starcon PS1 prototype

[starlord]

Hello there, I'm starlord and this is my first post.

I heard referrences from someone (PS1 expert, I think) of a star control (4?), namely starcon ps1 game prototype.

We, at the star control discussion boards are ravenous about that game. And I would humbly ask you if it would be possible to make an ISO out of this game in order to preserve it: It deserves to be known and remembered, in our opinion.

Could anybody assist us in our search for the ISO?

Best regards.

mike.

[DreamTR]

There are two. I have one, and one was sold at CGE Expo.

I can sell you mine if you want. Pm me if interested.

[Buyatari]

More than 2.

I have one as well

[DreamTR]

Then 3 =P

[starlord]

The offer is tempting, Unfortunately, I wouldn't have the $1000+ that such an exclusive item demands.

However, would you be perhaps enclined to create an ISO and to provide it to the emulation communities before you sell your prototypes? (I beg of you:bawling:)

This game must be preserved: It is too unique to die! And I reckon die hard collectors would still love to pay the sums this item is worth.

I'm anxious to hear your point of view on this!

best regards.

starlord.

P.S: I once secured a one of a kind prototype (there was one only): It was the amiga game calephar from visual impact.
http://hol.abime.net/5402
Visual impact gave me the only working disk (containing the 100% working and completed game) and I preferred to give it to SPS rather than sell it. However, a dump was made (works well under winUAE) and given as freeware (the company declared their game freeware). Please be sure to check it out.
This decision was one of the best I've made so far: All menaced games like that should be preserved given the chance.

Best regards.

[DreamTR]

The offer is tempting, Unfortunately, I wouldn't have the $1000+ that such an exclusive item demands.

However, would you be perhaps enclined to create an ISO and to provide it to the emulation communities before you sell your prototypes? (I beg of you:bawling:)

This game must be preserved: It is too unique to die! And I reckon die hard collectors would still love to pay the sums this item is worth.

I'm anxious to hear your point of view on this!

best regards.

starlord.

P.S: I once secured a one of a kind prototype (there was one only): It was the amiga game calephar from visual impact.
http://hol.abime.net/5402
Visual impact gave me the only working disk (containing the 100% working and completed game) and I preferred to give it to SPS rather than sell it. However, a dump was made (works well under winUAE) and given as freeware (the company declared their game freeware). Please be sure to check it out.
This decision was one of the best I've made so far: All menaced games like that should be preserved given the chance.

Best regards.



I don't dump or even know what an ISO is, so that's out.

Second, I sure would not do it for free.

Third, I never said $1000. I would sell it for $450 shipped. If you want it, or your guys want it, get $450 together and I will send it to you. I'm not attached to it, but I'm not giving away something for nothing.

[starlord]

At least whatever you do, keep it for now: Perhaps the star control community will buy it.

[DreamTR]

starlord: Well, go ahead and contact them. I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but you can't come on this forum and expect an ISO to drop in your lap, you have to do the legwork if you want the game. I'm not keeping the game, whoever comes up with $450 gets it.

[starlord]

I have contacted them: I hope they'll forward an answer.

However, since the thread also talked about prototype dumping, I thought...

[ProgrammingAce]

Between the two of you, I seriously have to wonder how much of videogaming history has passed through your hands...

[starlord]

Are you referring to the titles we have or the ones that have been defunct?

[DreamTR]

starlord: you created this thread, I think you are referring to the prototype dumping resources thread at the top of this section of the forum.

All in all it's not polite to ask for a dump of something for nothing...

Programming Ace: Games just fall from the sky I suppose...= )

Alien Virus anyone?

[starlord]

There is no question of politness in there: When I was asked to dump calephar, I didn't ask myself the question: I simply contributed.

[Bojay1997]

I can assure you, there are several copies of the proto out there and I know for a fact at least one copy has been properly preserved. I don't see what that has to do with your unreasonable demand that the owners make it available for you and everyone else to download for free.

[Buyatari]

I can assure you, there are several copies of the proto out there and I know for a fact at least one copy has been properly preserved. I don't see what that has to do with your unreasonable demand that the owners make it available for you and everyone else to download for free.

There is nothing wrong with asking and there is nothing wrong with saying no if you are asked.

[Bojay1997]

There is nothing wrong with asking and there is nothing wrong with saying no if you are asked.

Sure, but I find that being honest tends to work a lot better than being deceptive about your intent. Posting that he was trying to "preserve" the game is not really truthful. If he had said he was looking for a copy of the game he could distribute to the world and had no money to pay for it, I would have at least politely responded that I was personally not willing to distribute it this way and suggest that he look to another owner.

[ProgrammingAce]

He seemed to be pretty clear in his intent, and he asked nicely. I don't really see the problem.

