Knights and Merchants.net Forum

Maybe we should concentrate our efforts on gettin' permission to release an official remake? Or if it will not be possible even an unofficial one? I think that for us (for me for sure) the more important thing is to play that game today wuthout this terrible bugs, to play this game online with other fans who would share their love to this game with each other... That's why I appreciate all the hard work of Lewin and others, all their efforts to upgrade this game and let other people play it without frustration etc.

Maybe this is our last chance to make this game better? Leave the name, leave source code, but also remember it as a archetype, the only one orginal which showed us thousands of good ideas and... memories. Maybe we should let the original KaM rest in peace and then believe in our skills? I'm sure, that mechanism of KaM is not so hard to recreate. I believe, that for people like Lewin this is work that can be done. Of course it's a lot of hard work, but certainly much easier than neverending mailing to this bloody scrooges in Zuxxez.

The only thing I can be pissed on is that I can't help in this work, becouse I'm just a musician... The only thing I know in this entire case is that main theme music in KaM is main theme of last part of Mozart A-major Sonata . There is also one more thing that I can say - this game for sure have changed my childhood...

Very well said, that's what I think too. However, I don't know whether now would be the best time to tell them about our Remakes. I think we should leave it until they are finished (or at least closer to finished) before we tell them. By that time they might not be so bothered with copyright and stuff.
I remember when I myself learnt that song long ago when I was beginning, my piano teacher couldn't understand why I wasn't playing the music. I kept playing Spirit by accident.

Any news on the petition?

We're currently not harassing ZuXXeZ?

it's over with for now. they said no, no reason to bother them.

I know we've badgered them a bit already, but I had an idea, probably not one that will necessarily get us anywhere, but I thought I'd voice an opinion...

I play another game, some of you may of heard of it, but its called Warlords Battlecry III...

And the fanbase there managed to get a hold of something that was created called a 'Limited License Modding Project':

'Limited License Mod Project
A Limited License Modding Project has been around for some time, as well, which provides use of the game's source code to any programmers looking to make a mark on the series. An NDA is required, and the game's Source Code remains available through the WBC3 Modding Project (c.f.), which was founded by some fans who had petitioned the game's developers for a limited use of the code. Though not very large, the home brewed project is one of the more active sites for casual gamers of the series, allowing them to exchange thoughts, programming information, and strategies. Some utilities are also available on the site, allowing players and programmers some insight into the engine mechanics, as well. The ultimate goal of this project, as determined by one of its original founding members, is to get as many people into the fold as possible, so that the game can become a public domain modding entity. Ideally, the project's current members are hopeful to get Mr. Fawkner to open source his game code, allowing maximum public interaction with the game.'

Read at the bottom of this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warlords_Battlecry_III#Limited_License_Mod_Project

We wouldn't be able to negotiate anything similiar to something like this, instead of just asking for the source code to be publicly released? :

I think we should try every possibility. Maybe it is worth a shot. Don't know the exact words used by zuxxez before, if they are open to suggestions?

Just thought it might be an idea I want to become a part of this as well And if we could get something like this I think it is just as good as the code being released.

IIRC there was also a similar situation concerning Tyrian, the developer didn't want to release the source code to the public because of having interests in porting the game to the GBA or something like that but eventually a limited number of people got access to it and started working on updating the game.

To be honest, to me that ZuXXeZ reply looked a bit like "over my dead body", but it could be worth a shot!

Though then the question remains, who would be willing to start updating the original code?

The few of us that understand it maybe?

that would be fine, we'll probably outlive the company. if they promise to release their sauces if they tank

also, the remakes are looking good, should we worry about the source anymore?

I think we still should try to get the source. Maybe it is much easier then to set up a multiplayer server. I think that it will take quite some time before any remake has multiplayer.

There's a great article about setting up a multiplayer in such a game: http://zoo.cs.yale.edu/classes/cs538/readings/papers/terrano_1500arch.pdf

We will use the same approach in KaM Remake.