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General discussion (archive)Racing week promo: 50% discount on 3 racing games(97 posts)(97 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted July 21, 2009
Doh!
I only bought CMR a few weeks back!
Endless surprises at GOG (no way did I ever think we'd see a Racing Promo!).
I guess i could get MR3 though (to complete the set).
Anyway, nice promo GOG!
Posted July 21, 2009
I jumped at quickly purchased TOCA3 before it went, but CMR2K5 never did anything for me. Sad to see a title go due to 'car name/design licensing' (assuming it's the same situation as TOCA3). Still, I enjoyed TOCA3's rally mode...
Megarace 3 then? It's cheaper than a bottle of coke in the CBD with this sale on, and though I'm really bad at them, racing games are kind of a guilty pleasure.
Posted July 21, 2009
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deoren: Thanks for the heads up GOG, but what's up with Codemasters pulling their Racing titles? First Toca 3 and now colin mcrae rally 2005?
Ouch.
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iWi: Codemasters is using many different licenses within the game (cars, car parts, sponsors, etc.) and their agreements expire at some point. As they (nor we - although we would be eager to do this ;) can not separate licenses from the game, we have to discontinue Colin. Hopefully we will be able to deliver some more driving games from Codemasters soon :)

Can't they just change the names. Why are the licenses can't be separated from the game. It sounds like they are holding the game hostage like the mafia. Especially when they are not making quality games like this and TOCA. I guess that real world names are not a good thing to have in games after all unless you release slightly new games annually.
Posted July 21, 2009
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deoren: Thanks for the heads up GOG, but what's up with Codemasters pulling their Racing titles? First Toca 3 and now colin mcrae rally 2005?
Ouch.
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iWi: Codemasters is using many different licenses within the game (cars, car parts, sponsors, etc.) and their agreements expire at some point. As they (nor we - although we would be eager to do this ;) can not separate licenses from the game, we have to discontinue Colin. Hopefully we will be able to deliver some more driving games from Codemasters soon :)

Do you happen to know why they can keep distributing TOCA 3 (and, probably, CMR05) via other platforms? I thought this case means they have to pull it off from EVERYWHERE...
Posted July 21, 2009
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StealthKnight: Can't they just change the names. Why are the licenses can't be separated from the game. It sounds like they are holding the game hostage like the mafia.

Yeah really. Can't GOG and Codemasters work together to modify the game and change the licensed names to something unlicensed? If not, what terms has Steam arranged for ToCA, GRID, etc, and why can't GOG do the same? or will Steam be pulling those too?
I mean, if GOG's MO is to make old games available for sale... then pulling them later seems in direct opposition to that. It really takes the magic out of this site :(
Post edited July 21, 2009 by lordbrockington
Posted July 21, 2009
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iWi: Codemasters is using many different licenses within the game (cars, car parts, sponsors, etc.) and their agreements expire at some point. As they (nor we - although we would be eager to do this ;) can not separate licenses from the game, we have to discontinue Colin. Hopefully we will be able to deliver some more driving games from Codemasters soon :)
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StealthKnight: Can't they just change the names. Why are the licenses can't be separated from the game. It sounds like they are holding the game hostage like the mafia. Especially when they are not making quality games like this and TOCA. I guess that real world names are not a good thing to have in games after all unless you release slightly new games annually.

They move on with the development and its really tough to go back to a game and let's say remove half of the cars - do not forget its not only about the names. Let's say Subaru for example looks in a certain characteristic way and you would have to change the actual car, what becomes really difficult.
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iWi: Codemasters is using many different licenses within the game (cars, car parts, sponsors, etc.) and their agreements expire at some point. As they (nor we - although we would be eager to do this ;) can not separate licenses from the game, we have to discontinue Colin. Hopefully we will be able to deliver some more driving games from Codemasters soon :)
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DrIstvaan: Do you happen to know why they can keep distributing TOCA 3 (and, probably, CMR05) via other platforms? I thought this case means they have to pull it off from EVERYWHERE...