[DreamTR]

Well, he asked specifically for the ISO for preservation. So the game is already preserved elsewhere, so that ends that. He does not need to worry about it not appearing anywhere, but if he actually wants the original, he has to pay.

What I do not like is him coming back and saying when someone asked him to dump a game, he did it, no questions, no money, etc. It does not work that way for everyone. I've had a lot of my games dumped, but I need something back in return because they get devalued, and I'm not in the market for actually doing the legwork and locating these items, and then giving them away for free after I paid good money for them.

This always seems to be the big problem because a lot of times it is "expected" to be given away for free by people that want to play. If I pay $1000 to get a game, and people want to play it, they sure as heck need to get $1000 together after I do the legwork. Nothing wrong with that, and starlord needs to understand that's how this works sometimes.

[Mark30001]

Anything wrong with dumping the game after selling it? http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i107/mark30001/mrgreen.gif

[DreamTR]

Heck no, whoever buys a game has the right to do whatever they want with it unless the guy that sold it to them specifically told them they would not like that to be done, but even so, once it's out of your hands, it's out of your hands.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I sold the copy that was in last year's CGE auction. Before I did so, I got some screen grabs and video for this item that might be of interest (http://www.thelogbook.com/pixel/starcon-ps1/).

I was specifically asked by the party who sold it to me around 2004/05 not to dump the ISO and spread it around. However, I will say that I didn't think I could presume to demand that of the person who bought it at the auction; what they plan to do with it is entirely up to them.

[Mark30001]

I was specifically asked by the party who sold it to me around 2004/05 not to dump the ISO and spread it around. However, I will say that I didn't think I could presume to demand that of the person who bought it at the auction; what they plan to do with it is entirely up to them.

I could understand if it were some ex-developer who sold you the game, trying to make some little cash, but was afraid that the released data may get traced back to them.

Anyway, I challenge all those here with rare/prototype/unreleased games to dump & release at least one to the community, if you haven't already, free of charge. I have, and it feels good!

[ProgrammingAce]

I could understand if it were some ex-developer who sold you the game, trying to make some little cash, but was afraid that the released data may get traced back to them.

As a general rule, if your career depends on you not leaking betas, then you probably shouldn't leak betas. I pretty much assume anything i buy off of ebay is fair game.

[DreamTR]

As a general rule, if your career depends on you not leaking betas, then you probably shouldn't leak betas. I pretty much assume anything i buy off of ebay is fair game.

QFT. Lots of people don't seem to get this.

[ProgrammingAce]

"[ProgrammingAce] is warned and agrees that if any term of this agreement is broken, Sony will take any action it deems necessary, and that financial reparation to Sony may not be sufficient"

How someone can sign a legally binding contract that ends like this, and then turn around and sell protected items is beyond my reasoning.

A simple warning; Everything you're given is watermarked. Even if it's not watermarked, it's watermarked. Treat it as such.

Anything I buy on ebay will someday be released to the public. Anything i'm given in private will be protected with Department of Defense level security, including biometrics and encryption.

There's no other way to do business. If someone is driving through my neighborhood, connects to my wifi, and steals some source code, i'm still legally liable for the damage. Accident or not.

[DreamTR]

ProG Ace: I'll tell ya one thing, I've never signed a piece of paper like that for 99% of the stuff I received.....that's the funny part. Different industries, though.

[PapaStu]

I own the CGE copy.

Good luck on your quest starlords.

[TheRedEye]

$450 is completely reasonable. Get yourself and eight of your buddies to contribute $50 each, and you've just paid a reasonable retail price for a copy of Starcon. I don't even care about the game and I'd contribute.

[DreamTR]

It's sold =)

[starlord]

Hi, sorry I've been away for a while:

I just realised that the playstation museum is also in possession of a prototype and is tuning it under ePSXe in order to make it run flawlessly: This is great news for me, as it means this game is preserved (they said they intended to release the game, although not on the short notice). This means:

1: that it has been dumped already (which I was unsure of).
2: that it will (one day) be made available to all (therefore preserved from oblivion).

I couldn't have asked for more.

For those who still have doubts about this: I never wanted the ISO for me. I wouldn't care much about this game and would probably underestimate it's true value, but the fact that measures have already been taken care of is extremely gratifying: That's all I wanted to hear.

best regards. (oh, and should there be amiga players in here, take a look at calephar on the amiga board for me).:wink 2:

[Tommy]

Game looks like it sucks :monkey:

[Buyatari]

Game looks like it sucks :monkey:

It IS an unreleased title. Most of which aren't enjoyed for pure gameplay alone but the history behind it.

[Xian042]

for the record,

I'd LOVE to play this game.
If it becomes obtainable, let me know.