the last 5 pledges are in (www.pledgebank.com/opense) you'll also have the option of loading the original cassette into a legal ZX Spectrum clone. One of the benefits of doing this is that you'll get a smooth 50hz display, which most emulators don't bother with.
But thats the thing, I personally dont want to have some old Speccy or clone set up somewhere with a tape player. With the manyyyyy titles available on different modern platforms nowadays i cant believe i cant play the Ultimate titles on one of the latest machines/gadgets legally.
Like you say the only way is to load it up by tape on an old machine or clone and I just cant do that.
Personally think a fair few companies arent bothered by some games 25 years ago and are quite happy for them to gather dust as theyre not bothered but theres money to be made. Specially on handhelds/iOS etc.
Not that it makes it right but the Lunar Jetman 'clone' on the app store, I cant believe Microsoft/Rare/Ultimate have complained to Apple about it, bet theyre not actually bothered. Its probably retro fans, so on one hand we want to be able to play it but when it does appear (illegally) then those same fans shut it down.
Thats whats frustrating. On iOS for example you do get some 'lazy' ports of old retro classics, but they sell well and they keep churning them out. If the arcade version of Bomb Jack is released as a standalone app that'll sell tons. Just wish other companies would jump on the bandwagon and realise how much money there is to be made with old games churned out on the latest mobile platforms
The problem with bringing back old classics is usually the cost. If you sell 1000 copies of Jetman at ?1 each then you get ?700 after Apple take their cut. If you're lucky that buys you two hours of developer time. The best chance you have is for either Jon or Elite to persuade Microsoft to license the games for distribution with one of those emulators. But getting hold of someone in Microsoft's licensing department to talk about an iOS app isn't going to be easy.
I'll be interested to know how the latest in game apps for Elite do. According to their twitter account theyve managed to secure some licensing for some coin-op games so i'm sure that means Commando/Bomb Jack/Ghost n Goblins and others by Elite (Which they can now re-release).
Shame sales figures are difficult to get hold of. From the Amiga years Speedball II came out on iOS, 'Z' is about to come out and then later Chaos Engine.
Sega re-release a lot of arcade hits as well (Streets of Rage 1, 2 and 3) and theres a Capcom Arcade which has Commando/1942 and others.
Some sales figures of apps are just ridiculously high, not saying any Speccy ones will be like that but with a global market i 'hope' that the speccy packs sell way more than just 1000.
I'm personally glad to see a lot of great retro titles out there, just theres the potential for so many more. As you can tell by my constant enthusiasm the iOS scene is superb at the moment, new games released every weds night, still a fair bit of crap out there but many great titles also.
If you sell 1000 copies of Jetman at ?1 each then you get ?700 after Apple take their cut. If you're lucky that buys you two hours of developer time.
I understand where you are coming from, but RARE wouldn't need to do any developing. Once they agree to license the Spectrum games, they can leave the iOS emulator developers to bundle the (already made) Spectrum game files in the usual way.
There's a remote chance we might see some of Ultimate's IP exploited on the new Windows Phones, especially as they've already produced the Xbox Live Arcade Jetpac.
I understand where you are coming from, but RARE wouldn't need to do any developing. Once they agree to license the Spectrum games, they can leave the iOS emulator developers to bundle the (already made) Spectrum game files in the usual way.
Good point. All the emulator stuff is already done, dont think Elite (or Jon.N !) need to do much. All Ultimate say is 'okay, lets have a xx% cut from all sales' and there you go. They dont have to do anything, they'll get money, wont have to spend any so its win win. But nope so many of these games are locked away gathering dust as some 26 year old young marketing exec is concentrating on the latest X-Box 360 game and isnt bothered when some companies trying to contact him about some games in the 80's ! ;)
So how can we play these Ultimate retro titles ? Only way is to use 'illegal' files with an emulator. If Ultimate/Microsoft released them as some special download/file for ?5 i would be happy to buy them. But sadly we cant do it.
no you can buy the original and that "should" cover you.. ;)
same with the codies stuff.. buy em all (off me :p )
well the thing with games specifically it can be argued by not releasing them on emu's etc and your the owner of the 1983 real tape ... thats the only route to play em :)
...counting the seconds till our legal expert on copyright appears and shoots us all down ;)
Wonder who that is. UK law still prohibits format shifting, even though all of us have moved CD content over to MP3 players or the like. In practical terms since everyone ignores that part of the law it is unenforcible. On that basis I would be stunned if format shifting your Ultimate PTG tapes to .tzx files for use with an emulator landed you in court, providing you own the original media.
So how can we play these Ultimate retro titles ? Only way is to use 'illegal' files with an emulator.
Rubbish. Buy an original copy of the game and load that into your emulator. Yes, there are some technicalities about format shifting here, but the principle is still there. You're just not prepared to pay the market rate for an Ultimate game.
Rubbish. Buy an original copy of the game and load that into your emulator. Yes, there are some technicalities about format shifting here, but the principle is still there. You're just not prepared to pay the market rate for an Ultimate game.
Pathetic response. Other companies are making a lot of money from remakes, Ultimate/US Gold arent doing anything with their titles, its easy money for them for their games to be used in a packaged emulator or something similar.
Its the fact people want to play these games but the only way is by tape or 'illegally' on an emulator. I bought all these games back in the 80's, if Ultimate released an app for ?5.99 i would buy it for sure.
Whats the 'market' rate for an Ultimate game then ? On tape thats about 50p on ebay for most of their games. When did i say i wouldnt pay the market rate ? Its the fact i cant pay anything to legally play their games on modern machines.
