Airball for NES now available!

[bunnyboy]

This long unreleased Tengen game is now available at www.retrousb.com (http://www.retrousb.com)! This package comes a new clear cart, printed manual, and a die cut paperboard box. As far as I know this is the first new production CIB NES game in about 10 years, including Sachen games. For USA games it has been about 12 years!

On YouTube there is a commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni6IxklUUEc) created by the guys at www.retrowaretv.com (http://www.retrowaretv.com)

There is also an article in the NintendoAge.com (http://www.nintendoage.com) ezine that gives some history of the game and information about the current known prototype boards.

[DigitalSpace]

Awesome news. It would have been cool to see the game released in an "unlicensed Tengen"-style cart, but the cart still looks pretty awesome, as does the box and label.

[TheRedEye]

I'm confused, do I have to register on the forums, contact an administrator, and get a PDF emailed to me to read this online article about Airball?

[GrandAmChandler]

I didn't even know a Rom of Airball existed! I thought all owners of the Prototypes hadn't dumped their roms yet.

[rbudrick]

I believe bunnyboy struck a deal with one of the owners. No idea on the details, though, as it's just a passing rumor that I can't back up at all. Musta made him an offer he couldn't refuse. :) :rocker:

-Rob

[Rob2600]

I just watched the YouTube video. It looks like a good, well made, fun game! I never knew Tengen was capable of such things. :)

By the way, what is the proper pronunciation of Tengen? Does the g sound like a j (as in "jeep") or does the g sound like a g (as in "good")?

[mills]

anyone else think this game will sell out and get crazy prices on ebay. I have a feeling.

[FABombjoy]

anyone else think this game will sell out and get crazy prices on ebay. I have a feeling.

If it's a limited run, then yes. Which begs the question... is this safe to put on my Christmas list? :D

[boatofcar]

God, that music is atrocious.

[AcePuppy]

I was gonna make a post on this just now but saw this thread. Bought it none-the-less. Now just waiting for the NWC Cart to become available again.

[Vectorman0]

I'm curious, who owns the legal rights to this game?

[AcePuppy]

I'm curious, who owns the legal rights to this game?

Tengen/Novotrade ..correct me if I'm wrong someone.

[TheRedEye]

Tengen/Novotrade ..correct me if I'm wrong someone.

I don't think either of those companies exist, I'd imagine the rights diverted back to Atari.

[Promophile]

Still waiting for the NWC cart to be available again.

[bunnyboy]

I'm curious, who owns the legal rights to this game?

Atari owns the licensing to the game on the NES, but who knows which part of Atari is owned by who anymore. It may have expired now anyways.

Michtron/Microdeal owns the Airball game, not sure if they are around anymore.

Novotrade owns the copyright for the NES code and graphics. They turned into Appaloosa and may have disappeared, in which case the copyright goes to the original creators. There is likely ~80 more years on that copyright.

Figuring out who all the rights have reverted to would be really hard :)

[portnoyd]

I just don't think it's safe, especially these days, to use IP like this no matter how obscured the paper trail is.

[Vectorman0]

I just don't think it's safe, especially these days, to use IP like this no matter how obscured the paper trail is.

I'd say the NWC reproduction is a worse case even, considering how Nintendo is alive and how they have been known to pursue bootleggers.

[bunnyboy]

I'd say the NWC reproduction is a worse case even, considering how Nintendo is alive and how they have been known to pursue bootleggers.

I would say Nintendo has shown they do not care at all about home reproductions. The two main NES reproduction sites have been running for many years with no problems. They even offer hacks of carts that are still sold by Nintendo, like original Zelda. That still doesn't make NWC a better case, because the rights owner is known. Even though many people like to claim it, just because the game is not or was not commercially available does not make it legal.

[Vectorman0]

Even though many people like to claim it, just because the game is not or was not commercially available does not make it legal.

I was mainly referring to the risk of getting in trouble, not the legality of the issue. Like you said, reproducing either an NWC or Airball are probably both just as illegal.

That said, I think it's cool what you are doing, I'm just torn on the issue and haven't been able to bring myself to buy an NWC repro.

[chrisbid]

if nintendo were angry enough about the issue, they could nip it by selling the NWC rom on the wii shop channel. abandonware serves a useful purpose, if a copyright owner no longer exists, or does not have the means to publish their work, reproductions and rom dumps are the only way to preserve IPs until they are eligible for public domain.

the original purpose of copyright laws, were to give incentive to creative types to contribute to the public domain. that purpose has been twisted a bit with extensions, but the public domain is still our collective culture and is the goal for any copyrighted work. if a work is lost before it is officially in the PD, then preserving it should trump copyright law if the IP holder does not have the means to preserve the work themselves.

[Blitzwing256]

if nintendo were angry enough about the issue, they could nip it by selling the NWC rom on the wii shop channel. abandonware serves a useful purpose, if a copyright owner no longer exists, or does not have the means to publish their work, reproductions and rom dumps are the only way to preserve IPs until they are eligible for public domain.

the original purpose of copyright laws, were to give incentive to creative types to contribute to the public domain. that purpose has been twisted a bit with extensions, but the public domain is still our collective culture and is the goal for any copyrighted work. if a work is lost before it is officially in the PD, then preserving it should trump copyright law if the IP holder does not have the means to preserve the work themselves.

but don't you think nintendo themselves have it preserved ?

i'm a bit leary of profit being made off someone elses property (but ignore that i bought one myself)

[chrisbid]

but don't you think nintendo themselves have it preserved ?

i'm a bit leary of profit being made off someone elses property (but ignore that i bought one myself)


honestly, no


i have no evidence either way, but i suspect the NWC cart was produced by NOA, rather than NOJ, and it wouldnt shock me if the original code was lost.

and im with you, i picked up a copy of the repro and am proud of it, but if nintendo ever sells a legit copy, ill be first in line to buy it (though not for 20K)

[Blitzwing256]

I took part in the contest originaly and lost my chance for a cart by a very very slim margin so its been a bit of a grail to me, but the repro is honestly just as good to me as I can relive the expereince through it (never felt the same via emulation)

still would be nice to pick up a grey cart someday.

[RARusk]

Interesting. I actually knew the person who did the Apple IIGS conversion of this game. I don't think that version sold many copies but maybe this new NES version will do better.

[Ze_ro]

I'm curious... does this reproduction use the Rabbit chip that Tengen used to use in their carts? Or did these guys make their own 10NES workaround?

--Zero

[Blitzwing256]

he made his own chip that defeats the lockout.

[rbudrick]

There was a group of guys at NESdev.parodius.com that figured out how the chip works. I think the chip being used in these games was made by kevtris....or was it CHris Covell? Crap, I forget.

-Rob

[AcePuppy]

Received Airball today from Retrozone. Although I have not opened it the box artwork is awesome. Great job. Now if the games can only come Factory Sealed with the H line. :)

[TheRedEye]

I haven't seen gameplay impressions ANYWHERE yet, has anyone actually played with it?

[dave2236]

I ordered it last week, should be here soon, I'll let you know how it is.

[kainemaxwell]

As a Tengen game collector I should get this!

[rkotm]

i have this game for PC, i believe the box too. It was hard and though i was only 9 the last i played it. Never thought anyone knew about this game except me.

[xfrumx]

is this game worth buying to play?

[xfrumx]

is this game worth buying to play?

anyone?

[guitargary75]

I got it and it's very good. I haven't beat it yet, but it plays good and is entertaining. However, I don't know if it is complete. I think it is worth buying. Hope that helps. :bigmac: