Re-volt Not Abandonware?!

[Gaming4JC]

Hello,
Several people have contacted me saying that the Re-Volt download is illegal! <_<
I don't believe it is but I'm just checking. They say that ThrowBack Entertainment has the rights to it, and that also Microsoft and Nintendo are fighting for the rights to it! >_<

Firstly, I've contacted ThrowBack Entertainment, their site is dead and all but one email on the site is dead. This one still received no reply. Secondly, I've contacted Acclaim(the new one), they say the don't even know whatever a "Re-Volt" is, LOL! Lastly, what on earth would Microsoft want Re-Volt for? rofl!

Gaming4JC

[Mighty Midget]

First, where did these people get their info from? According to the OWL it is abandoned, but all things change, including a game's status.

Also: According to wiki, ThrowBack Entertainment bought the licence to Re-Volt from Acclaim in 2006.

I suggest someone who knows where to look, finds out exactly what this title's status is.

EDIT: Here's the official ThrowBack Entertainment site http://www.throwbackentertainment.com/

[The Fifth Horseman]

Second: Who are those people, and why did they contact you specifically?

[Icewolf]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(the_fifth_horseman @ Jun 13 2007, 03:19 PM) 294206</div>Second: Who are those people, and why did they contact you specifically?[/b]:omg2: He's going to hack them... :ph34r:

[The Fifth Horseman]

Not at all. What I want to know is how much credibility can be attributed to their claims.

[Mighty Midget]

One thing that concerns me, Fifth, is that our OWL says Re-Volt is an Acclaim title, but this title was licenced to ThrowBack Entertainment. Better check the actual status on this one, I'd say.

[The Fifth Horseman]

As far as their site says, they didn't re-release it yet.

[Blood-Pigggy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Icewolf @ Jun 13 2007, 10:27 AM) 294216</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(the_fifth_horseman @ Jun 13 2007, 03:19 PM) 294206Second: Who are those people, and why did they contact you specifically?[/b]:omg2: He's going to hack them... :ph34r:
[/b][/quote]

You can't argue with this.

[Gaming4JC]

Here's one of my sources:
http://www.coolrom.com/forums/showpost.php...amp;postcount=4 (http://www.coolrom.com/forums/showpost.php?p=85763&postcount=4)

And the other was at RRR Racing Forum which is currently members only viewing. After I posted this link concerning a interview I made with an Acclaim emplyee (download linky here: http://www.zshare.net/download/1234434325e817/ ) the following was said by another member, Quoted below:

whoa,thats no acclaim employee
thats an activision employee
activision bought acclaim name and started acclaim GAMES




now look.,it IS really illegal to have it free BECAUSE REVOLT IS NOT FREE

it is not an abandoneware!repeat:NOT an abandonware

abandoneware games are those small time crappy games which die immediately after their makers die
BUT NOT REVOLT
it is alive,about maybe four years after acclaim had died and it stil is alive among the people who already know the game
ofcourse there cant be any new people as nobody ever know that there is a game called revolt..just because there is no publicity
Revolt was never free and never could be free
the free thing has no music
irregular sounds
and much more poo

AND IT IS NOT STEALING FROM THE POOR
QUOTE
heard also that throwback was working to get Re-volt back on store shelves too

thats what..no one know that there is a game called revolt

and if needforspeed is not free so shouldnot be revolt! [/b]

And another:

From my knowledge weather or not Re-Volt is abandonware, it is illegal to download software even if the company is defunct because it is a copyright infringment. Even so, very few companies actually care, and even less will go after people downloading. so I say don't worry, but don't provide links that can get the webmaster in trouble. make them work for it. ;)[/b]
:unsure: .... :blink:

Gaming4JC

[Mighty Midget]

I think that what you're asking here is: Is abandonware illegal?
Yes it is. BUT: Abandonwarez are, as the name implies, warez that noone cares about anymore, copyright-wise.

If Activision, Acclaim Games, ThrowBack Entertainment and/or ESA couldn't care less, AND it's not sold anywhere (auctions and suchlike excluded), then it may be found here for download.

[Gaming4JC]

Hmm... well I don't like illegal things. I believe it is legal to have since it is old and forgotten, I had some debates on freeadvice too. They didn't really know they said it's sort of legal, unless some one should reclaim copyrights. :w00t:

Also, I was wondering about what those people said, is there some company that still owns anything directly related to Re-Volt, hence making the download illegal? Not that I can see, but just checking... :D

[Mighty Midget]

Freeware is totally legal to download although some freeware can only be downloaded legally at certain sites.