Forget all the 'its their IP so they can do what they want', Elite are slowly contacting old Speccy companies and doing deals with them to get their games out there on iOS. Dont see why Ultimate/US Gold dont. Think like many other companies theres a lot of red tape to get to someone to say yes its okay.
Whats the 'market' rate for an Ultimate game then ? On tape thats about 50p on ebay for most of their games. When did i say i wouldnt pay the market rate ? Its the fact i cant pay anything to legally play their games on modern machines.
Of course you can. Buy a tape, plug your tape deck into the sound card on your PC, load the game into Spectaculator. Completely legal.
Rubbish. Buy an original copy of the game and load that into your emulator. Yes, there are some technicalities about format shifting here, but the principle is still there. You're just not prepared to pay the market rate for an Ultimate game.
Where can you buy a new copy of Knight Lore? Does a resold unit count? I don't see that a 2nd hand unit makes it a legal sale...the guy is not an authorized dealer. He could have redubbed the tape etc....where is the line?
Comments
yes on the spectrum..exactly ;)
if you haven't officially licensed it , you might find some issues occur.
link removed as well, as it in turn links to the denied game.
Looks good though.
The app is still in the store but the support website has gone.
Thats the thing, i want to be 'legal' and i'll buy it for sure but its a shame when its sat there gathering dust. Yeah i know the IP is now owned by Microsoft and its not our 'right' to have the games released, but just a shame nothings happening.
So how can we play these Ultimate retro titles ? Only way is to use 'illegal' files with an emulator. If Ultimate/Microsoft released them as some special download/file for ?5 i would be happy to buy them. But sadly we cant do it.
Yeah, it's VERY close to the original, but I think there's less enemies on screen, so it's probably "just" a remake.
My games for the Spectrum: Dingo, The Speccies, The Speccies 2, Vallation, SQIJ.
Twitter: Sokurah
Well since format shifting is still illegal, currently the only completely legal way to play them is to load the original cassette into an original ZX Spectrum. Of course once the last 5 pledges are in (www.pledgebank.com/opense) you'll also have the option of loading the original cassette into a legal ZX Spectrum clone. One of the benefits of doing this is that you'll get a smooth 50hz display, which most emulators don't bother with.
Like you say the only way is to load it up by tape on an old machine or clone and I just cant do that.
Personally think a fair few companies arent bothered by some games 25 years ago and are quite happy for them to gather dust as theyre not bothered but theres money to be made. Specially on handhelds/iOS etc.
Not that it makes it right but the Lunar Jetman 'clone' on the app store, I cant believe Microsoft/Rare/Ultimate have complained to Apple about it, bet theyre not actually bothered. Its probably retro fans, so on one hand we want to be able to play it but when it does appear (illegally) then those same fans shut it down.
Shame sales figures are difficult to get hold of. From the Amiga years Speedball II came out on iOS, 'Z' is about to come out and then later Chaos Engine.
Sega re-release a lot of arcade hits as well (Streets of Rage 1, 2 and 3) and theres a Capcom Arcade which has Commando/1942 and others.
Some sales figures of apps are just ridiculously high, not saying any Speccy ones will be like that but with a global market i 'hope' that the speccy packs sell way more than just 1000.
I'm personally glad to see a lot of great retro titles out there, just theres the potential for so many more. As you can tell by my constant enthusiasm the iOS scene is superb at the moment, new games released every weds night, still a fair bit of crap out there but many great titles also.
Good point. All the emulator stuff is already done, dont think Elite (or Jon.N !) need to do much. All Ultimate say is 'okay, lets have a xx% cut from all sales' and there you go. They dont have to do anything, they'll get money, wont have to spend any so its win win. But nope so many of these games are locked away gathering dust as some 26 year old young marketing exec is concentrating on the latest X-Box 360 game and isnt bothered when some companies trying to contact him about some games in the 80's ! ;)
no you can buy the original and that "should" cover you.. ;)
same with the codies stuff.. buy em all (off me :p )
...counting the seconds till our legal expert on copyright appears and shoots us all down ;)
p.s. buy more games *cough* :p
Wonder who that is. UK law still prohibits format shifting, even though all of us have moved CD content over to MP3 players or the like. In practical terms since everyone ignores that part of the law it is unenforcible. On that basis I would be stunned if format shifting your Ultimate PTG tapes to .tzx files for use with an emulator landed you in court, providing you own the original media.
Rubbish. Buy an original copy of the game and load that into your emulator. Yes, there are some technicalities about format shifting here, but the principle is still there. You're just not prepared to pay the market rate for an Ultimate game.
Pathetic response. Other companies are making a lot of money from remakes, Ultimate/US Gold arent doing anything with their titles, its easy money for them for their games to be used in a packaged emulator or something similar.
Its the fact people want to play these games but the only way is by tape or 'illegally' on an emulator. I bought all these games back in the 80's, if Ultimate released an app for ?5.99 i would buy it for sure.
Whats the 'market' rate for an Ultimate game then ? On tape thats about 50p on ebay for most of their games. When did i say i wouldnt pay the market rate ? Its the fact i cant pay anything to legally play their games on modern machines.
Forget all the 'its their IP so they can do what they want', Elite are slowly contacting old Speccy companies and doing deals with them to get their games out there on iOS. Dont see why Ultimate/US Gold dont. Think like many other companies theres a lot of red tape to get to someone to say yes its okay.
Of course you can. Buy a tape, plug your tape deck into the sound card on your PC, load the game into Spectaculator. Completely legal.
Where can you buy a new copy of Knight Lore? Does a resold unit count? I don't see that a 2nd hand unit makes it a legal sale...the guy is not an authorized dealer. He could have redubbed the tape etc....where is the line?
In the UK, yes.