It usually works this way, that there is a certain sell-off period during which certain publisher or distributor (Codemasters in this case) are not allowed to produce given title anymore, but they can sell the remaining stock. Once the stock is on the shelve it can stay there for years even and its really up to the retailer if they are willing to carry TOCA 3 or they want to return it.
Post edited July 21, 2009 by iWi
Posted July 21, 2009
Well this whole situation is quite pooey for GOG and it's consumers.
My question is directed at GOG: When you agreed to carry CMR2005 in the first place did you guys know that this day would come? Or did Codemasters "surprise" you folks with this turn of events?
Posted July 21, 2009
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DrIstvaan: Do you happen to know why they can keep distributing TOCA 3 (and, probably, CMR05) via other platforms? I thought this case means they have to pull it off from EVERYWHERE...
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iWi: It usually works this way, that there is a certain sell-off period during which certain publisher or distributor (Codemasters in this case) are not allowed to produce given title anymore, but they can sell the remaining stock. Once the stock is on the shelve it can stay there for years even and its really up to the retailer if they are willing to carry TOCA 3 or they want to return it.
Also, they may retain the rights in certain countries to still use those names.
For Example, in Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom in Japan, Tatsunoko is one company, but here in America a bajillion different companies own the rights to all the different Tatsunoko characters, which means because Capcom is bringing the game here, they have to make deals with everyone here.
Posted July 21, 2009
It's not like Codemasters threw the CMR engine, art, models, etc in the garbage, is it? Can't they just change the fender shape and headlights a little to get around the licensing?
I mean, look at the Grand Theft Auto series. It's often totally obvious what real-world cars inspired the in-game models. They just give it a slightly different body shape and a goofy name to avoid paying automakers. I certainly don't lament the fact that they aren't "official".
Sounds more like Codemasters just doesn't have enough financial incentive to do half-serious modding :p They could at least let the community do it...
And what's this business about "stock" have to do with digital distribution? There is no scarcity, no shelves...
Post edited July 21, 2009 by lordbrockington
Posted July 21, 2009
another buy!
I have lots of unplayed game from GOG but i just cannot let these promos go by....
Thanks CMR is mine!
Posted July 21, 2009
Once the licensing deal is agreed upon you can't really just go back and change some details and expect it to suddenly be void.
I'm using this opportunity to grab CMR 2005 (one of the best ever in the series in my opinion) and Screamer for a low-low price.
Posted July 21, 2009
Well, licenses are stupid then :P Haha, they could at least re-release it will a silly title like "CMR 2005 UNLEASED" or whatever, add a couple levels, and say it's a spinoff. But I guess that wouldn't fly either?
On a more serious note... how's the pacing in CMR? I was pretty annoyed to find the offroad levels in ToCA3 to be nearly *impossible*, especially compared to the other maps of the same tier. Despite my silly complaints I might pick up CMR to scratch that itch.
Posted July 21, 2009
I'll probably get MegaRace =)
Posted July 21, 2009
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lordbrockington: I mean, look at the Grand Theft Auto series. It's often totally obvious what real-world cars inspired the in-game models. They just give it a slightly different body shape and a goofy name to avoid paying automakers. I certainly don't lament the fact that they aren't "official".

You might not, I might not, but I imagine that for a lot of the die-hard enthusiasts, one of the major selling points -is- the authenticity. These aren't quite hardcore sims, but they're still not arcade racers, either, and for the folks who are really into the auto scene, you'd figure that this is the closest they're going to be able to get to owning/driving that classic muscle car, or that multimillion dollar supercar.
Hell, I just picked up a copy of Grid like a week and a half ago, and while I'm not a big car guy, either, I'll admit that the attention to detail, making all the cars "look" right makes the game feel a lot more real, even if I know it's not.
Posted July 21, 2009
AlphaMonkey: That's definitely a fair point, I feel about the same about it (in fact still considering GRID because it looks so fantastic and supposedly plays quite well).
But I was really trying to say that if the choice is between a licensed game NOT existing (being pulled or whatever) and an unlicensed one that does exist... it's an easy decision.
Post edited July 21, 2009 by lordbrockington
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Racing week promo: 50% discount on 3 racing games(97 posts)(97 posts)
(97 posts)