Bethesda could allow access to source to NDA developers, or release sources. They could allow free distribution as a promotional item. Selling as a commercial game might also be possible, but probably unprofitable.
If you're unaware of TES: Arena, this is the game that started Bethesda on the path to their blockbuster title 'Oblivion'. It was an extremely ambitious title for the early 1990s, and featured a lot of innovations such as item generation, procedural landscapes, quests and dialogs. It also delivers an RPG 'feel' that is pretty much unique in gaming history.
TES: Arena can be downloaded from their site, but it runs too slow in DosBOX on the tablets.
So why not show them that there are fans out there, and a platform that's begging for this classic to be revived! Heck, it's worth a shot isn't it?
Bethesda could allow access to source to NDA developers, or release sources. They could allow free distribution as a promotional item. Selling as a commercial game might also be possible, but probably unprofitable.
Originally Posted by
Sorry, we don’t have any plans to release source code for any of our games at this time.
Left by gstaff on February 8th, 2008
Looks like they are not going to release the source, but I added my push to get them to port it to the Nokia Tablet.
I would Love to see Arena ported to the Nokia Internet Tablet as well ..... Seems like a not to complicated way to make some money on an existing title to me
That assumption is incorrect. It would need a lot of time (=money). Most probably you would need complete rewrite of the game engine. Such DOS games are tied to MS-DOS environment and most probably has lot of code in x86 assembly for speed. Also in many similar cases the source code to such games is already lost so even if they wanted to waste^H^H^H^H^Hinvest lot of energy into it, they usually can't.
That assumption is incorrect. It would need a lot of time (=money). Most probably you would need complete rewrite of the game engine. Such DOS games are tied to MS-DOS environment and most probably has lot of code in x86 assembly for speed. Also in many similar cases the source code to such games is already lost so even if they wanted to waste^H^H^H^H^Hinvest lot of energy into it, they usually can't.
Well, sure your correct, of course. But if I posted that on the blog it would seem kinda silly wouldn't it...
Well, sure your correct, of course. But if I posted that on the blog it would seem kinda silly wouldn't it...
Oh, I see, you got me :-) Well, but since they know it too, posting that intentionally false statement is not any better IMO. But who cares anyway :-) It is typical wishful thinking reaction so it kinda belongs there after all ;-) You wrote it, they will ignore it, the balance of the world is restored.
Oh, I see, you got me :-) Well, but since they know it too, posting that intentionally false statement is not any better IMO. But who cares anyway :-) It is typical wishful thinking reaction so it kinda belongs there after all ;-) You wrote it, they will ignore it, the balance of the world is restored.
LOL yup the balance of the world. Perhaps it is a false statement, but not intentionally. It just didnt occur to me at the time of posting. I figured (not being a programmer per say, more of a scripter) that they would a) actually have the source code to the software. and b) be able to port it or allow someone else to port it while retaining both ownership and copyright. Untill you pointed it out to me I thought anything was possible...
