Hey, Folks. Here's the story.
Parallax Software still exists and still owns the copyrights to the Descent games. Under our 21-year-old agreement, Interplay has the exclusive rights to sell Descent and Descent II, and they have been doing so on Good Old Games and Steam.
The problem is that Interplay has not paid to Parallax any royalties since 2007. We've talked to them about this numerous times over the years, and finally took action this fall. We served Interplay official notice that they were in breach of the contract, and when they still failed to pay we terminated the agreement.
This means that Interplay has lost the right to sell the Descent games, which is why they came down from GOG. (We're not sure why they're still on Steam; they shouldn't be.)
Interplay does, however, still own the Descent trademark, which they are free to use or license as they see fit (such as for Descent: Underground) as long as they don't violate our copyrights.
As for whether Descent and Descent II will be available for purchase again, we hope so. We'd be very happy to work things out with Interplay.
Matt Toschlog & Mike Kulas
Parallax Software
ViRGE wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 17:03:
To be fair, 21 years ago no one was thinking about digital distribution as we have it now. Neither was anyone thinking Interplay would end up being a scumbag deadbeat.
verybad1 wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 20:21:yonder wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 18:39:verybad1 wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 14:14:
Uhh, Descent had it's day, but is there seriously ANY purpose for having a concern about money from those old games now? I can't imagine playing them now myself, they're just TOO effing old...
Well SOMEONE isn't old enough to have experienced nostalgia...
But yeah... I've hated Interplay stone they became EA before EA did. And this is why.
Believe me I'm more than old enough. I just don't like it enough I guess. *shrugs&* If someone wants to spend money on it, it's their money, 'm not judging them, Didn't like enough when it was new I guess.
yonder wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 18:39:verybad1 wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 14:14:
Uhh, Descent had it's day, but is there seriously ANY purpose for having a concern about money from those old games now? I can't imagine playing them now myself, they're just TOO effing old...
Well SOMEONE isn't old enough to have experienced nostalgia...
But yeah... I've hated Interplay stone they became EA before EA did. And this is why.
verybad1 wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 14:14:
Uhh, Descent had it's day, but is there seriously ANY purpose for having a concern about money from those old games now? I can't imagine playing them now myself, they're just TOO effing old...
LurkerLito wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 10:03:
I hate these kinds of deals. I don't blame Parallax at all for doing this but seriously, don't sell the trademark name without the dam game. Now this game is basically in limbo and can never be sold again till their dispute is done. Parallax can't sell it because it would be trademark infringement, Interplay can't sell it cause it would be copyright infringement. I am pretty sure it is crap like this that keeps old games like NoLF near impossible to find the "owners".
LurkerLito wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 10:03:To be fair, 21 years ago no one was thinking about digital distribution as we have it now. Neither was anyone thinking Interplay would end up being a scumbag deadbeat.
I hate these kinds of deals. I don't blame Parallax at all for doing this but seriously, don't sell the trademark name without the dam game. Now this game is basically in limbo and can never be sold again till their dispute is done. Parallax can't sell it because it would be trademark infringement, Interplay can't sell it cause it would be copyright infringement. I am pretty sure it is crap like this that keeps old games like NoLF near impossible to find the "owners".
Kevin Lowe wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 15:13:verybad1 wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 14:14:Why not? It's practically free money. There are plenty of people who still love old games, myself included, and will pay a token sum for someone to slickly package them up for modern PCs.
Uhh, Descent had it's day, but is there seriously ANY purpose for having a concern about money from those old games now? I can't imagine playing them now myself, they're just TOO effing old...
Parallax Abstraction wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 14:29:
Interplay lost their dispute with Bethesda because they didn't get the MMO to the milestones they had to so I believe Bethesda owns the whole thing now. They probably sold off what little they had to whoever is now apparently not developing Earthrise any more.
LurkerLito wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 10:03:
I hate these kinds of deals. I don't blame Parallax at all for doing this but seriously, don't sell the trademark name without the dam game. Now this game is basically in limbo and can never be sold again till their dispute is done. Parallax can't sell it because it would be trademark infringement, Interplay can't sell it cause it would be copyright infringement. I am pretty sure it is crap like this that keeps old games like NoLF near impossible to find the "owners".
verybad1 wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 14:14:Why not? It's practically free money. There are plenty of people who still love old games, myself included, and will pay a token sum for someone to slickly package them up for modern PCs.
Uhh, Descent had it's day, but is there seriously ANY purpose for having a concern about money from those old games now? I can't imagine playing them now myself, they're just TOO effing old...
wtf_man wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 13:46:CJ_Parker wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 11:56:
How's that Fallout MMO coming along, Herve??
Bwwwaaaaaahahahahahahahaaaaahahahahaaa
Well... it apparently turned into Earthrise... Masthead and Interplay don't seem to be involved anymore... Last Blog entry is on April 2014 and the forums are offline.
I'd have to say "It's dead, Jim"
CJ_Parker wrote on Dec 30, 2015, 11:56:
How's that Fallout MMO coming along, Herve??
Bwwwaaaaaahahahahahahahaaaaahahahahaaa