Shareware is totally legal too, but you may have to pay for a full version.

Abandonware is totally illegal, but noone cares and noone will EVER come knocking on your door and drag you off to Siberia. Keep in mind though, that some titles may be presented as abandonware while they're really not. The reason Abandonia has some titles you cannot download anymore is because the copyright owners suddenly decided they cared afterall, so we removed them for download. But what Abandonia sees as downloadable, you can feel pretty safe you won't be arrested for downloading it :)

About Re-Volt: That is a very good question. ThrowBack Entertainment has a licence and they say they are planning on re-releasing it. They also say that as of today you will have to buy it second hand. Then there's the issue with ActiVision and Acclaim. We will need to find out who holds the copyrights of Re-Volt, if they are ESA members and if they care about Re-Volt.

[Gaming4JC]

Ok... I don't like the word "illegal" tho :blink:

Also, is it OK for me to upload the soundtrack? :)
I still need to collect it all, but I have most of it.

[Mighty Midget]

I'm no expert, but my guess is that if the game is protected, so is every part of the game, sounds included.

About the legal aspect: Think of it as crossing the road when there are no cars for miles around. It's against the rules (in many countries) but noone cares. Feel free to cross the road as you wish, walk in the middle of the road if that's what you like, but you better move over when the truck is coming.

[Moonypond]

I've just read a couple Wikipedia articles and it seems that Throwback's version of ReVolt is going to be "a next-generation" version. Doesn't that mean it'll be a remake meaning it'll be completely different (like a sequel)? Also, I don't think Activision has got to do anything with ReVolt. The CEO of Acclaim Games is the former CEO of Activision.

[The Fifth Horseman]

now look.,it IS really illegal to have it free BECAUSE REVOLT IS NOT FREE

it is not an abandoneware!repeat:NOT an abandonware[/b]Pardon, WTF? This sounds like a patent case of "the center of the world" syndrome. We have rules, and we use verifiable sources - not just our imagination - to determine a game's status. One man's personal opinion is worth jack s**t in this regard.

abandoneware games are those small time crappy games which die immediately after their makers die
BUT NOT REVOLT
it is alive,about maybe four years after acclaim had died and it stil is alive among the people who already know the game
ofcourse there cant be any new people as nobody ever know that there is a game called revolt..just because there is no publicity
Revolt was never free and never could be free
the free thing has no music
irregular sounds
and much more poo[/b]Now, who is going to agree with a statement like that? Is Warcraft crappy? LOL


heard also that throwback was working to get Re-volt back on store shelves too[/b]
"Was working to". Not "did". If they indeed re-release the game, it will automatically quit Abandonware status.

and if needforspeed is not free so shouldnot be revolt! [/b]
LOL Compare Electronic Arts with Acclaim, will you? Two different companies. Two different statuses.


From my knowledge weather or not Re-Volt is abandonware, it is illegal to download software even if the company is defunct because it is a copyright infringment. Even so, very few companies actually care, and even less will go after people downloading. so I say don't worry, but don't provide links that can get the webmaster in trouble. make them work for it. ;)[/b]
So? Of course Abandonware is not legal! It's like what Midget just said - "Think of it as crossing the road when there are no cars for miles around. It's against the rules (in many countries) but noone cares."

Microsoft and Nintendo both have plans to release it on Wii Virtual Console, and Xbox live. [/b]
We'll see if that happens, and if it does - whether that also means a re-release of the PC version.
Here on Abandonia we consider PC and consoles to be two separate worlds - thus a PSX version of a game could be still sold without affecting the PC one's abandonware status.

[Japo]

From Abandonia's FAQ (http://www.abandonia.com/main.php?nav=faq):

Originally posted by FAQ
Since the software is no longer sold or supported, the copyright holders are not directly harmed in any way. This is why abandonware sites are, for the most part, ignored by the law. The distribution of copyrighted software however is, and will allways be, illegal!

MM gave a very good example. What is more, if the copyright holders don't want to prosecute you after an infringement, nobody can, a public attorney would be able only if you do it for profit.

Anyway many video games companies (I'd say every one) know about Abandonia and consent that some of their games are found here.

[Burger Meister]

I took a look at that throwback site. Seems like they got a lot of the old acclaim games under their name now. But there is no buy link for Re-Volt on their site?