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legally releasing commercial games

RockinB - Mar 21, 2005

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		RockinB		Mar 21, 2005
			I remember there being some discussion about getting a license for the SBL/SGL libraries from SEGA. It was about how much it costs and when SEGA stopped to accept developer assignments. You know there are commercial releases for other consoles like the SEGA-CD releases from www.gooddealgames.com... or www.oldergames.com.... And some may remember the Atari releases of songbird productions.... Most recently there were the 3 dreamcast releases by goat store.... Does anyone know something about becoming an official Saturn developer(back at that time)? Or what options do we have to release commercial Saturn games without getting problems with SEGA? Maybe you know how the examples above managed the legal issue? If other consoles see commercial releases years after their death, what about Saturn? :huh

		Mask of Destiny		Mar 21, 2005
			As far as I know, Older Games never got permission from Sega to publish those games, just from the original developers (or whoever owns the rights to these orphaned games). The Dreamcast releases on the Goat store don't use any Sega development libraries, they're all made using KOS an open source alternative devkit. So there is nothing Sega can complain about. There is the occasional Japanese release that I believe is licensed by Sega, not 100% sure though. I doubt Sega really cares about people using the old Saturn dev stuff, but if you want to be 100% legal about it you have two options. The first is to contact Sega and try to obtain a license. I'm sure they would be more than happy to take your money as long as it doesn't require any real effort on their part. You might have some trouble finding the right person to talk to however. Your other option is to not use SGL/SBL and make your own devkit of sorts like what was done in the Dreamcast community.

		slinga		Mar 21, 2005
			I guess the best bet is to try and contact Sega directly. How receptive they will be is any one's guess. I'm going out on a limb and say there going to tell you to bugger off. Why? Because Sega and other hardware manufacturers make money off of game sales. From what I understand of the video game industry, when a 3rd party developer releases a game on a system, the console maker takes a cut of the action. Is there still money to be made on the Saturn? I highly doubt it, even for a low budget homebrew game. How many copies do you think you'll really sell of even an amazing game? 20 copies? 40 copies? And that's being generous. Multiply that by $20 each copy (will people pay $49.99 for a new saturn game? I personally don't believe so). So at best case your looking at $800 of revenue. Who knows what your expenses will be. What's Sega's cut on that? Not enough to make it worthwhile I would imagine. I'm not trying to dishearten you, I'm just trying to take a look at the economics. On the other hand, if Sega e-mails you back and says, sure you can you have a dev kit + license for $$$$, post here. I'll gladly donate something to your cause.

antime

Mar 21, 2005

	
	
		
		
			Originally posted by Mask of Destiny@Mon, 2005-03-21 @ 11:38 PM



Your other option is to not use SGL/SBL and make your own devkit of sorts like what was done in the Dreamcast community.

If you really wanted to be strictly legit you'd have to do this without using any of the available documentation, reverse-engineering the whole system. However for most of us it's a bit too late.

		slinga		Mar 21, 2005
			You'd still need a way to boot it on the system then.

		vreuzon		Mar 22, 2005
			If you really want to earn money with your saturn progs, I suggest you to set up a PayPal account (or any alternative... I don't want to make publicity for PayPal) and ask for reward if somebody use the game. I hope you'll give your sources anyway.

		RockinB		Mar 22, 2005
			Thanks for your thoughts, guys. So I summarise: Unfinished games can be released by licensing from the game maker only, not SEGA. We will never have a KOS on Saturn. A completely selfmade Saturn library is beyond our possibilities, since the scene is small. Azuco mentioned that he got Saturn libs, but no download. So: I want SEGA to somehow provide the permission. But how? Who should I talk to? Someone who worked on Saturn games back that time, maybe. Would SEGA release the SGL/SBL under a free license for all of us? Or do I really have to pay money? What if we all buy the SGL SOURCECODE from SEGA? Maybe they leave it for free... ...and if not, how much you think it will cost? It won't be possible to become official Saturn developer, since they don't accept any new. That might be because it's involved with costs by SEGA for support and quality program. It's always been a dream of mine to have new commercial Saturn games and maybe even release one by myself. Making money is not an aspect, as it seems impossible. If there would be a new game, I'd buy it!

vreuzon

Mar 22, 2005

I really don't see the point in being an official Saturn developer. You have the dev tools for a cheap console, what else do you need ?

	
	
		
		
			Originally posted by Rockin'-B@Tue, 2005-03-22 @ 11:21 AM



If there would be a new game, I'd buy it!

Buy my floupix.

		Djidjo		Mar 22, 2005
			Yeah, Rockin-B, if you really want to buy a game, go to the link in my signature to floupix, download it, and give money to my PayPal account (email : fredo46@lycos.com...), I swear I'll give the money to Vreuzon. Floupix features incredible fun from 2 to 12 players, you can even play alone with CPU-controlled floupix, many bonuses, nice sprites and backgrounds, funny music. Choose the game length, the bonus collection, the control type... There's also a very original 3-team gameplay ! I've played it a LOT, and I can also tell you that the gameplay seems simple but is very deep, there are many strategies you can use and invent, either alone or in team. All of this for the price you want, from 0 to 1 Million Dollar. Isn't that great news ? arty Djidjo

RockinB

Mar 22, 2005

	
	
		
		
			Originally posted by vreuzon+Tue, 2005-03-22 @ 12:44 PM-->QUOTE(vreuzon @ Tue, 2005-03-22 @ 12:44 PM)I really don't see the point in being an official Saturn developer. You have the dev tools for a cheap console, what else do you need ?



Buy my floupix.



[post=131957]Quoted post[/post]


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The point is twofold:

We're using leaked SEGA libs, this potentially may cause problems.

And the commercial thing is just fulfilling a small personal dream.

I'm collecting Saturn games (not ISOs) here and there, a new game for the dead console would be a sensation, not only for me.