Source Code released for 7800 series games?

[mmmna]

http://www.programmerfish.com/source-code-of-several-7800-games-released/
says
http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/7800/games/ offers legitimate source code.

True?

[martyg]

http://www.programmerfish.com/source-code-of-several-7800-games-released/
says
http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/7800/games/ offers legitimate source code.

True?

I'm not sure what you're asking. You're linking to a site that has source code asking if it's true it has source code?

[EMZayas]

I think he's asking if the source codes are legitimate and not illegal.

Well, since those games are really old, I don't think the companies that own those games(Pac Man, etc.) will care if the source codes are released.

[mmmna]

Sorry my first post in this thread wasn't clear to you folks.

I figured that if this was a legitimate (legal) release of classic game source code into the realms of true open source, Atari would have announced it and probably even hosted the files themselves. More, I felt that folks here would know about it. So far, nobody who posted here affirmed the files as being open sourced.

I care not whether it is really source code - I'm not going to recode it for a different target processor or host. All I care is that if the files are legitimate source code, I care that the release has been made with Atari (and/or code owner) consent, not by some flunky that clandestinely arranged for the source code to be made public when it should not be public due to legal restrictions. I wouldn't want to download a copy and find out it was not legal for the source code to have been distributed.

I personally doubt it is officially and legitimately released as open source because...

1] I see the links for the 'source code' files are not coming from an Atari owned website ("General Computer Corporation"?);

2] ... these wouldn't exist if I hadn't of climbed into a filthy dumpster at 3am in the morning behind the old Atari building in Sunnyvale and salvaged them and restored them from their diskettes.the person openly claims they fished this stuff out of the dumpster (which in the USA can be an illegal activity - some friends of mine, years ago, had been prosecuted for dumpster diving and trash picking);

3] Atari has not made an announcement of this on the Atari website links which I researched (admittedly, I didn't try to review every possible Atari webpage) - you'd think they would have announced it.

Example: doesn't namco hold some interest in PacMan?

Anyways, interesting possibility there, not sure if it is legit and the website seems slashdotted right now.

[martyg]

Ok, a bunch of stuff that you seem to be missinformed and not familair with -


I figured that if this was a legitimate (legal) release of classic game source code into the realms of true open source, Atari would have announced it and probably even hosted the files themselves. More, I felt that folks here would know about it. So far, nobody who posted here affirmed the files as being open sourced.


They were never open sourced or presented as such. The Programmerfish site is the one that caused the issues, first downloading and presenting the posting as their own and stating "public domain", then later correcting it on their site.


I care not whether it is really source code - I'm not going to recode it for a different target processor or host. All I care is that if the files are legitimate source code, I care that the release has been made with Atari (and/or code owner) consent, not by some flunky that clandestinely arranged for the source code to be made public when it should not be public due to legal restrictions. I wouldn't want to download a copy and find out it was not legal for the source code to have been distributed.


Perhaps you're not familiar with Curt Vendel, but he has a regular and current working relationsip with the current Atari, including providing them with material that they no longer have (since the current Atari is not the original Atari). His site (atarimuseum.com) is also the premier historical archive, and a long running site. Anything he puts up on his site is with full knowledge of the current Atari Legal department, with whom he also regularly asists on IP issues.

Specifically, the 7800 source code was put up for informative purposes only, with no change in ownership intended or stated.



I personally doubt it is officially and legitimately released as open source because...

1] I see the links for the 'source code' files are not coming from an Atari owned website ("General Computer Corporation"?);


General Computer Corporation is the company that actually designed the 7800 for the old Atari and coded most of the games.


2] the person openly claims they fished this stuff out of the dumpster (which in the USA can be an illegal activity - some friends of mine, years ago, had been prosecuted for dumpster diving and trash picking);


It was rescued from a dumpster when Atari Corporation (the second Atari that was around from '84-'98) was closing down in '98. If Curt hadn't rescued that and other material at the time, the current Atari would not have it either. He's also purhcased and/or been given much of what was left of the old Atari (1972-1984) as well (prototypes, engineering logs, etc. etc.) That's the exact reason they go to him for this material.


Anyways, interesting possibility there, not sure if it is legit and the website seems slashdotted right now.


See above.

[martyg]

I think he's asking if the source codes are legitimate and not illegal.

Well, since those games are really old, I don't think the companies that own those games(Pac Man, etc.) will care if the source codes are released.

Here's the thing - the other companies (such as Namco) only own the IP of Pac-Man itself. They do not own the actual source code to the games produced by Atari/GCC. So for example, if Namco wanted to do a release of 2600 Pac-Man in their games, they'd have to license the actual 2600 version from Atari. In the same token, Atari can not re-release the 2600 version without getting a new Pac-Man license from Namco. That's the exact reason why some of the popular 2600 or 7800 games were not included by us on the Flashback1 or 2. It would have raised the cost of the units to have to license more games, rather than including games Atari owned both the physical game and the IP outright.

[mmmna]

Perhaps you're not familiar with Curt Vendel,No, I'm not. Thanks for taking the time to explain.

As I said, dumpster diving can be illegal, but if Vendel is the working with the legal department at Atari, and is retrieving his own works and posting it himself, then he probably is doing it legally.

My biggest concern, as I alluded, was about the possibility for harm if this wasn't legitimate. Thanks for the replies!

[martyg]

No, I'm not. Thanks for taking the time to explain.

As I said, dumpster diving can be illegal, but if Vendel is the working with the legal department at Atari, and is retrieving his own works and posting it himself, then he probably is doing it legally.

My biggest concern, as I alluded, was about the possibility for harm if this wasn't legitimate. Thanks for the replies!

One again, the dumpster diving referred to happend back in the mid 90's when the company Atari Corporation was being closed down. It's not not something recent.